About St. Bernard · Ellsworth, Kansas
St. Bernard Parish is a Catholic parish in Ellsworth, Kansas, belonging to the Diocese of Salina. The parish was founded in 1873 when pioneer missionary priests from Junction City began celebrating Mass in the homes and schoolhouses of early settlers; the first wooden church was built the same year and dedicated to St. Bernard. The present red-brick church with its 75-foot spire, stained-glass windows, and 87-bell carillon was dedicated in 1911, and the parish celebrated its centennial in 2009. Today St. Bernard is clustered with two mission parishes — St. Ignatius Loyola in Kanopolis and St. Joseph in Brookville — under the pastoral care of Fr. Stanly Basil, HGN, and serves the rural Catholic faithful of Ellsworth County.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Fr. Stanly Basil, HGN
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
St. Bernard offers a warm, close-knit rural Catholic community rooted in more than 150 years of faith in central Kansas. The parish clusters St. Bernard (Ellsworth), St. Ignatius Loyola (Kanopolis), and St. Joseph (Brookville) under one pastor, ensuring a faithful schedule of daily Mass, weekend Masses, and regular Confession. Active ministries for every age — Youth Faith Formation (YFF), the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), the Teen Faith Group, Totus Tuus, OCIA for adults, Feed Your Faith adult education, scripture study, the CCW ladies' hospitality, and a parish food bank — make it easy to get involved. Members enjoy fellowship coffee-and-donuts Sundays and pastoral care from a pastor and religious-ed directors who know parishioners by name.
Mass times at St. Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:00 am – 9:30 am, or by request
Our History
Catholic life in Ellsworth began in 1869 when Father John Fogarty, a missionary priest based in Solomon, celebrated the first Mass in the home of a settler or in an old stone schoolhouse. In 1873 Fr. Fogarty paid $25 for the original parish real estate at Lincoln Avenue and Second Street, where a 20-by-30-foot frame church was built that year and named St. Bernard. The early congregation struggled with poverty — a hardship that, years later, would inspire Father Francis Kelley of Michigan to found the Catholic Church Extension Society after visiting Ellsworth and writing 'I Know a Little "Shanty" in the West' on the train home. In 1905, Father A. J. Luckey sold the original site and purchased the present half-block at 10th and Kansas Streets. The new red-brick church was dedicated by Bishop Francis Cunningham on October 2, 1911. A parish hall followed in 1955, a major church renovation was dedicated in 1991, and the parish marked the church's 100th Anniversary on October 18, 2009.
- 1869 – First Mass in Ellsworth
- 1873 – First church built; named St. Bernard
- 1882 – Rectory purchased
- 1905 – Present 10th & Kansas block acquired
- 1911 – Present red-brick church dedicated by Bishop Cunningham
- 1955 – Parish hall built
- 1960 – 87-bell carillon dedicated to Fr. Teahan
- 1971 – New rectory completed
- 1991 – Major church renovation and gathering space added
- 2009 – 100th Anniversary of the church celebrated
Architecture & Sacred Spaces
The present St. Bernard Church is a red pressed-brick building accented with white trim, filled with stained-glass windows, and crowned by a 75-foot spire topped with a large gilded cross. It was built in 1911 at a cost of $10,000 and has been renewed several times, most extensively in 1989–1991 under Father Charles Steier, when a new gathering space with a large baptismal font and an addition with seating for 80 were added and the interior was completely refurbished. The most distinctive feature is the 87-bell carillon outside, dedicated on December 4, 1960 in memory of Father Eugene Teahan and reportedly audible for 20 miles. The parish hall (1955, $40,000 cost) was repainted in 1997, and the rectory was completely renovated in 1999.
- Red pressed brick with white trim
- Stained-glass windows throughout
- 75-foot spire with gilded cross
- 87-bell carillon (audible for ~20 miles)
- 1991 baptismal font and gathering space
- Parish hall (1955) and renovated rectory (1999)
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Bernard is led by Fr. Stanly Basil, HGN, of the Heralds of Good News, who serves as pastor of the three-parish cluster (St. Bernard, St. Ignatius, and St. Joseph). Angie Ptacek and Karen Kratzer serve as Directors of Religious Education, with Cheryl Rathbun also listed as a DRE for faith-formation questions. Jeanette Soukup serves as parish secretary and office manager. Rita Whitmer coordinates affairs at the St. Ignatius mission parish in Kanopolis.
- Fr. Stanly Basil, HGN – Pastor
- Angie Ptacek – Director of Religious Education
- Karen Kratzer – Director of Religious Education
- Cheryl Rathbun – DRE
- Jeanette Soukup – Parish Secretary / Office Manager
- Rita Whitmer – St. Ignatius Parish Coordinator
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers a full life of formation for children, teens, and adults. The Youth Faith Formation (YFF) program runs through both grade school and high school, with Confirmation celebrated every two years. High School 'Teen Faith' class meets on the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays of each month, while the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) gathers on the 3rd and 4th Wednesdays at the St. Bernard parish hall, with stewardship and service projects. Confirmation preparation includes special classes, a retreat, interaction with a sponsor, and a letter to the bishop. Totus Tuus (a popular Catholic summer catechetical program) registration is open each year through DRE Cheryl Rathbun. Adult faith formation includes OCIA (formerly RCIA), a year-round Adult Religious Education program, Scripture Study groups, and 'Feed Your Faith' — a potluck-and-lesson evening held on the second Saturday of each month from September through March, immediately after Saturday evening Mass at St. Ignatius, with CYO-provided childcare.
