About St. Joseph, Ost · Mount Hope, Kansas
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ost (Mount Hope), Kansas is a rural, family-oriented parish of the Diocese of Wichita founded in 1880 by German immigrant settlers and served today by Fr. Bernard X. Gorges. The parish's identity is tightly bound to its parish school: roughly 79% of its registered families are 49 or younger, and St. Joseph Catholic School (K-8 plus preschool) is described by the parish itself as its primary mission of 'Christ Centered Educational Excellence.' The current brick church — built in 1913 — still anchors a community that sits in the farmland outside Wichita and hosts the regional Totus Tuus training week each June.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Bernard X. Gorges
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Joseph, Ost is a tight-knit, multigenerational rural parish where more than four out of every five members are under 50, making it one of the younger Catholic communities in the Diocese of Wichita. Active families can plug into a wide range of formation: parish-school classrooms (K-8 plus preschool), Totus Tuus summer catechesis, OCIA (adults entering the Church), high-school CYM and junior-high JCYM groups with regional retreats and an annual mission trip, plus adult formation tracks like Walking with Purpose, Christ Life, and Theology on Tap.
Mass times at St. Joseph, Ost
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- After the Saturday 4:00 PM Mass
- After all Masses on the first weekend of the month
- Before and after every Mass during Advent and Lent
- By appointment through the parish office (316-444-2210)
Adoration times
- Holy Thursday Adoration in the Parish Hall, 7:30 PM to Midnight
About St. Joseph, Ost
St. Joseph Catholic Church sits in the unincorporated community of Ost, just outside Mount Hope in rural Sedgwick County, Kansas. The parish is part of the Diocese of Wichita and is served by Fr. Bernard X. Gorges together with Office Manager Pam May. Its defining feature is demographic: the parish skews young, with about 42% of members 18 or under and 79% age 49 or younger, which is why the parish describes its central mission as 'Christ Centered Educational Excellence' through its parish school.
- Parish: St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ost, KS
- Parish Office: 13051 E Maple Grove Rd, Mount Hope, KS 67108
- Office Hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Pastor: Fr. Bernard X. Gorges (316-655-9384)
- Office Manager: Pam May
- Diocese: Wichita
History of the Parish
St. Joseph was founded in 1880 by German Catholic immigrants moving west in search of farmland and religious freedom. The first wood-framed church was built that same year, a second wood-framed church followed in 1892 (the original 1880 building was then converted into the parish's first Catholic school), and the present-day brick church replaced it in 1913. A three-level school building was dedicated in 1922 and portions of it are still in use. After a period when the school was operated by Unified School District 267, the district returned the property in 2004 and St. Joseph Catholic School reopened under parish administration that fall, with a gymnasium and additional classrooms added in 2011.
- 1880 — Parish founded and first wood-framed church built by German settlers
- 1892 — Second wood-framed church built; original 1880 church becomes first Catholic school
- 1913 — Current (third) church constructed
- 1922 — Three-level school building dedicated
- 2004 — St. Joseph Catholic School resumes parish operation
- 2011 — Gymnasium and additional classrooms added
Holy Days, Lent, Easter & Other Devotions
St. Joseph follows the standard Catholic liturgical calendar with several locally distinctive devotions. During Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed every Wednesday after the 8:00 AM Mass and every Friday at 6:30 PM, followed by Mass at 6:50 PM. First Confession is celebrated by the parish on the second Sunday of Lent at the close of the Forty Hours Devotion. The Triduum schedule includes a 6:30 PM Holy Thursday Mass with Adoration in the Parish Hall until midnight; Good Friday Confessions at noon and again in the evening, Stations at 3:00 PM, and a 6:30 PM Service; Holy Saturday Confessions and Divine Mercy Chaplet ahead of the 8:30 PM Easter Vigil; and Easter Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM.
- Lenten Stations of the Cross — Wednesdays after 8 AM Mass; Fridays 6:30 PM (Mass at 6:50 PM)
- Forty Hours Devotion — closes the First-Confession Sunday (second Sunday of Lent)
- Holy Thursday — 6:30 PM Mass; Adoration in Parish Hall 7:30 PM–Midnight
- Good Friday — Confessions noon–1 PM and 5:30–6:30 PM; Stations 3 PM; Service 6:30 PM; Confessions 7:30–8:30 PM
- Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday) — Divine Mercy Chaplet 3 PM; Confessions 3:30–4:30 PM; Mass 8:30 PM
- Easter Sunday — 9:00 AM Mass
Sacraments
The parish prepares the sacraments both through its school and through separate parish programs for children not enrolled in St. Joseph Catholic School. Baptism is scheduled through the parish office; First Confession and First Communion are normally received in 2nd grade; Confirmation is offered in 7th grade in line with diocesan policy. Marriage requires at least nine months of registered, active parish membership before preparation begins. Adults seeking full communion participate in OCIA (the restored Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).
