About Sacred Heart · Tonganoxie, Kansas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Tonganoxie, Kansas, founded in 1874 and part of the Lawrence pastoral region of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The parish serves roughly 458 households across Tonganoxie and surrounding Leavenworth County communities including McLouth, and today gathers for worship in a parish center on U.S. Highway 24-40 after outgrowing its original 1890 church on River Street. It is led by Father Mark F. Goldasich — long-time editor of The Leaven newspaper — assisted by Deacon Ron Zishka, parish secretary Catherine Andersen, and Directors of Religious Education Nancy Lanza and Jennifer Eastes. The parish is organized around three stewardship pillars — Hospitality, Prayer, and Service — and sustains a full calendar of Masses, religious education, OCIA, Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, youth, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Mark F. Goldasich
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (Lawrence pastoral region)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a mid-sized, family-oriented Catholic parish that combines a small-town, personal feel with a full program of ministries. Weekday and weekend Masses are offered in the parish center, with religious education for K-5 and 6-12 graders, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), a 4:thirTEENS youth group, Knights of Columbus, Altar Society, Lunch Bunch, Eucharistic Adoration, the Modern Saints Presentation, and service projects such as Blessing Bags and the Chieftain Cafe — making it easy for newcomers and longtime Catholics alike to find a way to pray, serve, and belong.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — contact the parish office at (913) 369-2851 or email Father Mark
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration (schedule published on parish calendar)
- Holy Thursday Eucharistic Adoration (annual)
Parish History
Sacred Heart Parish was founded in 1874 in Tonganoxie, a small agricultural and railroad town in Leavenworth County. The parish built its first church on River Street in 1890 and celebrated its centennial in 1990. By the early 2000s the parish had grown to roughly 350 families and launched a capital campaign that produced a new parish center on U.S. Highway 24-40 in 2004, with a permanent church building, meditation garden, and school still planned as future phases of the campus.
- Founded 1874
- Original church on River Street built 1890
- Centennial celebrated 1990
- Parish center on U.S. Highway 24-40 dedicated 2004
- Builder: Haren and Laughlin Construction; local supervisor Gary Lamb
- Project cost: $2.1 million (Phase I); Phase II church budgeted at $3 million
Parish Staff & Leadership
Sacred Heart is served by a small, long-tenured team. Father Mark F. Goldasich is pastor; Deacon Ron Zishka assists; Catherine Andersen serves as parish secretary; and Nancy Lanza and Jennifer Eastes direct religious education. The Pastoral Council, with members including president Linn Aligo, secretary Jean Willson, Linda Burke, Trey Falk, Roger Rochel, and Andrew Maurer, advises the pastor on parish life.
- Pastor: Rev. Mark F. Goldasich
- Deacon: Ron Zishka
- Secretary: Catherine Andersen
- DREs: Nancy Lanza and Jennifer Eastes
- Pastoral Council: Linn Aligo (president), Jean Willson (secretary), Linda Burke, Trey Falk, Roger Rochel, Andrew Maurer
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a full religious-education program for children and youth, with K-5th grade classes meeting Sunday morning at 9:15 a.m. and 6th-12th grade classes meeting Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) prepares adults and older children for full reception into the Catholic Church.
- K-5 Religious Education — Sundays 9:15 a.m.
- 6th-12th Religious Education — Sundays 6:00 p.m.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults
- Directors: Nancy Lanza and Jennifer Eastes
Youth Ministry
Sacred Heart's youth ministry, branded 4:thirTEENS, organizes activities and fundraisers such as bake sales following each Mass, faith formation, and fellowship events for the parish's middle- and high-school students.
- 4:thirTEENS youth group
- Bake sales after Masses
- Faith formation integrated with 6-12th grade RE
Prayer & Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, Sacred Heart nurtures a robust prayer life. The rosary is prayed before every Mass, Eucharistic Adoration is offered on a recurring schedule (with special Holy Thursday adoration each year), and the parish shares Pope Leo's monthly prayer intentions. Vines & Branches offers small-group faith sharing, and the Modern Saints Presentation explores the lives of contemporary holy men and women.
- Rosary before all Masses
- Recurring Eucharistic Adoration
- Holy Thursday Eucharistic Adoration
- Vines & Branches small groups
- The Modern Saints Presentation
- Pope Leo's Monthly Intentions
Hospitality & Fellowship
Hospitality is one of the parish's three stewardship pillars. After Mass, parishioners gather for Coffee & Doughnuts, and the Lunch Bunch meets monthly for a shared meal and cards or games. Adult Fellowship Events are scheduled throughout the year.
- Coffee & Doughnuts after Mass
- Lunch Bunch (monthly)
- Adult Fellowship Events
Service & Outreach
Service is the third stewardship pillar of Sacred Heart. The parish runs Blessing Bags, a practical outreach ministry that distributes care items to people in need, and Chieftain Cafe, a community hospitality initiative. The Knights of Columbus and Altar Society support the parish through works of charity, faith, and service.
- Blessing Bags
- Chieftain Cafe
- Knights of Columbus council
- Altar Society
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptisms and weddings are scheduled through the parish office; marriage preparation requires contact at least six months in advance. Confessions are by appointment with Father Mark; the parish also celebrates Anointing of the Sick on request.
- Baptism — call the parish office to schedule
- Marriage — at least six months' notice required
- Confession — by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Parish Campus & Facilities
Sacred Heart's parish center on U.S. Highway 24-40 is the hub of parish life, containing the worship space, five permanent classrooms, a multi-purpose room that doubles as a worship and event area, offices, youth work rooms, and a large kitchen. The parish also maintains the historic 1890 church on River Street and continues to plan a permanent church proper, meditation garden, and school as future phases of the campus.
- Parish center on U.S. Highway 24-40 (built 2004, 13,700 sq ft)
- Five permanent classrooms
- Multi-purpose worship/event room with collapsible walls
- Parish offices, youth work rooms, large kitchen
- Rectory: 112 W. 1st St., Tonganoxie (913-369-3176)
- Future phases: permanent church, meditation garden, parish school
Getting Involved & Communications
New parishioners are welcomed with a registration form available from the parish office and online. The parish publishes weekly bulletins (with Ministry Schedules, Mass Intentions, and Weekly Giving) and meeting minutes for the Pastoral Council and Altar Society on its website. Flocknote messaging keeps parishioners connected by text — search the keyword SHCCT to join.
- New parishioner registration (form on shcct.com)
- Weekly bulletin with Ministry Schedule and Mass Intentions
- Pastoral Council and Altar Society meeting minutes posted online
- Flocknote text alerts (text SHCCT to 84576)
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) giving program
Visit & Contact
Sacred Heart's parish office is located at 1100 West Street (P.O. Box 539) in Tonganoxie, Kansas 66086, and can be reached at (913) 369-2851 or by email at [email protected]. The parish website at shcct.com provides directions, the full Mass and confession schedule, the parish calendar, current and archived bulletins, and links to the parish's social and Flocknote communications.
- Address: 1100 West Street, P.O. Box 539, Tonganoxie, KS 66086
- Phone: (913) 369-2851
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://shcct.com/