About St. Joseph · Arma, Kansas
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Arma, Kansas, is a small Catholic parish of about 103 families (191 individual Catholics) in the Diocese of Wichita, sharing pastoral care with neighboring St. Michael Parish in Girard under a single pastor. Founded in 1927 by the Sylvestrine Benedictines, the parish traces nearly a century of continuous Catholic worship in the southeast Kansas coal-country town of Arma. The current parish plant — built in 1964–65 in a striking triangular shape symbolizing the Blessed Trinity — sits just east of the U.S. 69 Bypass and is enriched by a Stations of the Cross Meditation area, a Grotto of Mary, and a cast-iron bell rescued from the original downtown church.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel L. Vacca
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is a small, family-sized parish of about 103 families in southeast Kansas, where everyone knows each other and longtime Catholic traditions are still lived up close. The parish shares its pastor and a combined bulletin with neighboring St. Michael in Girard, giving worshippers access to weekday Masses, Saturday Vigil, and Sunday Mass on both sides, plus regular Thursday adoration and Saturday confession. Members grow in faith through St. Anne Altar Society, Bible study, OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), the parish subscription to FORMED, and the wider Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella councils — a tight-knit community rooted in nearly a century of Catholic life in Arma.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM (Arma)
- 15 minutes before weekday Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Arma)
Parish History
St. Joseph's traces its origins to 1927, when the Sylvestrine Benedictines organized Arma as their eighth mission in southeast Kansas. Father Philip Bartocetti, O.S.B., purchased the former First Missionary Baptist church for $1,350 (with $1,000 from the Extension Society), and a cast-iron bell dated May 16, 1927 was hung in that first church. In 1929 the Capuchin Fathers took over; under Father Thomas Petrie the parish received relics of St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padua (1932), and under Father Alvin Werth an Arcadia church building was bought for $80 in 1937, moved to Arma, and slowly converted into a parish hall. A new rectory followed in 1949. In August 1950 Father Clifford Landis became the first permanent diocesan pastor, succeeded by Father Colin Boor (1955–1961) and then Father John Reinkemeyer, who built up adult converts and led the move to the present church — the first Mass was Christmas Eve 1964 and Bishop Leo Byrne dedicated the triangular new church on May 18, 1965.
- 1927 — Sylvestrine Benedictines found Arma mission; first bell cast May 16, 1927
- 1929 — Capuchin Fathers assume parish duties
- 1932 — Relics of St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padua acquired
- 1937 — Arcadia church bought for $80 and moved to Arma as parish hall
- 1950 — Father Clifford Landis becomes first permanent diocesan pastor
- Dec. 1964 — Move from downtown (Fourth & Main) to present site east of U.S. 69 Bypass; first Mass on Christmas Eve
- May 18, 1965 — Bishop Leo Byrne dedicates the new triangular church
- 1993 — Shared-pastorate with St. Michael's, Girard begins under Fr. Donald Thissen
- 2014–15 — 50th anniversary of the move celebrated under Fr. Roger Lumbre
The Triangular Trinity Church
The present St. Joseph's church was designed in a deliberate triangular footprint to symbolize the Blessed Trinity. Dedicated on May 18, 1965 by Bishop Leo Byrne, who confirmed 70 (including 40 adult converts) the same day, it replaced the original 1927 church near downtown Arma. Today the grounds feature a Stations of the Cross Meditation area, a Grotto of Mary, and a 2006-built framework at the church entrance that displays the original 35-inch cast-iron bell from 1927 — the sole item rescued from a fire that destroyed the old downtown church during Father Charles Middleton's twelve-year pastorate (1975–1987).
- Triangular sanctuary symbolizing the Blessed Trinity
- Original 1927 cast-iron bell on display at entrance
- Stations of the Cross Meditation area and Grotto of Mary on the grounds
Parish Life & Ministries
Like most small Kansas parishes, St. Joseph's runs on the dedicated work of a few lay organizations. The St. Anne Altar Society gathers all women of the parish 18 and older (dues $5/year) to care for the needs of the altar, meeting every other month on a Wednesday at the St. Joseph Rectory. Bible study and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) feed the mind, and the parish maintains a shared subscription to FORMED so every family can access Catholic video, audio, and study content online at formed.org under the St. Michael Parish name or zipcode 66743.
