About Saint Mary · Garden City, Kansas
Saint Mary Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in Garden City, Kansas, belonging to the Diocese of Dodge City. Worshiping at 509 Saint John Street, the parish serves roughly 3,089 registered households across southwest Kansas and operates St. Mary Catholic School (503 W. St. John Street) and an active program of faith formation, liturgy, and outreach. Its mission statement, published on the parish website, commits the community to celebrating the Eucharist and the sacraments, evangelizing, and being examples of God's love through spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Jacob Schneider, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Alexander Jerus and a large lay staff.
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Jacob Schneider
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dodge City
Why belong here
St. Mary is the largest Catholic parish in Garden City and one of the most visibly bilingual parishes in the Diocese of Dodge City, with multiple English and Spanish Masses every day of the week and two weekend Masses in each language. The parish runs its own Catholic school (PreK–grade school at 503 W. St. John Street), an active PSR religious education program, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), choirs in both languages, weekly Holy Hours, a Rosary group (Lost Sheep Rosary), and a Community Outreach office. With daily and weekend Mass, daily Confession in two languages, Eucharistic Adoration, and ministries for every age, it offers newcomers and long-time Catholics alike a place to worship, form their children in the faith, and serve the wider Garden City community.
Mass times at Saint Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday & Friday: 9:00 am
- Tuesday & Thursday: 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 12:00 pm
- Saturday: 11:00 am and 3:00 pm
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:00 pm Holy Hour / Hora Santa
- Thursday: 5:00 pm Holy Hour / Hora Santa
Welcome & Mission
Saint Mary Catholic Church publishes a formal mission statement on its website: 'Founded by Jesus Christ to proclaim the Good News of salvation under the inspiration and protection of the Holy Spirit, we, a portion of the People of God under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commit ourselves to the unity and oneness of the Universal Church and Christ's mission by celebrating the Eucharist and the sacraments; by evangelizing one another and those in need of gospels; and by being examples of God's love through spiritual and corporal works of mercy.' The parish places its identity squarely under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary and frames its life around the Eucharist, evangelization, and the works of mercy.
- Patron: Blessed Virgin Mary
- Diocese: Dodge City
- Address: 509 Saint John Street, Garden City, KS 67846
Parish History & Growth
The parish community traces its origins to the late-19th-century Catholic presence in southwest Kansas, growing alongside Garden City and the sugar-beet industry that drew generations of Mexican-American families to Finney County. According to the parish's own 'Blueprint For Our Future' campaign materials, the present church was built in 1971, when the parish had just over 500 registered families. By 2023, the parish reported 2,800 registered families, and the Diocese of Dodge City directory now lists 3,089 households, reflecting sustained decades-long growth. That growth has been especially sharp recently: between 2020 and 2023, school enrollment rose more than 25% and religious-education enrollment rose more than 23%.
- 1971: present church building constructed (~500 registered families)
- 2020–2023: school enrollment up 25%+; PSR enrollment up 23%+
- 2023: 2,800 registered families reported by parish
- Diocese directory lists 3,089 registered households
St. Mary Catholic School
The parish operates St. Mary Catholic School at 503 W. St. John Street, Garden City (phone 620-276-2241; fax 620-276-7067). Michelle Mead serves as Principal, with Suzana Prieto as School Secretary / Bookkeeper. Between 2020 and 2023 the school's enrollment grew by more than 25%, prompting the parish's 'Blueprint For Our Future' campaign to expand and improve school facilities alongside the rectory and offices.
- Address: 503 W. St. John Street, Garden City, KS
- Phone: 620-276-2241
- Principal: Michelle Mead
- Secretary/Bookkeeper: Suzana Prieto
- Enrollment growth 2020–2023: +25%+
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's religious education is run through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), directed by Maria Sanchez (DRE, phone 620-276-2716). Adult Christian initiation is offered through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), directed by Karen Pontious. PSR enrollment grew by more than 23% between 2020 and 2023, making faith formation one of the parish's fastest-growing areas of ministry.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion) — Director: Maria Sanchez, 620-276-2716
- OCIA / Christian Initiation — Director: Karen Pontious
- Enrollment growth 2020–2023: +23%+
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgy and music at St. Mary are coordinated by Director of Liturgy and Music Marlyne Peck. The parish supports an English Choir (Monday 5:15 pm), the Spanish Coro San Miguel (Monday and Tuesday 7:00 pm), Coro Santa María and Coro Santa Cecilia (Tuesday 7:00 pm), and Grupo Arcoíris (Tuesday 7:00 pm). A rotating schedule of lectors (English and Spanish), Eucharistic ministers, homebound ministers, church cleaners, and chapel/linen cleaners keeps the parish's worship spaces running.
- Director of Liturgy and Music: Marlyne Peck
- English Choir — Monday 5:15 pm
- Coro San Miguel — Monday & Tuesday 7 pm
- Coro Santa María / Santa Cecilia — Tuesday 7 pm
- Grupo Arcoíris — Tuesday 7 pm
- Lectors (English & Spanish) — published monthly
- Homebound, Church Cleaning, and Liturgical Linen ministries
Outreach & Community
The parish's Community Outreach office, directed by Karina Bencomo, carries out the parish's commitment to 'being examples of God's love through spiritual and corporal works of mercy.' This works alongside the parish's homebound ministry, which brings Communion to those unable to attend Mass, and sacramental-preparation programs for baptism, marriage, and Christian initiation.
- Director of Community Outreach: Karina Bencomo
- Homebound ministry
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, Marriage, OCIA)
- Parish mission: works of mercy — spiritual and corporal
Visiting & Contact
Parish Office Hours are Monday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and Tuesday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The parish can be reached by phone at 620-275-4204 (fax 620-272-9971). The mailing address is 509 Saint John Street, Garden City, KS 67846, with a Parish Center at 510 N. 12th Street and the Rectory at 812 N 5th Street. St. Mary School is at 503 W. St. John Street (620-276-2241). The parish is also active on Facebook and links to the Diocese of Dodge City and daily Mass readings from its homepage.
- Parish phone: 620-275-4204
- Parish fax: 620-272-9971
- Parish Center: 510 N. 12th Street
- Rectory: 812 N 5th Street
- School: 503 W. St. John Street, 620-276-2241
- Diocese: Diocese of Dodge City