St. Joseph

Parish Overview and Mission

St. Joseph Catholic Church describes itself as 'a welcoming community united in the Eucharist' that strives to live as disciples of Christ through worship, teaching, and service. The parish's mission statement commits the community to journeying together to eternal life with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and that vision shapes everything from daily Mass schedules to the parish's active faith-formation and outreach programs.

History of St. Joseph Parish

Catholic life in Shawnee began in 1864 through the mission efforts of Father Anton Kuhls, who said Mass in the home of Peter Wertz before supervising construction of a small wood-frame church. Father Rudolph Deustermann was installed as the first resident pastor on July 28, 1868. A fire destroyed the original church on January 6, 1894; parishioner Felix Van Schoelandt rescued three statues that are still venerated today. A succession of pastors built and rebuilt the parish's physical plant, with Father Hugh McDevitt's 1916–1937 pastorate producing most of the present campus. The current circular, Vatican II-style church was dedicated on June 14, 1970, and was extensively renovated and re-blessed by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on March 11, 2018, the parish's 150th anniversary year.

• 1864 — Fr. Anton Kuhls begins mission visits to Catholics in Shawnee Town
• 1868 — Fr. Rudolph Deustermann installed as first resident pastor (July 28)
• 1873 — First parish school built, only five years after founding
• 1894 — First church destroyed by fire on the Feast of the Holy Epiphany (Jan. 6)
• 1906 — 'Old stone church' completed under Fr. Frank Herberichs; parish at ~50 families
• 1916–1937 — Fr. Hugh McDevitt's 21-year pastorate; parish grows from 75 to 200 families
• 1921 — Two-story stone grade school completed
• 1926 — First Mass celebrated in the (third) church on Christmas Day
• 1928 — Bishop Frances Johannes dedicates the third church
• 1968 — Centennial Mass celebrated at Bluejacket Park (Sept. 15)
• 1970 — Present circular church dedicated by Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker (June 14)
• 1993 — 125th anniversary celebrated (July 25)
• 2018 — 150th anniversary; Archbishop Naumann blesses the renovated church (March 11, Laetare Sunday)

Clergy and Parish Staff

The parish is currently pastored by Fr. Nathan Haverland, with Fr. Brent Stull serving as Parochial Vicar. Two deacons — Tom Mulvenon and Mark Mies — assist with liturgy and pastoral care, and Dr. Brian Nelson, D.M.A., directs Music & Liturgy. (Fr. Scott Wallisch, pastor from July 2018, was announced for transfer to Church of the Ascension in Overland Park effective July 1, 2026.) The parish office, located in the Parish Center, is staffed weekdays 8:00 AM–3:30 PM.

• Fr. Nathan Haverland — Pastor
• Fr. Brent Stull — Parochial Vicar
• Deacon Tom Mulvenon (since July 2011)
• Deacon Mark Mies
• Dr. Brian Nelson, D.M.A. — Director of Music & Liturgy
• Melissa Thomas — Director of Operations
• Veronica Quinn — Director of Faith Formation / Christian Formation
• Michal Anne Gillig — Coordinator of Children's Catechesis
• George Berberick — Coordinator of Youth Ministry
• Morgan Heim — Community & Family Ministry Coordinator
• Richard Sulzen — OCIA Coordinator
• Sam Petty — Director of Facilities
• Jill Barrier — Stewardship and Development Coordinator
• Joanne Ohmes / Amy Edler / Kalee Jo Probasco — Business Office & Support

Sacraments

The parish prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Baptism requires a monthly Baptism Prep Class for first-time parents; First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received in 2nd grade using the Faith and Life series from Ignatius Press; Confirmation preparation uses Ascension Press's Chosen curriculum. Weddings require preparation through the parish, Anointing of the Sick can be arranged by calling the parish office, and Annulment inquiries are routed through Deacon Tom Mulvenon.

