About Sacred Heart · Paxico, Kansas
Sacred Heart Parish is a small rural Catholic parish in Paxico, Kansas, founded in 1874 and known locally as the 'Cathedral of the Flint Hills' for its impressive brick church that can be seen for miles across the surrounding prairie. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and is currently served from St. Bernard Parish in Wamego. Sacred Heart shares its pastor with nearby Holy Family Parish in Alma, and together they form a tight-knit faith community of approximately 100 families whose roots in the parish often stretch back five, six, and even seven generations. Worship is offered in English, with daily Mass on weekdays and a Sunday morning celebration that draws families from across Wabaunsee County.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Ratna Swamy Nanaam, MSFS (served from St. Bernard Parish, Wamego)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a multigenerational rural parish where many families have worshipped for five, six, or even seven generations — Father Francis Hund, for example, was baptized, confirmed, and ordained there. Visitors are warmly welcomed into a community of about 100 families that gathers under a striking brick church visible for miles across the Flint Hills, with daily and Sunday Mass, regular adoration and confession, Knights of Columbus breakfasts, and a strong tradition of lay fellowship (sausage suppers, fried chicken dinners, religious education) that newcomers can join quickly.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:45 AM (Sacred Heart)
- Sunday 7:30 AM (Holy Family, Alma)
- 1st Saturday 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM (Sacred Heart)
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00–8:00 AM (Sacred Heart)
- Tuesday 7:00–8:00 AM (Sacred Heart)
- Friday 7:00–8:00 AM (Sacred Heart)
- Saturday 7:00–8:00 AM (Sacred Heart)
- Wednesday 3:00–9:00 PM (Holy Family, 3rd Wed of the month)
- Wednesday 6:00–8:00 PM (Sacred Heart, 1st Wed of the month)
- Thursday 7:00–8:00 AM (Holy Family)
Parish History — 'Cathedral of the Flint Hills'
Sacred Heart was founded in 1874 as a Jesuit mission station for scattered Catholic settlers on the high prairie of Wabaunsee County, then called Newbury. After the railroad bypassed Newbury in 1886 in favor of nearby Paxico, the church — already rebuilt in 1884 — became the principal surviving landmark of the abandoned town. The original church burned in 1921, but the present large brick church was erected on the same site and is so prominent on the landscape that parishioners and neighbors call it the 'Cathedral of the Flint Hills.'
- Founded 1874 by Jesuits from St. Marys
- Original church built 1884, destroyed by fire 1921
- No resident pastor until 1887
- Combined parish records with Holy Family (Alma), 1880–1898
150th Anniversary (2024)
On Sept. 15, 2024, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann joined Father Ratna Swamy Nanaam, MSFS, and former pastors Fathers Michael Peterson and Anthony Williams for a Mass of thanksgiving marking the parish's 150th anniversary. Father Francis Hund, the only native son of the parish ever ordained there (July 17, 1982), wrote the meal blessing; each of its five paragraphs begins, 'Here in our holy land.' The day also included the dedication rite of the parish's newly installed altar.
- ~100 families participated
- Concelebrants included Archbishop Naumann and former pastors Peterson and Williams
- New altar dedicated during the anniversary liturgy
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Sacred Heart is currently served by Father Ratna Swamy Nanaam, MSFS, of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS), who also pastors nearby Holy Family Parish in Alma and is resident at St. Bernard Parish in Wamego. Parish records and sacramental requests are handled through St. Bernard's office.
- Father Ratna Swamy Nanaam, MSFS — current pastor (2024)
- Father Michael Peterson — former pastor
- Father Anthony Williams — former pastor
- Father Francis Hund — native son; concelebrated 150th Mass
Sanctuary Renewal & New Altar
The parish is currently promoting a Sanctuary Renewal Project, highlighted on the home page of the parish website. The project's centerpiece — a new altar — was dedicated by Archbishop Naumann during the 150th anniversary Mass in September 2024.
- Sanctuary Renewal Project featured on parish website
- New altar dedicated Sept. 15, 2024
Sacred Heart in the Archdiocese
Sacred Heart is listed in the official directory of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (archkck.org) as 'PAXICO – SACRED HEART,' founded 1874, served from St. Bernard Parish in Wamego. The parish shares its pastor with Holy Family Parish in Alma, forming a single pastoral unit in the northeastern corner of the archdiocese.
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
- Served from: St. Bernard Parish, Wamego
- Twin parish: Holy Family, Alma
Fellowship, Food & Knights of Columbus
Community life at Sacred Heart revolves around weekly Mass and a strong tradition of parish meals — the Knights of Columbus host a monthly breakfast on the first Sunday of each month (9:00 AM–12:00 PM), and the parish is famous for its sausage suppers and fried chicken dinners. Members of the Sodality and other volunteers teach religious education and staff parish fundraisers across the generations.
- K of C Monthly Breakfast: 1st Sunday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Sausage suppers & fried chicken dinners (parish tradition)
- Parish Sodality (lay women's organization)
Multigenerational Parish Life
Longtime parishioners note that many families have belonged to Sacred Heart for five, six, or even seven generations — including the Glotzbach family (descendants of the original 1869 Newbury settlers) and the Rush family of Eskridge, whose young children are parishioners today. Father Francis Hund, baptized and ordained at the church, says his 'entire faith life' has revolved around Sacred Heart, even as he's presided over weddings and funerals for lifelong friends there.
- Sixth- and seventh-generation parishioner families
- Father Francis Hund — native son, ordained 1982
- Visible 'church on the prairie' draws newcomers in
Visit, Register & Contact
New families are invited to register through the parish website and to join Sacred Heart for Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM. The parish office shares phone and email with St. Bernard Parish in Wamego, and the church is located at 22298 Newbury Road, Paxico, KS 66526.
- Address: 22298 Newbury Road, Paxico, KS 66526
- Phone: (785) 636-5578
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sacredheartpaxico.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Jesuit missionaries from St. Marys (and later Holy Family, Alma)1874–1887
Cared for Sacred Heart until the parish had its own resident pastor in 1887; combined parish records 1880–1898.
- Father Michael Peterson
Former pastor; concelebrated the 150th anniversary Mass in 2024.
- Father Anthony Williams
Former pastor; concelebrated the 150th anniversary Mass in 2024.
- Father Ratna Swamy Nanaam, MSFS
Current pastor; also serves Holy Family Parish in Alma; assisted Archbishop Naumann at the 2024 anniversary and altar dedication.