About Sacred Heart · Colwich, Kansas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a parish of about 400 families in the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, serving the small community of Colwich, Kansas, since 1901. The parish's mission is rooted in the Sacred Heart of Jesus: 'Sanctified by the Sacraments and fed through the Sacrifice of the Mass, we seek to love in return by Adoration, Prayer, Service, Hospitality and Formation.' Worship takes place in a historic brick church originally dedicated by Bishop Hennessy on June 9, 1918, which was extensively renovated and rededicated by Bishop Carl A. Kemme on December 20, 2019. The parish operates a full Catholic school–age faith formation program (PSR and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), a perpetual adoration chapel, the OCIA process for adults, and a wide network of parish organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Altar Society, Holy Name Society, Catholic Youth Ministry, and a Prayer Line.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick York
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a 125-year-old rural Catholic community that combines a historic 1918 sanctuary with a vigorous modern parish life — perpetual adoration in the Divine Mercy Chapel, a parish school faith-formation program rooted in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, OCIA for adults, a Knights of Columbus council, Altar Society, Holy Name Society, Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) for middle and high school, a choir and children's choir, a Prayer Line, and a Medical Supply Closet for neighbors in need. With about 400 families and a deeply rooted German-Catholic heritage that has produced many priestly vocations, the parish offers a genuine small-town Catholic home where members are known by name and asked to grow together through Adoration, Prayer, Service, Hospitality and Formation.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday — 15 minutes before each weekday Mass
- Saturday — 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- 24/7 Perpetual Adoration in the Divine Mercy Chapel — sign up for an hour (coordinator: Linda Wapelhorst, 316-258-5340)
- Chapel open Sunday noon through Saturday 4:00 PM
Parish History
Sacred Heart traces its origins to May 3, 1901, when the first Catholic church in Colwich, Kansas, was dedicated in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The first resident pastor, Fr. Joseph Manz, arrived that November. On Pentecost Sunday, June 20, 1915, the original wood-frame church was destroyed by fire. The cornerstone for the present brick church was laid May 14, 1916; the building was sufficiently complete for worship by August 1917; and Bishop Hennessy formally dedicated the church on June 9, 1918. The parish maintains a printed Parish History & Information Booklet and a full succession of pastors stretching back to 1901.
- May 3, 1901 — First church dedicated in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- November 1901 — Fr. Joseph Manz arrives as first resident pastor
- June 20, 1915 — Original wood-frame church destroyed by fire on Pentecost Sunday
- May 14, 1916 — Cornerstone laid for new brick church
- August 1917 — New church completed enough for worship
- June 9, 1918 — Bishop Hennessy dedicates the present church
- December 20, 2019 — Bishop Carl A. Kemme rededicates the renovated 1918 church
Mission and Identity
Sacred Heart's stated mission flows directly from its patron: 'Sanctified by the Sacraments and fed through the Sacrifice of the Mass, we seek to love in return by Adoration, Prayer, Service, Hospitality and Formation, the Sacred Heart of Jesus that has so loved us.' Stewardship is presented as a grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God's gifts and shares them in love of God and neighbor — 'less about what we do and more about who we are in Jesus Christ.' The parish is organized around four stewardship pillars: Formation, Service, Hospitality, and Prayer.
- Adoration
- Prayer
- Service
- Hospitality
- Formation
Worship
The parish celebrates Mass in English throughout the week, with a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses. Weekday Masses are spread across early morning, mid-morning, and early evening times to accommodate working families and farm life. A complete weekly Mass intention schedule appears in each bulletin. Live-streamed Masses are also offered via the parish YouTube channel.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:30 PM
- Sunday Masses — 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
- Monday — 10:00 AM
- Tuesday — 7:30 AM
- Wednesday — 6:30 PM
- Thursday — 7:30 AM
- Friday — 7:30 AM
- Live Mass via YouTube: Sacred Heart Church-Colwich
Sacraments
Sacred Heart prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) journey guides unbaptized catechumens, baptized Christians from other denominations, and Catholics seeking First Communion and/or Confirmation through weekly Saturday classes at 10:00 AM, Sunday Mass attendance, parish and diocesan Rites, and a diocesan retreat, culminating in reception at the Easter Vigil. Couples preparing for marriage work directly with the parish; the Anointing of the Sick and a last-rites emergency line (316-393-6160) are also available.
