About St. Joseph · Andale, Kansas
St. Joseph Catholic Parish is a faith-filled rural community in the small wheat-country town of Andale, Kansas (Sedgwick County), serving about 370 families and roughly 1,200 individual Catholics. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Wichita and today worships out of the parish hall at 402 Rush Avenue during a major church restoration project. St. Joseph is known for its strong music ministry, Eucharistic Adoration all day Monday, a Knights of Columbus council, an active Altar Society, Totus Tuus summer programs, and a generations-deep congregation descended from the German Catholic settlers who founded the parish in the 1890s.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. James F. Weldon
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a tight-knit, multi-generational parish where many members are descendants of the original German-Catholic settlers who built the church more than a century ago. Daily Mass, weekday and Saturday confessions, round-the-clock Eucharistic Adoration every Monday through Tuesday morning, a robust choir program for adults, youth and teens, and a full slate of ministries — Knights of Columbus, Altar Society, Catholic Youth Ministry, Totus Tuus, OCIA, Seven Sisters, parish nurses, and Respect Life — make it easy to plug in. Parishioners also receive the Formed.org Catholic media library (parish password D2FACY) and gather for parish picnics, Dinner for Eight hospitality groups, and seasonal faith formation for every age.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 7:00–7:10 AM (immediately before weekday Mass)
- Wednesday: 6:00–7:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:30–4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 8:00 AM through Tuesday 7:00 AM (24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration beginning each Monday morning)
- Coordinator: Ginny, 316-665-1004
About St. Joseph Catholic Parish
St. Joseph Catholic Parish serves about 370 families in the small town of Andale, Kansas, in Sedgwick County northwest of Wichita. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Wichita and currently celebrates Mass in the parish hall at 402 Rush Avenue while the historic red-brick church undergoes major restoration. St. Joseph is the spiritual home of many descendants of the German Catholic settlers who founded the parish more than 125 years ago.
- 370 registered families / ~1,200 individual Catholics
- Member parish of the Diocese of Wichita
- Currently worshipping at the parish hall, 402 Rush Avenue, during church restoration
Parish History
Founded as a mission of St. Mark's parish in the 1890s and dedicated on December 21, 1901, St. Joseph grew with the German-Catholic community of Andale. The first pastor, Father George Meyer (serving from February 14, 1891, until his death from tuberculosis in 1898), oversaw construction of the rectory and cemetery. Monsignor Bernard Schmiehausen completed the grand early 1900s brick church at a cost of about $50,000 — then the tallest structure in the county outside Wichita.
- 1885 — railroad arrives; town of Andale founded by George Anderson and J. Will Dale
- 1890s — parish formed as a mission of St. Mark's; first frame church built for $1,474
- December 21, 1901 — Bishop John J. Hennessey and Msgr. Bernard Schmiehausen celebrate first Mass
- February 14, 1891 — Father George Meyer becomes first resident pastor
- June 1898 — Father Leonard Epp arrives, builds parochial school and adds two wings to the church; resigns 1904
- 1917 — tornado kills 13 parishioners; church, school and rectory spared major damage
- 1981 — storm damages the steeple; repairs over $110,000; Bishop Carl A. helps rededicate
- 1990 — storm blows out three west-side stained-glass windows; restored from photographs using original glass
- Recent — lightning strike and fire cause over $4 million in damage; church being restored for rededication
Our Priests
The Diocesan directory lists Reverend James F. Weldon as current pastor following the pastorate of Father Daryl Befort, who oversaw the post-fire restoration of the church and is still listed for parish emergencies at 316-706-1627. The parish has been served over the decades by Father George Meyer, Father Leonard Epp, Father John Loevenich, Father John Grueter, Monsignor Joseph Klug, Monsignor Edward Albers, Father Robert Pepe, Father Reinhard Eck, Father Joseph Gile, and Father Ben Nguyen.
- Current pastor: Rev. James F. Weldon
- Pastor emerita/emergency line: Fr. Daryl Befort, 316-706-1627
Liturgy, Music & Devotions
Music is a major part of parish life at St. Joseph, with choirs for adults, youth (grades K–5) and teens (grades 6–12) led by Stephanie Bergkamp and Megan Hill. A rotating crew of lay faithful leads the rosary before each weekend Mass, and every Wednesday at 6:15 PM the Flame of Love Rosary is prayed in the church for the healing of the Church and the world. The Mother's Prayers apostate keeps a bouquet of roses on Mary's altar as a sign of prayer for those who are pregnant.
