About Sacred Heart (Colby) · Colby, Kansas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Salina located in Colby, Kansas, the county seat of Thomas County in northwest Kansas. Founded in 1889, it serves the Catholics of Colby and the surrounding six-county region from its current church on North French Avenue. The parish runs Sacred Heart Grade School (Pre-K through 5), maintains an active Altar Society and Knights of Columbus council, and offers daily and weekend Masses along with perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from Monday noon through Friday noon. Its mission statement reads: 'We, The Catholic Community of Sacred Heart, gather together to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ; grow in faith and love in His Church; share our lives and gifts; reach out to serve others who do not reach out to us.'
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Brian Lager
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a regional hub parish that combines a small-town feel with the full sacramental and devotional life of a much larger church: weekend and daily Mass, daily confession windows, near-perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Monday at noon through Friday noon, a Pre-K–5 Catholic grade school, an active Knights of Columbus council and Altar Society (with three women's circles — St. Monica, Queen Mary, and Holy Family), and formation for every age from OCIA for adults to K–8 religious education, CYO, high school faith formation, and a Wednesday-night Family Formation program. Visitors will find a community that intentionally reaches out — from Catholic Charities outreach visits hosted in the parking lot to Knights of Columbus fish fries and Lenten soup suppers — making it an easy parish to belong to whether you are a lifelong Catholic or just exploring the faith.
Mass times at Sacred Heart (Colby)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday 7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
- Sunday 9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
- Wednesday & Friday 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
- Weekdays: 30 minutes prior to Mass
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins at noon on Monday and continues until noon on Friday
- 24-Hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (7:30 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. start, rotating schedule — see bulletin)
Parish History
The first Mass in the Colby area was celebrated in 1886 in a private home. The parish was formally organized in 1889 when Bishop Richard Scannell sent Father August Heimann to minister to Catholics across six northwest Kansas counties. Father Heimann said Mass in homes until the first church was built in 1890. A larger brick church followed in 1909; it was destroyed by fire in 1938. The parish immediately built a basement worship space, but the Depression, poor harvests, and World War II delayed further work until a new church was built above the basement in 1951, with stained-glass windows added in 1976.
- 1886 — First Mass in a private home
- 1889 — Parish organized; Father August Heimann arrives
- 1890 — First church built
- 1909 — Larger brick church built
- 1938 — Brick church destroyed by fire; basement built
- 1951 — Current church constructed above the basement
- 1960 — Sacred Heart Grade School opens (Sisters of St. Agnes as first teachers)
- 1976 — Stained-glass windows installed
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Father Brian Lager, two parochial vicars — Father Jesse Ochs (based at St. Joseph in Oakley) and Father Frederick Gruber — and Deacon Thomas Schrick. A small lay staff runs the parish office, religious education program, and school.
- Pastor: Fr. Brian Lager ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Jesse Ochs ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Frederick Gruber ([email protected])
- Deacon: Thomas Schrick ([email protected])
- Parish Minister: Jeannie Solko ([email protected])
- Parish Office Manager / Secretary: Kim Gribble ([email protected])
- Religious Ed K–8: Laura Schwarz ([email protected], 785-443-3354)
- Maintenance: Jeff Wagoner
- School Principal: Troy Langdon ([email protected])
- School Secretary: Annette Wetter ([email protected])
Sacred Heart Grade School
Sacred Heart Grade School, located at 1150 W. 6th Street, serves Pre-K through 5th grade with an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio and is fully accredited by both the Kansas State Department of Education and the Western Catholic Educational Association (most recent comprehensive WCEA review in 2020). Founded in 1960 with Sisters of St. Agnes as the first teachers, the school now employs a lay staff. Its mission statement: 'The mission of Sacred Heart School is to prepare minds for tomorrow and souls for eternity.' A Home and School Association supports the school, and tuition-assistance scholarships are available to qualifying families.
- Grades: Pre-K through 5
- Student/teacher ratio: 8:1
- Enrollment: ~96 students (NCES listing)
- Principal: Troy Langdon (785-460-2813)
- School Secretary: Annette Wetter
- Home & School President: Kara Herrman
- Accreditation: Kansas State Department of Education; Western Catholic Educational Association (2020)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Sacred Heart offers formation opportunities for every age. K–8 religious education is coordinated by Laura Schwarz. CYO and high school faith formation meet on Wednesday evenings along with Family Formation (also Wednesday evenings) and a separate 6th–8th grade faith formation session. Adult formation includes OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) on Tuesday evenings, a Saturday-morning Men's Group, a Thursday-evening Women's Bible Study (currently working through 'Foundations of Faith – A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church'), and a Monday noon Faith & Science class.
