About Immaculate Conception · St. Marys, Kansas
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys, Kansas, is the oldest parish in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, founded in 1848 when Jesuit missionaries arrived with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart from the Sugar Creek Mission. The parish carries on its 19th-century Jesuit heritage — its mission statement still quotes the motto "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" — and today it serves both Immaculate Conception and the neighboring St. Stanislaus Church in Rossville and Sacred Heart in Delia from a single pastoral team. The parish is well known locally for its perpetual Adoration Chapel (open 24 hours a day) and for its close historical ties to St. Mary's University (now St. Mary's Priory / Academy), which grew out of the original mission schoolhouse.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Edward Ahn
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (since 1848) and offers the spiritual riches one would hope for from that heritage: a perpetual Adoration Chapel open 24 hours a day, a thriving religious-education program under a director of religious education, generous outreach through the St. Marys Food Pantry, Walking With Moms (which supplies meals to new mothers and their families), Ministry to the Sick, Meals on Wheels, and Knights of Columbus rosary and service projects. Active parishioners run a perpetual adoration sign-up, a parish picnic, and Project Ignite blankets for cancer patients — concrete ways to belong, serve, and pray together.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM @ IC Church
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM @ IC Church (immediately following Mass)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM @ IC Church
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Holy Hour & Benediction with Vespers: 2nd Sunday of the month, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM @ IC Church
- Holy Hour & Benediction with Vespers: 4th Sunday of the month, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM @ St. Stanislaus Church
Our Story: A 1848 Jesuit Mission Parish
Immaculate Conception traces its origin to the Sugar Creek Potawatomi Mission in eastern Kansas, where Fr. Herman Aelen, S.J., had named the mission after the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. On September 9, 1848, Fr. Felix Verreydt, S.J., and Fr. Maurice Gailland, S.J., led four Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Brothers, and a guide/interpreter Joseph Bertrand up the Kansas River to establish a new mission at St. Marys. Within two months the first Mass was celebrated in a temporary frame chapel (November 12, 1848); a 90' × 55' cruciform log church followed in 1849.
- 1848 — first Mass in frame chapel on November 12
- 1849 — permanent log cabin church completed in November
- 1851 — Bishop Miege made St. Marys his residential see and the log church his Pro-Cathedral
- 1854 — Benedictine/treasured Benito painting of the Immaculate Conception acquired in Rome
- 1855 — episcopal see transferred to Leavenworth
Stone Churches and the 1879 Fire
By 1873 the log church was deteriorating beyond repair. Under Fr. Francis Kuppens, parishioners quarried stone on the mission grounds to build a second stone church in 1874, and on a bitterly cold December 29, 1879, fire broke out in that church's sacristy. Parishioners saved the organ pipes and the Benito painting; the present church was begun the next year, with its cornerstone laid July 31, 1881, and dedicated Easter Sunday 1882 by Right Rev. Louis Fink, O.S.B., D.D., with a new bell consecrated in place of the lost Fr. Gailland Memorial Bell.
- 1874 — stone church begun under Fr. Francis Kuppens
- 1875 — solemn procession carrying the Blessed Sacrament to the new church
- December 29, 1879 — sacristy fire; organ pipes and Benito painting saved
- 1881 — cornerstone of the present church laid July 31
- Easter Sunday 1882 — dedication of the present church
Parish School & Religious Communities
Education began the very first winter of the mission. The Jesuits, with Mother Lucille Mathevon and Sisters of the Sacred Heart Mary Ann O'Connor, Louise Amyot, and Mary Layton, taught both boarding and day students. After the Civil War the 1861 Indian Treaty shifted much of the population west and 'most of the mission scholars' became white children; in 1869 both the town and a college received their charters. From 1881 the Sisters of Charity from Leavenworth took over the parochial school — by 1890 there were 220 pupils, and a two-story stone school with six classrooms was started August 15, 1894, with a Sisters' home completed in 1902. The Sisters taught elementary and high school until 1946, then only grade school, and were withdrawn from the parish in 1970.
