About St. Joseph of the Valley · Leavenworth, Kansas
St. Joseph of the Valley is a rural Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, located on 207th Street about nine miles west of Leavenworth, Kansas in Kickapoo Township. Since July 1, 2009, it has been formally merged with St. Lawrence Church in Easton to form the combined St. Joseph – St. Lawrence Parish, known locally as 'Two Churches, One Parish.' Weekend Masses rotate between the two sites (Saturday Vigil at St. Joseph's, Sunday morning at St. Lawrence), with weekday Masses on Tuesday evenings at St. Lawrence and Thursday evenings at St. Joseph's. The parish is led by Father William McEvoy and remains a tight-knit farming-community faith descended from the German, French, and Irish Catholic pioneer families who organized the congregation in 1863.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father William McEvoy
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Joseph – St. Lawrence Parish offers the warmth of a small, multigenerational rural Catholic community — many descendants of the 1863 founding families are still worshipping here — together with the practical convenience of two church sites, weekday and weekend Mass options, an active K-8 CCD program at Bertels Hall, a high-school youth group, two altar societies, and two on-site parish cemeteries tended by parishioner committees. It is a place where families know each other, where sacraments, faith formation, and outreach flow from a single pastor (Father William McEvoy) and a long roster of lay leaders, and where you can take part in the parish's 162-year-old tradition of 'simple country parish' Catholic life in the Leavenworth County countryside.
Mass times at St. Joseph of the Valley
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 pm (30 minutes before the Vigil Mass at St. Joseph of the Valley Church)
- Sunday 8:30 am (30 minutes before the 9:00 am Mass at St. Lawrence Church)
- By appointment
Welcome to St. Joseph – St. Lawrence Parish
The parish describes itself as 'Two Churches, One Parish,' serving rural Leavenworth County from two locations: St. Joseph of the Valley Church in Lowemont-area Kickapoo Township, and St. Lawrence Church in Easton. Father William McEvoy is the current pastor. Newcomers, returning Catholics, and visitors are warmly greeted at every weekend Mass.
- Pastor: Father William McEvoy ([email protected])
- Rectory: 913-773-5712
- Mailing: P.O. Box 129, Easton, KS 66020
History of St. Joseph of the Valley
Catholic pioneers of German, French, and Irish origin organized the parish in spring 1863 at the home of William McGraw. A small frame church was built in 1869, replaced by a brick church in 1893, destroyed by tornado in 1930, destroyed again by fire in 1932, and replaced by the current brick church dedicated in 1933. The same bell has rung through all three buildings. The first resident pastor, Fr. A. Grootaers, served for 47 years and began the first religious vacation school in a rural parish (1904).
- Founded 1863 — organized by Rev. Albert Heiman
- First church built 1869 on land donated by 'Yankee' Brown (14x30 ft)
- 1893 brick church built ($3,500) — paid for in cash
- Current brick church dedicated 1933; seating capacity 250
- 150th Anniversary Jubilee celebrated July 21, 2013
St. Lawrence Parish History
According to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas' 150-year history, St. Lawrence Parish was founded in 1878. The first Mass was offered by Father William Smith in a railroad section house. A larger Roman-style church was begun with the cornerstone laid in summer 1916 and dedicated on April 18, 1917 by Bishop John Ward. The 1917 building cost $20,717.22 plus $4,000 in furnishings, much of the labor donated by parishioners.
- Founded 1878 by Rev. G. M. Kelly
- Cornerstone laid summer 1916; dedicated April 18, 1917 by Bishop John Ward
- New church cost $20,717.22 with $4,000 in furnishings
Parish Merger (2009) — 'Two Churches, One Parish'
St. Joseph of the Valley and St. Lawrence Parishes were formally merged on July 1, 2009 due to the shortage of priests. For a year before the merger, Father Neal Stull, SOLT, and a committee of parishioners worked out combined systems for Parish Council, Finance Council, and operations. After Fr. Neal's death in September 2009, Fr. Richard McDonald led the parish through its first merged year.
- Merger effective July 1, 2009
- Pre-merger planning led by Fr. Neal Stull, SOLT (2007–2009)
- Fr. Richard McDonald led the first merged year (Feb. 2010 – July 2011)
- Merger announced in The Leaven 'Year in Review'
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
The parish's Religious Education program assists parents in providing religious instruction and sacramental preparation for children in Grades K through 8 who are not enrolled in a Catholic school. CCD classes meet at Bertels Hall on the St. Joseph of the Valley campus.
