About St. Benedict · Atchison, Kansas
St. Benedict Parish is a vibrant Catholic community in Atchison, Kansas, rooted in the Benedictine monastic tradition and gathered across three historic churches — St. Benedict, St. Patrick, and St. Joseph. Located at the corner of Second Street and Unity, the parish sits adjacent to the campus of Benedictine College, and its worship life blends townspeople and college students together. The parish was consolidated in 2013 and is home to Atchison's only Perpetual Adoration Chapel, where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The parish also operates (or is affiliated with) St. Benedict Catholic School, a Cognia-accredited elementary school recognized as a 2024 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence.
- Established
- 2013
- Patron
- St. Benedict of Nursia
- Rector
- Fr. Jeremy Heppler, OSB
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Benedict Parish is the only parish in Atchison blessed with a Perpetual Adoration Chapel open 24/7, inviting parishioners into a deep rhythm of prayer. It uniquely serves both the town of Atchison and the Benedictine College community across three worship sites (St. Benedict, St. Joseph, and St. Patrick), offering daily Mass, multiple Sunday Masses, weekly confessions, a thriving Catholic elementary school, and a full slate of liturgical ministries — Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, ushers, greeters, sacristans, altar servers, cantors, accompanists, art & environment, church cleaning, and linens — where families and college students serve side by side.
Mass times at St. Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:45–7:00 PM (St. Benedict Church)
- Saturday 3:30–4:45 PM (St. Benedict Church)
- Anytime by appointment: 913-367-0671
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the Adoration Chapel at St. Benedict Church (Blessed Sacrament exposed except during Mass)
Parish Overview
St. Benedict Parish is the consolidated Catholic parish for the Atchison area, formed in 2013 and rooted in the Benedictine monastic tradition of nearby St. Benedict's Abbey. The parish worships across three churches — St. Benedict Church in town, St. Joseph Church, and the rural St. Patrick Church — and is distinguished by its Perpetual Adoration Chapel and its close partnership with Benedictine College.
- Three worship sites: St. Benedict, St. Joseph, St. Patrick
- Consolidated in 2013
- Served by Benedictine (OSB) priests
- Adjacent to Benedictine College
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is pastored by Fr. Jeremy Heppler, OSB, and supported by three deacons, a parish administrator, a facilities manager, administrative assistants, and the manager of the Sacred Heart Variety Store.
- Fr. Jeremy Heppler, OSB — Pastor
- Deacon Nicolaas tenBroek
- Deacon Charles Welte
- Deacon Frank Contreras
- Stan Sluder — Parish Administrator
- Laura 'Sox' Cross — Facilities Manager
- Lindsay Koester — Administrative Assistant
- Sandy Fitzmaurice — Administrative Assistant & Archivist
- Catherine Peitsch — Administrative Assistant
- Cheryl Contreras — Sacred Heart Variety Store Manager
St. Benedict Catholic School (Atchison Catholic Elementary)
St. Benedict Catholic School, affiliated with the parish and now part of Atchison Catholic Elementary, is committed to 'educating the whole child in a Christ-centered Benedictine environment with the ultimate goal of fostering Christian disciples.' The school holds Cognia accreditation and was announced as the 2024 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence.
- Cognia accredited
- 2024 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence
- Christ-centered Benedictine environment
- Operates as part of Atchison Catholic Elementary (admin office: 201 Division, Atchison)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy in many roles — from the sanctuary to the sacristy to the pews. Most roles require only a one-time training session, and the parish especially welcomes families, students from nearby Benedictine College, and anyone looking to put time and talent at the service of the Mass.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Greeters (a great ministry for families)
- Sacristans
- Altar Servers
- Music: Cantors and Accompanists
- Art & Environment (seasonal decorating)
- Church Cleaning
- Linens Crew
Worship Sites
Three churches make up the parish — a main church in town and two historic mission churches that continue to host Sunday Mass and sacraments.
- St. Benedict Church — 1001 N. 2nd St., Atchison (main parish church, parish office, Perpetual Adoration Chapel)
- St. Patrick Church — 19384 234th Rd. (Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM)
- St. Joseph Church — 8th and Spring Garden St. (Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM)
Sacraments
Sacraments — including Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick — are celebrated across all three parish churches. A consolidated 'Atchison Community Sacraments' schedule is published on the parish website.
- Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Confession (see schedule above)
- Full Atchison Community Sacramental schedule at stbenedictatchison.org/atchison-community-sacraments
Get Involved & Stay Connected
Beyond liturgical ministries, parishioners can stay informed through Flocknote emails and texts, follow the parish on Facebook, and volunteer for community outreach supported by the parish (the school has publicly supported the Pregnancy Resource Center and Catholic Charities). The parish is open to anyone — practicing Catholics, returning Catholics, and non-Catholics with questions about the faith.
- Flocknote parish email and text alerts (signup on the Communications page)
- Parish Facebook page (linked from the homepage)
- Liturgical and parish volunteer ministries
- Outreach: school supports Pregnancy Resource Center and Catholic Charities
Contact & Visiting
The parish office sits across from St. Benedict Church at 1001 N. 2nd Street and is staffed Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM. Phone (913) 367-0671 connects visitors to confession appointments, anointings, and parish business. Email: [email protected].
- Parish Office: 1001 N. 2nd Street, Atchison, KS 66002
- Phone: (913) 367-0671
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Luke Turner, OSB
Served as pastor; signed the parish welcome letter as 'Father Luke, OSB, Pastor.' Now Director of College Ministry at Benedictine College.
- Fr. Jeremy Heppler, OSB
Listed as Pastor on the current Parish Staff page.