- 1849 — first boys' school building; sisters' residence addition served as girls' classroom
- 1869 — charter granted for St. Mary's College
- 1881 — Sisters of Charity arrive to run the parochial school
- 1894 — two-story stone school with six classrooms begun
- 1902 — Sisters' home completed
- 1946 — high school classes end
- 1970 — Sisters of Charity withdrawn from the parish
From the Jesuits to Today: Pastor Succession
Twenty-five Jesuit fathers served the parish from 1848 until June 24, 1971, ending with Fr. Edward Thro. A four-priest team (Frs. Richard Etzel, Robert Hasenkamp, Thomas Kearns, and Al Rockers) served from 1971 to 1977, after which individual pastors continued the succession. Two Benedictine priests — Abbot Barnabas Senecal (Jan–June 2013) and Fr. Gerard Senecal (2013–2014) — served brief terms, and Fr. Raymond May was pastor from August 1, 2014. The parish is currently led by Father Edward Ahn, who from the rectory at 208 W. Bertrand serves Immaculate Conception, St. Stanislaus (Rossville), and Sacred Heart (Delia).
- 1848–1971: 25 Jesuit pastors (ending with Fr. Edward Thro)
- 1971–1977: Team (Etzel, Hasenkamp, Kearns, Rockers)
- 1977–2014: Krajicek, Erickson, C. Dekat, E. Dekat, Torrez, Riley, Gomes, Ansems, B. Senecal O.S.B., G. Senecal O.S.B., May
- Current pastor: Fr. Edward Ahn
Mission Statement & Identity
The parish's published mission statement centers on encountering Jesus Christ through the Sacraments, accompanied by the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession. It highlights the parish's commitment to substantial catechetical programs, charitable outreach, social events such as the annual parish picnic, and — centrally — perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which the parish describes as a channel of healing and unity. The closing line invokes the parish's Jesuit heritage with the motto 'Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam' and reminds parishioners that, founded in 1848, Immaculate Conception is the oldest parish in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
- Core: Sacramental encounter with Christ
- Emphasis on catechesis and charitable works
- Perpetual adoration as a means of healing and unity
- Marian patron: 'She is our life, our sweetness, and our hope.'
- Jesuit motto: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Immaculate Conception is led by Director of Religious Education Christine Settanni (ext. 2, [email protected]), supported by the parish's stated commitment to 'substantial catechetical programs.' Children's ministry includes an annual Vacation Bible School (theme: 'Around the World with the Saints'). Adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their initiation are served through the customary RCIA process; baptismal and marriage preparation classes follow the parish's published schedule. Knights of Columbus Council #657 supplements faith formation through the monthly Rosary prayed before Mass on the 3rd Sunday at 10:30 AM and the preceding Saturday at 4:30 PM.
- Director of Religious Education: Christine Settanni
- Annual Vacation Bible School
- Monthly baptismal prep classes for parents and godparents
- 6-month marriage preparation process
- Knights of Columbus monthly Rosary (3rd Sunday & preceding Saturday)
Sacraments
The parish website publishes sacramental policies. For Baptism, registration at one of the cooperating parishes (or permission from the pastor where you live) is required, along with monthly preparation classes for parents and godparents — encouraged before the birth of the child. For Marriage, the parish asks couples to contact the pastor at least six months in advance of the desired wedding date and before making any other arrangements. Ministry to the Sick (including Anointing and Communion visits) is coordinated through parish contact Betty at 437-2408 ext. 2.
- Baptism — register; monthly parent/godparent classes
- Marriage — 6-month notice to pastor
- Anointing / Ministry to the Sick — contact Betty at ext. 2
Parish Staff & Office
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Father Edward Ahn serves as Pastor (ext. 3, [email protected]). The parish secretary is Jean Trausch (ext. 1, [email protected]); office assistant Betty Aubert (ext. 2, [email protected]) handles intake for Ministry to the Sick, hall rental, and general inquiries. Christine Settanni is Director of Religious Education (ext. 2), and Steve Mees serves as Bookkeeper ([email protected]). The Adoration Chapel line is reached at extension 5, and Gary Roth (319-9115) coordinates 'Guardians of the Hour.'
