About St. Rose (Mount Vernon) · Cheney, Kansas
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church is a rural parish serving the community of Mt. Vernon, Kansas, in the Diocese of Wichita. The parish was founded in 1911 by German Catholic families and is one of three parishes in a multi-parish cluster that includes St. Louis in Waterloo and St. Joseph in Ost, all currently shepherded by Rev. Daniel J. Duling. According to the Diocese of Wichita directory, the parish serves 164 registered families and approximately 795 individual Catholics, gathering for Mass in what is now the third church building dedicated to their patron saint, St. Rose of Lima.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Reverend Daniel J. Duling
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima is a tight-knit rural Catholic community of about 164 families rooted in more than a century of faith in Mt. Vernon, now worshipping in a brand-new third church dedicated to their patron saint. Parishioners can be as involved as they wish — altar serving, Catholic Youth Ministry, PSR catechesis, the Altar Society, the Daughters of Isabella, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Prayer Line, the Meal Ministry, and group volunteering at the Lord's Diner in Wichita. With Fr. Daniel Duling shepherding the St. Rose, St. Louis, and St. Joseph cluster, the parish combines the warmth of a small country church with a clear vision for its next hundred years.
Mass times at St. Rose (Mount Vernon)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:20 pm (St. Rose)
- Sunday 8:00 – 8:20 am (St. Louis)
- Sunday 10:00 – 10:20 am (St. Rose)
- Wednesday 6:00 – 6:20 pm
- 30 minutes prior to all Masses (per Diocese of Wichita directory)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 pm through Wednesday 6:00 pm (weekly Adoration; contact Matt Albers 316-249-5691 to sign up for a scheduled hour)
History of St. Rose of Lima, Mt. Vernon
German Catholic families settling in Mt. Vernon in the early 1900s eventually needed their own church. Bishop J.J. Hennessy selected the site in 1910, Fr. George Schneider acquired the land in 1911, and the first St. Rose church was dedicated October 28, 1911 at a cost of about $8,500. Lightning destroyed that church on June 25, 1920; the second church, built for roughly $12,000, was dedicated August 28, 1921 by Bishop Augustus J. Schwertner — the first church he dedicated after his installation as Wichita's second bishop. Through parish schools (1915–18, 1921–1965), a cemetery donated in 1936, electrification in 1942, a 1949 new school, the 1980 church remodel, and the 1984 recreation center, parishioners continually renewed the campus. Today the third church of St. Rose of Lima — broken ground on August 2, 2020 — carries forward the same dedication begun more than a century ago.
- First church dedicated October 28, 1911
- Lightning fire destroyed the church on June 25, 1920
- Second church dedicated August 28, 1921 by Bishop Schwertner
- Parochial school opened 1915 (Sisters of the Precious Blood) and again 1921 (Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother), closed after 1964–65
- Daughters of Isabella St. Rose of Lima Circle #832 founded March 19, 1950
- Third (current) church broken ground August 2, 2020; original altar and bell incorporated
Sacraments
Families seeking Baptism must first be registered and active parishioners, then contact the Parish Office for a Baptismal Registration Form. Weddings, funerals, funeral meals, visitation of the sick, annulments, and joining the Catholic Church (OCIA/RCIA) are all arranged by contacting Father directly. Communion is brought to homebound parishioners on the first Friday of each month; to be added to the list, contact the Parish Office.
- Baptism — registration required; performed during or immediately following 10:30 am Sunday Mass or 5:00–5:20 pm Saturday
- Weddings, Funerals, Annulments, OCIA/RCIA — contact Father directly
- Communion Calls to the homebound — first Friday of each month
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides K-12 catechesis for children who do not attend Catholic schools, meeting Wednesday evenings September through May at the St. Rose campus, beginning with 6:30 pm Mass and ending at 8:00 pm. VIRTUS training is required for all volunteers; coordinator Tammie Hopper arranges training. High school students are welcomed into Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM), led by director Angie Bittner, which meets every Wednesday with Mass at 6:30 pm followed by youth night until 8:00 pm and focuses on spiritual, social, and emotional formation.
- PSR (K-12) — Wednesdays Sept.–May, 6:30 pm Mass + class to 8:00 pm
- PSR Coordinator: Tammie Hopper
- Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) — Wednesdays, 6:30 pm Mass + youth night to 8:00 pm
- CYM Director: Angie Bittner
- Adult Faith Formation opportunities offered through the parish
Parish Ministries & Service
St. Rose runs an active network of lay ministries. The Altar Society — all women of the parish 18 and older are members — cares for altar and liturgical linens, provides bread and wine for Mass, supports church improvements, coordinates funeral dinners, and runs the Prayer Line. St. Anne's Altar Society oversees the parish Prayer Line, and a Meal Ministry delivers meals to those in need. The Daughters of Isabella St. Rose of Lima Circle #832, founded in 1950, continues as a Catholic women's fraternal organization. St. Rose parishioners also join with sister parishes in regular group volunteering at the Lord's Diner in Wichita.
