About St. Anthony · Schoenchen, Kansas
St. Anthony Parish in Schoenchen, Kansas, was established in 1881 after German Catholic immigrants from Russia built a frame church following earlier setbacks. The parish has been served by both Capuchin and diocesan priests since its founding, and it gained national attention in 1992 when Bishop Joseph Werth, a descendant of Schoenchen’s original settlers, visited. The parish remains a spiritual center for the small community, with Mass held weekly and active ministries supporting its faithful.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- St. Anthony
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
The parish offers a warm, welcoming community rooted in its German Catholic heritage, with active ministries including faith formation, parish outreach, and sacramental services. Regular Masses and Confession times are available, and the parish has hosted notable visitors like Bishop Joseph Werth, who traced his roots to the community’s founding families.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Mass
History
The village of Schoenchen was founded in 1877 by German Catholic emigrants from Russia. Residents traveled to Hays, 11 miles north, to attend Mass until they could build their own church, starting in 1879. The stone foundation was damaged by heavy rains and the building abandoned. A frame church was completed in 1881. Plans for a new stone church began in 1900, and the church was dedicated in 1911. Father Valentine Sommereisen was the first priest to serve Ellis County and initially tended to Schoenchen. Capuchin priests and diocesan priests have alternately served the parish since then. The parish made news in 1992 when Russian Bishop Joseph Werth visited — a homecoming for his ancestors who had been persecuted and exiled under Stalin. He was invited by Capuchin Father Blaine Burkey after reading about him in a 1990 newsletter.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Valentine Sommereisen
First priest to serve Ellis County and initially tended to Schoenchen.