About St. Joseph · Mcpherson, Kansas
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in McPherson, Kansas, in the Diocese of Wichita, that has served the local Catholic community since the early 1880s. Today the parish numbers roughly 400 households and shares its pastor with the mission parish of St. Bridget of Sweden in nearby Lindsborg. The parish operates St. Joseph Catholic School (K–6), the Angel Depot preschool, a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program, and a wide range of liturgical, faith-formation, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1879 (property deeded); first church built 1880; resident pastorate established 1937
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Michael L. Kerschen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers an active, mid-sized Catholic community where parishioners really know one another — about 400 households strong, with daily and weekend Masses, perpetual adoration in a dedicated chapel, and a robust roster of lay-led liturgical ministries (lectors, Eucharistic ministers, choir, cantors, servers, greeters, ushers, offertory, rosary leaders). Families have access to a parish school (K–6), the Angel Depot preschool, a Parish School of Religion for K–12, OCIA / RCIA for adults, Totus Tuus, CYM youth ministry, and FORMED digital formation, all under the pastoral care of Father Michael Kerschen in the Diocese of Wichita.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–5:00 pm
- 20 minutes before each weekday Mass
- Wednesday 7:30–7:50 am
- Saturday 4:30–5:15 pm
- Sunday 8:00–8:45 am
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 am through Friday 8:30 am (extended Eucharistic Adoration in the adoration chapel)
Parish History
St. Joseph Catholic Church traces its roots to a tract of land in the 200 block of South Chestnut deeded to the Roman Catholic Church on October 13, 1879. Father Nicholas Fowler, sent by Bishop Miege, built the first church there in early 1880 and began ministering to a small mission congregation of about five families. For decades the community was served as a mission from Florence and other central Kansas towns. The opening of the McPherson oil industry in 1927 sparked real growth, and in June 1937 Father Michael O'Donovan became the parish's first resident pastor. The current parish at 520 E. Northview grew out of the post-1985 building program under Father Doug Campbell, was completed as a worship space in 1997, and was significantly expanded again in 2010–2011.
- 1879 – property on South Chestnut deeded to the Roman Catholic Church
- 1880 – first church built under Father Nicholas Fowler
- 1927 – oil industry arrival in McPherson spurs parish growth
- 1937 – Father Michael O'Donovan becomes first resident pastor
- 1942 – Father John Moeder begins long pastorate
- 1949 – new brick church on South Chestnut blessed by Bishop Mark K. Carroll
- 1955 – St. Joseph Catholic School dedicated (Diamond Jubilee year)
- 1982 – mission parish of St. Bridget of Sweden established in Lindsborg
- 1985 – parish reaches 300 families / 1,100 members
- 1991 – school and church shell completed at 520 E. Northview
- 1997 – sanctuary dedicated by Bishop Eugene Gerber (June 1)
- 2011 – Spirit is Building expansion: bell tower, adoration chapel, parish hall, new school wing
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Father Michael L. Kerschen, who began his assignment as pastor in February 2024 and also serves the mission parish of St. Bridget of Sweden in Lindsborg. Parish office staff include Jeri Burghart (Receptionist/Powerschool Coordinator) and Linda Harger (Bookkeeper). The school's longtime principal, Peggy Bahr, has announced a transition to a new Parish Life Director role effective July 1, 2026.
- Rev. Michael L. Kerschen — Pastor ([email protected])
- Jeri Burghart — Receptionist / Powerschool Coordinator
- Linda Harger — Bookkeeper
- Peggy Bahr — Principal, St. Joseph Catholic School (transitioning to Parish Life Director, July 1, 2026)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Joseph offers a full life-long faith formation program. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) serves K–12 students who do not attend the parish school, while the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes those exploring full communion with the Catholic Church. The parish also runs CYM youth ministry, hosts the Totus Tuus summer program, and provides a subscription to FORMED for on-demand Catholic media, study, and family content.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — K–12
- OCIA / RCIA — adult initiation
- CYM — youth ministry
- Totus Tuus — summer catechetical program
- FORMED — digital faith formation platform
St. Joseph Catholic School
The parish school, founded in 1955 with just 10 students, today serves grades K–6 in a state-accredited, God-centered environment. It is fully accredited by the State of Kansas and NCA and is a member of the Diocese of Wichita, and is also a member of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education. Catholic families tithe to the parish for tuition; non-Catholic students pay an enrollment fee of about $225 plus textbook/materials. K–6 students attend Mass twice weekly and the pre-kindergarten class attends once a week. The campus is shared with the Angel Depot preschool and, in coordination with St. Bridget of Sweden's Little Kingdom Learning Center, serves 3- and 4-year-olds. After the 2010–2011 Spirit is Building expansion the school gained a new wing of classrooms, a gymnasium, a library, an atrium, a service kitchen, and a commons area.