- CCD Coordinator: Jessica (Jess) Adelaine — [email protected] / 910-987-9291
- K-5 CCD: Wednesdays after school until 5:00 pm, beginning Oct. 1, at Bertels Hall
- Middle School CCD (Grades 6–8): Sundays after 9:00 am Mass until 11:00 am, beginning Sept. 28, at Bertels Hall (St. Joseph of the Valley)
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Annual registration $10/child ($30 max/family)
Youth Ministry
The parish supports two youth groups serving elementary through high-school students.
- Joe & Larry's Jesus Club (youth group) — Thomas Rziha ([email protected]) and Hannah Garstecki ([email protected])
- High School Youth Group — Sundays 6:00–7:30 pm at St. Lawrence Parish Center
Cemeteries
Two parish cemeteries serve the merged parish. The original Mt. Olivet Cemetery adjoins St. Joseph of the Valley and traces its earliest burials back to 1865 — six years before the first church was built on the same property.
- St. Joseph of the Valley Cemetery — Chairman: Herman Sachse (913-775-3353). Committee: Paul DeMaranville, Jason Nichols, Tracy Heim
- St. Lawrence Cemetery — Chairman: Bernie Brose (913-773-8334). Committee: Tim Herken, Karen Logan, Donna Crook-Rogers
Altar Societies & Parish Organizations
Two long-standing women's guilds (Altar Societies) continue the rural-parish tradition of caring for the sacred linens, vestments, flowers, and décor of each church site.
- St. Joseph of the Valley Altar Society — Beckey Coffey
- St. Lawrence Altar Society — Virginia Mowery
- Parish Council — Don Navinsky, Sue Griffee, Jason Nichols, Sharon Wagner, Bob Jardon, Vince Eimer, Jenny Brewster (meetings held as announced at 7 pm, STL Hall)
- Finance Council — Chair: Tim Herken; members Sara Green, Karen Logan, Donna Crook-Rogers, Bart Ernzen, Angela Broaddus, Marie Baranko, John Donovan, Kevin Heim
Parish Staff & Contacts
Lay staff and coordinators keep bulletins, communications, facilities, and faith formation running across both sites.
- Pastor's emergency contacts — Sue Griffee (913-773-8342), Rita Herken (913-647-0312)
- Bulletin / Mass Intentions / Website / Facebook point of contact — Kim Sachse (913-775-0690, [email protected])
- Parish Hall Coordinator (St. Joseph of the Valley) — Linda Oertel (913-651-3873)
- Parish Hall Coordinator (St. Lawrence) — Sara Green (913-426-3022)
- Bookkeeping inquiries — Sara Green
Contact Information
The parish has two physical church sites but a single mailing address, rectory, and email inbox.
- St. Joseph of the Valley Church — 31151 207th Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048
- St. Lawrence Church — 211 West Riley Street, Easton, KS 66020
- Mailing Address — P.O. Box 129, Easton, KS 66020
- Rectory Phone — (913) 773-5712
- Email — [email protected]
- Pastor Email — [email protected]
- Facebook — 'St. Joseph – St. Lawrence Parish (Easton)'
Online Resources & Links
The parish website gathers links to the Vatican, USCCB, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Catholic Charities, the Accokeek Foundation, EWTN Catholic Radio, the Catechism, daily-prayer sites, and livestreamed Masses from neighboring parishes for those unable to attend in person.
- Official website: http://www.sjslparish.org/
- Facebook: 'St. Joseph – St. Lawrence Parish (Easton)'
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas — www.archkck.org
- The Leaven (Catholic newspaper) — audio and print editions
- EWTN Catholic Radio and Television
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Neal Stull, SOLTJuly 2007 – Sept. 2009 (preceding and beginning the merger)
Led the planning for the merger with a parishioner committee; passed away September 2009 before the merger year was complete.
- Fr. Richard McDonaldFeb. 2010 – July 2011
Led the combined parish through its first year of operation.
- Fr. Mathew FrancisJuly 2011 – July 2019
Longest-serving pastor of the merged parish.
- Fr. Francis BakyorJuly 2019 – June 2022
- Fr. William McEvoyJuly 2022 – present
Current pastor.
- Fr. A. Grootaers
First resident pastor of St. Joseph of the Valley; served 47 years; Belgian-born; credited with starting the first religious vacation school in a rural parish (1904).
- Fr. Albert Heimanspring 1863
Original organizer of the Catholic congregation at the home of William McGraw.
- Fr. Ambrose Butler1869
Directed construction of the first 14x30-foot church on land donated by 'Yankee' Brown; connected with the Leavenworth Cathedral.
- Fr. Angelus Lingenfelser1986
Native son of the parish who dedicated the Leavenworth County Historical Society historical plaque.