- Pastor — Fr. Edward Ahn (ext. 3)
- Secretary — Jean Trausch (ext. 1)
- Office Assistant — Betty Aubert (ext. 2)
- Director of Religious Education — Christine Settanni
- Bookkeeper — Steve Mees
- Adoration Chapel contact — Gary Roth (319-9115)
Outreach & Charity
Immaculate Conception runs and supports several hands-on ministries serving St. Marys and the surrounding area. The parish sponsors a St. Marys Food Pantry (contact Mary Poell 437-2448 or Tina Roth 584-6466), Walking With Moms (a meal ministry to new mothers and families coordinated by Julie Homan), Meals on Wheels, Ministry to the Sick, and Project Ignite — YG Blankets for Cancer Patients. Healing outreach includes Bridges of Mercy for Healing after Abortion (Project Rachel) and the annual parish picnic that brings the community together.
- St. Marys Food Pantry
- Walking With Moms (meal ministry)
- Ministry to the Sick
- Meals on Wheels
- Project Ignite — YG Blankets for Cancer Patients
- Bridges of Mercy (post-abortion healing) / Project Rachel
- Annual Parish Picnic
Fr. Ahn's Recorded Homilies & Online Resources
The parish website posts recorded homilies from Father Edward Ahn for parishioners who cannot attend in person and links to several other Catholic resources — including Mass Times around the country, the USCCB Pro-Life Prayer to End Abortion, Project Rachel/Abortion Healing information, the 'Walking with Moms' front page, 'Living a Catholic Life – Human Sexuality Project' resources, monthly Meals on Wheels menus, the Archdiocesan Synodal Listening Sessions materials, Divine Mercy Sunday materials, the parish bulletin, Minister Lists for current liturgical assignments, and the Knights of Columbus Adoration Chapel pages. The website also links to a YouTube channel for Father Ahn's recorded homilies.
- Recorded homilies of Fr. Edward Ahn
- Monthly parish bulletin PDFs
- Minister Lists (current liturgical assignments)
- Links to USCCB, Project Rachel, and Archdiocesan listening-session resources
Three Parishes, One Pastorate
From the rectory at 208 W. Bertrand in St. Marys, Father Edward Ahn serves three linked parishes: Immaculate Conception (St. Marys), St. Stanislaus (Rossville), and Sacred Heart (Delia). The shared leadership means that weekend Masses are split between sites — Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM at Immaculate Conception, with Sunday 9:00 AM at St. Stanislaus (Rossville) — and shared events like the monthly Holy Hour & Benediction with Vespers alternate between them. The website identifies this as a single collaborative mission rather than three unrelated congregations.
- Immaculate Conception — St. Marys (208 W. Bertrand)
- St. Stanislaus — Rossville
- Sacred Heart — Delia
- Shared pastorate under Fr. Edward Ahn
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Felix Verreydt, S.J. (arrival 1848) and 24 Jesuit successors ending with Fr. Edward Thro1848–June 24, 1971
Jesuit fathers ran the parish from the founding through 1971; Fr. Thro was the last of 25 Jesuit pastors.
- Frs. Richard Etzel, Robert Hasenkamp, Thomas Kearns, and Al Rockers (team)1971–1977
First diocesan pastoral team after the Jesuits departed.
- Clarence Krajicek1977–1981
- John Erickson1981–1990
- Carl Dekat1990–1998
- Earl Dekat1998–2001
- John Torrez2002–2005
- John Riley2005–2009
- Ben Gomes2009–2010
- Bruce Ansems2010–2012
- Abbot Barnabas Senecal, O.S.B.Jan 1, 2013 – June 30, 2013
Benedictine priest.
- Gerard Senecal, O.S.B.July 1, 2013 – August 1, 2014
Benedictine priest; described as Parochial Vicar in 2014 diocesan notes.
- Raymond MayAugust 1, 2014 – (as of PDF history)
- Fr. Justin Hamilton
Listed as pastor on the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas parish page.
- Edward Ahnpresent
Current pastor; serves IC, St. Stanislaus (Rossville) and Sacred Heart (Delia) from the IC rectory.