About St. Patrick · Scranton, Kansas
St. Patrick Catholic Church in Scranton, Kansas is a small, historic rural parish in Osage County that is twinned with St. Patrick Catholic Church in neighboring Osage City, sharing one pastor and pastoral staff between the two worship sites. The Scranton church sits at 400 East Bracken Street in a town whose Catholic roots reach back to 1855, when Irish and German pioneer settlers first celebrated Mass in private homes. Today's parish family — which calls itself the 'Patricians of St. Patrick's' — is centered on the Holy Eucharist, the sacraments, prayer, and unconditional service, and it belongs to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
- Established
- 1855 (parish roots); 1876 (first Scranton church built); 1917 (cornerstone of present-era church laid)
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Fr. Raymond May (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Patrick Scranton is a small, multigenerational parish with deep Irish roots in Osage County and a brand-new church dedicated in 2018 on the same historic site where Catholics have worshipped since 1876. Worshippers gather for a Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass, regular Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays and First Fridays, and a full sacramental life that includes weekly Religious Education, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, Confirmation, a Sunday morning youth group, RCIA, a Knights of Columbus council, and active Altar Society. Pastoral care extends beyond the church to a monthly Mass at Brookside Manor in Overbrook and Communion to the Homebound — a parish where everyone is known and the bell from the original 1878 frame church still hangs in the steeple.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:15–5:45 PM — St. Patrick, Scranton (before the 6:00 PM Mass)
- Saturday 4:15–4:45 PM — St. Patrick, Osage City (before the 5:00 PM Mass)
- 1st Saturdays 8:30–9:00 AM — St. Patrick, Osage City
- Anytime by appointment: 785-528-3424
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:00–5:50 PM — St. Patrick, Scranton
- 1st Friday 5:00–5:50 PM — St. Patrick, Scranton (followed by 6:00 PM Mass)
- 1st Saturday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (to 4:45 PM with Mass) — St. Patrick, Osage City
- Friday & Sunday 7:15–7:45 AM — St. Patrick, Osage City
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Patrick Catholic Church, Scranton is one half of a single combined rural parish — 'St. Patrick Catholic Churches, Osage & Scranton, KS' — that shares one pastor, office staff, bulletin, and web presence between two historic church buildings in Osage County. The parish's own self-description calls its members 'the Patricians of St. Patrick's parish family,' grounded and united in their love of Jesus Christ and seeking to encounter God in the Holy Eucharist. The mission statement, published prominently on the parish website, commits the community to sharing the Good News of Christ through the liturgy, the sacraments, prayer, and unconditional service to all humankind.
- Tagline: 'Growing as Disciples of Jesus, Making Disciples for Jesus!'
- Mission: encounter God in the Holy Eucharist and share the Good News through liturgy, the sacraments, prayer, and service
- Single parish served across two worship sites (Scranton and Osage City)
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
History
Catholic settlers arrived in the Scranton area by 1855, the first Mass was celebrated around 1867 in Michael Luby's home, and a frame church was built on the present site in 1876 on land donated by Henry Throop and deeded to Bishop L.M. Fink of Leavenworth for one dollar. The present-era Gothic Revival church cornerstone — engraved 'Saint Patrick Church A.D. 1917' with a Celtic cross and shamrock — was laid by Bishop Ward on October 2, 1917, and the building was completed in 1918 at a cost of about $20,000. The 20th century brought a 1964 gas-line explosion and a 1974 storm that together wrecked the interior and shattered windows, but the 1878 bell and the two 1941 Towle stained-glass windows survived both calamities. In the 2000s, failed foundation repairs led the parish to choose between building new and dismantling; under pastors Fr. Kiplagat (2012), Fr. Bowers (2016), and Fr. Nusi (2018), the parish raised the funds, broke ground on May 14, 2018, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann dedicated the new church on December 16, 2018 — exactly 150 years and 101 years after the parish's first Mass and cornerstone. The old church was torn down on September 11, 2019.