- Baptism (contact parish office)
- First Communion and Confirmation (via PSR/CGS)
- Confession / Reconciliation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick and emergency pastoral care
- OCIA — Rite of Acceptance, Rite of Election, Easter Vigil
Faith Formation
Sacred Heart's faith formation program 'seeks to nurture the seeds of faith planted at Baptism, offering time and space for each person to grow in relationship with Christ from birth to adulthood.' The parish supports families as 'the first and most important formators' and quotes Sofia Cavalletti: 'Religious life does not begin at a set age; it is the awakening of a relationship that has always existed.' The program combines traditional Parish School of Religion (PSR, Grades K-12) with the Montessori-style Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) atriums serving children from infancy through age 12.
- PSR — Parish School of Religion, Grades K-12 (Mary Gutschenritter, PSR Coordinator)
- CGS Infant/Toddler Atrium (ages 0-3)
- CGS Level I Atrium (ages 3-6)
- CGS Level II Atrium (ages 6-9)
- CGS Level III Atrium (ages 9-12)
- Middle School Ministry (grades 7-8)
- High School Ministry (grades 9-12)
- Adult Faith Formation
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults is described on the parish website as 'dating the Catholic Church' — a relationship, not a test. Anyone not yet fully Catholic may attend OCIA, including unbaptized catechumens, baptized Christians from other denominations, and Catholics seeking First Communion and/or Confirmation. The four periods of the journey (Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification & Enlightenment, Mystagogy) culminate in reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil. There is no monetary cost; participants need only a sincere desire to grow in relationship with Jesus and to learn more about Him and His Church.
- Weekly classes on Saturday mornings at 10:00 AM
- Sunday Mass attendance expected
- Sponsor required (preferably a practicing Sacred Heart parishioner, not spouse or fiancé)
- Rite of Acceptance at Sacred Heart, First Sunday of Advent
- Diocesan Rite of Election during Lent
- Diocesan Catechumen retreat before Easter
- Reception at the Easter Vigil
Parish Organizations and Ministries
Sacred Heart is sustained by a strong network of lay-led organizations spanning men's, women's, youth, devotional, and service groups. The Altar Society and Holy Name Society are the long-standing parish sodalities; the Knights of Columbus represent the parish at the diocesan and fraternal level. CYM (Catholic Youth Ministry) serves high schoolers under Grace Biby and Bria Gutschenritter. A parish Prayer Line and a Medical Supply Closet extend care beyond the parish walls.
- Altar Society (Lisa Schwaiger)
- Holy Name Society (Patrick Kraus)
- Knights of Columbus (Anthony Weber)
- Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM — Grace Biby, Bria Gutschenritter)
- Prayer Line (Jana Linnebur)
- Medical Supply Closet (Danielle Mies)
- Natural Family Planning (Clara Husband, CFCPI)
- Kapaun's Men (Friday mornings)
- Called & Gifted discernment
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy in a variety of lay roles. A volunteer AV team handles audio/visual production (coordinated by Linda Wapelhorst), and liturgical assignments are scheduled through Ministry Scheduler Pro. The Music Ministry includes cantors, organists, pianists, an adult choir, and a children's choir. Schedules for altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, gift bearers, and ushers appear weekly in the bulletin.
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Sacristans
- Gift Bearers
- Ushers
- Audio/Visual Ministry
- Music Ministry — Cantor, Organist, Pianist
- Adult Choir
- Children's Choir
Architecture and 2019 Renovation
The present church is the 1918 brick building dedicated by Bishop Hennessy after the original 1901 wood-frame structure was destroyed by fire on Pentecost Sunday, 1915. In December 2019 Bishop Carl A. Kemme blessed and dedicated an extensive interior renovation overseen by then-pastor Fr. Eric Weldon, who had inherited the project from Fr. Andrew Heiman. The transformation included a new free-standing altar (a gift from a Catholic carpenter in the diocese), a restored main altar and reredos, a sanctuary floor with motifs of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, new confessionals, ambo and communion rail, repainted Stations of the Cross and a mural of the Last Supper, sanctuary murals of the Wedding at Cana and the Breaking of the Bread at Emmaus, new saints painted on ceiling medallions, and a rose window honoring St. Cecilia flanked by new vertical windows. Two saints honoring the parish's German heritage — St. Peter Canisius and St. Boniface — were painted by Wichita artist Wendy Lewis. Parishioner trades and Star Lumber of Wichita provided major in-kind support; Evergreene Architectural Arts of New York City and Koehn Paint Co. of Newton were key outside contractors.
