About St. Margaret Mary · Wichita, Kansas
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church is a bilingual Catholic parish in south Wichita, Kansas, belonging to the Diocese of Wichita. Founded in 1954 and named for the French Visitation mystic Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (feast day October 16), the parish serves a richly diverse community — as of Christmas 2014 approximately 65% Hispanic, 20% Vietnamese, and 20% U.S.-born of multiple generations — and celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish campus at 2701 S. Pattie includes St. Margaret Mary School (K–8), and the church is currently undergoing a major expansion that will add a transept, a bell tower, and roughly 225 additional seats to accommodate weekend Masses that regularly overflow the existing 300-seat sanctuary.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
- Rector
- Rev. Ned Blick
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Margaret Mary is one of the most ethnically diverse parishes in the Diocese of Wichita, with vibrant English and Spanish choirs and Mass celebrated in both languages every weekend. It combines a parish school (K–8) that has served Wichita children since 1955 with ministries for youth, adult catechesis, sacramental preparation in English and Spanish, and daily Eucharistic Adoration. Even as it grows — overflowing its 300-seat sanctuary on most weekends — the parish keeps a tight, multigenerational community feel rooted in worship, education, fellowship, and service.
Mass times at St. Margaret Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 7:45am (15 minutes before daily Mass)
- Saturday: during all Masses
- Sunday: during all Masses
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday: 8:00am – 10:00pm
- First Friday of each month: 8:00am Friday through 11:59pm Saturday
Parish History
Founded in January 1954 at 2448 S. Washington in south Wichita, the parish broke ground on its present South Pattie site on June 11, 1954, blessed the cornerstone on the Feast of Saint Margaret Mary (October 16), and celebrated its first Mass on Christmas Eve. Bishop Mark K. Carroll dedicated the church, community room, kitchen, and eight classrooms in April 1955. The parish grew rapidly through the mid-1960s, welcomed Vietnamese Catholics beginning in the mid-1970s, and added a Spanish Mass in 1999 under Fr. Dwight Birket. A tornado on May 3, 1999 severely damaged the church roof and surrounding homes, prompting a parish-wide cleanup. Today St. Margaret Mary is one of the most ethnically diverse parishes in the Diocese of Wichita.
- Founded January 1954 at 2448 S. Washington
- Cornerstone blessed October 16, 1954 (Feast of St. Margaret Mary)
- First Mass on Christmas Eve 1954
- Dedicated April 1955 by Bishop Mark K. Carroll
- Spanish Mass began 1999 (Fr. Dwight Birket, by request of Bishop Gerber)
- Tornado damage May 3, 1999
St. Margaret Mary School
St. Margaret Mary Catholic School opened in the fall of 1955 with 378 K–8 students under founding principal Sister Rosella Kraus, ASC, and the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ. The school pioneered the parochial parent–teacher conference concept, expanded in 1957 with four classrooms, a library, and a teachers' conference room, and reached a peak enrollment of 525 students in the mid-1960s. Today it serves roughly 190 students in K–8 plus Pre-K, with a bilingual staff and programs in religion, technology, athletics, and the arts.
- Opened Fall 1955 — first staffed by Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ
- First principal: Sister Rosella Kraus, ASC
- Pioneer of the parochial parent–teacher conference concept
- K–8 plus Pre-K, ~190 students (2014 figures)
- 1957 addition: four classrooms, library, teachers' conference room
- School address: 2635 S. Pattie, Wichita, KS 67216 — (316) 267-4911
School Staff & Leadership
Pastor Rev. Ned Blick and Parochial Vicar Rev. Juan Garza provide spiritual leadership for the school, working with Principal Mr. Kylan Collins, Administrative Assistant Mrs. Adriana Delgado, Title I teacher Mr. Hector Arzola, Athletic Director Mr. Craig Schmidt, and a faculty of classroom, resource, music, art, library, PE/technology, and Pre-K teachers. A School Advisory Council supports the pastor and principal in governance.
