About St. Mary Queen of Angels · Russell, Kansas
St. Mary Queen of Angels is a Catholic parish in Russell, Kansas, part of the Diocese of Salina. Founded in 1886, it grew from the missionary work of Fr. John Fogarty, the first resident pastor of the diocese, who first celebrated Mass in a local home in 1874. Today the parish worships in a 500-seat church dedicated in June 2007 on the southwest edge of town, and it remains the spiritual home of Russell-area Catholic families together with its mission parish of St. Mary Help of Christians in Gorham.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of Angels
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Elanjimattathil, CMI
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
St. Mary Queen of Angels offers a welcoming, family-oriented Catholic community in the heart of Russell with weekly Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, plus weekday Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Parishioners can grow through parish Bible studies (a Couples Bible Study and a Ladies Bible Study Group), a Men's Faith Group that meets twice a month, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and active liturgical ministries supported by a published rotating ministry schedule. It is also a parish with deep roots — founded in 1886 — and a worship space built for the next generation, dedicated in 2007.
Mass times at St. Mary Queen of Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 7:30 a.m.
- Friday: 7:30 a.m.
- Saturday: 4:30 p.m.
Adoration times
- First Friday: 8:00 a.m. (following the 7:30 a.m. First Friday Mass)
Parish History
St. Mary Queen of Angels traces its origins to 1874, when Father John Fogarty — the first resident pastor of what would become the Diocese of Salina — traveled from Solomon to celebrate Mass in a Russell home. Other priests came periodically until 1886, when the parish's first church was built; it was relocated in 1911 to a site near U.S. Highway 40. A new church was begun in 1931, followed by a rectory (1950) and a hall and religious education wing (1963). Monsignor Michael Moran served from 1945 to 1965. The present 500-seat church was dedicated in June 2007 after a 2005 groundbreaking on the southwest edge of Russell.
- 1874 — First Mass in Russell celebrated by Fr. John Fogarty
- 1886 — First church built
- 1910 — First resident priest assigned
- 1911 — First church moved to a site near U.S. Highway 40
- 1931 — New church groundbreaking
- 1945–1965 — Msgr. Michael Moran serves as pastor
- 1950 — Rectory built
- 1963 — Parish hall and religious education wing built
- 2005 — Groundbreaking for the current church
- June 2007 — New 500-seat church dedicated
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Michael Elanjimattathil, CMI, a member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and can be reached at 785-483-2871 or [email protected].
- Pastor: Fr. Michael Elanjimattathil, CMI
- Parish Secretary: Judy (email: [email protected])
- Parish Office Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday
Mission Parish — Gorham
St. Mary Queen of Angels Parish in Russell is the parent parish of St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Gorham, also part of the Diocese of Salina. Gorham's Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:00 a.m.
- St. Mary Help of Christians Parish – Gorham
- Sunday Mass in Gorham: 8:00 a.m.
Parish Ministries and Groups
Parish life at St. Mary Queen of Angels centers on a small but active network of faith-formation and service groups. Bible studies for couples and ladies, plus a Men's Faith Group, provide ongoing formation, while a Funeral Dinner Committee and parish hall ministry provide practical community support.
- Couples Bible Study — Tuesdays, 2:00 p.m., church conference room
- Ladies Bible Study Group — Tuesday evenings, 7:00 p.m., Education Center classroom (~1 hour)
- Men's Faith Group — 1st and 3rd Sundays, 7:00 p.m. (60–90 minutes)
- Funeral Dinner Committee — Chairman Yvonne Driscoll; Co-Chairman Kathy VonFeldt; Salad Coordinator RCCW Ladies
- Parish Hall reservations — contact parish secretary at 785-483-2871
Liturgical Ministries
The parish runs a published, rotating liturgical-ministry schedule available as PDFs on the website. Schedules are typically published in monthly or multi-week blocks and parishioners are asked to notify the parish office of unavailable dates in advance.
- Hospitality / Ushers / Gifts
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Body and Cup)
- Altar Servers
- Organist, Instrumentalists, and Cantors
- Counters (Sunday collection counters)
- Religious Education Teachers (Preschool – First Grade)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education for children is offered from Preschool through First Grade, with classes on summer break during the summer months. The Education Center classroom in the parish complex hosts the Ladies Bible Study Group during the week.
- Preschool – First Grade Religious Education
- Classes meet in the Education Center classroom
- Summer break in summer
Devotions
Beyond weekday and weekend Masses, the parish keeps a regular Eucharistic Adoration hour following the First Friday Mass and hosts visiting mission appeals annually.
- First Friday Mass: 7:30 a.m.
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration: 8:00 a.m.
- Annual Mission Cooperative Appeal with visiting missionary priest
Parish Bulletin and Communications
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin with Mass intentions and readings, the liturgical-ministry schedule, stewardship updates, and announcements. Bulletins and ministry schedules are available in PDF form on the parish website.
- Weekly bulletin with Mass intentions and readings
- Monthly (or multi-week) Ministry Schedule PDFs
- Stewardship of Treasure / Time and Talent reports
- Birthday and Anniversary wishes for parishioners
Contact and Visit
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email. The office is open four mornings a week. A directions page is available on the parish website for first-time visitors.
- Address: 415 S. Windsor St., Russell, KS 67665
- Phone: 785-483-2871
- Fax: 785-483-4153 (call first to have fax machine set up)
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday
- Website: http://stmaryrussell.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Fogarty1874 (visiting); 1910 (first resident priest)
First resident pastor of the diocese; celebrated the first Russell Mass in a local home in 1874; the first resident priest assigned to the parish was 1910.
- Msgr. Michael Moran1945–1965
Arrived in 1945 and served the parish for twenty years.