- Grades K–6 (plus preschool through Angel Depot and Little Kingdom)
- Fully accredited (State of Kansas and NCA); member of Diocese of Wichita
- Mass twice weekly for K–6; once weekly for pre-K
- PTO, Room Parents, parent volunteer programs
- Free and reduced-price lunches available
- USD 418 provides transportation
Liturgical Ministries
An unusually active lay ministry program supports the parish's liturgies. Coordinators and volunteers serve as Rosary Leaders, Altar Servers, Offertory Gift Bearers, Greeters, Lectors, Choir/Cantors/Musicians (including a separate Youth Choir), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and Ushers. The Liturgy Committee, chaired by Chris Kaufman and including the pastor as a member-at-large, meets four or five times a year to plan the liturgical seasons, special liturgies, and opportunities for enrichment, prayer, and worship. The parish also publishes monthly schedules for cantors and musicians, lectors and E.M.s, Mass servers, greeters, offertory gifts, rosary leaders, and church cleaning.
- Liturgy Committee chaired by Chris Kaufman
- Youth Choir coordinated by Steve Burghart
- Altar Servers — Tammy Gipson
- Adult Choir & Music Ministry — Roberta Burghart and Tai Williford
- Lectors & E.M.s — Robin Elsasser
- Eucharistic Adoration — Kim Glazner and Deb Nowak
- Offertory Gifts & Greeters — Jeri Burghart
- Ushers — Brandon Stringer
- Prayer Line — Annette Smith
Pastoral Care & Outreach
The parish maintains a Prayer Line ministry (coordinated by Annette Smith) and operates the Eucharistic Adoration chapel 24 hours a day from Wednesday through Friday. As pastor of both St. Joseph and St. Bridget of Sweden in Lindsborg, Father Kerschen is regularly available after daily and weekend Masses in the gathering space, and parishioners are encouraged to reach him by phone (620-241-0821) or email. The parish's historic stewardship tradition — going back to the founding sacrifices of the early mission families and continuing through the 1996 Builders of Faith Campaign and the 2010 Spirit is Building expansion — remains a central theme of parish life.
- Prayer Line — Annette Smith
- Continuous Eucharistic Adoration (Wed 8:30 am – Fri 8:30 am)
- Anointing of the Sick (arranged through the parish office)
- Cooperation with St. Bridget of Sweden, Lindsborg (mission parish since 1982)
Campus & Facilities
The St. Joseph campus at 520 E. Northview combines the church, school, parish hall, adoration chapel, bell tower, and rectory on one property. The 1991 building program provided the original school, parish offices, priest's residence, and the church shell; the 1997 dedication completed the sanctuary. The 2010–2011 'Spirit is Building' expansion added the bell tower and adoration chapel, converted the existing gym into a parish hall, and built a new school wing with classrooms, gymnasium, library, atrium, service kitchen, and commons. Parish office hours are Monday–Friday 7:30 am–4:00 pm (summer 8:00 am–1:00 pm).
- Church worship space (1991 shell; sanctuary dedicated 1997)
- Bell tower (added 2011)
- Adoration chapel (added 2011)
- Parish hall (renovated gym, 2011)
- School wing with classrooms, gym, library, atrium, service kitchen, commons
- Parish offices and rectory
- Office hours: M–F 7:30 am–4:00 pm (summer 8:00 am–1:00 pm)
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation is offered through the parish school (K–6), the Parish School of Religion (K–12), and the OCIA / RCIA process for adults. Couples prepare for marriage with the pastor; the Anointing of the Sick is available by request through the parish office; Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons, Sunday mornings before the 9:00 am Mass, and 20 minutes before each weekday Mass.
- Baptism
- First Communion (school & PSR)
- Confirmation (school & PSR)
- Marriage preparation with the pastor
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see schedule
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. Joseph Catholic Church is located at 520 E. Northview, McPherson, KS 67460. Phone: 620-241-0821. Detailed driving directions are published on the parish website under About Us → Contact Us & Directions. Parish office hours are Monday–Friday 7:30 am–4:00 pm, with summer hours of 8:00 am–1:00 pm. Father Kerschen is available to speak with parishioners after daily and weekend Masses in the gathering space.
- Address: 520 E. Northview, McPherson, KS 67460
- Phone: 620-241-0821
- Email: [email protected] (pastor)
- Office hours: M–F 7:30 am–4:00 pm (summer 8:00 am–1:00 pm)
- Diocese: Diocese of Wichita
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Nicholas Fowlerearly 1880s
Sent by Bishop Miege to found the Catholic mission in McPherson; built the first church; resided in Florence.
- Father Michael O'Donovan1937–
First resident pastor of St. Joseph; permanent rectory built under his tenure.
- Father John Moeder1942–
Built the new South Chestnut church (blessed 1949) and the Catholic school (dedicated 1955); welcomed the Adorers of the Blood of Christ Sisters.
- Father Doug Campbellearly 1990s
Directed construction of the school and church shell at 520 E. Northview, completed May 1991.
- Rev. Michael L. KerschenFebruary 2024–present
Current pastor; also pastor of St. Bridget of Sweden, Lindsborg.