- 1916-1918 — brick church built after 1915 fire
- June 9, 1918 — dedicated by Bishop Hennessy
- December 20, 2019 — renovation blessed and dedicated by Bishop Carl A. Kemme
- Wendy Lewis murals — Wedding at Cana, Breaking of Bread at Emmaus, St. Peter Canisius, St. Boniface
- Free-standing altar gifted by a Catholic carpenter
- Floor tile motifs of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Bill Wapelhorst — grandson of original builder — contributed construction expertise
- Evergreene Architectural Arts (NYC) and Koehn Paint Co. (Newton)
Staff
The parish is led pastorally by Fr. Patrick York and staffed by a small team of lay ministers and office personnel. Fr. John Jirak serves as Priest in Residence and Deacon Paul Brungardt assists. Cheryl Reichenberger serves as Parish Office Assistant; Jillian Linnebur as Parish Life Coordinator; Mary Gutschenritter as PSR Coordinator; Sarah Carter as Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Coordinator; and Hannah Neville as Bookkeeper.
- Rev. Patrick York — Pastor
- Rev. John Jirak — Priest in Residence
- Deacon Paul Brungardt
- Cheryl Reichenberger — Parish Office Assistant
- Jillian Linnebur — Parish Life Coordinator
- Mary Gutschenritter — PSR Coordinator
- Sarah Carter — CGS Coordinator
- Hannah Neville — Bookkeeper
Visit, Register, and Stay Connected
Newcomers are welcomed to register through the parish office and to join Flocknote by texting SHCOLWICH. The parish livestreams Mass on its YouTube channel and maintains active presences on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter). The emergency sacramental line (316-393-6160) is available outside office hours. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM) and Friday 9:00 AM – Noon. All mail should be addressed to P.O. Box 578, Colwich, KS 67030.
- Office: 316-796-1224
- Emergency sacramental line: 316-393-6160
- YouTube: Sacred Heart Church-Colwich
- Facebook: Sacred Heart Catholic Church — Colwich
- Instagram: sacredheartcolwich
- Twitter/X: @SacredHeartKS
- Flocknote: text SHCOLWICH to join
- Office hours: M–Th 9 AM – 4 PM (closed 12-1), Fri 9 AM – Noon
Vocations from Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart is one of the more vocationally fruitful small parishes in the Diocese of Wichita. The parish's 'Vocations from Sacred Heart' page on the History section lists numerous priestly ordinations spanning decades, including diocesan priests and a Benedictine (Order of St. Benedict, Shawnee, OK).
- Fr. Michael Linnebur — Diocese of Wichita
- Fr. Clay Kimbro — Diocese of Wichita
- Fr. Aaron Spexarth — Diocese of Wichita
- Fr. Andrew Seiler — Diocese of Wichita
- Fr. Nicholas Ast — Order of St. Benedict (Shawnee, OK)
- Fr. Dan Spexarth — Diocese of Wichita
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Manz1901–1904
First resident pastor of Sacred Heart.
- Fr. Joseph Ernst1904–1918
- Fr. Joseph Grueter1918–1923
- Fr. Fodrey Birrenbach1923–1940
- Fr. Anthony Hermann1941–1946
- Fr. Stanislaus Esser1946–1955
- Msgr. John Moeder1955–1965
- Fr. John Rusteika1966–1985
- Fr. Vincent Eck1985–1990
- Fr. John Dinan1990–1991
Administrator.
- Msgr. Denis Dougherty1991–2000
- Fr. John Sherlock2000–2002
- Fr. Brian Bebak2002–2007
- Fr. Ken Schuckman2007–2016
- Fr. Andrew Heiman2016–2018
Initiated the renovation committee later completed under Fr. Weldon.
- Fr. Dwight Birket2018
Administrator.
- Fr. Eric Weldon2018–2021
Oversaw the major 2019 renovation/rededication of the 1918 church.
- Fr. Patrick York2021–Present
Current pastor; leads the parish into its 125th anniversary in 2026.