About St. Francis De Sales · Lansing, Kansas
St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church is a parish in Lansing, Kansas, belonging to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Its roots reach back to the mid-1850s when a Jesuit missionary celebrated Mass monthly on the Dan Meagher Farm in Delaware Landing, making it one of the oldest Catholic communities in Kansas. The parish was formally established in 1886 and grew along with the Lansing area tied to the Kansas State Penitentiary, now serving more than 500 families. The current church building on Ida Street was dedicated on August 1, 2009.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales
- Rector
- Fr. Balachandra Miriyala
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales is a long-established Lansing Catholic community rooted in mission since the 1850s and shaped around the gentle, practical spirituality of its patron, St. Francis de Sales. The parish offers a full weekly Mass schedule with daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, two Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration twice a week, and regular opportunities for Reconciliation. Faith formation is offered for K–5th graders on Sunday mornings, youth Confirmation preparation, and parish life ministries such as the Knights of Columbus. With more than 500 families and a modern church building dedicated in 2009, it provides a stable, family-oriented home for Catholics in Lansing and the surrounding Leavenworth County area.
Mass times at St. Francis De Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesdays 5:00 pm
- Saturdays 4:30 pm
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm (Holy Hour)
- Thursdays 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Parish History
St. Francis de Sales Parish has roots dating to the mid-1850s when a Jesuit missionary from the Leavenworth Cathedral celebrated Mass once a month for 50 to 60 Catholics on the Dan Meagher Farm in Delaware Landing. The Lansing community expanded with the opening of the Kansas State Penitentiary in 1864, and Bishop Louis Fink, O.S.B., approved building a church in 1884. Father Thomas Kinsella secured a site at First and Kay Streets, where a simple rectangular church with plain glass windows and straight pews was built. The first baptism was Blanche McCarthy, and on November 11, 1885, Ellen Naylon and William Morgan were the first couple married there. In 1903, 37 children made their First Communion under Father J. W. Gormley. Archbishop Edward Hunkeler elevated the mission to parish status on January 9, 1961, with Father Dennis Sculley as the first pastor and 240 families enrolled. The current church was dedicated on August 1, 2009, during Father Michael Stubbs's pastorate; under Father William McEvoy (2010–2021) the church debt was retired, classrooms added on the lower level, and a new tile floor and pews installed.
- Mid-1850s: Jesuit missionary celebrates Mass monthly on the Dan Meagher Farm in Delaware Landing
- 1864: Kansas State Penitentiary opens, spurring Catholic population growth
- 1884–1885: First church built at First and Kay Streets under Father Thomas Kinsella
- 1961: Elevated from mission to parish by Archbishop Hunkeler; Father Dennis Sculley first pastor
- 1979: New multi-purpose building dedicated at Ida & DeSoto under Father Norbert Lickteig
- 2009 (Aug. 1): Current church dedicated under Father Michael Stubbs
- 2013: Parish hall named for Robert Lee Martz
- 2021: Father Balachandra Miriyala becomes Parochial Administrator
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is currently led by Father Balachandra Miriyala as Pastor (Parochial Administrator since September 2021). A team of lay staff supports faith formation, youth ministry, music, communications, parish life, business, and bookkeeping. The parish maintains active Parish and Finance Councils.
- Fr. Balachandra Miriyala — Pastor
- Ethan Wersland — Director of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
- Carrie Mathews — Parish Life Coordinator
- Connie Rodriguez — Director of Communications & Special Administrative Projects
- Joan Leonard — Music Director
- Carolyn Klemp — Business Manager
- Jerry Gronniger — Bookkeeper
- Parish Councils and Finance Council
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Francis de Sales is built around the SFDS Family Formation Commitment, which recognizes parents as the primary catechists of their children. K–5th grade classes meet Sunday mornings from 9:00–10:00 am, September through May, and explore the Mass, sacred scripture, the sacraments, and different prayer forms. The parish also prepares eighth-grade students for the Sacrament of Confirmation with weekly classes, service opportunities, and a retreat.
- K–5th Faith Formation: Sundays 9:00–10:00 am (Sept.–May)
- Family Formation Commitment — daily family prayer, weekly Mass, regular Confession
- Confirmation preparation for 8th graders (fall through spring)
- Youth Ministry programming
- Faith Formation Flocknote for parish communications
Sacraments
St. Francis de Sales celebrates the seven sacraments with attention to lifelong faith formation. Confirmation is celebrated each year by the Archbishop or his designee, with preparation beginning in the fall. Reconciliation is offered twice weekly and by appointment. The parish also makes arrangements for Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick through the parish office.
