About Saint Theresa · Dighton, Kansas
St. Theresa Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the rural community of Dighton, Kansas, in Lane County. It is part of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City and is currently pastored by Rev. Donald Bedore, who also serves St. Joseph Church in nearby Scott City as a two-parish assignment. With 101 registered households, the parish maintains a traditional weekend Mass schedule and coordinates faith formation, Christian Initiation (RCIA), and parish administration with a small, dedicated lay staff.
- Patron
- St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Thérèse of Lisieux)
- Rector
- Rev. Donald Bedore
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
Why belong here
St. Theresa offers a faithful Catholic presence in rural western Kansas, celebrating Sunday Mass in an intimate setting where families know one another. The parish provides sacramental preparation, Christian Initiation through the RCIA process, and ongoing religious education for children and adults, all under the care of a diocesan priest who shepherds this community together with neighboring St. Joseph in Scott City.
Mass times at Saint Theresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Identity & Patron
St. Theresa Catholic Church in Dighton is named after St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Thérèse of Lisieux), the French Carmelite mystic, virgin, and Doctor of the Church whose 'Little Way' of spiritual childhood has inspired Catholics worldwide. Her feast day is October 1, and she is co-patron of missions. The parish takes this saint's name as the spiritual identity of its small but devoted western Kansas community.
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently served by Rev. Donald Bedore, who pastors both St. Theresa in Dighton and St. Joseph in Scott City. The Diocese of Dodge City clergy register documents earlier pastors of this two-parish assignment, including Father Warren Stecklein (serving the joint assignment from July 1, 2004 until his reassignment) and Father Francis Khoi Nguyen.
- Pastor: Rev. Donald Bedore
- Joint assignment with St. Joseph Church, Scott City
- Past pastors of this assignment: Father Warren Stecklein (since July 1, 2004); Father Francis Khoi Nguyen
Parish Staff & Lay Leaders
Diocesan directory listings identify the small team who keep the parish's sacramental, formation, and administrative life running. Contact information is published on the parish's diocesan directory page, and email contacts are listed there for each role.
- Parish Secretary: Carrie Von Leonrod
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Rene Roberts — PO Box 113, Dighton, KS 67839
- Director of Christian Initiation: Diana Kuhlman
Faith Formation & Christian Initiation (RCIA)
St. Theresa runs an active religious education program for children and youth, headed by Director of Religious Education Rene Roberts. In addition, the parish offers a Christian Initiation process (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) coordinated by Diana Kuhlman, providing formation for unbaptized adults and those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Inquiries about sacramental preparation — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — should be directed to the parish office.
- DRE: Rene Roberts
- Christian Initiation Director: Diana Kuhlman
- Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- RCIA for adults seeking full communion
Diocese of Dodge City
The parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City, a Latin-rite diocese covering the western and central counties of Kansas. Its current bishop (per diocesan listings) is Bishop John Balthasar Brungardt, and the diocesan Cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City. The diocese maintains the official parish directory at dcdiocese.org, which is the parish's primary online presence.
- Jurisdiction: Diocese of Dodge City
- Rite: Roman (Latin)
- Diocesan Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City
- Diocesan directory page: dcdiocese.org/directory/parishes/65-st-theresa-parish-dighton
Planning Your Visit
St. Theresa Catholic Church is located at 322 South 1st Street in Dighton, Kansas. The parish office can be reached by telephone at (620) 397-5357 during weekday hours. Because Masses are limited under the current two-parish rotation, visitors are encouraged to call ahead to confirm the next Mass, especially in winter, on holy days, or during the pastor's travel.
- Address: 322 S. 1st Street, PO Box 787, Dighton, KS 67839-0787
- Parish Center phone: (620) 397-5357
- Distinctive locations: between W. Vine and W. Lincoln Streets
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Khoi Nguyen
Pastored St. Joseph, Scott City, and St. Theresa, Dighton (per diocese clergy register).
- Father Warren Steckleinsince July 1, 2004
Pastored St. Joseph, Scott City, and St. Theresa, Dighton from 2004 until his reassignment.
- Rev. Donald Bedore
Current pastor; serves the parish jointly with St. Joseph Church, Scott City.