About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Goodland, Kansas
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Catholic parish in Goodland, Kansas, serving the northwestern corner of the state within the Diocese of Salina. The parish shares a pastor and ministries with mission parishes including Holy Ghost in Sharon Springs, St. Joseph in Bird City, and St. Francis of Assisi in St. Francis, forming a small but active cluster of rural western Kansas Catholic communities. Weekly worship includes a Saturday Vigil Mass, Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday, regular Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust CCD/CYO faith-formation program for youth as well as an OCIA process for adults seeking to become Catholic.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Fr. Carlos Ruiz Santos
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a small, multicultural parish where newcomers are quickly known by name. Families benefit from a complete CCD and CYO program for Pre-School through 12th grade, weekday Mass and Adoration, a vibrant Spanish-language Mass community, and active lay organizations including the Knights of Columbus and Our Lady's Guild that organize both fellowship and outreach such as funeral dinners.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00–5:45 pm (Mtn time)
- Sunday 10:00–10:20 am (Mtn time)
- Thursday 5:00–5:45 pm (Mtn time) when there is Adoration
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday following the 12:00 pm Mass until 8:00 pm (Mtn time) — check bulletin for changes
Parish History
Catholic missionary priests traveled to the Goodland area as early as 1879, and the first church was built near Kanorado in 1889. It stood for less than two years before being destroyed by prairie wind. A brick church was then built in Goodland, with the original altar — undamaged — installed in it. Originally dedicated to Our Lady of Suffrage, the parish was renamed Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The brick church was razed in 1901 and replaced by a new structure completed in 1902. A growing congregation led to the construction of the present Italian Renaissance-style brick-and-limestone church in 1927, and the former church was sold to a Lutheran congregation. In 1938 a marble plaque and cross were erected at the Kanorado site of the original 1889 church. A 1968 addition added classrooms and overflow worship space to the parish plant.
- 1889 — First Catholic church built near Kanorado
- c. 1891 — First church destroyed by wind; brick church built in Goodland
- 1901–1902 — Brick church razed and rebuilt
- 1927 — Current Italian Renaissance-style church dedicated
- 1938 — Memorial plaque and cross placed at Kanorado site
- 1968 — Classroom / worship-space addition dedicated
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a year-round CCD/CYO program for youth from Pre-School through 12th grade, with separate tracks for elementary and junior-high/high-school students. The Junior CYO and senior CYO combine catechesis with service, fundraising for local and national Catholic youth events, and community-building activities. Adult volunteers serve as catechists and classroom assistants.
- Elementary CCD — Director: Jessica Kannady, (785) 821-2275
- Jr. High & High School CCD — Director: Amanda Martin, (785) 995-9296, [email protected]
- Junior CYO — Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 pm
- Senior CYO — Wednesdays 6:45–8:30 pm; runs September–April
- Adult catechist and assistant opportunities available
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help invites anyone curious about the Catholic faith to join the OCIA program — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Sessions run October through mid-April and are a weekly study of Catholic teaching and practice, open both to those preparing for full initiation and to those simply wanting to learn more. Contact Leon Volk at (785) 890-5249 for information.
- Sessions October through mid-April
- Contact: Leon Volk, (785) 890-5249
- Also recommended: The Coming Home Network (chnetwork.org)
Parish Organizations & Lay Leadership
Active lay organizations are the backbone of parish life at OLPH. The Knights of Columbus support men's spiritual fellowship and parish service, while Our Lady's Guild coordinates women's parish activities including funeral dinners. The Comité Hispano supports the Spanish-speaking community. A Parish Council of elected members and at-large members oversees the pastoral and administrative life of the parish.
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight: Jared Hall, (785) 821-1057
- Our Lady's Guild — President: Brenda Coon
- Funeral Dinners — Sarah Scheopner, [email protected]
- Comité Hispano — Manuel De La Cruz
- Parish Council 2025–2026 — Chair: Bill Korbelik; Vice-Chair: Alex Evert; Secretary: Justin Bentzinger; Members: Sarah Scheopner, Dana Murray, Lori Amthor, Nancy Gilmer, Starla Miller, April Hall, Loraine Albers, Austin Roknian
Liturgical Coordinators & Music
A dedicated team of lay liturgical coordinators serves at every Mass — sacristans preparing the altar, Eucharistic Ministers distributing Communion, lectors and rosary leaders proclaiming the Word, an Art & Environment team decorating the church through the seasons, organists leading music, and hospitality ministers welcoming parishioners and visitors at the door.
- Sacristans — Kathy Russell
- Eucharistic Ministers — Jeris McCombs
- Rosary & Lectors — Donna Swager
- Art & Environment — Christie Rasure
- Organists — Laura Biermann (assisted by Jean Cech, Jean Martin, Amanda Cech)
- Hospitality — Nancy Gilmer
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Carlos Ruiz Santos, who also serves as Director of Hispanic Ministry, with Fr. Mathias Kalemba assisting as Parochial Vicar. The parish office is staffed by Secretary Trina Lazo and Bookkeeper Ann Middleton. Two Directors of Religious Education coordinate faith formation for children and youth.
- Pastor / Director of Hispanic Ministry — Fr. Carlos Ruiz Santos ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Mathias Kalemba
- Secretary — Trina Lazo, (785) 890-7205, [email protected]
- Bookkeeper — Ann Middleton, (785) 890-7205
- DRE, Elementary — Jessica Kannady, (785) 821-2275
- DRE, Jr. High / High School — Amanda Martin, [email protected]
Visiting, Office & Contact
The parish office at 307 W 13th Street, Goodland, is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, closed on Holy Days and Holidays; phone calls are answered during those same hours. All published Mass and confession times are in Mountain Time. Visitors are warmly welcomed — please accompany children to the restrooms and refrain from food or drinks in the pews.
- Address: 307 W 13th St, Goodland, KS 67735
- Phone: (785) 890-7205
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tue–Thu 9:00 am–3:00 pm (closed Holy Days)
- All times listed in Mountain Time
Clustered Mission Parishes
Our Lady of Perpetual Help shares its pastor and pastoral team with three mission parishes across far northwestern Kansas, forming a regional Catholic cluster. Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Sharon Springs celebrates Sunday Mass at 8:00 am, Wednesday at 6:30 pm, and Thursday at 8:00 am, with Adoration following the First Friday 8:00 am Mass; confessions are heard Sundays 7:30–7:50 am. St. Joseph Parish in Bird City and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in St. Francis are likewise part of this regional grouping.
- Holy Ghost Catholic Church — Sharon Springs, KS (Fr. Carlos Ruiz Santos, 403 N. Main St, Sharon Springs, KS 67758)
- St. Joseph Parish — Bird City, KS
- St. Francis of Assisi Parish — St. Francis, KS