About St. Bernard · Wamego, Kansas
St. Bernard Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, located on the north edge of Wamego, Kansas, serving the town of Wamego and three mission parishes: St. Joseph in Flush, Holy Family in Alma, and Sacred Heart in Paxico. Founded in 1898 and named for St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the parish has grown from its original 1908 limestone Gothic church into a vibrant 500-seat worship community that was rebuilt and re-dedicated in 2010. Today, led by Fr. Michael Peterson, St. Bernard offers daily and Sunday Mass, perpetual-adjacent Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA, a graded religious education program, and active parish organizations including the Knights of Columbus and Ladies' Guild.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Fr. Nick Blaha
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Bernard's offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in a small-town setting: a generous Mass schedule (Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, and weekday Mass Tuesday through Saturday), weekly Confession, a near-continuous block of Eucharistic Adoration from Wednesday morning through Friday evening, and a graded religious-education program for PreK through 12th grade. A robust lay community — Knights of Columbus council, Ladies' Guild, Finance and Pastoral Councils, Music Ministry, Cemetery and Stewardship Committees, men's and women's Bible studies, and an active OCIA — gives newcomers real ways to plug in, while a parish that has thought carefully about heritage (a 2010-built church that lovingly carries forward the stained glass, tabernacle, Stations, and bell of its 1908 predecessor) gives long-time Catholics a deep sense of home.
Mass times at St. Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 4:45 – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 – 4:30 PM
- Also available by appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:00 AM through Friday 10:00 PM (near-continuous Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Welcome to St. Bernard Catholic Church
The parish describes itself as seeking 'to shine the light of Christ in our community through prayerful worship, strong faith formation, and acts of kindness and service.' The website opens with a one-line mission: rooted in the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ, growing as faithful disciples together. Whether you live down the street or are a lifelong parishioner, the parish emphasizes that all are welcome.
Parish History — From 1898 to Today
St. Bernard Parish was founded in 1898 and worshiped for a century in a small limestone Gothic church completed in 1908. By the 2000s the parish had outgrown the 240-seat building; with about 390 registered families, larger liturgies like confirmations and most weddings had to be held at St. Joseph in Flush. After more than a decade of planning, parishioners launched a capital campaign, purchased 15 acres of former cornfield on the north edge of town, broke ground on May 8, 2009, and dedicated the new 500-seat church in August 2010 under Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. The rite included a Litany of the Saints, anointing of the altar with Sacred Chrism, and the sealing of relics of Saints Pius X and John Vianney under the altar and altar of repose.
- 1898 — parish founded
- 1908 — original limestone Gothic church completed (≈240 seats)
- 2002 — Fr. John Pilcher becomes pastor (also serves St. Joseph-Flush, Sacred Heart-Paxico, Holy Family-Alma)
- 2009 — ground broken on new 15-acre site (May 8); site blessed by Archbishop Naumann (July 12)
- August 2010 — new 500-seat church dedicated; relics of Sts. Pius X and John Vianney sealed in altar
- $2.57 million Phase One budget; Phase Two plans include parish office, parish hall, and RE classrooms
Our Patron — St. Bernard of Clairvaux
The parish is named for St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the 12th-century Cistercian monk, mystic, and Doctor of the Church whose writings on Mary and devotion to the Name of Jesus shaped medieval Catholic spirituality. The parish website includes an 'About Our Patron' page that introduces visitors to his life and legacy.
- Feast day: August 20
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish staff page lists the pastor, parish administrator, and director of religious education, along with chairs and contact persons for every active council, committee, and ministry. It is a useful 'who-do-I-call' directory for newcomers.
- Jamie Stegman — Parish Administrator
- Amy Schwein — Religious Education Director ([email protected])
- Jody Weis — Music Coordinator & Choir Director
- Mark Ward — Finance Council Chair
- Des Prockish — Pastoral Council Chair; Meghan Kearn — Pastoral Council Auction Chair
- Ben Geiger — Knights of Columbus Grand Knight
- Courtney Simpson and Jillian Tinkel — Ladies' Guild Co-Chairs
- Rikki Blume — Cemetery Committee Director
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Amy Schwein, the Director of Faith Formation, oversees a graded parish religious-education program that meets on Wednesday evenings. PreK through 8th grade uses the 'Credo: I Believe' (5th–6th) and 'Jesus, Our Guide' (4th) textbooks and the 'Chosen' program for 7th and 8th graders, covering Salvation History, the Creed, the sacraments, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Mass, virtue, and Christian discipleship. High school youth (grades 9–12) meet in the Youth Room using the 'Decision Point' curriculum from Dynamic Catholic.