- Baptism — register and call the parish office to schedule and meet Fr. Bernie
- First Confession — 2nd grade at SJCS; parish-wide celebration second Sunday of Lent
- First Communion — 2nd grade at SJCS during the school day
- Confirmation — 7th grade; school students prepared during school day; others through Fr. Bernie
- Marriage — 9-month registered/active membership required before preparation; call 9 months ahead
- OCIA — adults journeying toward full communion; contact Fr. Bernie or Marvin Huffman
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion Calls — by request through the parish office
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School is the parish school: 186 students in grades K-8 and a preschool program of 36, taught by a staff led by Principal Liz Charles and School Secretary Stacey Spexarth, with pastoral oversight from Fr. Bernie Gorges. The school building traces its origins to the 1892 wood-framed church repurposed for classrooms, expanded with a dedicated 1922 three-level building and again in 2011 with a new gymnasium and additional classrooms. During the school day, 2nd graders prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion, and 7th graders receive Confirmation preparation, integrating faith formation directly into the academic program. A School Council of parish and area parents advises the principal and pastor.
- Enrollment: 186 students (K-8) and 36 preschoolers
- Principal: Liz Charles
- School Secretary: Stacey Spexarth
- Pastor: Fr. Bernie Gorges
- Council President: Denise Eck
- VP: Stacie Helten; Secretary: Vince Casper; members include Beying, Bretthauer, Goetz, Horsch, Simpson, Weber
- On-site sacrament prep: First Confession/Communion (2nd grade), Confirmation (7th grade)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith formation at St. Joseph runs through the parish school and a parallel set of programs for parishioners of all ages. Adult Faith Formation, OCIA, and small-group tracks such as Theology on Tap, mini retreats, Christ Life, Walking with Purpose, and Kapaun's Men are coordinated through Fr. Bernie and Marvin Huffman. Youth ministry is split between CYM (high school, meeting every Wednesday 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall, September–May) and JCYM (grades 5–8, which uses a stewardship point system to help offset the cost of the Ascend Conference and Totus Tuus camp).
- Adult Faith Formation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Theology on Tap, mini retreats, Christ Life, Walking with Purpose, Kapaun's Men
- CYM (high school): Wednesdays 7 PM, Parish Hall
- JCYM (grades 5–8): stewardship point system toward Ascend / Totus Tuus camp
- Regional youth activities: Region III choir, Clay & TEC retreats, Steubenville, Camp Totus Tuus, March for Life, annual mission trip to New Mexico
Totus Tuus & Summer Programs
Each June St. Joseph, Ost serves as the host site for the Diocese of Wichita's Totus Tuus training week, a ten-day formation gathering for adult missionaries and youth preparing to lead Totus Tuus parish missions across the diocese. The parish's school lunch program and parish community feed and house the team, and parishioners volunteer as kitchen help, host families, and lunch providers. After the training week's Saturday 4:00 PM Mass, the parish hosts a Totus Tuus Family Fun Night — outdoor (weather permitting), with a simple meal, games, and a dance.
- Ten-day Totus Tuus Training Week held in early June
- Volunteer roles: daytime volunteer, host family, team lunch, team meals
- Totus Tuus Family Fun Night after the Saturday 4 PM Mass of training week
- Contact: Fr. Bernie (316-655-9384) and Mitch & Meghan Schwartz
Councils & Organizations
Lay leadership at St. Joseph runs through three councils that advise the pastor and principal on the life of the parish and school. The Pastoral Council is composed of the pastor and representatives from other councils and committees. The Stewardship Council supports the parish's culture of time, talent, and treasure giving. The School Council is made up of school parents from the parish and surrounding area and advises on student and staff needs.
- Pastoral Council
- Stewardship Council
- School Council — Pastor Fr. Bernie Gorges; Principal Liz Charles; Secretary Stacey Spexarth; Council President Denise Eck; VP Stacie Helten; Secretary Vince Casper
- School Council members: Josh Beying, Angela Bretthauer, Matt Goetz, Lakken Horsch, Mitch Simpson, Anthony Weber
Getting Involved & Volunteer Opportunities
The parish publishes a standing list of volunteer roles. Beyond the councils and youth ministry, parishioners are invited to help in the Totus Tuus kitchen during the June training week, to lead or co-lead adult small groups (Theology on Tap, Christ Life, Walking with Purpose, Kapaun's Men), to assist as a sponsor or assistant teacher in OCIA, and to serve as Athletic Coach, Core Team Youth Leader, or Core Team Parent Leader for CYM and JCYM. It is the long-standing custom at St. Joseph for students to begin altar serving in fifth grade and continue through high-school graduation.
- Altar servers begin in 5th grade and continue through high-school graduation
- Adult Choir (practices in the church)
- OCIA prayer warriors, sponsors, and assistant teachers
- Athletic Coach for youth ministry sports
- Core Team Parent Leader and Core Team Youth Leader for CYM/JCYM
- Totus Tuus kitchen, host family, and lunch volunteers
Contact, Directions & Office
Parish office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The office can be reached at 316-444-2210, with an emergency line on Extension 9. The pastor, Fr. Bernard X. Gorges, can be reached directly at 316-655-9384. Driving directions and a parish map are available on the 'Contact Us & Directions' page of sjost.com.
- Address: 13051 E Maple Grove Rd, Mount Hope, KS 67108
- Parish Phone: 316-444-2210 (Emergency Line Ext. 9)
- Pastor: Fr. Bernard X. Gorges — 316-655-9384
- Office Manager: Pam May
- Office Hours: Tue–Thu, 9 AM–3 PM