• Baptism — Prep Class once a month
• Reconciliation (Confession) — Wed and Sat schedule, plus by appointment
• First Communion — Faith and Life series, 2nd grade
• Confirmation — Chosen (Ascension Press), 7th–8th grade
• Marriage — preparation steps on parish website
• Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish office
• Funeral — contact funeral home, which coordinates with the parish
• Annulments — contact Deacon Tom Mulvenon

Faith Formation and Religious Education

The parish runs a full Christian Formation program for children who do not attend St. Joseph Catholic School, with the goal of supporting parents as the primary educators of the domestic Church. Curriculum follows the Faith and Life series (Ignatius Press) for Kindergarten through 6th grade, with Reconciliation & First Communion preparation in 2nd grade and Confirmation preparation in 7th and 8th grades using Chosen (Ascension Press). Non-sacramental years (K, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) meet twice a month on Wednesdays from 6:15–7:30 PM; sacramental years (2nd, 7th, 8th) meet every Wednesday at the same time.

• Religious Education (RE) for parish-school non-attendees, K–8
• Curriculum: Faith and Life (Ignatius Press), K–6
• Confirmation prep: Chosen (Ascension Press), 7th–8th grade
• Wednesdays 6:15–7:30 PM at the school
• Vacation Bible School each summer (recent theme: 'Come Ride with the Saints')
• Coordinator: Michal Anne Gillig (913-248-4581)

OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)

Adults interested in becoming Catholic, or Catholics wishing to complete their sacraments, journey through St. Joseph's OCIA process. The group forms annually for the Easter Vigil; participants are dismissed from the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass before the offertory to meet in the St. Joseph Room in the church basement for reflection on the Gospel and homily, then rejoin their families and friends for the rest of Mass.

• Coordinator: Richard Sulzen ([email protected]; 913-530-9379)
• Cycle culminates at the Easter Vigil
• Meets after dismissal from the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass

Youth and Community Ministries

Beyond Religious Education, the parish maintains a Youth Ministry for middle-school and high-school teens — including a Sunday-evening High School Youth Group that meets at 5:00 PM in the Youth Room — and a Community & Family Ministry that coordinates parish-wide fellowship, parish missions, and family events. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts also meet under the parish's charter.

• Youth Ministry Coordinator: George Berberick (913-631-8923 ext. 4593)
• High School Youth Group (HSYG) — Sundays 5:00 PM in the Youth Room
• Community & Family Ministry — Coordinator Morgan Heim (913-631-8923)
• Boy Scouts / Cub Scouts — contact Steve Williams (913-748-7977)

St. Joseph Catholic School and Early Education Center

St. Joseph Catholic School, located at 11505 Johnson Drive, has been educating children in Shawnee since 1873 — only five years after the parish was founded. The K–8 school is dedicated to a Catholic environment where students realize their unique potentials while learning, living, and modeling Christ's teachings. The Early Education Center (EEC), located at 11525 Johnson Drive, extends that mission to the parish's youngest learners.

• St. Joseph Catholic School — 11505 Johnson Dr., 913-631-7730
• Early Education Center — 11525 Johnson Dr., 913-631-0004
• Principal: Kelcey McCauley
• Assistant Principal: Rosie LeRoy
• EEC Director: Kristan Mora; Assistant Director: Susan Brown
• Mission: 'Rediscover | Renew | Rejoice'
• Curriculum includes Spanish, music, band, art, physical education, technology, and an Achievement Center

Outreach and Support Ministries

St. Joseph carries on a long tradition of lay-led outreach, including a Homebound Ministry that sends trained Eucharistic ministers to bring Communion to parishioners who are temporarily or permanently homebound or in care facilities. The parish also runs VIRTUS training for anyone working with children, supports stewardship and volunteer engagement through its Development Office, and publishes a weekly bulletin and an online calendar to keep parishioners connected.

• Homebound Ministry — contact Diane Drouhard (913-669-7089)
• VIRTUS Training — contact Stephanie Hoffman (913-248-4560)
• Stewardship & Development — Coordinator Jill Barrier
• Weekly bulletin (print and online) and online calendar
• Cursillo — weekly Saturday-morning group
• St. Monica Ministry
• Knights of Columbus (parish council)

Visiting and Getting Involved

New parishioners can register online through the parish website; Mass is livestreamed via StreamSpot for those unable to attend in person. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–3:30 PM, and the Perpetual Adoration Chapel is always open for a visit. Volunteer and stewardship opportunities are listed on the parish website and in a printed ministry brochure available at the Welcome Desk.

• New Parishioner registration: church.stjoeshawnee.org
• Livestreamed Mass via StreamSpot (church.stjoeshawnee.org/news/livestream)
• Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–3:30 PM
• Volunteer brochure at the Welcome Desk
• Capital Campaign currently underway (see parish website)