About St. John the Evangelist · Lawrence, Kansas
St. John the Evangelist is a Catholic parish in downtown Lawrence, Kansas, served by the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Conrad since 1986. It is the oldest Catholic congregation in Lawrence, with roots going back to the first Mass celebrated in the city in October 1857 in the home of Bernard Donnelly. The parish was formally established in 1859, and its current church at 1234 Kentucky Street — the third on the site — was built in 1924-25 after the second church was destroyed by lightning. Today St. John's is a vibrant, multi-generational community of more than 1,300 households that includes a parish school, a Spanish-language ministry, faith formation for all ages, an active Justice & Social Justice outreach, and a daily Eucharistic Adoration chapel.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. John Toepfer, OFM Cap.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist welcomes all who are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ and proclaims the Gospel through prayer, worship, the Word, the sacraments, and one another. Members grow in faith through adult formation (RCIA, Small Groups, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), serve the wider Lawrence community through St. Vincent de Paul-style ministries, Family Promise, Habitat for Humanity, Centro Hispano, and Catholic Charities, and worship in a downtown Romanesque church with daily Mass, a 1:00 p.m. Spanish Mass on Sundays, and weekday Eucharistic Adoration in the Padre Pio Chapel.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 11:00 AM-12:00 PM (Padre Pio Chapel)
- Saturday 3:00 PM-4:00 PM (Padre Pio Chapel)
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 AM-9:00 PM (Padre Pio Chapel)
- Tuesday 6:00 AM-9:00 PM (Padre Pio Chapel)
- Thursday 6:00 AM-9:00 PM (Padre Pio Chapel)
- Friday 6:00 AM-9:00 PM (Padre Pio Chapel)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. John the Evangelist identifies itself as a Catholic Capuchin Franciscan Parish in downtown Lawrence, Kansas. Its mission statement, adopted in 2014, reads: 'St. John the Evangelist, a Catholic Capuchin Franciscan Parish, welcomes all who are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ and proclaims His Gospel through prayer, worship, His Word, the sacraments, and each other. Members, inspired by the Holy Spirit through faith formation and spiritual renewal, witness to the Gospel in lives of justice and charity, build up families and children through education, hospitality and fellowship, and serve those in need with compassion and commitment.'
- Served by the Capuchin Franciscans, Province of St. Conrad
- Mission statement adopted 2014
- Downtown Lawrence location, two blocks west of Massachusetts Street
History of St. John the Evangelist Parish
The parish traces its origin to the first Mass celebrated in Lawrence in October 1857 by Father J.J. Magee in the home of Bernard Donnelly. The parish was formally established in 1859, the first church on Kentucky Street was dedicated by Bishop J. Miege on September 30, 1860, and the community survived Quantrill's Raid of August 21, 1863, when Bishop Miege personally persuaded the raider to spare the church. A larger brick church replaced the first in 1871, and the present Romanesque church — the third on the site — was built in 1924-25 after the second was destroyed by lightning. Capuchin Franciscans have served the parish continuously since 1986.
- 1857 — First Mass in Lawrence at Bernard Donnelly home
- 1859 — Parish formally established
- 1860 — First church dedicated by Bishop J. Miege on Kentucky Street
- 1863 — Quantrill's Raid; Bishop Miege saves the church
- 1871 — First church replaced by a larger 45 × 80 ft brick building
- 1924 — Second church destroyed by lightning; current church built under Fr. Henry Fitzgerald
- 1925 — Present church dedicated November 26
- 1986 — Capuchin Franciscans (Province of St. Conrad) assume pastoral care
- 1999 — Elevator installed; parish crosses 1,000 households
- 2007-2009 — Sesquicentennial of first Mass, first pastor, and parish establishment
Capuchin Franciscan Identity
Since 1986 St. John the Evangelist has been served by the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Conrad. The Capuchins are an order of brothers — friars, from the Latin frater — who follow the Gospel with the simplicity and fervor of their founder, St. Francis of Assisi. According to the Capuchin provincial website, the friars prefer parishes where they can give witness to minorities and live and work in brotherhood; St. John's, along with St. Fidelis in Victoria, KS, is one of the Capuchin parishes in Kansas.
- Friars from the Province of St. Conrad
- Capuchin presence in Lawrence since 1986
- Fraternal Gospel witness central to parish life
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. John Toepfer, OFM Cap., as pastor, with Fr. Jordan Rojas, OFM Cap., serving as associate pastor. The parish staff includes the school principal, a parish coordinator, liturgy & music director, marketing & communications, and a Spanish catechesis coordinator.
- Fr. John Toepfer, OFM Cap. — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Jordan Rojas, OFM Cap. — Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Jeff Harkin — Principal, St. John School ([email protected])
- Lisa Roush — Liturgy & Music Director ([email protected])
- James John — Parish Coordinator ([email protected])
- Jacinta Hoyt — Marketing & Communications ([email protected])
- Maria Mota — Catecismo en Español ([email protected])
Pastoral Council
The Parish Council meets monthly to discuss the state of the parish, review proposals and programs, and provide advice to the pastor. Members are selected through a nomination and voting process each year. Contact: [email protected].