- 1855: Catholic pioneers settle in the Scranton area
- c. 1867: First Mass, in Michael Luby's home, by Fr. Defouri
- 1876: Frame church built on the present site (seated 120, enlarged to ~200 in 1878)
- 1885–1889: Parochial school serves Catholic children during coal-mining boom
- 1916 (May 21): Last Mass in the old frame church; building committee commissioned
- 1917 (Oct. 2): Granite cornerstone laid by Bishop Ward of Leavenworth
- 1918: Gothic church completed (100 × 36 ft, steeple cross 125 ft, cost ~$20,000)
- 1964 (Aug. 9): Gas-line explosion wrecks interior
- 1974 (Aug. 25): Severe storm destroys windows
- Oct. 2017: 150th anniversary of parish / 100th anniversary of church celebrated
- May 14, 2018: Groundbreaking for new church
- Dec. 16, 2018: New church dedicated by Archbishop Joseph Naumann
- Sept. 11, 2019: Old church razed
- Plans ongoing: New parish hall
Worship Schedule & Locations
Because the Scranton and Osage City church buildings share one pastor and one bulletin, Mass and Adoration are intentionally staggered across the two sites so the pastor can be present at both. In Scranton, the parish gathers weekly for Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM and on Tuesdays (and First Fridays) at 6:00 PM; in Osage City, Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:00 PM, Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM, and Wednesday–Friday weekday Masses at 8:00 AM (with an exception on First Fridays).
- St. Patrick, Scranton — 400 East Bracken Street, Scranton, KS 66537
- St. Patrick, Osage City — 303 South Sixth Street, Osage City, KS 66523
- Rectory — 505 Lord Street, Osage City, KS 66523
- Parish Office (mailing address): 309 South Sixth Street, Osage City, KS 66523-1356
Sacraments
St. Patrick publishes a full description of the seven sacraments online and in the bulletin, with practical, parish-level instructions. Baptism requires a pre-baptismal meeting with the priest; Marriage requires contacting the parish office at least six months before the wedding; First Reconciliation and First Communion are prepared through Religious Education; Confirmation is a two-year program celebrated every other year in the Fall; Anointing of the Sick is available for the ill, elderly, or anyone facing surgery; and Holy Orders inquiries are welcomed through the office.
- Baptism — pre-baptismal meeting required; godparents must be confirmed, practicing Catholics
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — one prior year of Religious Education required
- Confirmation — two-year Religious Education program; celebrated every other year (Fall)
- Marriage — six months' notice; meet with Fr. Ray through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — call office 785-528-3424 or Fr. Ray 620-803-2395
- Holy Orders — contact the parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Patrick runs the full life-span. Children in Pre-K through 6th grade gather on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–7:15 PM for Religious Education; the parish also operates a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Level I atrium for ages 3–6, using the Montessori style to introduce children to the articles of the altar, liturgical colors, sacraments, parables, the mysteries, biblical geography, and practical life skills. Older students journey through two years of Confirmation preparation, and the parish RCIA team (Michelle Giesy, Lori Puckett, John & Carolyn Davied) leads inquiring adults toward reception into the Church each Easter Vigil. Adult Formation and a Sunday Morning Youth Group for grades 8–12 round out the offerings.
- Scranton RE: PreK–6th grade, Wednesdays 6:00–7:15 PM (Coordinator: Monica Greenwood)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I (ages 3–6) — Montessori-style atrium
- Confirmation — two-year program every other Fall
- RCIA — Thursdays 6:30 PM; team Michelle Giesy, Lori Puckett, John & Carolyn Davied
- Sunday Morning Youth Group — grades 8–12 (Adam & Beth Burnett)
- Adult Faith Formation
Music & Liturgical Ministries
The parish is known for its strong liturgical tradition at both sites. Music is led by Music Director George Alexander (with Linda Endecott, Thomas Mock, Tom Nordling, Mike Handly, and others serving as cantors), and the parish actively recruits Liturgical Ministers of Hospitality, Rosary Leaders, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Sacristans, Servers, Cantors, and Musicians. Training is provided when necessary; the weekly bulletin lists each family's liturgical assignments (servers, cantors, lectors, EMHCs, sacristans, ministers of hospitality).
- Music Director: George Alexander (785-549-3287)
- Cantor rotation across both church buildings
- Recruiting: Lectors, EMHCs, Servers, Sacristans, Ministers of Hospitality, Rosary Leaders, Musicians, Communion to the Homebound
- Knights of Columbus (Thomas Nordling) supports parish events and vocations
Parish Life & Outreach
Beyond the liturgy, St. Patrick operates active parish-life and outreach ministries. The Scranton and Osage City Altar Societies meet monthly for fellowship, potluck meals, and parish projects; the parish runs a booth at the Carbondale Farmers Market on Wednesday afternoons as a fund-raiser for the planned new parish hall; and pastoral care reaches beyond the parish boundaries to a monthly Mass at Brookside Manor in Overbrook (4th Wednesday at 2:00 PM) and a Communion-to-the-Homebound ministry. The parish also encourages legacy giving through the Archdiocesan Office of Stewardship and Development.