- Adult, Youth (K–5) and Teen (6–12) choirs; cantors and accompanists always needed
- Pre-Mass Rosary before each weekend Mass
- Flame of Love Rosary, Wednesdays at 6:15 PM
- Mother's Prayers (roses on Mary's altar)
- Traveling Madonna and Seven Sisters
Faith Formation & Youth
Children and teens are catechized through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), the Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM), the annual Totus Tuus summer program, Confirmation preparation, and a nursery and Bible school provided during the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass. Stephanie Bergkamp and Megan Hill direct the parish music program for youth and teens.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM)
- Totus Tuus (summer program for Pre-K through 12th grade)
- Confirmation classes
- Nursery & Bible school during 10:00 AM Sunday Mass
Becoming Catholic & Sacramental Life
Adults interested in the Catholic faith are welcomed through the parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) process. Baptisms are scheduled by appointment, marriage preparation begins at least nine months in advance, and First Communion is celebrated each year (a 1:00 PM Mass of First Communicants is added to the Sunday schedule that week).
- OCIA (Become Catholic)
- Baptism — call the office
- Matrimony — 9-month prep
- Confirmation
- First Communion
- Anointing of the Sick
Parish Life, Hospitality & Outreach
The parish puts strong emphasis on community and service. Dinner for Eight small groups match new parishioners with established ones; the Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, Mom's Group, and parish picnic knit generations together. Outreach is broad, spanning the Lord's Diner, St. Anthony Family Shelter, Food for the Poor, Parish Nurse Ministry, Respect Life / A Better Choice, Tobit Ministry, and a Prayer Line staffed seven days a week.
- Dinner for Eight
- Altar Society (Jill, 316-619-0692)
- Knights of Columbus (Scott, 316-650-2530)
- Mom's Group / Fasting Brothers
- Lord's Diner & St. Anthony Family Shelter
- Respect Life / A Better Choice pregnancy support
- Parish Nurse Ministry & Prayer Line
Stewardship & Volunteer Opportunities
Each year every family is asked to prayerfully complete a Stewardship Form and select ministries to serve. The Stewardship Council and Stewardship Fair guide parishioners into more than 50 active ministries spanning liturgy, formation, buildings, communications, finance, and outreach.
- Annual Stewardship Form
- Stewardship Fair / Stewardship Council
- Parish Council / Pastoral Council / Finance Council
- Buildings and Grounds
- Communications Committee / Website / Bulletin / Social Media
Parish Office, Location & Contact
The parish office is at 318 Rush Avenue, Andale, KS 67001, with mailing address P.O. Box 8, Andale, KS 67001. Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 AM to Noon; phone 316-444-2196, fax 316-445-6812. Masses are currently held in the parish hall at 402 Rush Avenue while the church undergoes restoration. The parish's bulletin is published online through Solutio software and the administrator portal is hosted at stjoe-andale.solutiosoftware.com/administrator.
- Office: 318 Rush Avenue, Andale, KS 67001 (PO Box 8)
- Phone 316-444-2196 / Fax 316-445-6812
- Office hours Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – Noon
- Current worship site: Parish Hall, 402 Rush Avenue
- Administrator: Debbie Albert — [email protected]
- Pastor: Fr. James F. Weldon — [email protected]
- Music ministry: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Meyer1891–1898
First resident pastor; oversaw construction of rectory and cemetery; died of tuberculosis in 1898 and was the first priest buried in the parish cemetery.
- Monsignor Bernard Schmiehausen1898–c.1904 (approximate)
Assigned from St. Mark's; oversaw completion of the larger new brick church built for ~$50,000.
- Father Leonard EppJune 1898–1904
Built a parochial school with living quarters for the nuns and added two wings to the little church; oversaw the 1901 frame school with four classrooms. Resigned in 1904 due to failing health.
- Father John Loevenich
Third pastor; began construction of the current red-brick church but fell ill before it was finished and had to resign.
- Father John Grueter
Listed among the parish's pastors on the parish history page.
- Monsignor Joseph Klug
Listed among the parish's pastors on the parish history page.
- Monsignor Edward Albers
Listed among the parish's pastors on the parish history page.
- Father Robert Pepe
Listed among the parish's pastors on the parish history page.
- Father Reinhard Eck
Listed among the parish's pastors on the parish history page.
- Father Joseph Gile
Listed among the parish's pastors on the parish history page.
- Father Ben Nguyen
Listed among the parish's pastors on the parish history page.
- Father Daryl Befort
Past pastor; oversaw church restoration following the lightning/fire damage of over $4 million; Fr. Daryl is still listed for parish emergencies after the leadership change.
- Reverend James F. Weldon
Current pastor per the Diocese of Wichita parish directory.