About St. John the Evangelist · Herington, Kansas
St. John the Evangelist Parish is a Catholic parish in Herington, Kansas, founded in 1891 and part of the Diocese of Salina. It shares pastoral care with its two mission parishes, St. Philip in Hope and St. Columba in Elmo, all located along State Highway 4 in southern Dickinson County — hence the shared parish website name, highway4catholics.org. The current church, built in 1909 on the 700 block of North Broadway, is the spiritual home for roughly 120 local families and welcomes Catholics from neighboring Marion and Morris Counties. The parish is served by Fr. George Chalbhagam, CMI, and Deacon Dick Kramer, and offers weekend Mass, confession, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and youth, OCIA for adults, and a range of lay ministries.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. George Chalbhagam, CMI
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a small but active rural parish where parishioners know each other by name and ministries — from the Knights of Columbus and Altar Society to CCD, CYO, OCIA, Lectors, Rosary Leaders, and Eucharistic Adoration — are filled by ordinary families. As Highway 4 Catholics, the three linked parishes of Herington, Hope, and Elmo gather for adult education, Bible study, and an annual Tri-Parish picnic, giving visitors a ready-made community. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic returning to the practice of the faith, a newcomer discerning becoming Catholic, or just passing through central Kansas, the parish invites you to 'come and see' — to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist celebrated in a century-old church with beautifully restored stained glass.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each weekend Mass (Saturday 5:30 pm, Sunday 10:30 am)
- By appointment (contact Fr. George at 785-410-3752)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm, Eucharistic Adoration at St. John the Evangelist church
- Tuesday 6:30 pm, Flame of Love Cenacle follows Adoration at St. John the Evangelist
Parish History
St. John the Evangelist traces its roots to 1888, when Father John F. Leary of St. Andrew Parish in Abilene rode into Herington during a smallpox epidemic to minister to a handful of Catholic families. He arranged monthly Mass in their homes. By 1891, with additional families settled — William Heath, Peter Trapp, the Burkes, Kate Mertel, and William Kurtenbach — a 24' x 40' church was built at B and Day streets and the parish was formally established. The first resident pastor, Father Arthur Van Speybroeck, arrived in 1902, and Father Joseph B. Glynn (from 1904) oversaw construction of the present church, dedicated May 4, 1909. Father John Fitzgerald opened the parish school in 1926; it served the community until 1969, when the school building was eventually razed in 1974 and replaced by a parish hall in 1978 under Father Larry Pierce. The parish absorbed northern Marion County Catholics in 1991 when Pilsen and Tampa closed, and in 2009 quietly marked the church's 100th anniversary with significant restoration work including a new roof and re-leaded stained glass windows.
- 1888 — Mission priest Fr. John F. Leary begins ministering to Catholics in Herington
- 1891 — First church built; parish formally established
- 1902 — First resident pastor, Fr. Arthur Van Speybroeck
- 1909 — Current church dedicated on the 700 block of N. Broadway
- 1926 — Parish school opens under Fr. John Fitzgerald
- 1969 — Parish school closes
- 1974 — School building razed with Bishop Vogel's permission
- 1978 — Parish hall completed under Fr. Larry Pierce
- 1991 — Marion County Catholics absorbed after Pilsen and Tampa close
- 2009 — Centennial of the church; stained glass, roof, and interior restored
Our Pastor and Staff
St. John the Evangelist is currently served by Fr. George Chalbhagam, CMI — a member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate — who also pastors the mission parishes of St. Philip in Hope and St. Columba in Elmo. He can be reached at the rectory (785-258-2013) or on his cell (785-410-3752), or by email at [email protected]. Deacon Dick Kramer assists with ministry to the homebound and with parish life, and the bulletins also reference a second deacon. The pastoral team coordinates Masses, confession, OCIA, CCD, Confirmation preparation, and Anointing of the Sick across the three Highway 4 parishes.
- Fr. George Chalbhagam, CMI — Pastor
- Deacon Dick Kramer
- Deacon Troy (referenced in bulletins)
- Pastoral Council — meets 3rd Thursday at 7:00 pm in Herington
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Religious education for children in kindergarten through sixth grade is offered through the Family Faith Formation (CCD) program, which combines a once-a-month large-group session with parents and students on the first Wednesdays of the month at 6:15 pm in the sanctuary with at-home lessons in between. Older students preparing for the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation meet twice a month on the first and fourth Wednesdays at 6:15 pm. The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) brings together middle school and high school students for community and formation across the three parishes, and Confirmation is normally celebrated every three years for 7th, 8th, and 9th graders who complete preparation.
- CCD Family Faith Formation — K–6, first Wednesdays at 6:15 pm
- First Communion / Confirmation prep — first and fourth Wednesdays at 6:15 pm
- CYO — middle school and high school youth group
- Confirmation — every three years for 7th–9th graders
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — the parish's process for becoming Catholic — is designed for unbaptized adults discerning the faith, for already-baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, and for adult Catholics who have not yet been confirmed. Fr. George works individually with inquirers to design a formation plan tailored to each person's spiritual needs. Those interested are invited to contact him directly at the rectory.
