About St. Joseph · Waverly, Kansas
St. Joseph Parish in Waverly, Kansas is a small Catholic community at 508 Pearson Avenue that has served the Catholic families of Coffey County since the 1880s. Today it is one of four linked parishes — alongside St. Francis Xavier in Burlington, St. Patrick in Emerald (Williamsburg), and St. Teresa of Avila in Westphalia — served jointly by a single pastor and a shared four-parish office. The parish gathers for Sunday and Wednesday Mass in its historic church, runs CCD religious education for parish children, supports a Young Adult Ministry, and is guided by a Pastoral Council.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. George Rhodes (Parochial Administrator of the four-parish community)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, mission-rooted parish where Sunday Mass at 8:00 am remains the heartbeat of Catholic life in Waverly. Parishioners worship in a church whose walls have served the same Catholic families since 1886, gather for Wednesday evening Mass preceded by a full day of Adoration and Confession, and help form the next generation through the St. Joseph / St. Patrick Religious Education program. With an active Young Adult Ministry and a working Pastoral Council, the parish offers the kind of close-knit stewardship that a small rural community is known for.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30 pm – 5:50 pm
- Sunday 7:30 am – 7:50 am
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Welcome to St. Joseph Parish, Waverly
St. Joseph Catholic Church stands at 508 Pearson Avenue in Waverly, Kansas, where it has anchored the local Catholic community since 1886. The parish is part of a four-parish Catholic community also serving Burlington (St. Francis Xavier), Emerald/Williamsburg (St. Patrick), and Westphalia (St. Teresa of Avila). All four parishes share a single pastor — currently Fr. George Rhodes as Parochial Administrator — and a joint parish office. Visitors are warmly welcomed at Sunday Mass at 8:00 am and at Wednesday evening Mass at 6:00 pm, with confession and adoration offered weekly.
- Address: 508 Pearson Avenue, Waverly, KS 66871
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 am
- Wednesday Mass: 6:00 pm
- Confession: Wed 5:30–5:50 pm; Sun 7:30–7:50 am
- Adoration: Wednesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
History of St. Joseph Parish
Catholic life in the Waverly area began in 1881–1882 when Father Luke LaGierse, O.Carm., of Scipio gathered scattered Catholic families for occasional Mass in area homes. The first written record of St. Joseph Parish dates to June 1886, when Father Joseph Walsh of Scipio formally organized the parish and its founding twenty families. The first church was built in 1886 on McFadden-donated land a few blocks west of the present site. After serving as a mission of St. Francis Xavier in Burlington from 1890 to 1908, the parish received its first resident pastor, Fr. John Haefele, in January 1908. The current Pearson Avenue property was acquired between 1909 and 1913; the church was moved there in October 1915, a tower and bell were added, and the residence was electrified. The 2009 parish hall was built debt-free at a cost of $93,515.37, and the parish's 125th anniversary was marked in 2011 with a crucifix, statue of St. Joseph, and reflection bench placed in the cemetery east of town.
- 1881–1882: Father Luke LaGierse, O.Carm., gathers Catholic families for occasional Mass
- June 1886: Father Joseph Walsh organizes the parish; first church built for $1,591.75
- 1887–1890: Franciscan Fathers of Emporia serve, with Mass monthly for $25
- 1890–1908: Waverly served as a mission of St. Francis Xavier, Burlington
- January 1908: Fr. John Haefele appointed first resident pastor
- 1909–1913: Pearson Avenue property purchased
- October 1915: Church moved to Pearson Avenue; tower and bell added
- 2009: New parish hall completed at $93,515.37, paid in full
- 2011: 125th anniversary celebrated; crucifix and St. Joseph statue placed in cemetery
Founding Catholic Families
The opening pages of the original St. Joseph financial ledger record about twenty founding families who formed the parish in June 1886: Dennis Brynes, John E. O'Neil, Cornelius O'Neil, Ma. Scholefer, Michael Schneider, Michael Dore, Sylvester Harndon, John Doyle, John Holohan, J. Prodt, Daniel McManus, Henry Doyster, Tom Gorsuch, William Hardy, Michael Madden, Edmund McCarthy, George Schlueter, Bush Harrington, Patrick McGrath, Michael McGrath, Jerry Egan, Dan Tompkins, and John Carney.
Faith Formation: Religious Education / CCD
St. Joseph partners with St. Patrick (Emerland) to offer Religious Education classes for parish children each school year. The 2025–26 CCD classes have concluded and will resume in September. Parents and prospective volunteer teachers are asked to contact the parish office and, if serving as teachers or substitutes, to complete Virtus training.
- Religious Education Classes — finish for 2025–26; resume in September
- Contacts: Lindsay Bartlett and Jessica Jones
- Volunteer teachers and substitutes must be Virtus trained — contact the office
Young Adult Ministry
The Young Adult Ministry is an outreach of the four-parish community to parishioners between the ages of 18 and 30. It keeps a mailing list and offers contact with the parish for young adults. Anyone who knows a young adult who would like to be reached, or anyone wishing to volunteer, is invited to contact Angela in the parish office.
- Outreach to parishioners ages 18–30
- Mailing list and outreach contacts
- Volunteers welcome — contact Angela in the office
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council is made up of elected parishioners who advise the pastor on the needs of parishioners, on parish structures, and on the planning of parish events. The parish recently welcomed new council members Marcus Stice, Perry Chapman, and Lisa Litch, while thanking rotating-off members John Lichtenauer, Liz Collins, and Terry Arb for their stewardship.
- Newest members: Marcus Stice, Perry Chapman, Lisa Litch
- Rotating off: John Lichtenauer, Liz Collins, Terry Arb
Parish Office & Stewardship
All four parishes share a single church office located at 214 Juniatta Street in Burlington. Office hours are 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Tuesday through Friday. Mailed contributions for St. Joseph can be sent to the 4 Parish Church Office, c/o St. Joseph, 214 Juniatta, Burlington, KS 66839.
- Office Phone: (620) 364-5671
- Office Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Mailing address: 4 Parish Church Office, c/o St. Joseph, 214 Juniatta, Burlington, KS 66839
Sacramental Emergencies
For sacramental emergencies such as Anointing of the Sick after hours, the parish directs the faithful to contact Fr. Rhodes directly at 620-757-6824.
- After-hours sacramental emergencies: 620-757-6824
- Hospitalizations: notify the office directly
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Luke LaGierse, O.Carm.1881–1882 (mission visits from Emerald)
Carmelite from Scipio; first gathered Catholic families for occasional Mass.
- Fr. Joseph (or John) Walsh1886–1887
Resident pastor of St. Patrick's, Emerald; formally organized St. Joseph Parish.
- Franciscan Fathers of Emporia1887–1890
Said Mass once a month for a $25 stipend.
- Fr. John A. Haefele1908–
First resident pastor of Waverly; also had charge of Homewood as a mission.
- Fr. Michael Morarity
Brought the Center Valley rural school building onto the parish grounds as a parish hall.
- Fr. Michael Hawkins
Listed among later pastors.
- Fr. Marianand Mendem
Most recent pastor named on the parish history page.