About St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center (KSU) · Manhattan, Kansas
St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center (also known as St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Student Center) is the Catholic parish serving Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Founded in 1958 as the diocese's response to the growing Catholic student population, it operates adjacent to the K-State campus at 711 Denison Avenue. Weekend Mass attendance during the school year regularly exceeds 2,000 students, faculty, and members of the permanent community. The center is pastored by Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt and is part of the Diocese of Salina.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. Isidore (the chapel's namesake); the student center building is also named for St. Robert Bellarmine
- Rector
- Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt (Pastor and Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
St. Isidore's is the Catholic home for K-State, with weekend Masses that draw more than 2,000 students, faculty, and permanent community members during the school year. The center pairs a full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Baptism, Marriage, and OCIA — with vibrant student ministry including a Student Leadership Team, Dollar Dinners that feed 250+ students each Sunday, retreats, music ministry, and service opportunities. Its location one block from campus and its Newman Hall worship space are designed to make Catholic life at K-State deeply accessible.
Mass times at St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center (KSU)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Wednesday: 8:00 PM (during school year)
- Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00 PM (per recent bulletins)
- Saturday: 4:00–4:30 PM (typical Saturday before 5 PM Mass; listed on the parish website schedule block)
Adoration times
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM (school year)
- Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (school year)
- Extended Adoration every Wednesday after the 9:09 PM Mass until 1:00 PM Thursday
- Eucharistic Adoration Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM when K-State is in session
History of St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center
Catholic student ministry at Kansas State began in 1912 with a 36-member Newman Club at Kansas State Agricultural College, which met at Seven Dolors Church. Bishop Frederick Freking, arriving in the Diocese of Salina in 1957, pushed for a dedicated center; the diocese bought property near campus in 1958 and named Father Carl Kramer as the first full-time chaplain. The current St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Student Center and St. Isidore's Chapel were dedicated in 1963. A $900,000 campaign in 2006 funded the Father Weber Education Wing, completed in 2008, and St. Isidore Chapel was cosmetically renovated in 2013.
- 1912: Newman Club of 36 Catholic students founded at Kansas State Agricultural College
- 1957: Bishop Frederick Freking arrives in the Diocese of Salina
- 1958: Diocese buys campus-adjacent property; Fr. Carl Kramer named first full-time chaplain
- 1963: St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Student Center and St. Isidore's Chapel dedicated
- 2006: $900,000 capital campaign launched
- 2008: 2,700-square-foot Father Weber Education Wing completed
- 2013: St. Isidore Chapel renovated under Fr. Jarett Konrade
Clergy and Staff
The center is shepherded by Pastor/Chaplain Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt and Parochial Vicar Fr. Trevor Buster, supported by a sizable lay staff team. Ridge Pinkston serves as Assistant Pastoral Administrator. Fr. Gale also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Salina and Director of Evangelization for the parish.
- Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt — Pastor, Chaplain, Director of Evangelization, Vicar General
- Fr. Trevor Buster — Parochial Vicar
- Ridge Pinkston — Assistant Pastoral Administrator
- Frank Schmeidler — Director of Worship
- Jeanae Brungardt — Director of Stewardship
- Robert Jennings — Director of Evangelization
- Ron Ratliff — Theology Instructor
- Diane Mack — Sacramental Coordinator
- Heather Gritton — Finance Manager
- Quenten Troyer — Facilities Manager
- Avery Werth — Director of Communications
- Brenda Simons — Administrative Assistant
- Lori Harlan — Kitchen Coordinator and Fertility Care Practitioner
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
St. Isidore's offers the full sacramental life of a parish. Sacramental Coordinator Diane Mack handles Baptism and Marriage prep; OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) inquiries go to Ridge Pinkston. A six-month preparation period is required for weddings, and Baptism requires an instruction class for a family's first child.