- Confirmation — preparation begins in fall, celebrated in spring
- Reconciliation — Tuesdays 5:00 pm; Saturdays 4:30 pm; by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration — Tuesdays 6–7 pm; Thursdays 9 am–5:30 pm
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Marriage — contact parish office
Parish Life & Ministries
Beyond the sanctuary, St. Francis de Sales is sustained by an active lay community. The Knights of Columbus Council #10834 Lansing meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm, supporting parish and community initiatives. The Parish Life Coordinator and Music Director help organize ministries, social events, and liturgical music.
- Knights of Columbus Council #10834 Lansing — 2nd Wednesday, 7:30 pm
- Music Ministry — Joan Leonard, Music Director
- Parish Life Coordinator — Carrie Mathews
- Youth Ministry — Ethan Wersland
- Finance Council and Parish Councils
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the office at 900 Ida Street in Lansing, Kansas. The rectory is at 119 Woodland Road. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, with the office closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 pm. Inquiries can be directed to [email protected].
- Address: 900 Ida Street, Lansing, KS 66043
- Office phone: (913) 727-3742
- Rectory: 119 Woodland Road — (913) 727-3768
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stfrancislansing.org
Patron: St. Francis de Sales
The parish takes its name from St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622), Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church, whose feast day is celebrated on January 24. Known for his gentle approach to evangelization and his spiritual classic 'Introduction to the Devout Life' — which taught that holiness is possible in everyday lay life — de Sales is also the patron saint of writers, journalists, and the deaf. Father McEvoy made it a priority during his pastorate to unite the parish under the practical spirituality of its patron.
- St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622), Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church
- Feast day: January 24
- Patron of writers, journalists, and the deaf
- Author of 'Introduction to the Devout Life'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Kinsella–1888
Secured the church site at First and Kay Streets in Lansing.
- Rev. E. Coolen1888–1890
- Rev. Shorter1890–
- Rev. John Heuberger–1900
- Rev. J.W. Gormley1900–1903
First Communion class of 37 children in 1903.
- Rev. Patrick Smith1903–1908
- Rev. John Weiter1908–1909
- Rev. T.J. Downey1909
- Rev. M.J. McManus1909–1910
- Rev. F.G. Geintz1910–
Coal furnace installed.
- Rev. R.B. Groener–1916
- Rev. Eugene Vallely1916–1918
- Rev. M.J. O'Farrell1918–1921
- Rev. J.B. Molloy1921–1925
- Rev. Patrick Smith1925–1926
- Rev. J.B. McManus1926–1935
- Rev. A.N. Koch1935–1936
- Rev. Norbert Wavada, OSB1936–1938
Benedictine.
- Rev. Leo Ahern1938–1944
- Rev. Leo Lutz1944–1945
- Rev. Harry Imhoff1945–1960
New hardwood floors, altar by Adolf Zinzer, Sermon on the Mount mural by Gene Young.
- Rev. William Finnerty1960–
- Rev. Donald Schwalm–1961
- Rev. Dennis Sculley1961–1970
First pastor after parish was elevated from mission status on Jan. 9, 1961; took up residence at 119 Woodland Road; parish had 240 families.
- Rev. Edward Simons1970–1974
- Rev. John Harrington1974–1975
- Rev. Norbert Lickteig1975–1980
Led construction of the new multi-purpose building dedicated March 4, 1979.
- Rev. William Maher1980–1984
- Rev. Thomas Hesse1984–1986
- Rev. Emilio Nebiolo1986–1988
- Rev. Charles McGinn1988–1993
Appointed July 1987.
- Rev. Francis Burger1993–1997
Appointed July 1992.
- Rev. Michael Stubbs1997–2010
Parish grew to over 500 families; new church dedicated August 1, 2009.
- Rev. William McEvoy2010–2021
Paid off church debt, added classrooms to lower level, installed new tile floor and pews; parish hall named for Robert Lee Martz on Jan. 27, 2013.
- Rev. Balachandra Miriyala2021–
Assumed role of Parochial Administrator in September 2021.