About Sacred Heart · Ness City, Kansas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Ness City, Kansas, part of the Diocese of Dodge City. It serves 217 registered households in the small farming community of Ness County, with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The parish runs Sacred Heart School (PK–8) on the same campus and is pastored by Rev. Pascal L. Klein, who also shepherds nearby St. Aloysius in Ransom. The parish was founded in 1912 by Volga German Catholic families migrating west from Ellis County, and for many decades was served by the Capuchin (O.M. Cap.) Franciscans.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Pascal L. Klein
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dodge City
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a small but lively country parish where Catholic families in Ness County can know their pastor by name, send their children to a parish elementary school (PK–8), and worship in a community with deep Volga German Catholic roots dating to 1912. With 217 registered households, weekend Masses Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and a school-day faith formation program integrated with Sacred Heart School, the parish offers the rare combination of a personal small-town parish and a full Catholic K-8 education on one campus.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
About Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Ness City, Kansas, the county seat of Ness County in the wheat-growing high plains of western Kansas. The parish is part of the Diocese of Dodge City and today counts 217 registered households. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening at 5:30 pm and Sunday morning at 10:30 am, and the parish shares a campus with Sacred Heart School, a PK–8 Catholic elementary school that has been in continuous operation since 1919. The parish is pastored by Rev. Pascal L. Klein, who also serves St. Aloysius Church in nearby Ransom.
- 217 registered households
- Pastored by Rev. Pascal L. Klein
- Located at 510 South School Street, Ness City, KS 67560
- Part of the Diocese of Dodge City
History & Volga German Heritage
The parish was born from the westward migration of Volga German Catholic families out of the German-Russian settlements of Ellis County, Kansas, who came to Ness County in search of affordable farmland. Carl and John Weibert were the first to settle in the district in 1913, and they were soon followed by many other families from the Ellis County colonies. The settlers organized a parish, and on April 22, 1912, the contract was let for a frame church 46 by 28 feet; it was completed that spring and dedicated on June 19, 1912, with the first Sunday services held December 29, 1912.
- First Ellis County families settled near Ness City in 1913 (Carl and John Weibert)
- Additional Volga German families followed in 1915 and 1916
- Original church contracted April 22, 1912; dedicated June 19, 1912
- First Sunday Mass held December 29, 1912
- First permanent pastor: Rev. Fr. Alban Hammel, O.M. Cap.
Capuchin Franciscan Era
For most of its history Sacred Heart was served by Capuchin Franciscan priests (O.M. Cap. / O.F.M. Cap.), the same order that had taken over spiritual care of the German-Russian settlers of western Kansas back in 1878 at the invitation of Bishop Fink. The first resident pastor was Fr. Alban Hammel, O.M. Cap.; the first superior of the Sacred Heart Hospice was Fr. Basil Heim, O.M. Cap. By the 1926 Golden Jubilee of the German-Russian Settlements, the pastor was Fr. Cyril Zeller, O.M. Cap. Other Capuchins associated with the parish include Fr. Ildephonse Roeckl (who later served at Marienthal, Ellis, St. Fidelis in Victoria, and Sacred Heart in Frontenac) and Henry F. Hildebrandt. Today the parish is served by diocesan clergy rather than the Capuchins.
- Rev. Fr. Alban Hammel, O.M. Cap. — first permanent pastor
- Rev. Fr. Basil Heim, O.M. Cap. — first superior of Sacred Heart Hospice
- Rev. Fr. Cyril Zeller, O.M. Cap. — pastor in 1926
- Rev. Fr. Ildephonse Roeckl, O.F.M. Cap.
- Henry F. Hildebrandt
Sacred Heart School (PK–8)
Sacred Heart Catholic School has been a part of parish life since 1919, when it was founded alongside the parish's Capuchin-led ministry to local families. Today it serves roughly 56 students in PK and K–8 with a 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio, sharing the parish campus at 510 South School Street. The school describes its mission as a 'Catholic-Christian based academic and formational outreach of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in developing the mind, spirit and body of each student placed under its care.' Lead Teacher: Lacie Clarke.
- Founded in 1919
- Grades PK, K–8
- Approximately 56 students; 10:1 student-teacher ratio
- Lead Teacher: Lacie Clarke
- School shares the parish campus and offices (785-798-3530)
Parish Staff
The parish is staffed by a diocesan pastor, a parish secretary, a director of music, and the lead teacher of the parish school, all working out of the Parish & School Office at 510 South School Street.
- Pastor — Rev. Pascal L. Klein (also St. Aloysius, Ransom) — 785-798-3530
- Parish Secretary — Christy Seib
- Director of Music — Ann Kuhlman — 785-798-7777 (cell) / 785-798-3339 (home)
- Lead Teacher — Lacie Clarke
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
Parishioners and visitors can reach Sacred Heart at its parish office, rectory, school fax, or email. The Parish & School Office, Parish Center and Cafeteria all share the same phone line.
- Address: 510 South School Street, Ness City, KS 67560
- Rectory: 785-798-3195
- Parish & School Office: 785-798-3530
- Parish & School Fax: 785-798-3004
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://nesscitycatholic.org/
Sacred Heart in the Diocese of Dodge City
Sacred Heart, Ness City, is one of the parishes of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City, which covers the western counties of Kansas. The parish is listed in the diocesan directory under 'parish-listing/92-sacred-heart-church-ness-city'.
- Diocese: Dodge City
- Parish listed in diocesan directory
- Pastor also assigned to St. Aloysius, Ransom
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Alban Hammel, O.M. Cap.first permanent pastor (early 1910s)
Capuchin Franciscan; first resident pastor of Sacred Heart, Ness City.
- Rev. Fr. Basil Heim, O.M. Cap.
First superior of the Sacred Heart Hospice.
- Rev. Fr. Ildephonse Roeckl, O.F.M. Cap.
Served one year as superior and pastor; later moved to Marienthal, Ellis, St. Fidelis (Victoria), and Sacred Heart, Frontenac.
- Rev. Fr. Cyril Zeller, O.M. Cap.by 1926
Superior and pastor of Sacred Heart, Ness City at the time of the 1926 Golden Jubilee.
- Henry F. Hildebrandt
Listed among the priests who served Sacred Heart parish (Capuchin era).
- Rev. Pascal L. Kleinpresent
Diocesan priest; current pastor of Sacred Heart, Ness City, and St. Aloysius, Ransom.