St. Edward

Parish Identity & RepCoCatholic

St. Edward Parish in Belleville is the anchor of RepCoCatholic, the Catholic community of Republic County, Kansas, alongside St. Isidore in Cuba and St. George in Munden. The three parishes share faith formation, sacramental preparation, and a common pastoral staff under the Diocese of Salina, while each maintains its own church, parish council, and local ministries.

History

Catholic life in Republic County traces back to Bohemian settlers who arrived in 1870, primarily in Cuba and Munden. Father Louis Mollier traveled a pony line from St. Joseph to bring Mass to scattered immigrant families. By 1901 the Belleville community was large enough to build its own church; a brick replacement was completed and dedicated in 1926. A parish hall and religious education classrooms followed in 1967, a new rectory in 1988, and a 1994 addition linking the hall to the church. Father James McKenna (pastor 1925–1944) recorded the parish's most remarkable episode: a 1923–24 Ku Klux Klan campaign that collapsed so quickly that many of the same contributors gave to the new brick church built just two years later.

• 1870 — Bohemian Catholic settlers arrive, primarily around Cuba and Munden
• 1885 onwards — Father Louis Mollier serves missionaries from St. Joseph on horseback
• 1919–1925 — Fr. George Weber serves as pastor, with missions at Cuba, Munden, and Tiago
• 1926 — New brick church completed and dedicated
• 1963–1970 — Fr. August Moeder is pastor; builds the CCD center (1965–66)
• 1967 — Parish hall and religious education classrooms built
• 1988 — New rectory built
• 1994 — Addition connecting the parish hall to the church

Sacraments

The parish uses a readiness-based approach for all the sacraments of initiation, with children enrolled in Faith Formation and families expected to attend Mass, receive Confession regularly, and model Catholic life at home. Infant Baptism is available for children 0–6; older children (7–17) and unbaptized adults go through the OCIA process (adapted for children or for adults). First Reconciliation/First Communion and Confirmation both require family preparation meetings. Contact for all sacramental questions: Micayla Walden, [email protected].

• Infant Baptism (0–6) — register through the parish office
• Baptism for children 7–17 — OCIA Adapted for Children & Adolescents
• Baptism / Initiation for Adults — OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
• First Reconciliation & First Communion — readiness-based
• Confirmation — readiness-based, part of youth ministry process
• Anointing of the Sick
• Holy Orders
• Matrimony

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation is shared across all three RepCo parishes and coordinated by Director of Religious Education Micayla Walden. Formal catechesis is offered for grades K–12 along with Family Faith-Sharing sessions. Sacramental preparation (First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation) is integrated into the program and requires active family participation. Adults seeking to deepen their faith have access to Adult Faith Formation opportunities, Bible studies (through CCW), and parent sessions accompanying each sacrament.

• K–12 Religious Education program
• Family Faith Formation (parents expected to participate)
• Adult Faith Formation
• OCIA for Adults
• OCIA Adapted for Children & Adolescents
• Bible studies (through CCW)

Council of Catholic Women (CCW)

The Council of Catholic Women is a service organization for women of all ages that supports the parish through funeral dinners, parish social events, fundraising, mother/daughter gatherings, assistance to Faith Formation, Bible studies, and prayer for parish staff and vocations. Monthly meetings are generally held the first Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Sacred Heart Center. Annual dues are $10.00. All women of the parish are considered members and welcome to attend. Current leaders include Chairperson Kay Rieke, Secretary Deb Krotz, Treasurer Chris Wilber, and Funeral Dinner Chair Sandy Kling (785-527-0264).

• Provides funeral dinners for the parish
• Organizes parish family social events
• Fundraising for parish and diocesan causes
• Mother/daughter gatherings
• Assists Faith Formation
• Leads Bible studies
• Monthly meetings: first Monday, 7:00 PM, Sacred Heart Center

Knights of Columbus Council #2609

The parish hosts Knights of Columbus Council #2609, the Catholic fraternal and service organization for Catholic men of the parish and their families.

• Council #2609
• Service and fraternal activities supporting the parish

Parish Pastoral Council

Each of the three RepCo parishes maintains its own Pastoral Council. St. Edward's current council members include Melissa Martin, Jane Baxa, Ronda Blecha, Morris Wilber, Wayne Pachta, Paul Chopp, Bob Morris, Paul Kieffer, Joelle Feight, Kay Rieke, Karl Baxa, Stephanie Stindt, Bill Mahin, and Monica Thayer. Council minutes are published on the parish website for 2025 and 2026.

• Council members listed above
• 2025 and 2026 Council minutes posted online

Facilities & Building History

St. Edward's campus consists of the 1926 brick church, a 1967 parish hall/religious education wing, a 1988 rectory, and a 1994 addition connecting the hall to the church. The Sacred Heart Center is used for CCW meetings and parish gatherings.

• 1926 — brick church (current worship space)
• 1967 — parish hall and religious education classrooms
• 1988 — rectory
• 1994 — addition connecting hall to church
• Sacred Heart Center — meeting / fellowship space

Visit, Register & Contact

Visitors, newcomers, and those seeking a church home are warmly invited to register through the RepCoCatholic website. The parish office can be reached at 785-527-5559 or [email protected]. Mass offerings, sacramental preparation questions, and Faith Formation inquiries are all handled through the same office.

• Phone: (785) 527-5559
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: 1827 Q Street, Belleville, KS 66935
• Mailing address: PO Box 99, Belleville, KS 66935
• Website: https://www.repcocatholic.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/republiccountycatholic/