About St. John Nepomucene, Holy Family Parish · Pilsen, Kansas
St. John Nepomucene in Pilsen, Kansas is one of four worship sites that make up Holy Family Catholic Parish, which serves the rural Catholic communities of Marion County in the Diocese of Wichita. The parish unites St. John Nepomucene (Pilsen), St. Mark (Marion), St. Patrick (Florence), and Holy Redeemer (Tampa), with 284 registered families and 573 individual Catholics. The parish is especially notable as the home church of Venerable Father Emil Kapaun, the U.S. Army chaplain and Medal of Honor recipient whose cause for canonization is open, and the original 1924 brick rectory next to the church now houses a museum dedicated to his life and legacy.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- St. John of Nepomuk (Nepomucene)
- Rector
- Rev. Isaac J. Coulter
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. John Nepomucene offers the deep roots of a more-than-130-year-old Bohemian Catholic community — three Gothic churches built and rebuilt by immigrants, a working Catholic school tradition supported for decades by the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ, and a parish that counts Venerable Father Emil Kapaun among its own. The parish combines traditional weekly devotions (Rosary before every Mass, scheduled Eucharistic Adoration, Confession before every Mass) with programs like the small-group Holy Family Groups that bring the pastor into parishioners' homes, Totus Tuus summer catechesis, and a free parish subscription to FORMED.org for ongoing formation.
Mass times at St. John Nepomucene, Holy Family Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass (for 20 minutes)
- After the 7:00 AM weekday Mass
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Pilsen (St. John Nepomucene): Tuesdays 5:00 PM – midnight (Diocese listing extends to 1:00 AM Wednesday)
- Tampa (Holy Redeemer): Wednesdays 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Marion (St. Mark): Thursdays (start varies by bulletin: 6:00 AM or 7:30 AM) through Friday 8:00 AM (Diocese listing: 6:00 AM Thursday to 8:00 AM Friday)
St. John Nepomucene — Pilsen
St. John Nepomucene is the Bohemian-heritage worship site of Holy Family Catholic Parish, located at 2744 Remington Road, Pilsen, KS 66861 (mailing address: 415 N. Cedar St., Marion, KS 66861). It is the home parish of Venerable Father Emil Kapaun and the centerpiece of a pilgrimage tradition that draws visitors from across the country. The current Gothic Revival red-brick church was dedicated September 18, 1915, replacing earlier frame churches of 1888 and 1894.
History of St. John Nepomucene Parish
Catholic Bohemian pioneers settled the Pilsen area around 1874; early leaders Jacob Rudolph, John Franta, and Mike Benda organized the Bohemian Congregation and Cemetery Association and arranged for Catholic Mass to be said in local schools. In 1885, Michael Kas donated 10 acres of land and the property was deeded to Bishop Louis M. Fink of the Diocese of Leavenworth. The first frame church, originally named St. Wenceslaus, was built in 1888 and served as both church and rectory; a larger frame church dedicated to St. John Nepomucene followed in 1894 when Fr. Peter Kloss became Pilsen's first resident priest. The Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ arrived in 1913 to teach at the parish school and built a new convent in 1950 (now a private home). In 1930 a lightning fire destroyed the original 1888 bell and it was replaced; a new bell set is still in use. A major interior renovation with a handicapped ramp was completed in 2002, with further accessibility and restroom upgrades as pilgrim traffic increased.