- OCIA for unbaptized adults
- OCIA for baptized Christians seeking full communion
- OCIA for adult Catholics preparing for Confirmation
- Contact Fr. George at 785-410-3752 or [email protected]
Parish Life and Ministries
St. John the Evangelist is supported by an active lay community. The Knights of Columbus council meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm and assists with parish events and needs. The Herington Pastoral Council normally meets on the third Thursday evening of the month at 7:00 pm. The Altar Society — strongest at St. Philip in Hope — coordinates fundraisers and parish care. Liturgical roles are filled by Lectors, Rosary Leaders, Altar Servers, and Ushers, with volunteer church-cleaning teams assigned by week. Adult formation includes occasional Bible study series held in the parish hall when scheduled.
- Knights of Columbus — 2nd Thursday at 7:00 pm
- Herington Pastoral Council — 3rd Thursday at 7:00 pm
- Altar Society
- Lectors, Rosary Leaders, Altar Servers, Ushers
- Church Cleaning teams
- Bible study and adult formation (occasional series)
Highway 4 Catholics — Three Linked Parishes
St. John the Evangelist shares one pastor and a common website with its two mission parishes, both also in the Diocese of Salina. St. Philip Parish in Hope celebrates Mass on the 2nd and 4th weekends — Saturday at 7:30 pm during fall-to-spring daylight saving time — and hosts the annual Tri-Parish Picnic. St. Columba Parish in Elmo celebrates Mass on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends at Sunday 8:30 am. The three parishes cooperate in adult education, Bible study, and joint social events, and the parish bulletin and highway4catholics.org calendar keep parishioners up to date across all three communities.
- St. Philip Parish — Hope, KS (mission)
- St. Columba Parish — Elmo, KS (mission)
- Joint adult education and Bible study series
- Annual Tri-Parish Picnic rotating among the three parishes
- Shared bulletin and website at highway4catholics.org
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
In addition to Confirmation, First Communion, and Reconciliation prepared through the parish's faith formation programs, St. John the Evangelist offers the Anointing of the Sick for those who are homebound or facing serious illness. Those wishing to be anointed are encouraged to contact Fr. George. OCIA offers the sacraments of initiation for adults entering the Church. Marriages, baptisms, and other sacramental needs are coordinated through the rectory.
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Fr. George for the homebound
- Confirmation — every three years for grade-school youth
- First Communion and Reconciliation — through CCD
- OCIA — sacraments of initiation for adults
- Baptism, Marriage — contact the rectory
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. John the Evangelist at the rectory (712 N. Broadway, Herington, KS 67449; 785-258-2013), reach Fr. George on his cell (785-410-3752), or email [email protected]. The Highway 4 Catholics website at highway4catholics.org carries the latest bulletin, calendar, ministry sign-ups, and contact information for all three parishes. Those wishing to register with the parish, learn about ministries, or arrange a baptism, marriage, anointing, or funeral are invited to call or email the rectory.
- Rectory: 712 N. Broadway, Herington, KS 67449
- Rectory phone: 785-258-2013
- Fr. George cell: 785-410-3752
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: highway4catholics.org
- Bulletin and calendar posted weekly online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John F. Leary1888 (mission priest from St. Andrew, Abilene)
First priest to minister to Catholics in Herington during a smallpox epidemic; arranged monthly Mass in homes.
- Fr. Arthur Van Speybroeck1902
First resident pastor; moved the original church to 408 South Broadway and enlarged it.
- Fr. Raymond Drees1903
Successor to Van Speybroeck.
- Fr. Joseph B. Glynn1904 (arrived All Souls Day 1904)
Guided the building of the current church; cornerstone laid Sept. 1, 1908; dedicated May 4, 1909; oversaw 1924 transfer to Beloit.
- Fr. William Fitzgerald1922 (temporary)
Temporarily served St. John's in 1922 before moving to St. Joseph, Brookville.
- Fr. James McErleancirca 1924–1925
Continued the school-building effort; retired due to poor health within a year.
- Fr. John SheehanAugust 1925 – February 1926
Continued preparations for the parish school.
- Fr. John FitzgeraldFebruary 4, 1926 – 1951
Opened the parish school in fall 1926 at a cost of $60,000; served 25 years at St. John's; retired due to ill health.
- Fr. Thomas Lonergancirca 1968
Wrote to school parents about closing the parish school; school closed spring 1969.
- Fr. Larry Piercecirca 1974–1978
Received Bishop Vogel's permission to raze the school and build the new parish hall, completed spring 1978.
- Fr. Richard Lutgen1983 – 1984
Also oversaw St. Patrick, Gypsum; in 1984 traded Gypsum for St. Philip, Hope and St. Columba, Elmo as missions.
- Fr. Donald PfannenstielJuly 16, 1986 – 1998
Led major 1991 interior renovation; absorbed Marion County Catholics after Pilsen and Tampa closed.
- Fr. Randall WeberJuly 1, 1998 – 1999
One-year assignment.
- Fr. Mark WeselyJuly 1, 1999
Continued Hope and Elmo as mission parishes; oversaw stained glass, roof, and organ improvements.
- Fr. George Chalbhagam, CMIcurrent
Current pastor; also serves St. Philip, Hope and St. Columba, Elmo.