About St. John Vianney · Maple Hill, Kansas
St. John Mary Vianney Latin Mass Community is a chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas canonically administered by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right erected by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988. Located near Maple Hill, Kansas — about 20 miles west of Topeka and 2 miles north of I-70 at Exit 341 — it is the traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) apostolate for northeast Kansas. Daily Mass and Confessions are offered, the chapel is paired with a K–6 Catholic elementary school under chaplain/principal Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP, and the community is faithful to both Catholic Tradition and the Magisterium, with explicit faculties from Archbishop Shawn McKnight.
- Established
- 1994
- Patron
- St. John Mary Vianney (Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, Cure of Ars)
- Rector
- Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. John Vianney offers Catholics across northeast Kansas the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite — the traditional Latin Mass and Sacraments — celebrated daily in a small, faithful community served by priests of the FSSP. Daily Mass and Confessions, a First Friday schedule with extended Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, a parish K–6 school, and an actively growing campus (expanded in November 2021) make it a place where families can worship, form their children, and live the Faith in continuity with Catholic Tradition while in full communion with the Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas.
Mass times at St. John Vianney
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday: 30 minutes before each Mass
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Sunday: 6:45 AM – 7:15 AM (before 7:30 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (before 9:15 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM (before 11:30 AM Mass)
- First Friday: 5:20 PM – 5:45 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Fridays: Exposition and Adoration from 8:30 AM until 5:50 PM
- Benediction: 5:50 PM on First Friday
About St. John Mary Vianney Latin Mass Community
St. John Vianney is the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter's (FSSP) Latin Mass chaplaincy for northeast Kansas, canonically part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and operating with explicit faculties from Archbishop Shawn McKnight. The Fraternity itself is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right erected by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988, dedicated to the faithful celebration of the traditional Latin Mass and Sacraments (the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite). The community is faithful to Catholic Tradition and faithful to the Magisterium. It serves Catholics across the region with daily Mass and Confessions, supported by a parish K–6 school.
History of the Chaplaincy
The community was born in 1994 when Fr. Rizzo was accepted into the FSSP and began offering a Sunday Latin Mass in Rossville and Topeka; the same year Archbishop James Keleher officially invited the Fraternity into the Archdiocese. Under the fourth chaplain, Fr. Michael Irwin, FSSP, ten acres were purchased in Maple Hill in 2000, groundbreaking followed in 2001, and the chapel, school wing, and rectory were built in 2002 with massive volunteer effort from parishioners. Archbishop Keleher dedicated the chapel on October 20, 2002 — the first Catholic church in Maple Hill since the town's 1887 founding. The community has grown steadily since, with a chapel expansion completed in November 2021.
- Founded 1994 by Fr. Rizzo, FSSP
- Permanent campus built 2000–2002 in Maple Hill
- Chapel dedicated by Archbishop Keleher on October 20, 2002
- Chapel expansion completed November 2021
Clergy & Staff
St. John Vianney is currently served by two priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. The chaplain also serves as principal of the parish school. A succession of FSSP chaplains has served the community since its founding in 1994.
- Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP — Chaplain and School Principal
- Fr. Simon Zurita, FSSP — Assistant Chaplain
Past Chaplains (Succession)
The community has been served by a succession of FSSP chaplains, beginning with its founder Fr. Rizzo in 1994 and continuing through Fr. Eric Flood's current tenure. Several chaplains — including Fr. Flood — have served more than one term.
- Fr. Rizzo, FSSP — 1994 (founding chaplain)
- Fr. Michael Irwin, FSSP — fourth chaplain; oversaw construction of the Maple Hill campus (2000–c.2003)
- Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP — 2003 (first tenure); acquired additional acreage and classrooms
- Fr. John Fongemie, FSSP — sixth chaplain
- Fr. James Gordon, FSSP — 2008; enlarged the rectory
- Fr. John Rickert, FSSP — eighth chaplain, July 2012; native Kansan
- Fr. Carlos Casavantes, FSSP — July 2016
- Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP — returned July 2017 (current chaplain)
St. John Vianney School (K–6)
St. John Vianney School offers Catholic religious and elementary education for grades K–6. On-campus classes are held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the school year, with the remainder of instructional time spent in the home/family setting, preparing children to enter 7th grade and beyond in other settings. Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP, serves as principal. Enrollment, tuition, handbook, and other documents are linked from the school page on the chaplaincy website.
- Grades K–6
- On-campus classes Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Home/family setting for the remainder of the week
- Principal: Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP
- School Handbook, Curriculum, Tuition Rates, and Application forms available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Rizzo, FSSP1994
Accepted into the FSSP at Easter 1994; began offering Sunday Latin Mass in Rossville and Topeka; founding chaplain of the community.
- Fr. Michael Irwin, FSSP2000–c.2003
Fourth chaplain; led acquisition of ten acres in Maple Hill and construction of the chapel, school wing, and rectory (dedicated 2002).
- Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP2003–
Acquired additional acreage and prefabricated classroom buildings. Returned for a second tenure as chaplain beginning July 2017; currently principal of the school.
- Fr. John Fongemie, FSSPmid-2000s
Sixth chaplain (succeeded Fr. Flood's first tenure).
- Fr. James Gordon, FSSP2008–
Enlarged the rectory to provide office space for the priests.
- Fr. John Rickert, FSSPJuly 2012–
Eighth chaplain; native Kansan.
- Fr. Carlos Casavantes, FSSPJuly 2016–July 2017
Served before Fr. Flood's return.