About St. Andrew · Abilene, Kansas
St. Andrew Catholic Church is a historic parish in Abilene, Kansas, serving the Catholics of Dickinson County and the surrounding area within the Diocese of Salina. The parish traces its origins to 1859, when the first Mass was celebrated in a log cabin, and was formally established in 1874 — making it one of the oldest Catholic communities in central Kansas. Today the parish offers weekend and weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Catholic Religious Education (CRE) and CYO youth ministry, a women's Bible study, a men's group, and an outreach arm with Catholic Charities mobile services, all centered around its 1916-era church building filled with German stained glass and traditional devotional artwork.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Father Peter O'Donnell
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
St. Andrew offers the full rhythm of Catholic life for a small-town community: weekend Masses Saturday evening and twice on Sunday, a daily 7:00 a.m. weekday Mass, a weekly First Saturday Mass, all-school Masses, and prolonged Eucharistic Adoration from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening. Parishioners grow in faith through CRE religious education, CYO youth ministry, women's and men's Bible studies, and a Baby Ministry that walks families from Baptism through age three. Outreach through Catholic Charities mobile services and a hands-on parish culture — born of pioneers who literally dug the parish basement by hand — make St. Andrew a place where every member is invited to serve body and spirit.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday and Friday 6:40–7:00 a.m.
- By appointment — call the parish office at 785-263-1570
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 2:00 p.m. through Thursdays 7:00 a.m. (school-in-session Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2:00 p.m. per homepage)
- Thursdays 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Parish History
St. Andrew Catholic Church in Abilene was formally established in 1874, but its Catholic roots reach back to 1859, when Father Louis Dumortier celebrated the first Mass in the log-cabin home of Margaret Callahan on Mud Creek. The community grew with the Kansas Pacific Railroad, built its first church in 1875, installed Abilene's first church bell in 1894, and replaced that structure with the present church in 1916. The parish's pioneer heritage — including a hand-dug basement assembly hall created during the Depression/Dust Bowl era under Msgr. C.J. Roche — still shapes its can-do parish culture today.
- 1859 – First Mass at Margaret Callahan's cabin, served by Father Louis Dumortier
- 1874 – Church lots and cornerstone laid November 30
- 1875 – First church completed; first Mass celebrated July 5
- 1894 – Church bell installed (still in use; first bell in Abilene)
- 1880 – Father John O'Leary becomes first resident priest; builds first rectory
- 1916/1917 – Present church built; first Mass celebrated in new building 1917
- 1930s/40s – Msgr. C.J. Roche leads hand-dug basement project
- 1959 – New grade school built, replacing the parochial school at the orphanage
- 1997 – New rectory and parish center completed
- 2018–2021 – Heating/cooling upgrades and sacristy HVAC under recent pastors
The Church Building
The current St. Andrew church was constructed in 1916 and is distinguished by ornate stained-glass windows imported from Germany depicting events in the lives of Christ and his Blessed Mother. The interior is rich with devotional art, including a tile mission cross in the entrance floor, statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Andrew, St. Joseph and the Christ Child, the Infant Jesus of Prague and the Pietà, plus paintings and icons of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Madonna and Child, and Divine Mercy. The Altar Crucifixion features Mother Mary and St. John the Apostle standing beside Jesus, and fourteen devotional Stations of the Cross line the nave walls.
- German stained-glass windows depicting Christ and the Blessed Mother
- Statues of Mary, St. Andrew, St. Joseph and the Christ Child
- Infant Jesus of Prague and Pietà statues
- Our Lady of Guadalupe painting; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Madonna and Child, and Divine Mercy icons
- Altar Crucifixion with Mary and St. John beside Jesus
- Fourteen Stations of the Cross
- Tile mission cross in the entrance floor
Clergy & Staff
St. Andrew is currently served by Father Peter O'Donnell, who was ordained May 22, 2010, by Bishop Paul Coakley at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina. He also serves as Judicial Vicar and Archivist for the Diocese of Salina, and as of 2025 is additionally pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Junction City and priest supervisor of St. Michael Parish in Chapman. Parish-office staff include secretary Jo Ellen Whitehair; outreach coordinator Theresa Brierton; and Director of Religious Education Trisha Elliott. School Principal Chris Whitehair and secretary Marlene Herrman lead St. Andrew Elementary School.
