About St. Patrick, Holy Family Parish · Florence, Kansas
St. Patrick in Florence is one of the four worship sites of Holy Family Parish, a consolidated Catholic parish serving Marion County, Kansas under the Diocese of Wichita. Founded in 1877, it is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the state, and today it hosts the parish's Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM. The present church building, whose cornerstone was laid in 1922 and blessed in 1923, still houses the original 600 lb. bell added in the late 1880s. Holy Family Parish was officially named on July 1, 1993, after five Marion County parishes were consolidated beginning in mid-1991.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Reverend Isaac J. Coulter
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Patrick, Florence welcomes visitors and parishioners into one of the oldest Catholic communities in Kansas, where the same 600 lb. bell from the 1880s still rings for worship in a church blessed in 1923. As the Saturday Vigil Mass site for Holy Family Parish, it serves Catholics from Florence and across Marion County with weekly Eucharist, the Rosary before every Mass, and access to the parish's wider sacramental life — including regular Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, Baptism, Marriage preparation, PSR (Parish School of Religion), and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). Small-town fellowship thrives here through the parish's Holy Family Groups, where 4–6 families meet monthly in a home with the pastor for a meal, friendship, and faith sharing.
Mass times at St. Patrick, Holy Family Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before all Masses (other than 7 am daily Masses) for 20 minutes
- After 7 am daily Mass (for 20 minutes)
Adoration times
- Pilsen: Tuesday 5:00 PM to Wednesday 1:00 AM
- Tampa: Wednesday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Marion: Thursday 6:00 AM to Friday 8:00 AM
St. Patrick, Florence — A Historic Worship Site of Holy Family Parish
St. Patrick is one of four worship locations of Holy Family Parish in Marion County, Kansas. While the parish office is based in Marion and the consolidated parish takes the name "Holy Family," St. Patrick in Florence remains its oldest congregation, with roots stretching back to 1877. Today the Florence church is the parish's Saturday Vigil Mass site at 5:00 PM, offering Catholic faithful in and around Florence a weekly Sunday-anticipating liturgy in a building blessed in 1923.
- Parish founded 1877; one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Kansas
- Located at 201 W. 8th St., Florence, KS 66851
- Hosts the parish's Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM
- Part of Holy Family Parish, Marion County, since the 1993 consolidation
Parish History
The first Catholic Church in Florence was blessed and opened at the corner of 3rd and Doyle Streets in 1877, the same era the town itself was being established as the county seat of Marion County. In the late 1880s a 600 lb. bell was added to that original building. By 1913, with the congregation growing, the property between 8th and 9th Streets on Marion Street was purchased as a new site; the old church building was physically moved there and continued in use. In 1922 the cornerstone for the present church was laid, and the new building was blessed in 1923. A new rectory followed in 1952. After decades of standing vacant, the rectory was torn down in August 2009.
- 1877 — First Catholic Church blessed at 3rd and Doyle Streets
- Late 1880s — 600 lb. bell added
- 1913 — New property purchased; old church building moved to the new lot
- 1922 — Cornerstone laid for present church
- 1923 — Present church blessed
- 1952 — New rectory built
- 2009 — Vacant rectory torn down
- Mid-1991 — Five Marion County parishes consolidated
- July 1, 1993 — Parish officially named 'Holy Family Parish'
Architecture & Heritage Features
The present St. Patrick church is the third physical structure of the parish (the first was the 1877 building, the second was the same first building after being relocated to the Marion Street lot in 1913). Its cornerstone was laid in 1922 and the building was blessed in 1923. A piece of living heritage — the 600 lb. bell added to the original church in the late 1880s — was preserved and moved into the present church, where it is still used.
- Cornerstone laid 1922; church blessed 1923
- Original 600 lb. bell (late 1880s) still in use
- Former 1913–1952 rectory torn down August 2009
Sacraments & Faith Formation
The parish coordinates sacramental preparation and ongoing faith formation through its central office. Families interested in Baptism, Marriage, the Parish School of Religion (PSR), or the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) are invited to contact the parish office directly for information and scheduling.
- Baptism — contact the church office
- Marriage — contact the church office
- PSR (Parish School of Religion) — contact the church office
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — contact the church office
- Confession — before/after Masses (see schedule)
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Parish Life & Community
Across Marion County, Holy Family Parish serves 284 families and 573 individual Catholics. The parish's signature small-group program, Holy Family Groups, gathers 4 to 6 families in a home once a month for a shared meal with Father present — a simple, durable structure aimed at building communion, friendship, support, and accountability among parishioners.
- 284 registered families; 573 individual Catholics
- Holy Family Groups: 4–6 families meet monthly in a home with Fr. Coulter
- Goal: communion, friendship, support, guidance, accountability
- Contact the parish office to join a group or schedule a meeting with Father
Staff & Leadership
Holy Family Parish is led by Reverend Isaac J. Coulter, Pastor, supported by Heidi Lydic as Parish Life Coordinator. The parish office staff coordinates sacramental preparation, the bulletin, scheduling, and the Holy Family Groups program from the Marion office.
- Pastor — Rev. Isaac J. Coulter
- Parish Life Coordinator — Heidi Lydic
- Phone: 620-382-3369
- Email: [email protected]
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Patrick's church building stands at 201 W. 8th St., Florence, KS 66851, between 8th and 9th Streets on Marion Street. The parish mailing address and administrative office are located a short drive north in Marion at 415 N. Cedar St., Marion, KS 66861. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM; the office is also available by appointment.
- Church address: 201 W. 8th St., Florence, KS 66851
- Mailing / office address: 415 N. Cedar St., Marion, KS 66861
- Phone: 620-382-3369
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://hfpmc.org/
- Office hours: Tue & Thu 7:30 AM–1:00 PM and 2:00–4:00 PM
Diocese of Wichita
St. Patrick, Florence and its sister sites belong to the Diocese of Wichita. The diocese maintains the official parish directory listing for Holy Family – Marion Co. with current Mass times, adoration, confession, and contact information.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Wichita
- Listed in diocese parish directory as 'Holy Family – Marion Co.'
- Clergy assignments published annually by the diocese