About St. Elizabeth · Blue Rapids, Kansas
St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Blue Rapids, Kansas is a small rural parish that was founded in 1913 to serve the Catholic families of the Blue Rapids area in Marshall County, Kansas. It is today united with St. Monica (also in Blue Rapids) as the unified St. Monica–St. Elizabeth Parish, and is served from Annunciation Parish in nearby Frankfort under the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The parish sits on East Avenue in Blue Rapids and continues to be a faithful Catholic presence in this small northeastern Kansas farming community.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth (named in honor of H. Fegner's mother, Elizabeth)
- Rector
- Fr. Jim Shaughnessy (as of the 2008 Nemaha–Marshall pastoral report; served from Annunciation Parish, Frankfort)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Monica–St. Elizabeth offers the small-town Catholic community of Marshall County a familiar, welcoming place to worship close to home. Although the parish is small, it is cared for from Annunciation Parish in Frankfort and remains an active worship site with a recently-built parish hall, faith formation for children, and the traditional rhythms of rural Catholic life. For Catholic families in the Blue Rapids area it provides the convenience of a nearby Mass, a connected faith community, and a parish hall that supports parish and community gatherings.
Parish History
St. Elizabeth Parish in Blue Rapids, Kansas was founded in 1913 to serve the Catholic families of Marshall County, particularly those of Bohemian (Czech) heritage. The church was dedicated on June 5, 1913 by Bishop Ward. In 2003 it was united with neighboring St. Monica Parish to form the unified St. Monica–St. Elizabeth Parish, served from Annunciation Parish in Frankfort under the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
- Founded 1913
- Dedicated June 5, 1913 by Rt. Rev. Bishop Ward, D.D.
- Unified with St. Monica in 2003
- Named in honor of Elizabeth Fegner, mother of major donor Herman Fegner
Pastoral Leadership
St. Monica–St. Elizabeth Parish is pastored by Fr. Jim Shaughnessy, who serves the parish from Annunciation Parish in Frankfort along with St. Joseph Parish in Lillis. The arrangement is the fruit of pastoral planning for the Nemaha–Marshall region of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
- Fr. Jim Shaughnessy, pastor
- Served from Annunciation Parish, Frankfort
- Also serves St. Joseph Parish, Lillis
Architecture and Building
The original St. Elizabeth church is a 36-by-75-foot frame structure built on a dug basement with river-sand foundation. The contract for construction went to Mr. Skillen of Frankfort, Kansas. A new parish hall was added in the years before 2008, funded largely by two bequests.
- Frame structure, 36 x 75 feet
- Built by contractor Skillen of Frankfort
- Seating capacity of 160
- New parish hall added circa 2006
Sacraments and Faith Formation
The parish celebrates infant baptisms, confirmation, and offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Religious Education for children is offered through the parish.
- Infant Baptisms
- Confirmation preparation
- RCIA
- Religious Education (13 students in 2007)
Parish Life and Demographics
St. Monica–St. Elizabeth is a small but stable rural parish of about 66 registered households, deeply rooted in the Bohemian Catholic heritage of Marshall County.
- 66 registered households (2007)
- Seating capacity 160
- Rooted in Bohemian (Czech) Catholic immigrant heritage
Visiting and Contact Information
The parish is located at 1007 East Avenue, Blue Rapids, Kansas 66411. Pastoral care is provided through Annunciation Parish in Frankfort.
- Address: 1007 East Avenue, Blue Rapids, KS 66411
- Phone: (785) 363-7911
- Email: [email protected]
- Served from Annunciation Parish, Frankfort
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. A. Redeker
Organized Catholic mission work in the Irving/Blue Rapids area from Marysville before St. Elizabeth was built
- Rev. M. O'LearySept 1912 – July 1913
Appointed pastor and oversaw building of the Blue Rapids church (per Marshall County history)
- Rev. David HallJuly 1913 – April 1915
Succeeded Fr. O'Leary
- Rev. Patrick McInerneyApril 1915 –
Succeeded Fr. Hall; paid off the parish debt and put the congregation on a solid financial basis
- Fr. Jim Shaughnessythrough at least 2008
Pastor of Annunciation Parish, Frankfort; St. Joseph Parish, Lillis; and St. Monica–St. Elizabeth Parishes, per2008 Nemaha–Marshall Final Recommendations