- PreK–8 Religious Education (Wednesday evenings)
- 4th Grade — Jesus, Our Guide (Salvation History focus)
- 5th & 6th Grade — Credo: I Believe (study of the Creed)
- 7th & 8th Grade — Chosen (6:30–7:45 PM in the Parish Hall, 24-lesson series)
- High School (9–12) — Decision Point (6:30–7:45 PM in the Youth Room)
- First Communion preparation — annual two-year program
- Confirmation — two-year preparation for current 7th & 8th graders in RE
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Adults who have never been baptized, or who have been baptized in another Christian tradition and wish to enter full communion with the Catholic Church, are invited to participate in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). The parish encourages already-Catholic parishioners to serve as sponsors or team members. Adults preparing for Baptism, First Communion, and/or Confirmation should contact Amy Schwein, Director of Faith Formation.
- OCIA — process of discernment and formation for adults
- Open to the unbaptized, baptized Christians, and Catholics seeking Confirmation
- Sponsors and team members welcome; contact Amy Schwein
Adult Formation — Bible Studies & Small Groups
St. Bernard's supports a robust adult-formation program. Two Women's Bible Study groups meet on Tuesdays — one at 9:00 AM and one at 7:30 PM — and run September through April. A Men's Group meets Thursdays 6:00–7:00 AM with coffee, breakfast, a program, and prayer, working through series such as That Man is You, Pivotal Players, and 7 Deadly Sins/7 Lively Virtues. A Retired Men's Group also meets Thursdays at 9:00 AM.
- Women's Bible Study — Tuesdays 9:00 AM and 7:30 PM (Sept–Apr)
- Men's Group — Thursdays 6:00–7:00 AM
- Retired Men's Group — Thursdays 9:00 AM
- Contact: Laura Zachgo, Regan Holthaus, Rikki Blume, or Mike McIlwee
Parish Organizations & Councils
Lay leadership is woven into the life of the parish through several councils and committees. Together they handle finances, parish life, fundraising, the physical environment, music, the parish cemetery, and stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
- Finance Council
- Pastoral Council
- Stewardship Committee
- Environment Committee
- Cemetery Committee
- Music Ministry
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies' Guild
The New Church Building
The 2010 church replaced the cramped 1908 limestone Gothic building. Designed by Civium Architecture & Planning and built with a glue-laminated (glulam) wood structure, it seats 500, features a large narthex, a cry room, central tabernacle placement, and forward-facing pews, and was designed to be expandable. A 165-space parking lot solved the old church's lack of off-street parking and accessibility. Stained-glass windows, the crucifix, tabernacle, statues, Stations of the Cross, and the bell from the 1908 church were all carried forward.
- Dedicated August 2010 by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
- 500 seats (expandable)
- 165-space parking lot
- 15-acre site on the north edge of Wamego
- Heritage items from 1908 church preserved in new building
Cluster Parishes & The Parish School
St. Bernard is the anchor of a four-parish cluster with St. Joseph in Flush, Sacred Heart in Paxico, and Holy Family in Alma — all under the pastor of St. Bernard. A parish school associated with the cluster is referenced by the Archdiocese under the web address sbc-sjc.com. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas lists St. Bernard as founded in 1898 with a parish office mailing address of 1006 Eighth, Wamego, KS 66547.
- St. Joseph — Flush, KS (Sunday Mass 8:45 AM)
- Sacred Heart — Paxico, KS
- Holy Family — Alma, KS
- Parish School: sbc-sjc.com
- Mailing: 1006 Eighth, Wamego, KS 66547
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Pilcher2002–at least 2010
Shepherded the capital campaign and construction of the new church, dedicated August 2010. Also served as pastor of three mission parishes: St. Joseph (Flush), Sacred Heart (Paxico), and Holy Family (Alma). Praised by parishioners as a visionary leader for the building project.
- Fr. Michael Petersoncurrent
Current pastor; also serves St. Joseph Parish in Flush. Quoted in The Leaven reflecting on the rhythms of Ordinary Time and rural parish life.