About Seven Dolors · Manhattan, Kansas
Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Manhattan, Kansas, founded in 1880 and named for the Seven Sorrows of Mary by parishioner Mrs. J.T. Ellicott. The parish is part of the Catholic Diocese of Salina and operates the historic 1920 brick-and-stone church at 221 S. Juliette Avenue, which was placed on the Kansas and National Registers of Historic Places in 1995. Today it serves Manhattan and the surrounding area with daily Mass, a weekly Spanish Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, parish schools (Manhattan Catholic Schools), religious education from PreK through high school, and a Spanish-language ministry. It also staffs its mission parish, St. Patrick's in Ogden.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Sorrows)
- Rector
- Fr. Leo Blasi
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
Seven Dolors is the historic Catholic heart of Manhattan, Kansas, with a beautiful 1920 twin-towered church listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a 24/7 Perpetual Adoration chapel in the former Sisters of St. Joseph convent. It welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics with a full Sunday schedule (including a 12:30 PM Spanish Mass), a deep Religious Education program from PreK through 12th grade, OCIA for adults, a Food Pantry, parish groups for every stage of life (Knights of Columbus, SDCW, men's and ladies' prayer groups, young families, over-50s), and a partnership with Manhattan Catholic Schools. Coming here means joining a parish that has served the Flint Hills for more than 140 years and that takes both the Eucharist and its mission of formation, charity, and Hispanic ministry seriously.
Mass times at Seven Dolors
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday — 12:00 PM (noon)
- Thursday — 4:30 PM
- Thursday — 9:00 PM
- Saturday — 9:00 PM (English)
- Saturday — 6:00 PM (Spanish)
- First Saturdays — 3:40 PM at St. Patrick's, Ogden
- By appointment (call 785-565-5000)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in St. Joseph's Chapel, 731 Pierre St., Manhattan, KS — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (begun 1995)
- Coordinated by Mary Knapp, 785-537-2814
Parish History
Seven Dolors traces its origin to 1859, when Jesuit Father Louis Deumortier began visiting Manhattan-area settlers from St. Mary's Indian Mission. The first Mass was celebrated in 1865 in the home of Mrs. J.T. Ellicott, niece of Cincinnati Archbishop William Elder. In 1880 the old Methodist church at Pierre and Juliette was purchased for $1,400, and on August 5, 1881, Bishop Fink appointed Rev. A.T. Ennis as Manhattan's first resident pastor. The parish is named for the Seven Sorrows of Mary, a devotion championed by Mrs. Ellicott.
- 1859 — Fr. Louis Deumortier, SJ, begins visiting settlers
- 1865 — First Mass celebrated in a private home
- 1880 — Methodist church purchased for $1,400 to become first Catholic church in Manhattan
- 1881 — Rev. A.T. Ennis named first resident pastor by Bishop Fink (Leavenworth Diocese)
- 1908 — Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia open Sacred Heart Academy (first Catholic high school in the diocese)
- 1919–1920 — Present brick-and-stone church with twin towers dedicated Oct. 31, 1920 ($66,500+)
- 1951 — Msgr. Arthur Luckey High School dedicated
- 1955 — Seven Dolors Grade School dedicated
- 1966 — Fr. Richard Weixelman first Seven Dolors parishioner ordained a priest
- 1982 — Parish divided to create St. Thomas More Parish
- 1992 — Frame grade school (in use since 1938) burns; fine arts wing built
- 1995 — Church listed on Kansas and National Registers of Historic Places
- 1995 — Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration begins
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Fr. Leo Blasi (ordained 2017; assigned to Seven Dolors in 2024), Parochial Vicar Fr. Rafael Indave Campos, Priest in Residence Fr. Randall Weber, and Deacons Tim Donohoue and Ed Souza. Lay staff oversee religious education, youth ministry, formation, Hispanic ministry, finance, and parish administration.
- Fr. Leo Blasi — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Rafael Indave Campos — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Randall Weber — Priest in Residence
- Dcn. Tim Donohoue — Deacon
- Dcn. Ed Souza — Deacon (listed in 2024 bulletins)
- Michelle Coonrod — Office Manager
- Stacie Levendofsky — Finance Director
- Maria McAnerney — Director of Youth Ministry ([email protected], ext. 119)
- Deb Price — Director of Religious Education ([email protected], ext. 118)
- Margaret Haug — Formations Co-Director ([email protected], ext. 116)
- Carlos Palacian — Formations Co-Director (ext. 115)
- Gloria Green — Director of Spanish Ministry ([email protected], ext. 125)
- Ulises Martinez — Maintenance Director
- Alex Trout — Music Director
- Ramona Kramer — Lead Keyboardist
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Seven Dolors offers religious education for children in PreK (age 4 and potty-trained) through Grade 12, meeting Wednesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Students in PreK through 8th grade meet at Manhattan Catholic Schools; high-school youth (9th–12th) meet at the Budget Shop Basement as part of CYO/YDisciple, directed by Maria McAnerney.
