St. Casimir

Parish Story — A Polish National Parish Founded in 1888

St. Casimir began with a small group of Polish emigrants from Westphalia, Germany who settled in Leavenworth in 1888 and organized the St. Casimir Men's Society in 1889 to preserve their Catholic faith and cultural heritage. Within five years the Polish community — expanded by immigration from Pennsylvania and Illinois drawn by the Home and Riverside mines — built its own church on Pennsylvania Avenue, dedicated May 1894 at a cost of about $7,000. The parish's story has been marked by sacrifice, by devoted lay leadership, and by a strong ethnic identity that has continued into the present day through the St. Casimir Men's Society and the St. Casimir Altar Society.

Merged Parish — Sacred Heart–St. Casimir (Unified 2007)

Since 2007, St. Casimir has been one parish with its longtime sister parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas formally unified the two communities, and the combined parish today operates from two historic church sites — St. Casimir at 715 Pennsylvania Avenue and Sacred Heart at 1405 2nd Avenue — along with shared offices at 521 Linn Street. Mass is celebrated seven days a week across the two sites.

• Sacred Heart church — 1405 2nd Avenue (Wed 8:30 AM, Fri 8:30 AM, Sat 4:30 PM, Sun 11:00 AM)
• St. Casimir church — 715 Pennsylvania Avenue (Tue 8:30 AM, Thu 8:30 AM, Sun 8:45 AM)
• Rectory — 1401 2nd Avenue, 66048 (phone 913-772-1787)
• Parish Office — 521 Linn Street, 66048 (phone 913-772-2424, office hours Mon–Thu 9 AM–3 PM)

Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Council

The parish is led by Fr. Marianand Mendem, ordained August 18, 1993, originally from Andhra Pradesh, India, with a doctorate in Biblical Studies. He became pastor of Sacred Heart–St. Casimir in 2019. Two permanent deacons assist him: Deacon Robert Zbylut serves as Director of Religious Education, and Deacon James Skahan serves as Permanent Deacon. Office Manager Chelsie Murphy and Music Director Carol Anne Schmidt complete the parish staff. A Pastoral Council chaired by Maria Minchew guides the parish, meeting the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 PM in Sacred Heart Hall, with representatives from Parish Activities, Welcoming, Religious Education, Liturgy, Community Concerns, Altar Societies, and the St. Casimir Men's Society.

• Pastor — Rev. Marianand Mendem — (913) 250-5135
• Deacon Robert Zbylut — Director of Religious Education — (913) 772-2424
• Deacon James Skahan — Permanent Deacon — (913) 682-3864
• Chelsie Murphy — Office Manager — (913) 772-2424
• Carol Anne Schmidt — Music Director — (913) 772-2424
• Pastoral Council Chairperson — Maria Minchew

Sacraments & Becoming Catholic (RCIA)

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, Holy Matrimony, Funeral Services, Holy Eucharist, and Holy Orders. For those inquiring about the Catholic faith, the parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a multi-month journey of formation that culminates with the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) typically at the Easter Vigil. Inquiries begin by contacting the Parish Office, which sets up an initial meeting with the pastor. Sacrament certificate requests can be sent to [email protected].

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Anointing of the Sick
• Reconciliation (Confession)
• Holy Matrimony
• Funeral Services
• Holy Eucharist
• Holy Orders
• RCIA — Becoming Catholic

Music Ministry & Liturgical Roles

Music Director Carol Anne Schmidt leads a robust music ministry with a choir that rehearses every Wednesday at 7 PM at Sacred Heart Church and sings every other weekend, plus cantors and instrumentalists who enhance the liturgies. The parish actively recruits lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, ushers, greeters, gift bearers, and altar servers; Deacon Robert Zbylut and Anita Maynard serve on the Liturgy Committee that organizes this work.

• Choir — Wed 7 PM, Sacred Heart Church (sings every other weekend)
• Cantors
• Instrumentalists
• Lector
• Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
• Sacristan
• Usher / Greeter
• Gift Bearer
• Altar Server (typically 4th grade and up)

Parish Organizations, Societies & Outreach

Sacred Heart–St. Casimir runs an unusually rich network of parish groups and societies. Faith-and-social groups include the St. Casimir Men's Society (a fraternal order honoring the parish's patron saint, meeting 1st Thursday in St. Casimir Parish Hall), the St. Casimir Altar Society (2nd Thursday, 9:30 AM), the Sacred Heart Altar Society (1st Wednesday, 12:15 PM), and a Knights of Columbus council. Outreach and service groups include the Hospitality Committee (welcoming new members), the Community Concerns Committee (assisting the larger community), Brother's Keeper Quilt Group (Thursdays 1–3 PM), Finance Council, and Project Fondwa, a missionary partnership supporting the Haitian Sisters of St. Anthony of Fondwa in rural Haiti. There is also a Korean Prayer Group meeting 2nd and 4th Sundays in the Sacred Heart Conference Room.

• St. Casimir Men's Society (1st Thu, St. Casimir Parish Hall)
• St. Casimir Altar Society (2nd Thu, 9:30 AM)
• Sacred Heart Altar Society (1st Wed, 12:15 PM)
• Knights of Columbus (2nd Wed, 8 PM, 205 4th Street)
• Hospitality Committee
• Community Concerns Committee
• Brother's Keeper Quilt Group (Thu 1–3 PM)
• Finance Council
• Pastoral Council (3rd Thu, 7 PM, Sacred Heart Hall)
• Project Fondwa (Haiti mission)
• Korean Prayer Group (2nd & 4th Sun)

Religious Education & Catholic School Heritage

Faith formation at Sacred Heart–St. Casimir is led by Deacon Robert Zbylut as Director of Religious Education. The parish has a deep legacy in Catholic education: the Felician Sisters from Chicago ran the original St. Casimir School for generations, and in 1986 the former school building was re-opened and dedicated as the Xavier Early Childhood Center for preschool, kindergarten, and daycare under the Leavenworth Catholic School System. Catholic K-12 education in Leavenworth today is provided through the Leavenworth Catholic School System (leavenworthcatholicschools.org), whose Board of Trustees includes Fr. Mendem.

• Director of Religious Education — Deacon Robert Zbylut
• St. Casimir School — historic parish school, run by the Felician Sisters
• Xavier Early Childhood Center — preschool, kindergarten, daycare (since 1986)

Visiting & Getting Involved

Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed. The Hospitality Committee reaches out and embraces new members, and the Pastoral Council's welcoming representatives help connect new families to ministries and groups that fit their interests. Anyone interested in joining a ministry, scheduling a sacrament, or learning more about Catholicism can contact the Parish Office at (913) 772-2424 Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 3 PM, or by emailing [email protected].

• Parish Office — 521 Linn Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048
• Phone — (913) 772-2424 (Office hours Mon–Thu 9 AM–3 PM)
• Email — [email protected]
• Pastor line — (913) 250-5135
• Hospitality Committee — welcomes new parishioners