- 1888 — First frame church (St. Wenceslaus) built
- 1894 — Larger frame church dedicated to St. John Nepomucene; Fr. Peter Kloss, first resident priest
- 1913 — Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ arrive to run the parish school
- 1915 (Sept. 18) — Current red-brick Gothic Revival church dedicated
- 1921 — Electricity arrives; church one of the first buildings wired by Kansas Power and Light
- 1924 — Brick rectory completed (today the Father Kapaun Museum)
- 1930 — Lightning fire destroys original 1888 bell; new bells installed
- 1950 — New convent built for the Sisters Adorers
- 2002 — Full interior renovation and handicapped ramp added
Architecture & Sacred Furnishings
The 1915 red-brick church is a Gothic Revival structure that towers about 111 feet above the surrounding prairie and seats 650. Stained-glass windows — including scenes of the Nativity and Resurrection — were produced by the Munich Studio in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century, and additional windows depict the patron St. Wenceslaus with his grandmother St. Ludmila, Sts. Cyril and Methodius bringing Christianity to the Slavic people, and the baptism of Duke Borivoj. The façade carries statues of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the 'Apostles to the Slavs,' honoring the Bohemian heritage. A shrine inside the church holds a statue of St. John Nepomucene with a finger to his lips, recalling his patronage of confessors.
- Original 1888 baptismal font (still in use — Father Kapaun and his brother Eugene were baptized in it)
- Holy water fonts preserved across all three successive churches
- Processional cross once carried by Father Kapaun as an altar boy, now attached to the front pew
- Vestments worn by Father Kapaun on display in the adjacent rectory/museum
- Handicap ramp and accessible restrooms added in 2002
Father Emil Kapaun & the Pilsen Museum
St. John Nepomucene's most famous son is Father Emil Joseph Kapaun (b. April 20, 1916, Pilsen — d. May 23, 1951, Pyoktong, North Korea). Baptized shortly after the new church was dedicated, he made his First Communion, Confirmation, and was ordained here on June 9, 1940 — the first son of the parish to be ordained. After ordination he served at Pilsen as administrator in 1943 before going on active duty as a U.S. Army chaplain. Captured during the Battle of Unsan in November 1950, he died in a Chinese POW camp and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He was declared a Servant of God in 1993, and his cause for canonization officially opened in July 2008. The original 1924 brick rectory next to the church houses the Father Kapaun Museum, displaying vestments he wore and a detailed biographical exhibit; tours of the church and museum take about two hours. On September 25, 2021, Father Kapaun's remains were returned to Pilsen for a memorial before being interred at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. Pilsen parishioners credit his intercession with protecting the church from tornadoes over the decades.
- Declared Servant of God — 1993
- Cause for canonization opened — July 2008
- Venerable Father Emil J. Kapaun — recognized title
- Father Kapaun Museum — housed in the 1924 rectory
- Annual Fr. Kapaun Symposium and Fr. Kapaun Family and Youth Camp
Parish Life, Ministries & Faith Formation
Holy Family Parish supports a wide range of ministries, small-group life, and formation programs. Holy Family Groups are small gatherings of 4–6 families who meet in one another's homes once a month with the pastor present for a meal and faith-sharing, with the goal of fostering communion, friendship, support, and accountability. Totus Tuus, a week-long summer catechetical program, is hosted in Pilsen for students entering grades 1–6 (day sessions) and grades 7–12 (evening sessions). The parish also subscribes to FORMED.org, providing parishioners free access to over 4,000 Catholic studies, movies, audio dramas, and eBooks.
- Holy Family Groups (small-group parish life)
- Parish Council, Finance Committee, and Stewardship Committee
- Totus Tuus summer program (hosted in Pilsen)
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) for youth
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Knights of Columbus
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- FORMED.org parish subscription — free for parishioners
- Father Kapaun Museum and pilgrimage ministry
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is handled through the parish office. Baptisms, Marriages, PSR, and RCIA inquiries are directed to the office at 620-382-3369 or [email protected]. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Parish School of Religion.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Reconciliation — 30 minutes before every Mass or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
- Holy Orders — vocations nurtured (multiple priests and religious called from the parish)
Visiting & Directions
St. John Nepomucene Church sits on the corner of Remington Road and 275th Street in Pilsen. The parish publishes driving directions from McPherson, Wichita, Abilene/Salina, Junction City, El Dorado/Southeast Kansas, and Emporia on its website, and the Father Kapaun Museum is open by appointment/tour request.