- Religious Ed K–8 — Laura Schwarz
- CYO & High School Faith Formation (coordinator position currently being filled)
- Family Formation — Wednesday evenings
- 6th–8th Grade Faith Formation — Wednesday evenings
- OCIA — Tuesdays 7:00 p.m. in the church basement
- Men's Group — Saturdays 6:30 a.m. (Jim Schartz, 785-280-1835)
- Women's Bible Study — Thursdays 7:00 p.m. (Lisa Schartz, 785-263-3828)
- Faith & Science Class — Mondays noon–1:00 p.m.
Parish Organizations
The parish hosts a strong Knights of Columbus council and an Altar Society that is organized into three women's circles. The Family Life Commission coordinates parish events and the Lenten soup-supper series.
- Knights of Columbus — Mike Wetter, 785-269-8280
- Altar Society — Pat Erickson, 785-462-3890 (every woman of the parish is a member)
- St. Monica Circle — Kathy Ryan, 785-462-8033
- Queen Mary Circle — Mary Heier, 785-462-7459
- Holy Family Circle — Marilyn Bailey (785-443-1490) and Tina Harris
- Family Life Commission
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass in a range of liturgical roles. The Music ministry welcomes cantors and accompanists; Eucharistic Ministers distribute Holy Communion; Hospitality greeters welcome and seat parishioners and assist with the collection; the Gifts ministry brings up the offertory (a family-friendly role); Lectors proclaim the Scriptures; and Altar Servers (open from 3rd grade through adult) assist the priest at the altar.
- Eucharistic Ministry
- Hospitality (ushers/greeters)
- Gifts (offertory procession — open to families with young children)
- Lectors (with personal preparation time)
- Altar Servers (3rd grade through adult)
- Music (cantors and accompanists) — contact Laura Schwarz at 785-443-3354
Sacraments
Information on each of the sacraments is published in the weekly bulletin. Baptism and Anointing of the Sick are scheduled by appointment through Father Brian (785-462-2179 ext. 1). Couples wishing to marry must personally contact the Pastor at least six months before the anticipated wedding date and complete diocesan pre-marital instruction. Natural Family Planning instruction using the Creighton Model is offered free of charge by appointment.
- Baptism — by appointment, call Fr. Brian ext. 1
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment, call Fr. Brian ext. 1
- Marriage — contact the Pastor at least six months in advance; pre-marital instruction required
- Confession — see scheduled times or by appointment
- Natural Family Planning (Creighton Model) — free introductory sessions by appointment: Tina Schrick (785-462-6845), Breanna McLemore (308-631-9561), Pamela Schroeder (785-747-8485)
Outreach & Community Life
Sacred Heart regularly partners with Catholic Charities of Northwest Kansas, hosting their outreach van in the Knights of Columbus parking lot (435 N. Sterling Ave.) for drive-thru food and hygiene distribution to anyone with household income at or below 130% of federal poverty guidelines (Spanish translator available). The parish also supports Miriam's Hope Ranch in Oberlin through CYO service trips, supports seminarians through Knights of Columbus fundraisers, and hosts the annual Knights of Columbus Religious Education Raffle.
- Catholic Charities Outreach Van — periodic Wednesdays at the Knights of Columbus parking lot
- Knights of Council #2647 fundraisers (Pancake & Sausage Breakfast, Fish Fry, Meat Bundle Raffle, Religious Education Raffle)
- CYO service trips (e.g., Miriam's Hope Ranch, Oberlin)
- Parish Prayer List published weekly in the bulletin
Mission Parishes
Sacred Heart serves as the hub parish in northwest Kansas and is responsible for two smaller mission parishes: St. Joseph Parish in Oakley and St. Paul Parish in Angelus.
- St. Joseph Parish — Oakley
- St. Paul Parish — Angelus
Visit, Contact & Hours
The parish office at 585 N. French Avenue, Colby, is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The parish phone is 785-462-2179 (parish), with the school reachable at 785-460-2813. The bulletin deadline is Wednesday at noon. Online giving and parish registration are available through the parish website, and a printed weekly bulletin is posted online for each weekend.
- Address: 585 N. French Ave., Colby, KS 67701
- Parish phone: 785-462-2179
- School phone: 785-460-2813
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
- Website: sacredheartcolby.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father August Heimann1889–
First priest assigned to serve the Catholics of the six northwest Kansas counties by Bishop Richard Scannell; celebrated Mass in homes until the first church was built in 1890.