About St. Lawrence · Easton, Kansas
St. Lawrence Catholic Church is a small country parish at 211 West Riley Street in Easton, Kansas (Leavenworth County), part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Since July 1, 2009 it has been formally merged with neighboring St. Joseph of the Valley (Leavenworth) under the name St. Joseph–St. Lawrence Parish, marketed as 'Two Churches, One Parish.' Sunday Mass is celebrated at St. Lawrence in Easton, while the Saturday Vigil and Thursday weekday Mass are held at St. Joseph of the Valley. The parish is served today by Father William McEvoy and supported by a Parish Council, Finance Council, Altar Societies, CCD faith formation, a high-school youth group, and two cemetery committees.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. Lawrence (deacon and martyr)
- Rector
- Father William (Bill) McEvoy
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Lawrence is a small, tight-knit rural parish with roots reaching back to 1878, when the first Mass in Easton was celebrated in a railroad section house. Today it offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — Sunday and weekday Mass, Reconciliation before weekend Masses, CCD faith formation for K–8, a high-school youth group ('Joe & Larry's Jesus Club'), an active Altar Society, two historic cemeteries, and a recently renovated Roman-style sanctuary filled with art and symbols. Because it is now twinned with St. Joseph of the Valley under one pastor and one set of councils, newcomers can worship across two historic country churches within a single, family-sized community.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–5:00 pm (St. Joseph of the Valley, before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 8:30–9:00 am (St. Lawrence, before 9 am Mass)
- 30 minutes before each weekend Mass, or by appointment (call the rectory 913-773-5712)
Parish History
St. Lawrence Parish traces its origin to 1878, when the first Mass in the Easton area was offered by Father William Smith in a railroad section house. Within a year a small frame church had been built for about $1,200, organized by Rev. G. M. Kelly with a lay committee of Michael Hennessey, Peter Boyle, John Warren, and Thos. Sullivan. By 1916 the growing congregation had outgrown the original building, and a larger Roman-style church — designed by H. Brinkman of Emporia and built by Mont J. Green of Manhattan — was dedicated free of debt on April 18, 1917, by Bishop John Ward of Leavenworth.
- Founded 1878 by Rev. G. M. Kelly with the Hennessey/Boyle/Warren/Sullivan committee
- First Mass in Easton said by Father William Smith in a railroad section house
- Original church cost $1,200; converted to a parish hall later in the 20th century
- Current Roman-style church dedicated April 18, 1917, by Bishop John Ward — debt-free
- Old structure torn down in 1972 when a new parish hall was built
The 2009 Merger — Two Churches, One Parish
On July 1, 2009, St. Lawrence and neighboring St. Joseph of the Valley (Leavenworth) formally merged into a single pastoral entity, 'St. Joseph–St. Lawrence Parish,' in response to the shortage of priests in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. For the year prior to the merger, Father Neal Stull, SOLT, and a committee of parishioners planned how to combine Parish Council, Finance Council, and other operations. Father Neal died in September 2009; Father Richard McDonald guided the new parish through its first year. Today both historic churches remain active worship sites under one pastor and one set of councils.
- Merger effective July 1, 2009
- Father Neal Stull, SOLT, led the merger planning (died Sept 2009)
- Father Richard McDonald led the parish Feb 2010 – July 2011
- St. Lawrence keeps its Sunday 9 am Mass; St. Joseph of the Valley keeps the Saturday Vigil and Thursday evening Mass
Renovation of St. Lawrence Church
St. Lawrence Church has been carefully renovated and reopened, with a 'Joyful First Mass' celebrated and a new Ambo blessed by Father Bill in memory of Agnes Kays, whose generosity helped make the project possible. Father McEvoy has authored a self-guided PDF 'Tour of St. Lawrence Church' explaining the symbols, colors, and artwork of the renewed sanctuary — visitors to the parish website can download it to deepen their appreciation of the space.
- New Ambo dedicated in memory of Agnes Kays
- Self-guided PDF tour available on SJSLparish.org
- Regular Mass schedule resumed at the renovated church
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
St. Joseph–St. Lawrence Parish runs a K–8 religious education program, with CCD classes for Grades K–5 on Wednesdays after school and middle-school CCD for Grades 6–8 on Sundays after the 9 am Mass — both at Bertels Hall on the St. Joseph of the Valley campus. The CCD program also prepares students for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. CCD Registration has historically cost $10/child with a $30 family maximum, and the coordinator is Jessica Adelaine (910-987-9291, [email protected]). The parish emphasizes that parents are the first and most important teachers of the faith.
- Coordinator: Jessica Adelaine ([email protected], 910-987-9291)
- Grades K–5 CCD: Wednesdays after school until 5 pm at Bertels Hall
- Grades 6–8 CCD: Sundays after 9 am Mass until 11 am at Bertels Hall
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Registration fee: $10/child, $30 family maximum (2025 cycle)
Youth Group — Joe & Larry's Jesus Club
The high-school youth group, affectionately known as 'Joe & Larry's Jesus Club,' meets Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the St. Lawrence Parish Center. It is led by Thomas Rziha ([email protected]) and Hannah Garstecki ([email protected]). The group gives Easton-area Catholic teens a regular space for fellowship, formation, and fun within the merged parish.