- John Milburn, Chair
- Maria Monroy, Vice-Chair
- Vincent Francisco, Secretary
- Members: George Diepenbrock, Larry Koster, Suzy Novotny, Adolpho Remigio, Angela Zysk
- Finance Council Liaison — vacant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. John the Evangelist offers faith formation for every age and stage, including the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium for children, a full Educación Religiosa (Spanish catechesis) track coordinated by Maria Mota, and an RCIA process for adults. The parish also runs Confirmation preparation and youth ministries for middle and high school students, plus Small Group Ministry and 'St. John on Tap' gatherings for adult formation and fellowship.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Confirmation Preparation
- Educación Religiosa en Español
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Small Group Ministry
- St. John on Tap (adult fellowship/discussion)
- St. John Café (faith and fellowship after Mass)
St. John School
St. John Catholic School has educated the children of Lawrence since the present school building was constructed in 1956, when the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth served as administrators and faculty. The school now serves preschool through 8th grade on the Kentucky Street campus adjacent to the church, with programs in art, music, Spanish, physical education, counseling, and a Bookends before- and after-school care program. The principal is Jeff Harkin.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- 1208 Kentucky Street, Lawrence, KS
- (785) 843-9511
- Principal: Jeff Harkin ([email protected])
- Bookends before- and after-school care
- Founded 1956; Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth served as original administrators
Liturgy & Music
Liturgy and music at St. John are coordinated by Lisa Roush, Director of Liturgy & Music. The 1964 Reuter organ (#1479) anchors the parish's musical tradition, and the parish hosts a variety of devotional and seasonal liturgies including the Triduum, Lenten Adoration, Stations of the Cross, and bilingual celebrations.
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Lisa Roush
- Reuter organ #1479 installed 1964
- Volunteer cantors and choirs
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic ministry is a core part of parish life. A weekly 1:00 PM Spanish Mass on Sundays is accompanied by Educación Religiosa en Español, Rosario Español, and the parish's partnership with Centro Hispano (204 W. 13th St.), which serves the broader Latino community of Lawrence.
- Sunday 1:00 PM Spanish Mass
- Educación Religiosa en Español — Maria Mota
- Rosario Español
- Centro Hispano collaboration — Lydia Diebolt, 204 W. 13th St.
Outreach, Justice & Charity
St. John Peace & Social Justice, Justice Matters, and the parish's Knights of Columbus and Secular Franciscan Order affiliates coordinate service to those in need. The Rummage House (13th & Kentucky), Family Promise, Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Charities, and the Earth Care Committee extend the parish's reach into the wider Lawrence community.
- St. John Peace & Social Justice
- Justice Matters
- Family Promise
- Habitat for Humanity
- Catholic Charities
- Earth Care Committee
- Knights of Columbus
- Secular Franciscan Order
- Rummage House (13th & Kentucky)
- Homebound Minister
Prayer Groups & Devotions
In addition to weekday Adoration, the parish hosts several ongoing prayer groups and devotional gatherings that meet throughout the week.
- St. Monica's Prayer Group
- Queen of Peace Prayer Group
- St. John Prayer Chain
- Women's Prayer and Reflection
- Spanish Rosary (Rosario Español)
- Legion of Mary
Becoming a Parishioner
Anyone new to the Catholic faith, new to Lawrence, or simply seeking a spiritual home is welcome at St. John the Evangelist. The parish invites newcomers to fill out a New Parishioner Form (available on the Join page) or to contact the parish coordinator at [email protected] or (785) 843-0109.
- New Parishioner Form available online
- Contact: [email protected] / (785) 843-0109
- Office hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Visiting & Self-Guided Tour
The parish publishes a self-guided tour brochure (available as a PDF download from the About page) and a printed Visitors Guide that introduces newcomers to the church's Romanesque architecture, stained-glass windows, and 150+ years of parish history. Visitors are invited to attend daily or weekend Mass or simply walk through the church to take in its art and architecture.
- Self-guided tour PDF downloadable from the About page
- Romanesque architecture and stained-glass windows
- Visitor guide available in print at the church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Schact1858-1862
First resident pastor; first Mass had been celebrated by Fr. McGee in 1857.
- Fr. Sebastian Favre1862-1867
Pastor at the time of Quantrill's Raid (Aug. 21, 1863); sheltered a Quaker minister in the rectory basement.
- Fr. John Cunningham1867-1873
- Fr. Richard Nagle1873-1874
Era of the Carmelite Fathers (1873-1884).
- Fr. Carius1874-1875
- Fr. William Fitzgerald1875-1877
- Fr. P. Scholl1877-1878
- Fr. Guenther1879-1884
- Fr. Dugan1884-1885
- Fr. Alfonso Ennis1885-1892
- Fr. R. B. Groener1893-1901
- Fr. T. J. Downey1902-1903
- Fr. John McCourt1905-1906
- Fr. George Eckart1906-1920
- Fr. Henry Fitzgerald1920-1932
Built the present (third) church and rectory after the 1924 fire.
- Fr. George Towle1946-1963
- Fr. Michael Moriarty1964-1977
Present Reuter organ #1479 installed in 1964.
- Fr. Larry Albertson, Fr. Vincent Krische, Fr. Al Rockers1977-1980
Co-pastors with ministry to KU and Haskell students.
- Fr. Al Rockers1980-1986
- Fr. Michael Scully, OFM Cap.1986-1995
First Capuchin Franciscan pastor.
- Fr. Charles Polifka, OFM Cap.1995-2004
- Fr. John Schmeidler, OFM Cap.2004-2019
- Fr. John CousinsAugust 2019-July 2024
Per the parish About page.
- Fr. John Toepfer, OFM Cap.2024-present
Current pastor per the parish staff page.