- Pastor: Father Peter O'Donnell (pastor phone 785-263-7094)
- Parish Secretary: Jo Ellen Whitehair
- Director of Religious Education: Trisha Elliott ([email protected])
- Outreach: Theresa Brierton
- School Principal: Chris Whitehair
- School Secretary: Marlene Herrman
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Catholic Religious Education (CRE) and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) form the core of parish faith formation. CRE classes meet Wednesday evenings from 6:30–7:30 September through early May, with grade-level catechists from kindergarten through 8th grade.
- Director of Religious Education: Trisha Elliott
- CYO leader: Jenny Brooks
- 8th grade: Angie Evans and Mandy DeDonder
- 6th–7th grade: Pat Martin and Adam Elliott
- 3rd–5th grade: Mary Zey and Corina Ryland
- 2nd grade / First Communion: Tony and Sarah Geiger
- K–1st grade: Emily Taylor and Trisha Elliott
- Assistant: Karen Saltkill
Adult Faith Formation & Small Groups
St. Andrew offers ongoing Bible study and small-group opportunities throughout the year for men and women, with additional faith-growth series led by Fr. Peter O'Donnell and parishionioners.
- Women's Bible Study — Thursdays 10:30 a.m., Parish Hall (Theresa Brierton)
- Men's Bible Study — Wednesdays 8:00 a.m., Parish Hall (Reg Konrade)
- Men's Group
- Seasonal series led by Fr. Peter O'Donnell and Pat Martin
St. Andrew Elementary School
St. Andrew Parish School continues the parish's long Catholic-education tradition that began with the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1887 and was consolidated into a new grade-school building in 1959. The school participates in parish life through weekly school Masses and the parish's CRE/CYO programs.
- Principal: Chris Whitehair
- Secretary: Marlene Herrman
- Phone: 785-263-2453
- Website: www.standrewsabilene.com
- Email: [email protected]
- School Mass: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00 p.m. when school is in session
Outreach & Charity
St. Andrew partners with Catholic Charities for mobile outreach to the Abilene area and coordinates family outreach through the parish's Baby Ministry, which walks families from Baptism through age three with packets of Catholic wisdom, age-appropriate parenting strategies and timely advice.
- Catholic Charities Mobile Outreach
- Outreach coordinator: Theresa Brierton (785-479-6559)
- Baby Ministry — seven 'Parent Letters from Your Parish' packets mailed at six-month intervals starting after Baptism
Visit & Contact
St. Andrew Catholic Church is located at 311 S. Buckeye Avenue, Abilene, Kansas 67410, in the Diocese of Salina. The parish office is open by phone at 785-263-1570 and by email at [email protected]; the pastor can be reached directly at 785-263-7094.
- Address: 311 S. Buckeye Avenue, Abilene, KS 67410
- Parish Office: 785-263-1570
- Office FAX: 785-263-3570
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor direct: 785-263-7094
- Website: https://sacabilene.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Louis Dumortier1859 onward
Diocese's pioneering priest; rode out from St. Mary's Indian Mission east of Manhattan about every six weeks to celebrate Mass in pioneer homes.
- Father John O'Leary1880 onward
First resident priest; built the first rectory (used until 1997) and helped Mother Bernard Sheridan establish Mount St. Joseph's Academy.
- Msgr. C.J. Roche1930–1962
Led parishioners in hand-excavating a basement beneath the church to create an assembly hall, meeting rooms, stage and kitchen.
- Fr. Don Zimmerman2018–2020
Named pastor in 2018.
- Fr. Randall Weber2020
Named pastor in 2020; Fr. Peter O'Donnell assigned as parochial vicar that same year.
- Fr. Peter O'Donnell2021–present
Named pastor in 2021; currently also pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Junction City and priest supervisor of St. Michael Parish in Chapman.