- PreK–Grade 8 Religious Education — Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 PM at Manhattan Catholic Schools (Director: Deb Price)
- CYO/YDisciple (Grades 9–12) — Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 PM at Budget Shop Basement (Director: Maria McAnerney)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) — Tuesdays 6:00 PM
- Adult Education — Thursday evenings in the Church Basement
- Bible Study (Genesis to Jesus) — Saturdays 3:00 PM
- Estudio Bíblico (Spanish Bible Study) — Saturdays 4:00 PM
- Men's Bible Study — Wednesdays 6:30 AM
- GriefShare — Mondays 6:30 PM
- Formed online platform — sevendolors.formed.org
Schools & Catholic Education Legacy
Catholic education has been central to Seven Dolors since 1908, when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia opened Sacred Heart Academy in a three-story house across from the church — the first Catholic high school in the diocese and the first complete high school course in Manhattan. The parish later opened Msgr. Arthur Luckey High School in 1951 and Seven Dolors Grade School in 1955. Today the parish partners with Manhattan Catholic Schools (Principal Mike Hubka), and the historic campus is still used by parish faith-formation programs.
- 1908 — Sacred Heart Academy founded by Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia
- 1951 — Msgr. Arthur Luckey High School dedicated
- 1955 — Seven Dolors Grade School dedicated; additions in 1961
- 1986 — Monsignor Luckey High School closed; remodeled as Child Care Center
- Today — Manhattan Catholic Schools (Principal Mike Hubka, [email protected])
Hispanic & Spanish Ministry
Seven Dolors serves the Spanish-speaking Catholic community of Manhattan with a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish at 12:30 PM, Spanish-language Confessions on Saturday evenings, Bible study, choir, baptisms, and formation. The ministry is led by Director of Spanish Ministry Gloria Green.
- Misa en Español — Sundays 12:30 PM
- Confesiones en Español — Saturdays 6:00 PM
- Estudio Bíblico — Saturdays 4:00 PM
- Coro (Spanish Choir) — Saturdays 6:00 PM
- Spanish Baptism Classes
- Spanish-language Faith Formation
- Director: Gloria Green ([email protected], ext. 125)
Parish Life & Community Groups
Beyond the sanctuary, Seven Dolors sustains an active lay community through prayer groups, service organizations, and fellowship ministries for every stage of life. These groups gather in the Parish Center (the former Sisters of St. Joseph convent at 731 Pierre), the church basement, and family homes.
- Knights of Columbus (KofC) Council — with parish breakfasts and charitable works
- Seven Dolors Catholic Women (SDCW) — fellowship, meeting nights, Coffee & Donuts
- Men's Prayer Group and Men's Bible Study
- Ladies Prayer Group
- Young & Married Families with Children
- Over 50s Group
- Parish Life Committee — socials and events (open meetings)
- Small Christian Communities / Small Groups
- GriefShare
- Food Pantry — Thursdays 9:00 AM
Sacraments
Those seeking sacraments are asked to contact the parish office for information and scheduling. Baptism requires a preparation session; marriage preparation requires a minimum six-month notice and is not scheduled during Advent or Lent. The parish also celebrates Anointing of the Sick, First Communion, Confirmation, and welcomes those seeking full initiation through OCIA.
- Baptism — after a prep session
- Marriage — six-month notice, prep sessions, not during Advent/Lent
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish office
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule
- First Communion and Confirmation via Religious Education program
- OCIA — full initiation for adults
Mission Parish: St. Patrick's, Ogden
Seven Dolors also staffs St. Patrick Parish in Ogden, Kansas — the parish's mission community. Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Patrick's is celebrated at 4:15 PM, and confessions are heard at 3:40 PM on First Saturdays. Pastor Fr. Leo Blasi serves both parishes from the Seven Dolors rectory.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:15 PM
- Confessions — First Saturdays at 3:40 PM
- Staffed by Fr. Leo Blasi from the Seven Dolors rectory
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Louis Deumortier, SJ1859 (visiting missionaries, not resident)
Jesuit based at St. Mary's Indian Mission who began serving settlers in the Manhattan area and celebrated the first Manhattan Mass in 1865 in a private home.
- Rev. A.T. Ennis1881–
First resident pastor, appointed August 5, 1881 by Bishop Fink of the Leavenworth Diocese, with Elbow, Ogden, and McDowell as missions.
- Msgr. A.J. (Arthur J.) Luckey1931–1954
Pastor credited with expanding Catholic education; the parish high school was renamed Msgr. Arthur Luckey High School in his honor. Died three months before the new grade school was dedicated in 1955.
- Msgr. William Merchant1954–1968
Succeeded Msgr. Luckey; oversaw the period when school enrollment reached 600.
- Fr. Leo Blasi2024–present
Ordained June 3, 2017 by Bishop Edward Weisenburger; transferred in 2024 from pastor of Sacred Heart, Plainville, and St. Thomas Aquinas, Stockton.