- Sunday 6:00–7:30 pm
- St. Lawrence Parish Center
- Leaders: Thomas Rziha and Hannah Garstecki
Parish Councils & Organizations
Parish life is organized through a Parish Council (which meets at 7 pm in the St. Lawrence Hall as announced) and a Finance Council chaired by Tim Herken. Two Altar Societies — one for St. Lawrence (contact Virginia Mowery) and one for St. Joseph of the Valley — sustain the spiritual and social life of the parishes. The bulletin, website, and Facebook page are coordinated by Kim Sachse. The Sunday Mass and Communion Service announcements are relayed by Kim Sachse; a self-guided tour of St. Lawrence has been written by Father Bill.
- Parish Council (Don Navinsky, Sue Griffee, Jason Nichols, Sharon Wagner, Bob J., Vince Eimer, Jenny Brewster, Beckey, Hannah Garste, Kevin Heim)
- Finance Council – Tim Herken, chair
- St. Lawrence Altar Society – Virginia Mowery
- St. Joseph of the Valley Altar Society
- Bulletin/Mass Intentions/Website/Facebook – Kim Sachse, 913-775-0690
Cemeteries
Because the merged parish inherited two historic properties, it cares for two Catholic cemeteries. The St. Lawrence Cemetery Committee (chair Bernie Brose, 913-773-8334, [email protected]) maintains the parish burial ground in Easton. The St. Joseph of the Valley Cemetery is chaired by Herman Sachse (913-775-3353).
- St. Lawrence Cemetery Committee — Bernie Brose, chair
- Committee members: Bernie Brose, Tim Herken, Karen Logan, Donna Crook-Rogers
- St. Joseph of the Valley Cemetery — Herman Sachse, chair
- SJV Committee: Herman Sachse, Paul DeMaranville, Jason Nichols, Tracy Heim
Parish Staff & Contacts
Day-to-day the parish is led by Father William (Bill) McEvoy, pastor, who can be reached at the rectory (913-773-5712) or by email ([email protected]). Parish communications, the bulletin, and the Facebook page are handled by Kim Sachse. Sue Griffee (913-773-8342) and Rita Herken (913-647-0312) serve as emergency contacts for reaching a priest outside of office hours.
- Pastor: Rev. William McEvoy — [email protected]
- Rectory: 913-773-5712
- Bulletin/Website/Facebook POC: Kim Sachse, 913-775-0690, [email protected]
- Emergency contact (to reach a priest): Sue Griffee 913-773-8342; Rita Herken 913-647-0312
- CCD Coordinator: Jessica Adelaine, 910-987-9291
- Finance Council Chair: Tim Herken
- Parish Hall Coordinators — Sara Green (St. Lawrence), Linda Oertel (St. Joseph of the Valley)
Locations & How to Find Us
St. Lawrence Church stands at 211 West Riley Street, Easton, KS 66020 (Mailing: P.O. Box 129, Easton, KS 66020). Its sister church, St. Joseph of the Valley, is at 31151 207th Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Both are served by the same pastor, staff, and councils, and are within an easy drive of each other in northeast Leavenworth County.
- St. Lawrence – 211 W. Riley St., Easton, KS 66020
- St. Joseph of the Valley – 31151 207th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048
- Mailing: P.O. Box 129, Easton, KS 66020
- Rectory phone: 913-773-5712
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Parishioners are encouraged to prepare for and receive the sacraments through the parish. Reconciliation is offered thirty minutes before each weekend Mass or by appointment; First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation are prepared through the CCD program. Sacramental marriage, anointing of the sick, and emergency pastoral care are coordinated through the rectory, with lay volunteers Sue Griffee and Rita Herken serving as emergency contacts outside office hours.
- Reconciliation before Masses or by appointment
- First Eucharist & Confirmation preparation via CCD
- Matrimony – call the rectory
- Anointing / emergency – call Sue Griffee 913-773-8342 or Rita Herken 913-647-0312
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Smithbefore 1878
Said the first Mass in Easton, in a railroad section house; raised funds on horseback for the original church.
- Rev. G. M. Kelly1878–1881
Organized St. Lawrence Church in 1878 with a lay committee; original church cost $1,200.
- Rev. S. Meehan1885–1887
Pastor per Jones's 'The Trail to Progress'.
- Rev. B. F. Hudson1887–1888
- Rev. Francis Taton1888–1895
- Rev. F. Lydecker1895–1896
- Rev. A. Grootaers1896–1903
Former pastor who sang Solemn High Mass at the 1917 dedication.
- Rev. Ernest Fisher1903–1914
- Rev. H. C. LeherkeJuly–Sept 1915
- Rev. J. LaczhiakSept 1915–Jan 1916
- Rev. KozlowskiJan 1916 for several years
- Rev. James Shaughnessy1979–1981
- Rev. William Haegelin1984–1986
- Rev. Harold Wickey1986–1995
- Rev. Paul E. Hosler1995–1997
- Rev. David Rabe1997–2001
- Rev. John Ayang, SOLT11/2001–07/2007
- Fr. Neal Stull, SOLT07/2007–09/2009
Led the year-long planning for the 2009 merger of St. Joseph of the Valley and St. Lawrence; died September 2009.
- Fr. Richard McDonaldFeb 2010–July 2011
Led the parish through the first year of the merged entity.
- Fr. Mathew FrancisJuly 2011–Jan/July 2019
- Fr. Francis BakyorJuly 2019–June 2022
Reassigned to parochial administrator of Immaculate Conception, Louisburg.
- Fr. William McEvoyJuly 2022–Present
Current pastor; also appointed chaplain of University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth.