About Saint Stanislaus · Ingalls, Kansas
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is a small, rural Catholic parish in Ingalls, Kansas, belonging to the Diocese of Dodge City. With about 140 registered households, it serves the farming communities of Ingalls, Cimarron, Kalvesta, and Montezuma in Gray County. Founded in 1910 under the patronage of St. Stanislaus Kostka and currently pastored by Father Ben Green, the parish gathers for Mass on Sunday mornings and Thursday noon, and sustains an active program of faith formation, sacramental preparation, parish councils, Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, and community outreach rooted in its Polish-immigrant origins and southwest Kansas prairie heritage.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus Kostka
- Rector
- Rev. Benjamin (Father Ben) Green
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dodge City
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus is a tight-knit prairie parish where the same families who founded the church still serve on its councils and ministries a century later. Worship is unhurried and rooted in tradition — Sunday 8:00 AM and Thursday noon Mass, with Confession before each and by appointment — and the parish actively forms the next generation through a Parish School of Religion (grades 1–8), a high school youth group that attends the biennial National Catholic Youth Conference, and preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and the OCIA process for adults. A Knights of Columbus council, Altar Society, parish councils, Bible studies, and a community Food and Fellowship outreach for Cimarron high schoolers give every member a concrete way to live out the Gospel.
Mass times at Saint Stanislaus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30–7:50 AM
- Thursday 11:30 AM
- Anytime by appointment — contact the Pastor
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is a rural Diocese of Dodge City parish serving about 140 registered households across Ingalls, Cimarron, Kalvesta, and Montezuma in southwest Kansas. The parish's official mission statement frames it as a community founded by Jesus Christ to bring the Good News to all the nations, committed under the patronage of St. Stanislaus to building unity through worship, evangelization, service, faithful stewardship, and shared leadership.
- About 140 registered households (Diocese of Dodge City directory)
- Member of the Diocese of Dodge City
- Located in Ingalls, Gray County, Kansas
- Website: ststanislausingalls.com
Parish Mission Statement
Drawn from the parish's own statement: 'Founded by Jesus Christ to bring the Good News to all the nations under the protection and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we, a portion of the people of God in the Diocese of Dodge City, under the patronage of St. Stanislaus, commit ourselves to build the unity and oneness of the Church of Christ…'
- Build our lives in the image of Christ through worship and prayer
- Contribute to parish growth by spreading the Gospel by word, witness, action, and evangelization
- Invite everyone to serve, meeting the needs of parishioners and the broader community
- Be faithful stewards — sharing time, talents, and treasures
- Support parish leadership and work together to fulfill the mission
Our Patron — St. Stanislaus Kostka
St. Stanislaus Kostka was born in Kostka, Poland, the son of a senator. Sent to Vienna at 14 to study with the Jesuits, he was expected to enter politics but instead embraced a life of prayer and obedience. Tormented by his family for his love of God, he fell ill, asked for last rites, and received a vision of St. Barbara placing the Infant Jesus in his arms. At 17 he traveled from Austria to Rome to enter the Society of Jesus and died shortly thereafter on August 15, 1568 — the Feast of the Assumption. He was canonized 158 years after his death and was chosen as the parish's patron at the suggestion of Polish families who had settled in the Ingalls area.
- Patron: St. Stanislaus Kostka
- Feast day commemorated on August 15 (Feast of the Assumption)
- Patron chosen by Polish immigrant families in the congregation
Our History
Catholic life in Gray County took root in 1883 in a settlement called Belfast, three miles west of Ingalls, where farmers gathered for Mass served by visiting priests. Bishop John J. Hennessy's 1907 visit on the St. Anthony Chapel Car is credited with launching the permanent church in Ingalls. The first frame church was dedicated by Bishop Hennessy on October 6, 1910; a larger brick church followed in 1931, built largely with parishioner labor. The parish was served by diocesan priests (1910–1927), then by the Precious Blood Fathers (1927–1985), then by diocesan clergy again. Major milestones included the 1962 sanctuary renovation, the 1975 chapel and entrance addition (funded by the Rudy and Vera Blanton estate), the 2003 expansion and renovation, and the August 15, 2010 centennial Mass with Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore.
- 1883: Catholic life begins in Belfast, west of Ingalls
- 1907: Bishop Hennessy visits Ingalls on the St. Anthony Chapel Car and selects a church site
- 1910: Original 30×60-foot frame church dedicated October 6 by Bishop Hennessy; named St. Stanislaus Kostka
- 1929–1931: Parishioners dig basement and haul bricks; Bishop Schwertner blesses cornerstone July 19, 1931, and dedicates the new brick church December 1, 1931
- 1962: Sanctuary enlarged and improved
- 1975: New entrance and daily Mass chapel built with bequest from Rudy and Vera Blanton estate
- 2003: Extensive expansion and renovation
- 2010: Centennial celebrated on August 15 with Bishop Gilmore; dinner for ~375
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish staff is led by Father Ben Green as pastor and supported by a parish secretary, administrative assistant, director of religious education, OCIA/music director, and bookkeeper.