- Pastor: Rev. Ned Blick
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Juan Garza
- Principal: Mr. Kylan Collins
- Athletic Director: Mr. Craig Schmidt
- Title I: Mr. Hector Arzola
- Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Adriana Delgado
- Pre-K: Ms. Samantha Marshall
- Kindergarten: Ms. Maria Ehmke
- 1st Grade: Ms. Brittany Schaub
- 2nd Grade: Ms. Kaitlyn Stallard
- 3rd Grade: Ms. Carmen Abellanas
- 4th Grade: Mrs. Linda Morgan
- 5th Grade: Mrs. Kate Martin
- 6th (MS Religion/SS): Mrs. Kathy Johansen
- 7th (MS ELA): Mrs. Heather Corti
- 8th (MS Math/Science): Mrs. Kim Peitz
- Resource: Mrs. Sara Radell
- Art/Library/Resource: Ms. Ellie Frey
- PE/Technology: Mr. Andre Pina
- Religion, Library & Art: Ms. Ellie Frey
- School Counselor: Mrs. Lauren Rust
- Bookkeeper: Ms. Alma Prado
- Lunch Director: Mrs. Laura Hand
- Foster Grandparent: Ms. Vickie Johnson
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation at St. Margaret Mary includes sacramental preparation in both English and Spanish, an active Youth Group for teens ages 14–18, and a Confirmation program with enrollment each fall. Adult Catholics seeking Confirmation or First Eucharist prepare alongside those in RCIA.
- Youth Group (ages 14–18): Sundays 2:00pm, Parish Community Center (Gym)
- Confirmation enrollment: fall, after all weekend Masses; students must be 14
- Confirmation classes: begin last Wednesday of August or first Wednesday of September at 6:30pm
- Spanish Sacramental Prep: Fridays 6:00pm–7:30pm with Hna. Esther Ramirez
- English Sacramental Prep: Mondays 5:30pm–6:30pm
- Adult sacramental preparation offered alongside RCIA
Sanctuary Expansion & Building Project
Because weekend Masses regularly exceed 400 worshippers in a 300-seat sanctuary, the parish broke ground on March 6 for a major expansion designed by architect Randy Cook. The project adds a transept on the east and west ends of the sanctuary (giving the church a cruciform shape), approximately 225 additional seats, an interior renovation, and a new bell tower intended to make the building more identifiably a church from the street. The tower will also house the sprinkler system and other mechanical equipment.
- Groundbreaking: March 6 (year reported by the diocese)
- Architect: Randy Cook
- New transept on east and west ends of sanctuary (cruciform shape)
- Approximately 225 additional seats
- New bell tower and interior renovation
- Capacity today: 300; typical weekend Mass attendance: 400+
Parish Council and Stewardship
Parish governance is supported by a Parish Council and a School Advisory Council, both working with the pastor. The parish maintains a Stewardship Way of Life program, with annual renewal forms published on the parish website.
- Parish Council
- School Advisory Council (reports directly to the pastor)
- Stewardship Way of Life renewal
Contact and Visiting
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church is located at 2701 S. Pattie St., Wichita, KS 67216, in the Diocese of Wichita. The parish office can be reached at (316) 262-1821 (fax 316-262-4057). The school sits at 2635 S. Pattie and can be reached at (316) 267-4911. The parish website links to its Facebook, Instagram, calendar, and YouTube channels.
- Parish: 2701 S. Pattie St., Wichita, KS 67216 — (316) 262-1821
- Fax: (316) 262-4057
- School: 2635 S. Pattie, Wichita, KS 67216 — (316) 267-4911
- School Fax: (316) 267-1707
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Wichita
- Official site: https://smmwichita.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert Blanpied1954–1963
Founding pastor at the original S. Washington location and present church
- Msgr. Vincent Hogan1963–1967
- Fr. Edward Steinberger1967–1970
- Fr. Ivan Eck1970–1981
- Fr. James Hoagland1981–1984
- Fr. Leo Kerschen1984–1987
- Fr. Charles O'Connor1987–1993
- Fr. Dwight Birket1993–2000
Native son of the parish; began the Spanish Mass in 1999 at Bishop Gerber's request
- Fr. Scott Nguyen2000–2003
Vietnamese community presence strengthened during his pastorate
- Fr. Richard Stuchlik2003–2010
- Fr. Eric M. Weldon2010–
Still listed as a sacramental-prep contact on the parish website
- Fr. Ned Blick
Current pastor; leading the sanctuary expansion and bell-tower project