About St. John · Iola, Kansas
St. John Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Iola, Kansas, the county seat of Allen County, part of the Diocese of Wichita. The parish family of about 302 households and roughly 573 individual Catholics is served by Rev. David Michael Htun (who also pastors nearby St. Joseph and St. Martin Oratory) and Deacon Theodore Stahl. The community gathers for a Saturday Vigil Mass, one Sunday Mass, and weekday morning Masses throughout the week, with weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays.
- Patron
- St. John
- Rector
- Rev. David Michael Htun
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. John is a mid-sized, family-friendly Catholic parish of about 302 households where the faithful can attend Mass multiple times a week, including a Saturday Vigil, Sunday morning Mass, and weekday morning Masses on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. The parish also offers weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and Saturday confessions at 4:30 pm — the kind of consistent sacramental rhythm that supports a serious Catholic life. With a resident deacon and a pastor who also serves neighboring missions, it is a welcoming community at the heart of Allen County.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (scheduled; code and key available)
Parish Overview
St. John Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of about 302 families (≈573 individual Catholics) located at 314 South Jefferson in Iola, the seat of Allen County, Kansas. It belongs to the Diocese of Wichita and is currently served by Rev. David Michael Htun and Deacon Theodore Stahl.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a priest who also pastors neighboring missions in the area, together with a resident deacon.
- Pastor: Rev. David Michael Htun
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Theodore Stahl
Pastoral History
Diocesan records document at least one notable pastor from the mid-20th century, an Irish-born priest who later earned the title of monsignor.
- Rev. Msgr. John Cody — pastor 1935 to 1945; later served as a U.S. Army chaplain (1945–1946); honored with the title Right Reverend Monsignor in January 1953
Parish History & Community
St. John has stood at the heart of Catholic life in Iola since at least the 1930s. The parish endured the Great Flood of 1951, when the Neosho River crested at a record 33.4 feet and inundated the town for ten days — flooding the parish school among many other buildings. Today it continues as a stable, mid-sized Catholic community in southeast Kansas.
- Pastorate of Msgr. John Cody, 1935–1945
- Parish school flooded in the Great Flood of 1951
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or visit in person at the church on South Jefferson in Iola.
- Address: 314 South Jefferson, Iola, KS 66749
- Phone: 620-365-2277
- Fax: 620-365-7244
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. John Cody1935–1945
Irish-born priest; later named Right Reverend Monsignor in January 1953; left for U.S. Army chaplaincy 1945–1946