About Sacred Heart Of Jesus · Shawnee, Kansas
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish and school in western Shawnee, Kansas, part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The parish community, today numbering over 2,000 families, traces its roots to a mission founded in 1871 for Catholic settlers near Bonner Springs and was relocated to its present site on Monticello Road in 2000 after arson destroyed its 1921 church. Under current pastor Fr. Jaime Zarse, who arrived July 1, 2023, the parish has embraced the mission of 'putting all hearts on a collision course with the Sacred Heart of Jesus,' built around five foundation stones: Eucharistic encounters, the rosary, fasting, Scripture, and confession. Sacred Heart runs an active Catholic school (Pre-K through 8th grade), a perpetual adoration chapel, and a wide range of family, youth, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Jaime Zarse
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a thriving, multigenerational Catholic parish and school on Monticello Road in western Shawnee where daily and Sunday Masses are celebrated, confession is offered six days a week, and a perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel is open 24/7 just inside the west entrance. Families can plug into a strong Catholic school (Pre-K through 8th), parish school of religion, youth ministry and confirmation program, and a dense network of lay groups from Dads at Sacred Heart (DASH) and MASH (men's Tuesday fellowship) to Mother's Circle, SASH (seniors 55+), Verso l'Alto (young adults), Marriage Ministry, Foster Care Ministry, Teams of Our Lady, and the parish's own RCIA process. The current pastor's clear, focused mission — built on five foundation stones of Eucharist, rosary, fasting, Scripture, and confession — has translated into a documented 18% jump in Mass attendance and a half-million-dollar increase in tithing since 2023, making this a community where new parishioners can quickly find both spiritual depth and real fellowship.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 7:00–8:00 AM
- Tuesday: 7:00–8:00 AM
- Wednesday: 6:00–7:00 PM
- Thursday: 5:00–6:00 PM
- Friday: 7:00–8:00 AM
- Saturday: 3:00–4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, in the Adoration Chapel just inside the west entrance to the church, off of Johnson Drive
Welcome & Parish Mission
Fr. Jaime Zarse's welcome letter frames Sacred Heart around a single urgent mission: 'putting all hearts on a collision course with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.' That mission is measured against five foundation stones — Eucharistic encounters, the rosary, fasting, Scripture, and confession — which the parish tracks quarterly. The parish's stated culture is 'Unapologetically Catholic,' 'Grit,' and 'Joyful Servants,' and the community formally commits to forming Disciples of Christ through Stewardship rooted in Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service.
- Core values: Unapologetically Catholic, Grit, Joyful Servants
- Five foundation stones: Eucharistic encounters, Rosary, Fasting, Scripture, Confession
- Parish mission: putting all hearts on a collision course with the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Stewardship pillars: Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, Service
The Story of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish
The parish began in 1871 as a mission for Catholic settlers near Bonner Springs during the Civil War era. It grew through the construction of a 1900 church, a 1921 stone-and-brick church, and a 1958 school. After arson destroyed the 1921 church on June 30, 1996, the community rallied under the slogan 'We will rebuild' and relocated to its present Monticello Road campus in Shawnee in 2000, dedicating a new church in 2005 and completing a major interior enhancement in 2023.
- 1871 — Mission founded for Catholic settlers near Bonner Springs
- 1900 — Church in Bonner Springs dedicated August 8 by Bishop Louis Fink
- 1914 — Fr. Joseph Jacobs becomes first resident pastor
- 1921 — New stone-and-brick church dedicated in Bonner Springs
- 1958 — Parish school dedicated September 14 under Fr. Michael Moriarty
- 1996 — Arson destroys the 1921 church on June 30
- 2000 — New school/worship center opens at Johnson Drive & Monticello Road
- 2005 — Present church dedicated by Archbishop Joseph Naumann on November 20
- 2023 — $1.4 million interior enhancement completed; Archbishop Naumann rededicates March 19
Clergy & Staff
Sacred Heart is served by pastor Fr. Jaime Zarse, who was ordained May 24, 2014, previously served as associate pastor at Christ the King in Topeka and as pastor of Sacred Heart in Sabetha, St. Augustine in Sabetha, and St. James in Wetmore, and was director of Totus Tuus before being installed at Sacred Heart on July 1, 2023. Fr. Dan Morris assists with the sacraments, and Deacon Nicholas Moragues serves as deacon, husband to Brenda, and leader of the My House men's small group.
- Fr. Jaime Zarse — Pastor (installed July 1, 2023)
- Fr. Dan Morris — Sacramental Assistance
- Dcn. Nicholas Moragues — Deacon; leads My House and Foster Care outreach
Parish Life Staff
The parish operations and parish life teams support the pastor's mission and the day-to-day functioning of the parish.
- Julie Krause — Parish Integrator
- Mike Billquist — Director of Operations
- Beth Bucklin — Stewardship & Development Director
- Jennifer Peavler — Pastoral Assistant
- Tara Green — Director of Parish Life / Hospitality (Greeters, Information Desk, Social Seniors, Golf Tournament, Brown Bottle Auction)
- Emily Dumler — Director of Religious Education K–5 & Marriage Ministry contact
- Emily Warn — Director of Religious Education
- Jen Zans — Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator
- Carson Ackerman — Adult Retreat & OCIA Coordinator
- Megan Dusselier — Preschool Director
Liturgy & Music Staff
The liturgy staff coordinate the music and liturgical environment for Masses and devotions across the parish.
