About St. John the Apostle · Kiowa, Kansas
St. John the Apostle is a small Roman Catholic parish in Kiowa, Kansas, and one of three parishes that together form the Catholic Church of Barber County (alongside Holy Rosary in Medicine Lodge and St. Boniface in Sharon). It is the site of the very first Catholic Mass celebrated in Barber County — a January 28, 1885 liturgy offered by Father Bernard Schmiehausen of Newton — and the first Catholic church building in the county, constructed in 1899. Today the parish numbers about 49 registered households and is pastored together with its two Barber County sister parishes by Father Emmanuel Kosikumah. It belongs to the Diocese of Dodge City.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle
- Rector
- Father Emmanuel Kosikumah
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dodge City
Why belong here
St. John the Apostle offers a tight-knit rural parish family in the heart of Barber County, where the same small congregation has kept the faith alive since 1899 — the first Catholic church building in the entire county. Worship is celebrated in a beautifully renovated 1949 Spanish-style church, supported by a newer 2013 parish hall with a commercial-style kitchen used for parish dinners and fellowship. The parish shares its pastor and a joint Pastoral Council with Holy Rosary (Medicine Lodge) and St. Boniface (Sharon), so members enjoy genuine cooperation across three communities while still belonging to a small, personal parish of about 49 households. Active Knights of Columbus and Altar Society groups, PSR/religious education for families, and a clear path to the sacraments make it a welcoming place to put down roots.
Mass times at St. John the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
History of St. John the Apostle
St. John the Apostle traces its roots back to 1885, when Father Bernard Schmiehausen of Newton celebrated the first Catholic Mass officially held in Barber County — most likely in a private home in Kiowa. By 1886 Mass was being said regularly in the Commercial House hotel owned by the Craven family. The congregation built the first Catholic church building in Barber County in 1899, celebrating its first Mass on July 28, 1899 and dedicating it on June 8, 1903. For decades the parish was served by visiting priests from Danville, Sharon, and Anthony before receiving its first resident pastor, Father John Vesecky, in 1940. The current Spanish-style church was constructed during Vesecky's pastorate and dedicated by Bishop Mark Carroll of Wichita on August 28, 1949. A major renovation of the church was completed in 2006 and a new brick parish hall, with a commercial-style kitchen, was dedicated in 2013.
- First Mass in Barber County: January 28, 1885 (Fr. Bernard Schmiehausen)
- First church built: 1899; dedicated June 8, 1903
- First resident pastor: Father John Vesecky, 1940
- Current Spanish-style church built 1949, dedicated by Bishop Mark Carroll of Wichita
- Major church renovation completed 2006
- New brick parish hall with commercial kitchen dedicated 2013
Catholic Church of Barber County
St. John the Apostle is one of three parishes that make up the Catholic Church of Barber County, alongside Holy Rosary in Medicine Lodge and St. Boniface in Sharon. The three share a single pastor (currently Father Emmanuel Kosikumah) and are coordinated by a joint Barber County Pastoral Council, a body established in 1994 when Father Anthony Suellentrop grouped the parishes under one pastor in response to the priest shortage in the Diocese of Dodge City. The council continues to help these three distinct parishes work together as one united Catholic community.
- Holy Rosary — Medicine Lodge (Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass)
- St. Boniface — Sharon (Sunday 8:30 a.m. Mass)
- St. John the Apostle — Kiowa (Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass)
- Unified as 'Catholic Church of Barber County' in 1994 under Father Anthony Suellentrop
- Joint Barber County Pastoral Council coordinates schedules and programs
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. John the Apostle is served by a small but dedicated staff shared across the Catholic Church of Barber County. Father Emmanuel Kosikumah is the pastor for all three parishes and can be reached at the Main Office (620-886-3596) or his cell phone (785-656-9108). Parish operations are supported by secretaries Carol Ricke and Malia Murphy, and faith formation is led by DRE Lindsey McMoran and Director of Christian Initiation Bev Miller.