- Altar Societies (Osage City and Scranton)
- Knights of Columbus
- Fellowship Coffee & Donuts after Mass (St. Brigid Hall)
- Monthly Mass at Brookside Manor, Overbrook (4th Wednesday, 2:00 PM)
- Communion to the Homebound
- Farmers Market booth (Carbondale, Wednesdays 4–6 PM) — fund-raising for new parish hall
- Legacy / end-of-life giving through the Archdiocesan Office of Stewardship
Facilities & Building Projects
After more than a century in the 1917 Gothic church — whose foundational problems ultimately forced a difficult choice — the parish completed a brand-new church on the same historic site and dedicated it on December 16, 2018. The old building was torn down on September 11, 2019 to clear the way for the next phase: a new parish hall, toward which the Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, and Farmers Market booth continue to raise funds. Mass at St. Brigid Hall in Osage City and at the Scranton Attendance Center for special events (including the December 2023 5th-anniversary time-capsule opening) shows the parish's willingness to use the broader community's spaces.
- 2018 new church — dedicated Dec. 16, 2018 by Archbishop Joseph Naumann
- 2019 demolition of the 1917 church (Sept. 11, 2019)
- Planned: new parish hall
- Special events held at St. Brigid Hall (Osage City) and Scranton Attendance Center
Contact & Staff
Parish Office (309 South Sixth Street, Osage City, KS 66523-1356) is staffed Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and is closed Mondays, Fridays, and Holy Days of Obligation. The current parochial administrator is Fr. Raymond May (also listed as Fr. Ray); parish staff include Bookkeeper Julie McCoy, Parish Ministry Coordinator Monica Greenwood, Music Director George Alexander, the local Knights of Columbus council, and Altar Society presidents for both Scranton and Osage City.
- Parochial Administrator: Fr. Raymond May — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Julie McCoy — [email protected]
- Parish Ministry Coordinator: Monica Greenwood — [email protected]
- Music Director: George Alexander — 785-549-3287
- Knights of Columbus: Thomas Nordling — 620-794-8450
- Altar Society — Scranton: Renee Ockwood (715-699-5400); Osage City: Virginia Cowan (785-528-3032)
- DRE (Scranton): Monica Greenwood — 785-817-5262
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Defouric. 1867
Celebrated the first Mass in the area, in the home of Michael Luby.
- Fr. Bononcini, L.L.D., D.D.1861–1865 era
Traveled from Topeka to say Mass in private residences around Scranton.
- Fr. Perrierthrough c. 1870
Succeeded Fr. Bononcini; later alternated with Fr. Swembaugh saying Mass at the Burlingame courthouse.
- Fr. Will Smith (Fr. Smith)1875–early 1880s (pastor from 1876)
Celebrated the first Mass in Carbondale (1875) and oversaw construction of the 1876 frame church in Scranton.
- Fr. Cavanaugh1887–c. 1895; returned 1902–1903
Well-loved pastor; died in 1903 as pastor of Osage City, Scranton and other missions; buried in Scranton Catholic Cemetery.
- Fr. Deganearly 1900s
Re-surveyed and expanded the parish cemetery; began the work that led to the 1916–1917 new church.
- Fr. Anthony OuelletteFall 2009–2012
Led repairs to the church and roof on the Archdiocese's advice; repairs failed to address foundational problems.
- Fr. Anthony Kiplagat ('Fr. Kip')July 2012–2016
Began fundraising for a new church; launched the annual Walking in Prayer in Fall 2015.
- Fr. Larry BowersMarch 2016–2018
Led successful fundraising; groundbreaking for the new church took place May 14, 2018.
- Fr. Konda Reddy NusiOctober 2018–
Named parochial administrator; new church dedicated by Archbishop Joseph Naumann on December 16, 2018.
- Fr. Raymond Maycurrent (as of mid-2023 bulletin)
Current parochial administrator serving both St. Patrick, Scranton and St. Patrick, Osage City.