- Youth Faith Formation (YFF)
- Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)
- Teen Faith Group
- Totus Tuus summer program
- OCIA (adult initiation)
- Adult Religious Education
- Feed Your Faith (adults, 2nd Saturday Sep–Mar)
- Scripture Study groups
Pastoral Succession
The parish's published history names a succession of pastors across more than a century. Pioneer missionary Father John Fogarty celebrated the first Mass in 1869 and acquired the first parish real estate in 1873. Father A. J. Luckey served eight years as the first resident pastor and built the 1911 church. Father Eugene Teahan (1927–1950) is memorialized by the carillon bells. Subsequent pastors include Fathers Thomas Lonergan (1958 renovation), Emmett Coler (1960 carillon dedication), James Hoover (1971 rectory), Merlin Kieffer (1983 CCD classrooms), Charles Steier (1989–1991 church renovation and addition), and Daniel Scheetz (1997 parish hall repaint and 1999 rectory renovation). Fr. Stanly Basil, HGN, currently serves as pastor.
- Fr. John Fogarty (1869 missionary)
- Fr. A. J. Luckey (first resident pastor)
- Fr. Eugene Teahan (1927–1950)
- Fr. Thomas Lonergan
- Fr. Emmett Coler
- Fr. James Hoover
- Fr. Merlin Kieffer
- Fr. Charles Steier
- Fr. Daniel Scheetz
- Fr. Stanly Basil, HGN (current)
Fellowship, Hospitality & Outreach
Parish life at St. Bernard is built around simple, welcoming fellowship. The CCW (Council of Catholic Women) hosts Hospitality Sunday on the first Sunday of every month, serving coffee, juice, donuts, and rolls in the parish hall. The parish also operates a Food Bank for those in need in the Ellsworth community. Ministry Schedules for both St. Bernard and St. Ignatius are published on the website, alongside a parish calendar, weekly bulletin, and event pages.
- Hospitality Sunday (CCW, first Sunday of each month)
- Parish Food Bank
- Parish bulletin
- Ministry Schedules published online
- Parish calendar of events
Clustered Mission Parishes
St. Bernard shares a single pastor with two mission parishes in the surrounding rural area, forming one pastoral cluster. St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Kanopolis (127 N. Missouri, Kanopolis, KS 67454) offers Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:30 pm and Thursday daily Mass at 8:30 am, with Confessions before Mass (5:00–5:15 pm) or by request. St. Joseph Parish in Brookville (110 W. 3rd St., Brookville, KS 67439) celebrates Sunday Mass at 8:00 am, with Confessions on the first Sunday of the month from 7:30–7:50 am. Rita Whitmer serves as the St. Ignatius parish coordinator.
- St. Ignatius Loyola – Kanopolis (Sat Vigil 5:30 pm)
- St. Joseph – Brookville (Sun 8:00 am)
- Shared pastor: Fr. Stanly Basil, HGN
- St. Ignatius coordinator: Rita Whitmer
Sacraments
St. Bernard prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Christian initiation and ongoing life in the Church. Baptism is celebrated in the parish's baptismal font (installed in the 1991 renovation) by arrangement with the parish office. First Penance and First Communion are prepared through the parish's Religious Education program. Confirmation is celebrated every two years for high-school students, with special classes, a retreat, work with a sponsor, and a letter to the bishop. Couples contact the parish office to begin marriage preparation, and Anointing of the Sick can be requested by parishioners or family members. Adult inquirers enter the Church through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults).
- Baptism
- First Penance / First Communion
- Confirmation (every two years)
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- OCIA for adults
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Fogarty1869 (missionary from Solomon)
Celebrated the first Mass in Ellsworth in 1869 and acquired the first parish real estate in 1873.
- Rev. A. J. Luckey
First resident pastor; served eight years; sold original site in 1905 and bought the present 10th and Kansas block; oversaw construction of the 1911 church.
- Father Eugene Teahan1927–1950
Long-serving pastor honored with the 87-bell carillon dedicated in 1960.
- Father James Hoover
Built the new rectory, completed 1971.
- Father Merlin Kieffer
In 1983 oversaw the development of the rectory basement for additional CCD classrooms.
- Father Charles Steier
Led the major church renovation beginning November 1989, dedicated April 7, 1991.
- Father Daniel Scheetz
Repainted the parish hall in 1997 and completely renovated the rectory in 1999.
- Father Thomas Lonergan
Directed the 1958 renovation that included new roof, steps, pews, altars, lights, and Stations of the Cross.
- Father Emmett Coler
Dedicated the 87-bell carillon in memory of Father Teahan on December 4, 1960.
- Fr. Stanly Basil, HGNCurrent
Current pastor; oversees the St. Bernard, St. Ignatius, and St. Joseph cluster.