About Saint Nicholas · Kinsley, Kansas
St. Nicholas Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Kinsley, Kansas, belonging to the Diocese of Dodge City. It is twinned with St. Joseph Church in nearby Offerle under one pastor, Fr. Timothy S. Hickey, and serves roughly 214 registered households across Edwards County. The parish traces its roots to the late 1800s, when eight Catholic families settled the Kansas prairie and began gathering for Mass in homes and the Carlin Hotel. Today St. Nicholas offers Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a Parish School of Religion, and active ministries including Knights of Columbus, Walking with Purpose, and the Women of Faith group.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- St. Nicholas
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy S. Hickey
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dodge City
Why belong here
St. Nicholas is a tight-knit rural Catholic community where nearly everyone knows one another. Weekend Mass (Saturday 5:30 pm and Sunday 10:00 am) is complemented by weekday Masses Monday through Friday, Saturday Reconciliation from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, and a Wednesday Communion service at Medicalodges. Parish life is built around faith formation (PSR for children, high-school PSR, adult education, and Becoming Catholic/RCIA), strong lay ministry — altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers, sacristans, liturgical musicians and a decorating committee — and organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, Walking with Purpose women's Bible study, and Women of Faith. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Mass times at Saint Nicholas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — 4:00–5:00 pm (St. Nicholas, Kinsley)
- Sunday — 7:00–7:45 am (St. Joseph, Offerle)
- Daily — 30 minutes before Mass or by appointment
Parish History
The Catholic congregation at Kinsley began between 1874 and 1877, served out of Emporia, Great Bend and Newton by Father Felix Swembergh. By the early 1880s it had grown enough to build a frame church (dedicated May 15, 1883), and by 1912 the present Romanesque church was dedicated by Bishop John J. Hennessy. A nave addition in 1948–49 completed the original blueprints; the parish school (run for 72 years by the Sisters Adorers from 1920) closed in 2007, and a new parish hall was dedicated in 2017.
- 1874–1877 — Father Felix Swembergh serves the early Kinsley congregation from Emporia/Great Bend/Newton
- 1882 — Construction begins on the first frame church under Father Robert Loehrer
- May 15, 1883 — Original frame church dedicated to St. Nicholas
- 1911 — Father August Heiman arrives as the first resident pastor
- October 12, 1912 — Current Romanesque church dedicated by Bishop John J. Hennessy
- 1920 — Sisters Adorers begin their 72-year teaching mission in the parish
- 1955 — New parish school dedicated by Bishop John B. Franz (August 28)
- 1960 — Gymnasium dedicated by Bishop Marion F. Forst (December 6)
- April 21, 1949 — Bishop Mark K. Carroll rededicates the enlarged church after the nave addition under Father John Cody
- 2007 — Parish school closes
- October 14, 2012 — Bishop John B. Brungardt celebrates the centennial of the 1912 church dedication
- August 2017 — New parish hall dedicated by Bishop John B. Brungardt under Father John Strasser
Sacraments
St. Nicholas prepares parishioners for all the major sacraments. Infant Baptism is generally celebrated after Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass, with parents required to be registered parishioners and to take a preparation class. First Communion is a two-year process beginning in first grade, with First Communion received in second grade. Marriage requires at least six months of advance planning, registered-and-practicing status in the parish, and a meeting with the pastor; divorced persons may petition to marry and convalidation is offered for civilly married couples. The parish also runs Becoming Catholic (RCIA) for adults seeking initiation.
- Baptism — after Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass; parent class required
- Eucharist / First Communion — 2nd grade, two-year formation
- Penance & Reconciliation — Sat 4:00–5:00 pm, by appointment
- Marriage — 6 months advance notice; registered practicing Catholic required
- Becoming Catholic / RCIA — for adult initiation
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program for the 2024–25 year, with tracks for elementary PSR, High School PSR, and Adult Education. St. Joseph in Offerle hosts the Word Working program, and adults seeking full initiation are welcomed into Becoming Catholic (RCIA).