- Dr. Tatiana Tessman — Director of Music Liturgy; sacred musician for 17+ years, with experience at St. Lawrence KU Catholic Center, Pine Ridge Presbyterian, and University United Methodist; co-founder/Artistic Director of MAPAA
- Kathy Clement — Liturgy Coordinator
- Charlene (Char) Mies — RCIA & Adult Formation Coordinator
School Administrative Staff
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade) is led by a long-experienced Catholic educator and a dedicated preschool director.
- Kathy Rhodes — School Principal (17+ years as a Catholic school principal; BS Iowa State, MS Kansas State, MS Benedictine College)
- Megan Dusselier — Preschool Director
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics of every age to receive the sacraments, from infant Baptism through adult Confirmation via OCIA/RCIA.
- Baptism — preparation class required; celebrated Sundays after 11:00 AM Mass (contact Kathleen Whalen)
- First Eucharist — preparation begins in August for 2nd graders (contact Emily Dumler)
- Confirmation — preparation begins in August for 8th graders (contact Jen Zans)
- Anointing of the Sick — First Thursday at 6:30 AM and 8:15 AM Masses and on request
- OCIA / RCIA — Becoming Catholic; weekly Tuesday evenings from mid-September (contact Char Mies)
- Marriage — Marriage Ministry and Marriage 911 resources; convalidation preparation
Faith Formation & School
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School (school.shoj.org), founded in 1958 by the parish, serves over 400 students from Pre-K through 8th grade. It is accredited by the North Central Association and the State of Kansas, with daily religion instruction, Chromebook labs, an iPad program, and Accelerated Reader literacy development. Faith formation outside the school day is provided through the Parish School of Religion (K–5), First Eucharist and Confirmation prep, Youth Ministry, OCIA, and adult formation.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School — Pre-K through 8th grade
- Parish School of Religion — K–5 religious education
- Youth Ministry & Confirmation — led by Jen Zans
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — adult initiation
- Marriage enrichment & Marriage 911
- Foster Care Ministry
Family & Life Ministries
A dense web of lay-led groups meets around the parish's vocation to form families in faith. Men's, women's, seniors', and young adult groups meet regularly for fellowship, formation, and mutual support.
- D-A-S-H (Dads at Sacred Heart) — third Thursday of the month
- M*A*S*H (Men at Sacred Heart, 18+) — Tuesday mornings for Mass, catechesis, fellowship
- Mother's Circle — second Thursday at 7:30 PM
- S-A-S-H (Seniors at Sacred Heart, 55+) — monthly events
- Young Adult Ministry — Verso l'Alto (ages 21–39, married and single)
- Marriage Ministry & Marriage 911
- My House — men's small group led by Dcn. Nicholas Moragues
- Teams of Our Lady — couples spirituality
- Foster Care Ministry
Outreach, Stewardship & Parish Life
Parish life at Sacred Heart is organized around hospitality and stewardship: Greeters and the Information Desk welcome at Masses, Social/Fellowship events, New Parishioner Welcome, Social Seniors, the Annual Golf Tournament and Brown Bottle Auction, and a year-round push on stewardship and development under a dedicated director.
- Greeters & Information Desk ministry
- New Parishioner Welcome
- Social Seniors fellowship
- Annual Golf Tournament & Brown Bottle Auction
- Stewardship & Development (Beth Bucklin)
- Communications apostolate (Tara Green)
War on Mediocrity Apostolate
Fr. Zarse launched 'The War on Mediocrity' — a weekly media apostolate delivered simultaneously as a podcast and a YouTube video — designed to ignite faith and inspire action. The name comes from the Latin mediocris, 'halfway up the rockface': the parish's wager is that Jesus means what He says in John 10:10 — that He came so that we may have life, and have it more abundantly — and that the summit, not the midway point, is the destination.
- Weekly podcast + YouTube video
- Built on the five foundation stones
- Tagline: 'Friends, we will see you at the summit.'
Contact & Visiting
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is at 5501 Monticello Road, Shawnee, KS 66226, on the southeast corner of Johnson Drive and Monticello Road. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM and Friday 8:00 AM–3:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM for lunch). The main line is 913-422-5700, fax 913-422-5723, and email [email protected]. The Adoration Chapel is accessed from the west entrance off Johnson Drive.
- Address: 5501 Monticello Road, Shawnee, KS 66226
- Phone: 913-422-5700
- Fax: 913-422-5723
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel entrance: west side of the church, off Johnson Drive
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Jacobs1914–1935
First resident pastor of the parish (then in Bonner Springs).
- Fr. Leavite Jacobs
Succeeded Fr. Joseph Jacobs.
- Fr. Joseph McManus1935–1955
- Fr. Michael Moriarty1955 onward
Led the parish school capital campaign; original school building dedicated Sept. 14, 1958.
- Fr. Leo Cooper
Administrator in the years surrounding the 1996 arson fire.
- Fr. Patrick Jerome1995–2001
Led the 'We will rebuild' effort and the relocation from Bonner Springs to Johnson Drive and Monticello Road in Shawnee; new school/worship center opened September 2000.
- Fr. Craig Maxim2001–2015
Launched 2002 capital campaign that raised over $4 million; oversaw construction and Nov. 20, 2005 dedication of the present church and the 2006 school addition.
- Fr. Patrick Sullivan2015–2023
Oversaw the $1.4 million interior enhancement of the church, completed March 2023.
- Fr. Jaime Zarse2023–present
Installed July 1, 2023; launched the 'collision course with the Sacred Heart' mission and the War on Mediocrity apostolate.