About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Leavenworth, Kansas
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Catholic parish in Leavenworth, Kansas, established in 1885 by Bishop Louis M. Fink, OSB, for the English-speaking faithful of South Leavenworth. Today it is unified with neighboring St. Casimir Parish (originally a Polish immigrant church founded in 1888) as the Sacred Heart–St. Casimir Catholic Parish within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The parish maintains two worship sites — Sacred Heart Church at 1405 2nd Avenue and St. Casimir Church at 715 Pennsylvania Avenue — with Mass offered weekly at both, served by a pastor, two permanent deacons, and a small parish staff.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Marianand Mendem
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Sacred Heart–St. Casimir welcomes parishioners across a wide liturgical and cultural spectrum, with weekly Mass at two historic worship sites — the Romanesque-style Sacred Heart Church (built 1927) and the Polish-founded St. Casimir Church (1894) — as well as Eucharistic Adoration, a Korean Prayer Group, parish bazaars and dinners, the Knights of Columbus, Altar Societies, and a vibrant Religious Education program for children. Members are invited into one pastoral and finance council regardless of which church site they attend, and outreach efforts like Project Fondwa (Haiti) and the Brother's Keeper Quilt Group extend the parish's mission beyond Leavenworth.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Lenten Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 PM at Sacred Heart Church (with Archdiocese-wide reconciliation schedule during Lent)
- By appointment through the parish office (913-772-2424)
Adoration times
- First Tuesday of every month, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, at St. Casimir Church
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th (and 5th if applicable) Tuesdays of every month, 2:30–4:30 PM — Sacred Heart Church open for quiet prayer
Parish History
Founded by Bishop Louis M. Fink's decree of August 16, 1885, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish has served the English-speaking Catholics of South Leavenworth for more than 140 years. The cornerstone of the first church was laid October 17, 1886; the present Romanesque-style church was built 1926–1927 under Father Michael J. O'Farrell and consecrated in 1948. The parish merged with the Polish-founded St. Casimir Church in 2006 but continues to maintain both worship sites.
- Founded 1885 by Bishop Louis M. Fink, OSB; first pastor Rev. Thomas J. Downey
- Original brick church designed by Brother Oliver Marie, built by Michael Desmond and Samuel Schaefer; cornerstone Oct 17, 1886
- Present church cornerstone laid May 16, 1926; dedicated Nov 24, 1927
- Church solemnly consecrated by Bishop George J. Donnelly, Oct 26, 1948
- Merged with St. Casimir Parish in 2006 under Fr. Phillip J. Winkelbauer
Lenten Activities
Each Lent the parish gathers for Stations of the Cross with a free soup supper, alternating between the two church sites on Fridays at 6:00 PM, and prays the Rosary before each Mass. Daily reflections are encouraged through formed.org/lent and bestlentever.com, and Bible Studies are offered.
- Stations of the Cross & Soup Supper — alternating Fridays at 6 PM
- Rosary before each Mass during Lent
- Lenten Bible Studies offered
Parish Staff
The unified parish is led by Fr. Marianand Mendem and supported by two permanent deacons and a small office and music staff. Contact the parish office at 913-772-2424 for general inquiries or 913-250-5135 to reach the pastor directly.
- Fr. Marianand Mendem — Pastor
- Deacon Robert Zbylut — Permanent Deacon & Director of Religious Education
- Deacon James Skahan — Permanent Deacon
- Chelsie Murphy — Office Manager
- Carol Anne Schmidt — Music Director
Pastoral & Finance Councils
A single Pastoral Council and Finance Council serve the entire unified parish. The Pastoral Council meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Sacred Heart Hall; minutes are posted on the bulletin boards at the back of both churches. The Finance Council meets bi-monthly the Wednesday before the Pastoral Council at 7 PM in the Parish Office.
- Pastoral Council: 3rd Thursday, 7 PM, Sacred Heart Hall
- Finance Council: bi-monthly, Wednesday before Pastoral Council, 7 PM, Parish Office
Groups & Committees
The parish supports a wide range of lay organizations spanning liturgy, hospitality, fellowship, charity, and fraternal life. Together they form the backbone of parish life at both Sacred Heart and St. Casimir.
