About Sacred Heart · Fredonia, Kansas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Fredonia, Kansas (Wilson County), serving the local Catholic community under the Diocese of Wichita. The parish is currently pastored by Fr. Stuart M. Smeltzer and is partnered with St. Ignatius Catholic Church in nearby Neodesha, sharing clergy and ministry between the two communities. Sacred Heart offers a full week of Masses including a Sunday morning Mass at 10:30 a.m., a Saturday Vigil, and weekday Masses, along with a long-standing First Friday tradition of Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. According to the diocesan directory, the parish is home to approximately 112 families and 225 individual Catholics.
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Stuart M. Smeltzer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a warm, small-parish Catholic community in rural southeast Kansas where members truly know one another. The parish celebrates Mass five days a week including a Saturday Vigil, runs a Parish School of Religion for elementary-aged children each Sunday morning, and gathers regularly through the Altar Society and Knights of Columbus. The parish's signature First Friday tradition—Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from morning until evening—gives parishioners a full day of prayer, and its partnership with St. Ignatius in Neodesha means Sunday Mass is offered in both towns every weekend.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass
- 4:45 – 5:15 p.m. Saturday
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Parish
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. Families are asked to contact the parish office well in advance for marriage preparation (at least one year ahead) and to arrange Baptisms, Anointing of the Sick, or other sacramental needs. First Communion and Confirmation preparation is provided through the Parish School of Religion.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Penance — 30 minutes before each Mass or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Matrimony — contact the parish office at least one year in advance
- Eucharist & Confirmation preparation via PSR
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sacred Heart runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) for elementary-aged children of the parish. Following diocesan policy, children preparing to receive any sacrament are expected to participate in PSR classes for at least one year prior. Classes are held each Sunday morning during the school year.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) classes: Sundays 9:20 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
- Diocesan policy requires at least one year of PSR prior to receiving a sacrament
Parish Organizations
Two long-standing lay organizations sustain parish community life at Sacred Heart, both meeting in the parish hall during the school year. The Altar Society gathers on the first Wednesday of each month, and the Knights of Columbus council meets on the second Wednesday of each month.
- Altar Society — first Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. (except summer)
- Knights of Columbus — second Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. (except summer)
Parish Staff & Office
Sacred Heart Parish is staffed by its pastor and a parish secretary who keeps regular weekday office hours. Inquiries about Mass intentions, sacramental preparation, bulletin announcements, and general parish business can be directed to the office during the posted hours.
- Pastor: Rev. Stuart M. Smeltzer
- Parish Secretary: Deb Jacobsen
- Office hours: Mon 9:00 a.m.–Noon; Tue 2:30–5:20 p.m.; Wed 9:00 a.m.–Noon; Thu 9:00 a.m.–Noon; Fri 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Partner Parish: St. Ignatius, Neodesha
Sacred Heart shares clergy and ministry with St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Neodesha (about 10 miles southeast). The two parishes coordinate a joint Mass and ministry schedule, with St. Ignatius offering 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, Wednesday and Friday weekday Masses, and First Saturday Mass, while Sacred Heart covers the other days. The joint arrangement is reflected on both parish websites and in shared sacramental care for Catholic families across Wilson County.
- Sunday 8:30 a.m. — St. Ignatius
- Sunday 10:30 a.m. — Sacred Heart
- Wednesday 5:30 p.m. — St. Ignatius
- Friday 8:00 a.m. — St. Ignatius
- First Saturday 8:30 a.m. — St. Ignatius
- Parish Secretary at St. Ignatius: Vicky Gutchenritter
History & Heritage
Sacred Heart Parish has served the Fredonia Catholic community for decades. Diocesan records document Monsignor Edward I. Gunning — an Irish-born priest ordained at St. Mary Cathedral, Kilkenny in 1920 — as pastor of Sacred Heart, Fredonia (with St. Francis, Fall River as a mission) from 1937 to 1940. He was widely known across the Diocese of Wichita as a builder of church properties, and at Sacred Heart he renovated the church, added a basement, and rebuilt the foundation.
- Monsignor Edward I. Gunning: pastor 1937–1940
- Gunning renovated the church, added a basement, and rebuilt the foundation
- St. Francis Parish, Fall River was served as a mission from Sacred Heart during this period
Visiting & Contacting Sacred Heart
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed at Sacred Heart. The parish office is open weekday mornings (and Tuesday afternoons), and Fr. Smeltzer can be reached by phone or email. The parish mailing address differs slightly from the physical church location, so visitors planning a visit should note the 1223 Madison Street address for in-person arrival.
- Street address: 1223 Madison Street, Fredonia, KS 66736
- Mailing address: 428 N. 12th Street, Fredonia, KS 66736
- Phone: 620-378-3658
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Secretary: Deb Jacobsen
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Edward I. Gunning1937–1940
Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Fredonia with St. Francis Parish, Fall River as a mission; renovated the church, built a basement, and rebuilt the foundation.