About St. Patrick · Galena, Kansas
St. Patrick Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish in Galena, Kansas, in the extreme southeast corner of the state about seven miles west of Joplin, Missouri. It belongs to the Diocese of Wichita and today is served by Father Chris Martin as one of the Cherokee County Kansas Catholic Parishes, sharing pastoral care with St. Joseph in Baxter Springs, St. Bridget in Scammon, and St. Rose of Lima in Columbus. The parish traces its roots to 1879 in the nearby town of Empire City, has been rebuilt from fire twice in its history, and was most recently beautifully renovated in late 2017 with a restored altar blessed by Bishop Carl A. Kemme.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Father Chris Martin (Reverend Christopher J. Martin)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a tight-knit rural Catholic community of about 47 families and 87 individual Catholics where everyone knows one another. Members are proud of their 1879 roots in Empire City, the rebuilt brick church of 1908, and the beautifully restored sanctuary rededicated by Bishop Kemme in December 2017 — all kept alive across generations by the sacrifices of parishioners like the children who sold bricks after the 1937 fire. As part of the Cherokee County Kansas Catholic Parishes cluster, visitors and newcomers are welcomed into an active worship life with regular Sunday and Wednesday Masses and the sacraments by appointment with the pastor.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass
- By Appointment
History of St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick's story begins in 1879 in Empire City, then a separate town, on land sold by Bishop Louis Fink of Leavenworth to John Hennessy of Wichita for one dollar. The earliest frame church and priest's house stood next door, occupied by Father Robert Loeher, with a school taught by Sisters living in the home of Empire Town Company president Patrick Murphy. The parish moved into Galena around 1908, when the current two-story church and school were built at 3rd and Galena Avenue for $15,000. Three Sisters of Mercy taught there until the school closed in 1922.
- 1877: ground surveyed by Empire Town Company
- 1879: parish founded at Empire City
- 1898: bells dedicated to St. Patrick by Father J.E. Chapuis
- 1908: two-story church and school built at 3rd and Galena Avenue
- 1922: parish school closes
- 1937: church destroyed by fire and rebuilt by parishioners
- 1953: new parish hall added
- Early-mid 1980s: previous renovation
- 2017: major interior renovation and restored altar blessed by Bishop Kemme
The 1937 Fire and Rebuilding
After a minor fire in 1913, disaster struck again in August 1937 when St. Patrick's was completely destroyed, leaving only the brick walls. The community rebuilt through the efforts of the children who sold bricks and the parents who did much of the actual construction under pastor Father Forrest Barker. A new parish hall was added in 1953 to serve the growing rural congregation.
The 2017 Renovation
In 2017 the entire church was refreshed. The drop-down ceiling was replaced with drywall and decorative beams, walls repainted, pews refinished, lighting upgraded, carpet removed, and the original hardwood floors restored. A larger crucifix now hangs above the tabernacle, and a restored reredos and altar — recovered from a warehouse in St. Louis, Missouri — were installed just before Thanksgiving. Bishop Carl A. Kemme blessed the renovated sanctuary at Mass on Saturday, December 9, 2017. As Father Jeremy Huser said at the time: 'My hope is that when people come into the church, their hearts and minds are lifted up to the Lord. It's a very peaceful and prayerful place to encounter the Lord.'
- Drywall and decorative beams replace drop-down ceiling
- Original hardwood floors restored
- Refinished pews and upgraded lighting
- Larger crucifix above the tabernacle
- Restored reredos and altar from St. Louis, MO warehouse
- Blessed by Bishop Carl A. Kemme on December 9, 2017
Clergy and Pastoral Succession
St. Patrick's has been served by a succession of pastors going back to Father Robert Loeher in Empire City in the 1870s–80s. The current pastor is Father Chris Martin (Reverend Christopher J. Martin), who also shepherds the other Cherokee County Kansas parishes. Before him, Father Jeremy Huser — a native of Fredonia, Kansas, ordained May 28, 2011 — served as pastor from 2017 and led the major 2017 renovation before being reassigned in 2024.
- Father Robert Loeher — first priest at Empire City
- Father J.E. Chapuis — dedicated the bells in 1898
- Father William Rice — funeral in Galena Heights, March 13, 1908
- Father Forrest Barker — pastor during 1937 fire and rebuilding
- Father Chrysostom Saw Ah Maung (Fr. Chrys) — celebrated 40th ordination anniversary at St. Patrick in 2014
- Father Jeremy Huser — pastor 2017–2024, led the renovation
- Father Chris Martin — current pastor
Cherokee County Catholic Parishes Cluster
St. Patrick in Galena is one of four parishes in the Cherokee County Kansas Catholic cluster, all sharing pastoral care under Father Chris Martin. The cluster also includes St. Joseph in Baxter Springs, St. Bridget in Scammon, and St. Rose of Lima in Columbus. The cluster is served by a single pastor because of the small, rural nature of the communities.
- St. Patrick — Galena
- St. Joseph — Baxter Springs
- St. Bridget — Scammon
- St. Rose of Lima — Columbus
Parish Demographics
According to the Diocese of Wichita parish directory, St. Patrick is a small but active community of about 47 families and 87 individual Catholics in extreme southeast Kansas, just seven miles west of Joplin, Missouri.
- Approximately 47 families
- Approximately 87 individual Catholics
- Located about 7 miles west of Joplin, Missouri
Visit and Contact
The church is located at 307 Galena Avenue in Galena, Kansas. The mailing address is PO Box 68, Scammon, KS 66773, reflecting the cluster's shared administration. The parish office can be reached at 620-429-2639. Visitors are warmly welcomed at Sunday Mass and are encouraged to introduce themselves to Father Chris Martin after the liturgy.
- Address: 307 Galena Avenue, Galena, KS 66739
- Mailing: PO Box 68, Scammon, KS 66773
- Phone: 620-429-2639
- Web: ckcocatholics.org/saint-patrick-galena-kansas/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Robert Loeher
Original priest residing in the priest's house next to the frame church at Empire City.
- Father J.E. Chapuis1898
Pastor at Empire City who dedicated the church bells to St. Patrick.
- Father William Rice1908
Conducted a funeral at St. Patrick's in Galena Heights on March 13, 1908, marking the move from Empire City.
- Father Forrest Barker1937
Pastor during the August 1937 fire and the subsequent rebuilding by the children and parents.
- Father Chrysostom Saw Ah Maung (Fr. Chrys)
Celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Patrick, Galena, on the 40th anniversary of his ordination in 2014.
- Father Jeremy Huser2017–2024
Native of Fredonia, KS, ordained May 28, 2011. Led the 2017 renovation; simultaneously pastor of St. Joseph Baxter Springs, St. Bridget Scammon, and St. Rose of Lima Columbus.
- Father Chris Martin2024–present
Current pastor; also serves St. Joseph Baxter Springs and the other Cherokee County Kansas parishes.