- Liturgy Committee
- Community Concerns Committee
- Parish Activities Committee (bazaars, dinners, dances)
- Hospitality / Welcoming Committee
- Sacred Heart Altar Society — 1st Wednesday, 12:15 PM, Sacred Heart Hall
- St. Casimir Altar Society — 2nd Thursday, 9:30 AM, St. Casimir Hall
- St. Casimir Men's Society — 1st Thursday, St. Casimir Hall
- Knights of Columbus — 2nd Wednesday, 8 PM, Knights Hall, 205 4th Street
- Korean Prayer Group — 2nd & 4th Sunday, Sacred Heart Conference Room
- Project Fondwa (Haiti outreach)
- Brother's Keeper Quilt Group — Thursdays, 1:00–3:00 PM
Faith Formation for Children
Children's Religious Education at Sacred Heart–St. Casimir includes the School of Religion (CCD) for children not enrolled in Catholic school, a Children's Liturgy of the Word during Sunday Mass, and a special Children's Mass the first Sunday of each month. All adult volunteers must be VIRTUS certified.
- School of Religion / CCD — Wednesdays, 6 PM, Xavier Preschool Building (Aug–May)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — Sundays during Mass (Aug–May)
- Children's Mass — 1st Sunday, 11 AM, Sacred Heart (Aug–May)
- Children serve as lectors, ushers, gift bearers, greeters, altar servers
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Adults interested in joining the Catholic Church are welcomed through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The journey typically spans several months of preparation, with the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) usually celebrated at the Easter Vigil. Interested inquirers should contact the Parish Office to set up a first meeting with the pastor.
- Step 1 — Contact the Parish Office
- Step 2 — Meet with the pastor and the RCIA team
- Initiation celebrated at the Easter Vigil
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Parishioners of all ages are invited to serve at the altar and enrich the liturgy through music. Training is provided for liturgical roles, and the parish choir rehearses weekly at Sacred Heart Church.
- Liturgical Roles: Sacristans, Ushers, Greeters, Gift Bearers, Altar Servers (4th grade+), Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Choir — Wednesdays, 7 PM, Sacred Heart Church (sings every other weekend)
- Cantors and Instrumentalists welcomed
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. For information on Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, or Funeral Services, contact the parish office at 913-772-2424 or email [email protected] for sacramental records.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation
- Holy Eucharist
- Holy Matrimony
- Holy Orders
- Funeral Services
Outreach: Project Fondwa
A small group of parishioners partners with the Haitian Sisters of St. Anthony of Fondwa to support residents of Fondwa, a rural community in Haiti. This mission partnership is one of the parish's signature outreach efforts beyond Leavenworth.
- Partners with the Sisters of St. Anthony of Fondwa, Haiti
- Open to any parishioner interested in joining the work
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas J. Downey1885–1910
Founding pastor; resigned due to poor health; buried in Plattsburg, MO.
- Rev. Rudolph B. Groener1910–c.1920
Second pastor; granted leave of absence due to illness.
- Rev. Thomas Kinsella1911–1914
Third pastor; transferred; buried in Ursuline Cemetery, Paola, KS.
- Rev. Maurice Burkto 1916
Fourth pastor; built the present rectory in 1915.
- Rev. Michael J. O'Farrell1924–1934
Sixth pastor; built the present Romanesque-style church (cornerstone 1926, dedicated 1927).
- Rev. Joseph F. Selting1934–c.1962
Seventh pastor; served 28 years; Golden Jubilee 1935; church consecrated 1948.
- Father Landwehrserved into 1979, d. Feb 1981
His death led to Rev. Charles McGlinn serving as temporary administrator.
- Rev. Gerald E. Sheeds ('Father Jerry')1981–1986
Appointed pastor of both Sacred Heart and St. Casimir parishes; protected stained glass; expanded playground/parking.
- Rev. William M. 'Bill' Haegelin1986–1997
Previously helped in 1983 during Fr. Jerry's sabbatical; oversaw major plant improvements.
- Rev. Gary P. Applegate1997 (Admin. Jan)–2003
Administrator from Jan 26, 1997; appointed pastor July 1997.
- Rev. Phillip J. Winkelbauer2003–2018
Led the 2006 merger of Sacred Heart and St. Casimir into one parish; retired 2018.
- Fr. Marianand Mendem2018–present
Current pastor of unified Sacred Heart–St. Casimir Parish.