- Father Emmanuel Kosikumah — Pastor (Cell: 785-656-9108)
- Carol Ricke — Parish Secretary
- Malia Murphy — Secretary, Main Office (620-213-0296)
- Lindsey McMoran — DRE (Coldwater, KS)
- Bev Miller — Director of Christian Initiation
Mass & Worship Schedule
At St. John the Apostle in Kiowa, the principal weekly Mass is celebrated on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. Weekday Masses rotate across the three Barber County parishes (typically Tuesday at Medicine Lodge, Wednesday evening at Medicine Lodge, Thursday at Kiowa, and Friday at Sharon). The shared weekend schedule across the Catholic Church of Barber County is Saturday 5:00 p.m. at Holy Rosary, Medicine Lodge; Sunday 8:30 a.m. at St. Boniface, Sharon; and Sunday 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Apostle, Kiowa.
- Saturday 5:00 p.m. — Holy Rosary, Medicine Lodge
- Sunday 8:30 a.m. — St. Boniface, Sharon
- Sunday 10:30 a.m. — St. John the Apostle, Kiowa
- Weekday Masses rotate among the three parishes
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for the parish is overseen by Director of Religious Education Lindsey McMoran and is offered through PSR (Parish School of Religion) programming shared across the Catholic Church of Barber County. The DRE coordinates classes for school-aged children, with seasonal kick-off events and family meals hosted by parish groups such as the Knights of Columbus.
- Religious Education / PSR
- Adult Faith Formation
- Youth Ministry
Becoming Catholic & Sacramental Preparation
Those interested in joining the Catholic Church are guided by Director of Christian Initiation Bev Miller. The parish hosts RCIA-style 'Becoming Catholic' and 'Catholic Come Home' programming for adults, and the full sacramental life of the Church — Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick — is supported by the pastor and parish staff.
- Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
- Catholic Come Home (returning Catholics)
- Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation
- Matrimony, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick
Parish Groups & Organizations
St. John the Apostle is supported by two long-standing lay organizations: the Knights of Columbus and the Altar Society. The Knights sponsor parish social events such as the PSR kick-off pizza meal, while the Altar Society traditionally coordinates care of the sanctuary and helps with funeral dinners and other parish hospitality.
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Society
- Funeral hospitality / parish funeral dinners
- Joint Barber County Pastoral Council
Sacraments
The parish website provides dedicated pages for each of the seven sacraments, with information on preparation, scheduling, and honorarium guidelines. Father Emmanuel is the first contact for any sacramental need, including emergency Anointing of the Sick and funeral arrangements.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Matrimony
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
- Honorarium Guidelines
Facilities & Visiting
The parish campus at 920 E. Main Street in Kiowa features the 1949 Spanish-style church (renovated in 2006) and a newer brick parish hall, completed in 2013 and equipped with a commercial-style kitchen that supports funeral dinners and parish fellowship. Visitors and newcomers can register with the parish through the Parish Registration page on the website, and bulletins, ministry schedules, and a Flocknote signup are all available online.
- 1949 Spanish-style church (renovated 2006)
- Brick parish hall with commercial kitchen (2013)
- Parish Registration available on the website
- Online bulletins and ministry schedules
- Flocknote email/text sign-up for parish updates
Contact & Practical Information
The parish can be reached at its office (620-825-4361) or the Main Office of the Catholic Church of Barber County (620-886-3596). In an emergency, Father Emmanuel's cell is 785-656-9108. The mailing address is 920 E. Main Street, Kiowa, KS 67070-1420. The shared parish website is http://barbercountycatholic.org, and bulletins and ministry schedules are posted regularly.
- Office: 620-825-4361
- Main Office: 620-886-3596
- Emergency / Father Emmanuel's cell: 785-656-9108
- Address: 920 E. Main Street, Kiowa, KS 67070-1420
- Website: http://barbercountycatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Vesecky1940–
First resident pastor of St. John the Apostle; oversaw construction of the current Spanish style church in 1949.
- Father Lombardi1909–1916
Resident pastor of St. Boniface, Sharon; also served St. John the Apostle during these years.
- Father Anthony Suellentropearly 1990s–
Shepherded the restructuring that brought the three Barber County parishes under a single pastor and coined the term "Catholic Church of Barber County" in 1994.
- Father Emmanuel Kosikumahpresent
Current pastor of the Catholic Church of Barber County, serving all three parishes.