- Baptism — instruction class for first child; contact Diane Mack ([email protected])
- Marriage — six-month preparation; contact Diane Mack at least six months ahead
- Reconciliation — Monday/Wednesday 8:00 PM and before Saturday Mass
- OCIA — eight-month journey September to Easter; contact Ridge Pinkston ([email protected])
- Eucharistic Adoration — multiple weekly hours during the school year
- Anointing of the Sick — available through the parish office
Faith Formation and RCIA / OCIA
OCIA (formerly RCIA) is the parish's formal pathway into the Catholic Church for adults. Classes meet weekly and run eight months, beginning each September and concluding at Easter. The process is led by a team of lay church members under the guidance of the pastor.
- Eight-month OCIA program September–Easter
- Led by a team of lay church members under the pastor
- Contact: Ridge Pinkston, Assistant Pastoral Administrator ([email protected])
- Online sign-up form available on the parish website
Student Life and Leadership
St. Isidore's is built for K-State. A Student Leadership Team coordinates social, service, food, hospitality, and liturgy programming, and the parish offers Dollar Dinners that feed 250+ students each Sunday evening. The 9:09 PM weekday Masses intentionally align with K-State class schedules, and the building stays open from morning through evening Mass.
- Student Leadership Team: President (Landon Rozean), Social (Alex Scheier), Service (Dustin Stephenson), Food (Joseph Rodriguez), Hospitality (Julia Winter), Liturgy (Mark McNamara)
- Dollar Dinners — Sunday-evening communal meals for 250+ students; contact Teresa Williams
- Manhattan Catholic Young Adults small group
- Prayer and Action Weekend — service weekend in April
- STIR — St. Isidore's Retreat Team for area middle/high school students
Worship, Music, and Liturgical Ministries
Director of Worship Frank Schmeidler leads a full complement of liturgical ministries that are open to any parishioner or student. The Weekend Choir welcomes vocalists and instrumentalists. Mass from St. Isidore Chapel is livestreamed on Facebook each Sunday at 9:30 AM.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Hospitality (greeters and ushers)
- Music Ministry — cantors, instrumentalists, choir
- Sunday 9:30 AM Mass livestreamed on Facebook
Outreach, Retreats, and Service
Beyond the parish walls, St. Isidore's students run retreats for area Catholic schools through STIR, serve on Prayer and Action weekends, and gather around shared faith in groups like the Apologetics Club and Manhattan Catholic Young Adults. The Knights of Columbus are active at the center.
- STIR Retreat Team ([email protected])
- Prayer and Action Weekend
- Apologetics Club — theology mini-classes
- Knights of Columbus
- Spiritual Direction (sign-ups via the Welcome Desk)
Visit, Register, and Contact
Anyone is welcome at St. Isidore's — students, K-State faculty and staff, visiting parents, alumni, and friends. Registration is available online through the website for both students and the permanent community. The office phone is 785-539-7496 and the parish email is [email protected].
- Address: 711 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502
- Phone: 785-539-7496 / Fax: 785-539-0220
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours (school year): Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Summer office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Online registration: stisidores.com/contact/register
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Carl Kramer1958–
First full-time chaplain; appointed by Bishop Freking when the diocese purchased the center's property.
- Fr. Norbert Dlabal1983–1991
Continued the center's ministry.
- Fr. Keith Weber1991–1995 and 1997–2012
Served 19 years total (with a break for Fr. Sterrett). The 2008 education wing is named the Father Weber Education Wing.
- Fr. Bradley Sterrett1995–1997
Two-year tenure between Fr. Weber's two stints.
- Fr. Jarett Konrade2012–2015
Oversaw the 2013 renovation of St. Isidore Chapel.
- Fr. Matt Daviedbefore 2022–
Served as Associate/Parochial Vicar; listed in the 2022 bulletin.
- Fr. Gale Hammerschmidtcurrent
Current Pastor/Chaplain; also Vicar General of the Diocese of Salina.
- Fr. Trevor Bustercurrent
Current Parochial Vicar (as of the March 2026 bulletin).