About St. Ambrose · Erie, Kansas
St. Ambrose Catholic Church is a small Catholic parish located at 519 North Main Street in Erie, Kansas, near the center of historic Neosho County. Together with its sister parish, St. Francis de Hieronymo in St. Paul, it forms a two-parish family that represents one of the richest Catholic heritages in southeast Kansas. Originally established as a mission parish of St. Joseph, South Mound, in 1915, St. Ambrose was elevated to full parish status in May 1964 when Bishop Leo Christopher Byrne dedicated its present stone-facade church. The parish is part of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita and is currently served by Father Matthew Davied, with about 49 registered families and 97 individual Catholics.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- St. Ambrose
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew C. Davied
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Ambrose offers a small, tight-knit Catholic community in which the legacy of southeast Kansas Catholicism is alive and tangible — the parish has served Erie for more than a century and shares religious education and other programs with its sister parish, St. Francis de Hieronymo in St. Paul. Worshippers can take part in Mass, Confession, RCIA, the Parish School of Religion, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an informal Bible study, Altar Society activities, and stewardship formation — all supported by a 1964 stone church, a 1986 parish hall, and a historic rectory house used for special events and visiting clergy.
Mass times at St. Ambrose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Sunday 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Ambrose
- 30 minutes before Thursday 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Ambrose
- Wednesday 5:00-5:30 p.m. at St. Francis, St. Paul
- Saturday 4:30-5:15 p.m. at St. Francis, St. Paul
- By appointment (per diocesan directory)
Parish Overview
St. Ambrose Catholic Church is one of two parishes in a joint parish family in Neosho County, southeast Kansas — the other being St. Francis de Hieronymo in St. Paul, which serves as the administrative center. The two parishes share a pastor, a parish secretary, a religious education center, and many programs. St. Ambrose itself sits in Erie, nine miles northwest of St. Paul, and is a small but historically rich community of about 49 families and 97 individual Catholics within the Catholic Diocese of Wichita.
- Part of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita
- Joint parish family with St. Francis de Hieronymo, St. Paul
- Administrative center located at St. Paul
- About 49 families / 97 individual Catholics
History of St. Ambrose Parish
Catholic life in Erie predates the parish itself. The first recorded Mass in Erie was in 1914, and in 1915 St. Ambrose was established as a mission of St. Joseph, South Mound, with Father Francis Maguire as the first priest to serve both communities. Because there was no Catholic church in Erie, Mass was celebrated in a rented chapel inside the Dr. Steinburger building on East Third until 1924. In May 1964, Bishop Leo Christopher Byrne dedicated the present stone-facade church at 519 North Main, and St. Ambrose was elevated to full parish status while St. Joseph, South Mound, became its mission. St. Joseph was later closed on June 27, 1985. The parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2014 and 2015.
- 1866 — Erie town company formed; Catholics travel to Osage Mission (St. Paul) for Mass
- 1914 — First recorded Mass said in Erie
- 1915 — St. Ambrose established as mission of St. Joseph, South Mound; Father Francis Maguire first priest
- Mass held in Dr. Steinburger building on East Third until 1924
- May 1964 — Present stone church dedicated; parish elevated to full status
- June 27, 1985 — St. Joseph, South Mound, closed
- 2014-2015 — 100th anniversary celebrations
Parish Facilities
The parish campus in Erie includes three buildings serving worship, fellowship, and hospitality. The church itself — with its attractive stone facade — has stood since 1964 and has been enhanced with a marble altar donated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, new stained-glass windows sponsored by parish families, a new organ, and refurbished pews.
- St. Ambrose Church — 519 North Main, Erie; dedicated May 1964
- Parish Hall — dedicated 1986, just west of the church; large dining/event room, fully equipped kitchen, two meeting/class rooms, storage, restrooms; managed by the St. Ambrose Altar Society
- St. Ambrose Rectory House — used for special events, meetings, and as a guest house for visiting priests or parish visitors; managed by the St. Ambrose Altar Society
Clergy & Staff
The two-parish family of St. Francis and St. Ambrose is currently served by Father Matthew C. Davied as pastor, with Jackie Harmon serving as Parish Secretary out of the St. Paul Parish Office. The diocesan directory lists 49 families and 97 individual Catholics in the parish.
- Rev. Matthew C. Davied — Pastor
- Jackie Harmon — Parish Secretary (St. Paul Parish Office)
- Parish Office Phone: (620) 449-2224
Education & Faith Formation
Religious education for both St. Francis and St. Ambrose is coordinated from the Religious Education Center located one block west of St. Francis in St. Paul. The parishes offer a full slate of formation opportunities for children and adults.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Informal Bible Study Group
Parish Organizations & Stewardship
Parish life at St. Ambrose is enriched by the Altar Society, which oversees the use and rental of the parish hall and the historic Rectory House. Stewardship formation — especially the Time, Talent, and Treasure approach — has deep roots here: the parish's 1964 pastor, Father Thomas McGread (later Monsignor), is recognized as one of the most influential advocates of stewardship as a way of life, and his vision spread from Wichita to dioceses around the world.
- St. Ambrose Altar Society — manages parish hall and Rectory House rentals
- Stewardship formation rooted in the legacy of Msgr. Thomas McGread
- Time, Talent, and Treasure stewardship approach
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish through the joint parish office in St. Paul. The church is at 519 North Main Street in Erie, and the parish office is open by phone during regular hours.
- Address: 519 North Main Street, Erie, KS 66733
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 216, St. Paul, KS 66771
- Phone: (620) 449-2224
- Website: http://www.stfrancis-stambrose.org/st-ambrose-erie.html
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Maguire1915
First priest to serve St. Joseph, South Mound and its new mission parish St. Ambrose.
- Father Thomas McGread1963-1965
Pastor at the time of the new church dedication in May 1964; later Monsignor, recognized as the most influential advocate of stewardship as a way of life; served at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Wichita, until retiring in 1999; passed away April 1, 2013, at age 84.
- Rev. Daniel L. Vacca
Guided the installation of a new organ and refurbished pews.