About St. Paul · Olathe, Kansas
St. Paul Catholic Church in Olathe, Kansas is the oldest parish in Johnson County and the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, serving roughly 3,000 Catholic families across west Olathe. The parish community worships in Spanish and English (and supports a Deaf Ministry), runs a fully accredited Catholic school, and is currently building a new church on its West 115th Terrace campus after relocating from its former site at 900 S. Honeysuckle in December 2018. Under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Michael Hermes, St. Paul describes itself as 'a welcoming, diverse community that loves and serves God through worship, faith formation, sacramental participation, and service to others.'
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Hermes
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. Paul is the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the oldest in Johnson County, with a 164-year pioneer heritage and a worship life that genuinely spans cultures — English, Spanish, and signed Masses. Families find a fully accredited Catholic school on the same campus as faith formation for every age (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, OCIA for adults, sacramental preparation, CYO sports, and a two-year Confirmation process). Whether you are homebound, hospitalized, grieving, deaf or hard of hearing, newly married, or simply new to the area, there is a ministry to walk with you — Deaf Ministry, Hospital Ministry, Funeral Dinners, the Women of St. Paul, a Young Adult Group, Bible studies, and more.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 6:00 – 7:00 pm (English & Español)
- Saturday: 3:30 – 4:30 pm (English & Español)
- or by appointment
Adoration times
- A spacious, reflective Adoration Chapel is planned as a feature of the new church currently under construction (see Capital Campaign).
Our Parish Story
Catholic faith took root in Olathe in 1860, and Father Alois Mayer celebrated the first Mass in the original St. Paul's Church on October 8, 1868. Over more than 160 years the parish has built three successive churches, a school, a convent, a rectory, a Parish Activity Center, and an administration building — and on May 11, 2024 it broke ground on a fourth church at its West 115th Terrace campus. Today St. Paul is the oldest parish in Johnson County and the largest in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, with about 3,000 Catholic families and the missionary vision summed up on its website: 'to make missionary disciples and witness to Christ by our words and works of mercy.'
- First recorded Mass in Olathe: Feb 2, 1860 (home of Terence Cosgrove)
- Original 30×40 ft. church completed Oct. 8, 1868
- Second church consecrated Nov. 1, 1884 (All Saints) at Santa Fe & Chestnut
- Relocated to current West 115th Terrace campus Dec. 28, 2018
- Groundbreaking for fourth church: May 11, 2024
Worship & Sacraments
Mass is offered in English and Spanish every weekend and daily Tuesday through Friday. Confession is heard twice a week in both English and Spanish, plus by appointment. The parish celebrates Anointing of the Sick on request through the parish office and offers preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Holy Orders.
- Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 am (English); 12:30 & 6:00 pm (Spanish); 4:00 pm (English)
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm
- Daily Mass Tue–Fri 8:00 am; First Saturday 8:00 am
- Confession: Wed 6:00–7:00 pm, Sat 3:30–4:30 pm, or by appointment
- Baptism: contact Claudia Ramirez
- Marriage: contact Fr. Michael Hermes
- Anointing of the Sick: contact the Parish Office (913) 764-0323
- Confirmation: two-year process
Deaf Ministry
St. Paul's Deaf Ministry traces its origin to 1907, when Fr. Hugh Herron learned sign language to instruct deaf pupils at the Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe. More than a century later, the parish continues to offer signed Masses — including a monthly Deaf Mass on the second Sunday at 2:00 pm — and welcomes volunteers with knowledge of ASL and Deaf culture (or a willingness to learn).
- Founded 1907 by Fr. Hugh Herron
- Monthly Deaf Mass: Second Sunday, 2:00 pm
- Volunteer leaders needed with ASL/Deaf culture familiarity
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
St. Paul is a bilingual parish with two regular Sunday Spanish Masses (12:30 pm and 6:00 pm), Spanish-language confession hours on Wednesday and Saturday, and a bilingual Tuesday Family Faith Formation option (7:30–8:30 pm). Fr. Agustín Martínez serves as the Hispanic Ministry Assistant, and Fr. Hermes previously served as the archdiocese's episcopal vicar for ministry to Hispanics.