- Pastor — Father Ben Green ([email protected]; 620-276-2024; Sacramental Emergencies 316-941-6461)
- Parish Secretary — Marie Millershaski ([email protected]; 620-335-5202)
- Bulletin / Website / Administrative Assistant — Amy Schlesener (913-909-7469)
- Director of Religious Education — Candi (Candis) Hemel ([email protected]; 620-826-5192)
- OCIA Director & Music/Liturgy — Rosemary Wehkamp (620-335-5482)
- Parish Bookkeeper — Ernie Massoth (620-855-3148)
- Pastoral Council Chair — Jeremy Simon
- Finance Council Chair — John Minet (Tony Bleumer listed in some 2024–2025 bulletins)
- Altar Society — Co-Chairs Jeanne Burkhart and Janet Schlesener; President Cate Wehkamp
- Knights of Columbus Grand Knight — Dean Millershaski
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
St. Stanislaus runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) for students in grades 1–8, covering catechetical instruction, preparation for the sacraments, and altar server training. A separate high school youth group meets regularly during the school year and has the opportunity to attend the biennial National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC).
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — grades 1–8
- Sacramental preparation and altar server training within PSR
- High school youth group — regular meetings during the school year
- Biennial National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) trips
- Director of Religious Education: Candi Hemel
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of initiation, healing, and service, and asks couples to contact the office at least six months before any planned wedding.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage — at least 6 months' notice; date must be confirmed by the parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 2nd-grade PSR
- Confirmation — 6th-grade PSR
- Sacrament of the Sick — contact Father Ben
- Holy Orders — contact Father Ben for those discerning priesthood
- OCIA — Rosemary Wehkamp available after Mass or at 620-335-5482
Bible Studies & Devotions
Two Bible-study groups are offered on an ongoing basis: a Sunday morning study on the Mass itself and a Thursday morning study on Mary, held in the downstairs parish classroom.
- 'A Biblical Walk Through the Mass' — Sundays immediately following Mass
- 'Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother' — Thursdays at 10:30 AM
- September devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows (per parish bulletin)
- April devotion: Holy Eucharist (per parish bulletin)
Parish Councils & Organizations
Lay leadership is organized through a Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Altar Society, Social Committee, and Knights of Columbus council. Each is led by parishioners who serve the worship, governance, fellowship, and outreach life of the parish.
- Pastoral Council — Jeremy Simon
- Finance Council — John Minet
- Altar Society — Co-Chairs Jeanne Burkhart & Janet Schlesener; President Cate Wehkamp
- Social Committee — Cate Wehkamp
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Dean Millershaski
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Lay liturgical ministers serve at Sunday Mass in traditional roles; a Music/Liturgy director coordinates cantors, accompanists, and the OCIA program.
- Sacristans
- Ushers and Greeters
- Cross Bearer and Altar Servers
- Lectors and Offertory Gift Bearers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Communion to the Shepherd's Center
- Collection Counters
- Cantor and Accompanist (Music/Liturgy under Rosemary Wehkamp)
Outreach & Community
Beyond its own walls, the parish supports Catholic high schoolers in Cimarron through a long-running 'Food and Fellowship' lunch and offers periodic grief-support gatherings open to anyone in the wider community.
- Food and Fellowship lunch program for Cimarron high school students (grades 9–12) — begun 32 years ago; supported by area churches, parents, and community donations
- Grief Luncheons — periodic open discussions on grief and loss, hosted after Mass with lunch provided
- Coordinator: Kathy Massoth (Food and Fellowship); Pat Pospichal & Amy Schlesener (Grief ministry)
Communications, Bulletins & Online Giving
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin (most recent issues include July 2026), maintains a Flocknotes electronic communication list, offers online giving, and subscribes to Formed (Catholic media/formation platform). The website is updated each Monday.
- Weekly bulletin — published online at ststanislausingalls.com
- Flocknotes — parish email/text communication (contact Amy Schlesener)
- Online Giving — available via the parish website
- Formed — Catholic media and formation platform
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. Stanislaus welcomes visitors warmly at every Mass and offers Sacramental Emergencies coverage through Father Ben's sacramental-emergency line. Office hours are listed as 'as needed' on the parish website.
- Address: 200 N. Rush Street, PO Box 175, Ingalls, KS 67853
- Phone (parish office): 620-335-5202
- Pastor reachable through St. Dominic Office: 620-276-2024
- Sacramental Emergencies only: 316-941-6461
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Father Ben Green email: [email protected]
- DRE email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Menniscirca 1909–1910
Pastor at Dodge City who oversaw construction of the original frame church in Ingalls; Bishop Hennessy dedicated it Oct. 6, 1910.
- Diocesan priests1910–1927
Diocesan clergy served the parish in its first 17 years.
- Precious Blood Fathers (Society of the Precious Blood)1927–1985
Religious order administered the parish for nearly six decades.
- Diocesan clergy (resumed)1985–present
Diocese resumed responsibility for the parish after the Precious Blood Fathers' departure.
- Sister Catherine Therese Paulie, CSJ1999–2006
Sister of St. Joseph who served as pastor minister; returned for the 2010 centennial.
- Father Dermot Tighe
Listed as former pastor; concelebrated the 2010 centennial Mass.
- Rev. Benjamin (Ben) Greencurrent (as of 2025–2026)
Current pastor; reached through St. Dominic Office, 620-276-2024.