- St. Anne Altar Society — contact Linda Broyles, 620-347-8856
- Bible Study
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- FORMED parish subscription (free to parishioners)
Knights of Columbus & Daughters of Isabella
St. Joseph's shares in the broader fraternal and charitable life of southeast Kansas Catholic men and women. The local Knights of Columbus council is open to Catholic men 18 and older and meets the 1st Tuesday at 7:00 PM in the St. Michael Parish Hall, Girard; its four pillars are charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. The Daughters of Isabella, a Catholic women's charitable organization founded in 1897 in New Haven, CT with the motto 'Unity, Friendship and Charity,' is open to all Catholic women 16 and up and meets monthly except January and July on the 2nd Tuesday at 7:30 PM at St. Francis Hall in St. Paul.
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Steven Davied; 1st Tuesday 7:00 PM, St. Michael Parish Hall
- Daughters of Isabella — contact Linda DeGarmo, 620-724-8905 / 620-238-3244; 2nd Tuesday 7:30 PM
Parish Staff & Councils
Pastoral and administrative ministry at St. Joseph's is shared with St. Michael, Girard. The pastor is Father Daniel Vacca; the parish secretary is Barb Duling; Janel Scales serves as bookkeeper; and Kristen Graham is the Director of Religious Education. Carrie Smith chairs the Pastoral Council and Tony Stonerock chairs the Finance Council. The combined parish office is at 106 N. Western Ave., Girard, KS 66743 (phone 620-724-8717).
- Pastor: Father Daniel Vacca
- Secretary: Barb Duling
- Bookkeeper: Janel Scales
- DRE: Kristen Graham
- Pastoral Council Chair: Carrie Smith
- Finance Council Chair: Tony Stonerock
Shared Parish Identity with St. Michael, Girard
Since 1993, St. Joseph's has shared its pastor with St. Michael Parish in Girard — a partnership that has shaped daily life for both communities. The two parishes publish a single combined bulletin each weekend, share one secretary and one bookkeeper, and split the Mass and confession schedule between Arma and Girard. The arrangement grew out of necessity in 1993 (when Andrew Seiler was the last full-time resident pastor at Arma) and has continued productively under every subsequent priest assigned to St. Michael's. Bulletin submissions go to Barb Duling by noon on Wednesday each week.
- Combined weekend bulletin with St. Michael, Girard
- Shared parish office at 106 N. Western Ave., Girard
- Bulletin deadline: Wednesday noon to Barb Duling
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Philip Bartocetti, O.S.B. (Sylvestrine Benedictine)1927–
Organized Arma as the Sylvestrines' 8th mission in SE Kansas; purchased the former First Missionary Baptist church for $1,350.
- Capuchin Fathers1929–
Assumed parish duties from the Sylvestrines.
- Father Thomas Petrie
Acquired the reliquary case and relics of St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padua (Sep. 6, 1932).
- Father Alvin Werth
Bought a church building in Arcadia for $80 in Oct. 1937, moved it to Arma, and gradually converted it into a parish hall.
- Father Clifford Landis1950–
First permanent diocesan pastor of St. Joseph's.
- Father Colin Boor1955–1961
Served six years.
- Father John Reinkemeyer1961–
Built up adult converts; oversaw move to the new triangular church (first Mass Christmas Eve 1964); dedicated by Bishop Leo Byrne May 18, 1965.
- Father James Spexarth
Hosted the first Mass of newly ordained Father Joseph Gorentz (ordained March 26, 1966); blessed the new rectory August 30, 1967; served two years.
- Father Raymond Whelan
Served seven years after Fr. Spexarth.
- Father Charles Middleton1975–1987
Served twelve years; during his pastorate fire destroyed the original downtown church at Fourth and Main; the 1927 cast-iron bell was saved.
- Father Philip Bradley
- Father David O'Leary
- Father Andrew Seiler
Last full-time resident pastor of St. Joseph's.
- Father Donald Thissen1993–2007
Pastor of St. Michael's, Girard; shared pastoral care of St. Joseph's for fourteen years.
- Father Bob McElwee
- Father Lawrence Carney
- Father Roger Lumbre
Celebrated the 50th anniversary of the move to the present location with events through 2014, closing January 3, 2015.
- Father Maximilian Biltz
- Father Floyd McKinney
- Father Mike Klag
- Father Daniel Vaccapresent
Current pastor.