- From McPherson — Hwy 56 east 32 miles, then north 8 miles on Remington Road
- From Wichita — I-135 north to Newton, exit 33, then north 13 miles on Nighthawk Road, east 4 miles on Hwy 56, north 8 miles on Remington Road
- From Abilene/Salina — Hwy 15 south to Durham, east 9 miles on 290th Street, south 1.5 miles on Remington Road
- From Junction City — Hwy 77 south to Lincolnville, west 4 miles, south 1.5 miles on Remington Road
- From El Dorado — Hwy 77 north to Florence traffic circle, continue on Hwy 77 to Hwy 56 to Remington Road, north 8 miles
- From Emporia — Hwy 50 west to Elmdale, Hwy 150 west toward Marion, to Hwy 56 to Remington Road, north 8 miles
- Father Kapaun Museum and church tours by request
Parish Office & Clergy
The Holy Family Parish office is located at 415 N. Cedar St., Marion, KS 66861. Office hours have been published as Tuesday–Friday 9:00 AM–3:15 PM (with more recent bulletins listing Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 AM–1:00 PM and 2:00 PM–4:00 PM). The pastor is assisted by a Parish Life Administrator (Rose Davidson) and a parish secretary (Alecia Stuchlik). The parish phone is 620-382-3369 and the email is [email protected]. Per the Diocese of Wichita's 2026 priest assignments, Rev. Isaac J. Coulter will conclude his appointment as pastor and become Chaplain of the Spiritual Life Center and the Reverend Emil J. Kapaun Family and Youth Camp; Rev. Ben N. Nguyen has been appointed pastor effective October 5, 2026.
- Rev. Isaac J. Coulter — Pastor
- Rose Davidson — Parish Life Administrator
- Alecia Stuchlik — Secretary
- Heidi Lydic — Parish Life Coordinator
- Parish Council members — Mitch Guetterman and Mary Jirak (per 2024 bulletin)
- Finance Committee — Mitch Guetterman and Gary Stuchlik
- Stewardship Committee — Andrew Hajek, Terry Klenda, Kevin Krch, Jackie Palic, Ken Stuchlik, Pat Zogelman (per 2024 bulletin)
Diocese & Wider Context
St. John Nepomucene / Holy Family Parish belongs to the Diocese of Wichita. The Diocese of Wichita's official parish directory lists Holy Family Parish among its parishes and provides consolidated Mass, Confession, and Adoration schedules. According to the diocesan directory, the parish comprises 284 families and 573 individual Catholics, served across the four sites of Pilsen, Marion, Florence, and Tampa. Rev. Isaac J. Coulter is listed as pastor in the current diocesan directory.
- Diocese of Wichita
- 284 families registered
- 573 individual Catholics
- Four worship sites: St. John Nepomucene (Pilsen), St. Mark (Marion), St. Patrick (Florence), Holy Redeemer (Tampa)
- Parish Life Coordinator: Heidi Lydic
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter Kloss1890s
First resident priest of Pilsen.
- Fr. John Huna
Listed as one of the early pastors of St. John Nepomucene.
- Fr. John Sklenar
Listed among the pastors of St. John Nepomucene.
- Fr. John Vesecky
Listed among the pastors of St. John Nepomucene.
- Msgr. Aloysius Clupny
Listed among the pastors of St. John Nepomucene.
- Fr. John Goracy
Listed among the pastors of St. John Nepomucene.
- Fr. Emil Kapaun1943
Served his native parish as administrator before leaving for military service; ordained June 9, 1940; died May 23, 1951 in a Korean POW camp. Cause for canonization opened in 2008.
- Msgr. Arthur Tonne1953–
Author of the 'Jokes for Priests' series and a book about Father Kapaun; died May 20, 2003, buried in Pilsen Cemetery.
- Rev. Isaac J. Coulterthrough 2026
Current pastor per diocese assignment list; reassigned to Chaplain of the Spiritual Life Center and the Rev. Emil J. Kapaun Family and Youth Camp effective with the 2026 assignments.