- Altar Society officers: President Theresa Hess; Secretary/Treasurer Janet Symes; Sacristan Carole Meng; Altar Linens Angie Cross; Prayer Line Theresa Hess
- St. Anne's Altar Society — Prayer Line coordinator
- Meal Ministry
- Daughters of Isabella St. Rose of Lima Circle #832 (founded 1950)
- Altar Servers (typically grades 5–12)
- Lord's Diner service trips with sister parishes
Parish Campus & Facilities
The St. Rose campus today includes the new third church dedicated to St. Rose of Lima (seating ~300, with a replicated bell tower, refurbished 1921 bell, and the original altar incorporated), a parish hall available for rent by active registered parishioners, and a parish cemetery donated in 1936. The 1984 recreation center south of the church and the remodeled school building (1963+) remain part of the parish grounds. Future phases of the five-phase master-building plan announced with the new church will continue to renew the campus for coming generations.
- Current church — third building dedicated to St. Rose of Lima; seats ~300
- Original 1921 altar restored and incorporated; original bell refurbished
- Parish hall (rental available to active parishioners with insurance proof)
- Parish cemetery — donated 1936
- Recreation center — built 1984
- Five-phase master-building plan underway
Cluster Parishes: St. Joseph (Ost) & St. Louis (Waterloo)
Since 2013 (formally as a three-parish pastorate from 2015), St. Rose has shared pastoral leadership with St. Joseph in Ost and St. Louis in Waterloo. St. Louis hosts the Sunday 8:30 am Mass, Tuesday evening Mass (Aug–April), and the Sunday 8:00–8:20 am confession slot. The parishes share a common website, a unified parish office with mailing address in Cheney, and combined ministries such as the Lord's Diner service trips and joint youth/PSR programming.
- St. Joseph, Ost — part of the cluster led by Fr. Daniel J. Duling
- St. Louis, Waterloo — Sunday 8:30 am Mass, Tuesday 6 pm Mass (Aug–April)
- Unified parish office at P.O. Box 528, Cheney, KS 67025
- Combined service opportunities with sister parishes
Contact, Office & Visiting
The Parish Office is reached at (316) 500-1940 (emergency extension 9), with email contact available through the parish website. Parish Secretary Kathy Knowles (ext. 100) and Parish Life Coordinator Michelle Ogden (ext. 104) staff the office. August–April office hours include Wednesday evenings during PSR at the St. Louis, Waterloo campus, and Thursdays 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to end of day; May–July hours are by appointment. Notary services are available by request. The parish hall may be rented — request information from the parish office.
- Phone: (316) 500-1940 — emergency ext. 9
- Parish Secretary: Kathy Knowles (ext. 100)
- Parish Life Coordinator: Michelle Ogden (ext. 104)
- Office Hours Aug–Apr: Wednesday evenings (St. Louis) + Thursdays 8 am–12 pm and 1 pm–end of day
- Office Hours May–Jul: by appointment
- Hall rental requests through the parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Schneider1911
Acquired land and began building the first St. Rose church; transferred to Pratt before its dedication.
- Fr. Bernard Garmann1911–1942
First assigned pastor; dedicated the 1911 church, rebuilt after the 1920 lightning fire, opened the parochial school, and served 15 years until retiring July 9, 1942.
- Fr. Quintin Malone1942
Succeeded Fr. Garmann in 1942; oversaw purchase of Mount Vernon Hall and electrification of the church.
- Fr. Edward Albers1947–
Directed the 1947 redecoration of the church interior.
- Fr. John Reinkymeyer1980–
Led 1980 church remodel (new carpet, pews, stained glass windows installed by the Merrill Smarsh family).
- Fr. Charles Harvey1963–
First resident priest of St. Rose; taught the upper grades and lived in the former Sisters' house.
- Fr. Aaron Spexarth2013–2017
Assigned as Administrator of the St. Joe/St. Rose/St. Louis cluster in 2013, named pastor of all three in 2015; began campus modernization before transfer in spring 2017.
- Fr. Daniel J. Duling2017–present
Assigned in June 2017 as current pastor of the three-parish cluster; broke ground on the new (third) St. Rose church on Aug. 2, 2020, the first of a five-phase master-building plan.