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- High School PSR
- Adult Education
- Word Working (St. Joseph)
- Becoming Catholic / RCIA
Liturgical Ministries
St. Nicholas offers lay parishioners many ways to serve at Mass and in the sacristy. Liturgical musicians use vocal and instrumental gifts to support the liturgy, while ushers assist with seating, bulletins, the offertory procession and clean-up. Eucharistic Ministers both serve at Mass and bring Communion to the home-bound, and a sacristan cares for the sacred vessels and helps Father prepare for Mass. The Altar Server ministry is open to boys and girls in 4th grade and older (training provided), Lectors proclaim the readings, and a Decorating Committee handles seasonal linens, flowers, banners and other adornments.
- Liturgical musicians (vocal/instrumental)
- Ushers
- Eucharistic Ministers (including home-bound visits)
- Sacristans
- Altar Servers (4th grade and older; training provided)
- Lectors
- Decorating Committee (seasonal linens, flowers, banners)
Parish Organizations
Beyond liturgical ministries, the parish sponsors several community and fellowship organizations. Walking with Purpose is a women's parish program that helps women grow in faith through Scripture and Catholic teaching in a small-group setting. Women of Faith is a women's prayer, fraternity and service group open to all Catholic women of St. Nicholas and St. Joseph, meeting on the fourth Sunday of January, March, May, July, September and November in the St. Nicholas Parish Hall (720 E. 6th St.). The Knights of Columbus council is open to any Catholic man 18 or older, meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from August through May at 7:30 pm in the St. Nicholas Parish Hall; current Grand Knight is Jacob Heinz.
- Walking with Purpose — women's Bible study / Scripture program
- Women of Faith — women's prayer, fraternity and service group; 4th Sundays (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov)
- Knights of Columbus — meets 2nd Tuesday, August–May, 7:30 pm, St. Nicholas Parish Hall; Grand Knight Jacob Heinz
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Timothy S. (Tim) Hickey, who also serves St. Joseph in Offerle as part of the linked parish arrangement. Kayla Gleason serves as Secretary & Bookkeeper for St. Nicholas in Kinsley, and Ashley Chamberlain is Secretary & Bookkeeper for St. Joseph in Offerle.
- Rev. Timothy S. (Tim) Hickey — Pastor (St. Nicholas & St. Joseph)
- Kayla Gleason — Secretary & Bookkeeper, St. Nicholas (Kinsley)
- Ashley Chamberlain — Secretary & Bookkeeper, St. Joseph (Offerle)
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 620-659-2692 (rectory) or 620-338-3261 (office), or reach Fr. Tim directly at 203-996-7854. The parish office and parish hall are located at 720 E. 6th St., Kinsley, KS 67547, with the church building at 706 E. 6th St.; the mailing address is PO Box 285, Kinsley, KS 67547-0285. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Dodge City and is paired with St. Joseph Catholic Church in Offerle, KS (111 W. 1st St., Offerle, KS 67563; 620-659-5555).
- Parish address: 706 E. 6th St. (church) / 720 E. 6th St. (office & parish hall), Kinsley, KS 67547
- Mailing address: PO Box 285, Kinsley, KS 67547-0285
- Phone: 620-659-2692 (rectory); 620-338-3261 (office); Fr. Tim 203-996-7854
- Partner parish: St. Joseph Catholic Church, 111 W. 1st St., Offerle, KS 67563 (620-659-5555)
- Diocese: Diocese of Dodge City
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Felix Swembergh1874–1877
Served the early Kinsley congregation from Emporia, Great Bend and Newton; nurtured the mission in its first four years.
- Father Ferdinand Wolf, OSBafter 1877
Benedictine priest who began serving the mission station from Windthorst.
- Father Robert Loehrer1882–
Pastor of Windthorst who directed construction of the first frame church; dedicated St. Nicholas on May 15, 1883.
- Father Austin Hull1904–
Assistant at Spearville; made St. Nicholas a regular stop after the 1904 influx of settlers.
- Father August Heiman1911–
First resident pastor of St. Nicholas; oversaw construction of the current Romanesque church dedicated Oct. 12, 1912.
- Father John Codycirca 1948
Built the nave addition that completed the original 1912 blueprints, doubling seating.
- Father Robert Herklotzmid-1950s
Built the new parish school dedicated by Bishop Franz on August 28, 1955.
- Father John Strasser2017
Oversaw construction of the new parish hall dedicated by Bishop Brungardt in August 2017.