About St. John · Hamilton, Kansas
St. John Catholic Church is a small mission parish in Hamilton, Kansas, in the Diocese of Wichita. It is one of three Catholic churches that share pastoral care in Greenwood County — alongside Sacred Heart in Eureka and St. Teresa of Avila in Madison — and today serves about 15 families (roughly 63 individual Catholics). The congregation gathers each Saturday evening for its Vigil Mass, with a weekday Mass on Tuesday evening and confessions available on request. Its current pastor, Father Jeremy Huser, was appointed by Bishop Kemme in 2026 to shepherd all three Greenwood County Catholic communities.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- St. John
- Rector
- Reverend Jeremy S. Huser
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. John is one of three small, close-knit Catholic communities that share a single pastor across Greenwood County, so parishioners know their priest and each other. The mission offers a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Tuesday weekday Mass, and confession on request — making weekly worship accessible without a long drive. As a worship site that has served Hamilton Catholics since 1888, it is a living piece of the region's Catholic heritage, kept alive by a few faithful families and the wider diocesan family.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 30 minutes before Mass (at St. John, Hamilton)
- By appointment
About St. John Catholic Church
St. John Catholic Church is a mission parish of the Diocese of Wichita, located on Township Road 91 in Hamilton, Kansas. Although small — about 15 families and 63 individual Catholics — it is part of a tight cluster of three Catholic churches in Greenwood County that together form the Greenwood County Catholic Churches: Sacred Heart in Eureka (the parish church), St. John in Hamilton, and St. Teresa of Avila in Madison. All three share one pastor and a single office at 514 N Elm St, Eureka.
- Mission of the Diocese of Wichita
- Shares a pastor with Sacred Heart (Eureka) and St. Teresa of Avila (Madison)
- Mailing address: 514 N Elm St, Eureka, KS 67045
Parish History
Catholic life in Hamilton began in 1888, when Catholics in the area had previously been traveling to Eureka or attending Mass at the old Cookson home. A small frame church was built that same year; it burned in 1900, and the present church was completed on the same site in 1902. The parish was originally served by Franciscan priests from Emporia and then became a mission of St. Mary's, Moline in 1901 when Greenwood County moved from the Diocese of Kansas City to the Diocese of Wichita. In October 1921 it became a mission of Sacred Heart in Eureka, served for many years through St. Teresa of Avila in Madison, and returned to mission status under Eureka in 1976. Father Eugene Grabner directed a major renovation in 1977, and the parish celebrated its centennial on April 10, 1988.
- First frame church: 1888
- Present church: 1902
- Centennial: April 10, 1988
Architecture & Building
The building that stands today was finished in the summer of 1902 on the same footprint as the 1888 frame church that was lost to fire. Over the decades it has been adapted but not replaced. The original bell tower was removed in 1937 under Father Leo Kelty, who set a large cross in its place. In 1977 the interior was updated with new upholstered pews and carpeting, the exterior received aluminum siding, and a small social room was added south of the sanctuary to accommodate overflow crowds and parish gatherings.
- Original bell tower replaced by a large cross in 1937
- 1977 renovation: pews, carpet, aluminum siding, social room
Clergy & Staff
Father Jeremy Huser is the pastor of St. John, Hamilton, and of the two companion parishes in Greenwood County. A native of Fredonia, Kansas, he was ordained on May 28, 2011 and previously served at St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita, Via Christi–St. Francis Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes in Pittsburg, and in a cluster of parishes in Baxter Springs, Galena, Scammon, Columbus, and most recently Mary Mother of God in Oswego.
- Father Jeremy Huser — pastor (appointed 2026 by Bishop Kemme)
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: 514 N Elm St, Eureka, KS 67045
- Phone: 620-583-7100, Ext. 1
Greenwood County Catholic Parishes
St. John is part of a three-church Catholic cluster in Greenwood County, sharing one pastor and one office. The companion churches are Sacred Heart of Jesus in Eureka (the parish church for the cluster) and St. Teresa of Avila in Madison. Weekend and weekday Masses rotate across the three sites so each community has regular access to the sacraments.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus — Eureka, KS
- St. Teresa of Avila — Madison, KS
- Cluster office: 514 N Elm St, Eureka, KS 67045
Sacraments
As a mission of the Diocese of Wichita, St. John offers the sacraments in cooperation with its cluster parishes. Confession is available at scheduled times and by appointment; the parish history page also references Confirmation as part of parish life.
- Confession: by appointment and Saturday 30 minutes before Mass
- Confirmation: referenced in parish history
Visit & Contact
St. John is located on Township Road 91 in Hamilton, Kansas (66853). Because it is a mission served alongside Sacred Heart in Eureka and St. Teresa of Avila in Madison, the best point of contact is the shared parish office at 514 N Elm St, Eureka, KS 67045, reachable at 620-583-7100.
- Street address: Township Rd 91, Hamilton, KS 66853
- Mailing address: 514 N Elm St, Eureka, KS 67045
- Phone: 620-583-7100
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Maurice Ripperger
First priest mentioned in connection with St. John.
- Father Patrick McCullough
Followed Father Ripperger about four years later.
- Father Timothy O'Sullivan
Added cement sidewalks, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, new cassocks for altar boys, and benediction candlesticks.
- Father Thomas Meehan
Served when parish was mission to St. Mary's, Moline.
- Father A.J. Speybroeck
Served when parish was mission to St. Mary's, Moline.
- Father Dennis Healy
Served when parish was mission to St. Mary's, Moline.
- Father Joseph Bogner
Served when parish was mission to St. Mary's, Moline.
- Father David Eganfrom 1912
Added ten feet to the rear of the church to make room for a confessional and choir area.
- Father Edward Funningfrom 1921
First resident pastor after St. John's became a mission to Sacred Heart, Eureka, in October 1921.
- Father Leo Keltyfrom 1937
Removed the original bell tower and set a large cross in its place.
- Father Daniel Lynch
Served in the inter-war / mid-century era.
- Father LeRoy Downs
Served in the inter-war / mid-century era.
- Father William Cremin
Served in the inter-war / mid-century era.
- Father Eugene Grabner
Directed the 1977 renovation: new pews, carpet, siding, and social room.
- Father Eugene Komer
Listed among recent pastors.
- Father Harold McCormick
Listed among recent pastors.
- Father Dominic Potnuru
Identified as present pastor at time of parish history write-up.
- Father Jeremy Huserfrom 2026
Appointed by Bishop Kemme as pastor of the Greenwood County Catholic parishes (Sacred Heart, Eureka; St. John, Hamilton; St. Teresa of Avila, Madison).