- Domingo: 12:30 pm y 6:00 pm (Español)
- Confesiones: Miércoles 6:00 pm; Sábado 3:30 pm
- Bilingual Tuesday Family Program 7:30–8:30 pm
St. Paul Catholic School
St. Paul Catholic School shares the West 115th Terrace campus and serves roughly 300 students, with an average class size of 20 and about 50% of teachers holding advanced degrees. It is fully accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education and Cognia and is a member of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas Catholic School System. Mission: 'In union with families, educators, and the St. Paul community, St. Paul Catholic School embraces Christ by which we nurture, educate, and empower each student to achieve their full spiritual and academic potential.'
- Total enrollment: ~300
- Average class size: 20
- 50% of teachers hold advanced degrees
- School phone: (913) 764-0619
- Accredited by KS State Dept. of Education and Cognia
- School hours: Mon–Fri 7:50 am – 3:25 pm; Summer office Mon–Fri 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Family Faith Formation & Youth
Family Faith Formation serves children from Preschool through Grade 12 with multiple models: a Sunday morning program, an intergenerational Tuesday Family Program (English 6:00–7:00 pm or Bilingual 7:30–8:30 pm), Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3–12, and Sunday RCIC/RCC classes for children ages 7–17 needing Baptism or First Communion. Confirmation is a two-year process (Year I: prayer and discernment; Year II: reception of the sacrament) with required parent participation.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3–5 and 3–12)
- Sunday Program 9:15–10:15 am
- Tuesday Family Program 6:00–7:00 pm (English) / 7:30–8:30 pm (Bilingual)
- Wednesday Confirmation Year I & II (Grades 7–8 or 9–12), 7:00–8:30 pm
- Sunday Confirmation 7:00–8:30 pm
- RCIC / RCC for children grades 1–12 needing Baptism or First Communion
- Youth Ministry for grades 6–12
Adult Faith & Fellowship
St. Paul offers a strong calendar of adult formation. 'Journey' begins with a life-changing retreat and continues with ongoing spiritual formation and fellowship. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) welcomes those discerning becoming Catholic and welcomes sponsors to share their faith. Adult Bible Study, the Women of St. Paul, and a Young Adult Group round out the opportunities for adult parishioners to grow and connect.
- Journey — adult renewal retreat and ongoing formation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult Bible Study
- Young Adult Group (Valeria Valadez & Theresa Burg)
- Women of St. Paul ([email protected])
Caregiving & Outreach
The parish's caregiving ministries bring the Eucharist and the love of Christ to those who cannot easily come to Mass. Extraordinary Ministers visit hospital patients, while other teams bring Communion to the homebound and to those in nursing homes. Funeral Dinners is a parish-wide ministry of hospitality during times of loss.
- Hospital Ministry (Extraordinary Ministers)
- Nursing Home and Homebound Ministry (leader: Katie Locus)
- Funeral Dinners
Capital Campaign — Building the New Church
Having moved into a temporary worship space inside the St. Paul School building on December 28, 2018, the parish is now raising funds to build its fourth church on the West 115th Terrace campus. The new building is planned to seat 1,000+, include a spacious reflective Adoration Chapel, stained glass windows, and statues of the saints, and serve as the spiritual home for current and future generations of Catholics in west Olathe.
- 1,000+ seats to support parish growth
- Spacious, reflective Adoration Chapel
- Stained glass windows and statues of the saints
- Groundbreaking: May 11, 2024
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The church is located at 21650 W 115th Terrace, Olathe, KS 66061 — at the intersection of West 115th Terrace and South Lone Elm Road, four miles north of the former parish site at 900 S. Honeysuckle. Mass times and confession schedules are published at www.spcatholic.org/mass-times.
- Address: 21650 W 115th Terrace, Olathe, KS 66061
- Phone: (913) 764-0323
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: M–F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Website: www.spcatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Alois MayerFirst pastor; celebrated first Mass Oct. 8, 1868
First pastor; built the original 30-by-40-foot St. Paul's Church.
- Father Bernard S. Kelly1901 (first Mass)
First priestly vocation from St. Paul Parish.
- Fr. Hugh Herron1907 onward
Founded Deaf Ministry by learning sign language to serve the Kansas School for the Deaf.
- Fr. Patrick Smith1950
Purchased the five-acre tract on which St. Paul's School relocated.
- Fr. Michael HermesBecame pastor; continuing
Led the relocation to West 115th Terrace (Dec. 28, 2018) and groundbreaking for the new church (May 11, 2024). Also served as episcopal vicar for ministry to Hispanics and previously President of Bishop Ward High School (2005–2014).