About St. Rose Philippine Duchesne · Westwood, Kansas
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne is a Catholic personal parish in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, dedicated to the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Roman Missal). It is staffed by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) and canonically established as a personal parish — meaning Catholics with an affinity for the traditional Latin liturgy may register as members regardless of territorial parish boundaries. Located at 5035 Rainbow Boulevard in the Westwood / Mission Woods area of northeast Johnson County, the parish offers a full sacramental life including daily Mass, frequent confessions, traditional devotions, and a robust catechetical program for children, youth, and adults. The community was originally founded as a Latin Mass apostolate by Archbishop James P. Keleher in 1988 and has grown to more than 800 registered members.
- Established
- 1988 (Latin Mass Community founded); parish erected 2014
- Patron
- St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, RSCJ (French missionary to the Potawatomi)
- Rector
- Fr. Jonathan Heinricy, FSSP
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (personal parish)
Why belong here
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne is a rare gift in the Midwest: a canonical personal parish devoted entirely to the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Missal) with daily Mass, daily-confession availability, and the full round of traditional Catholic devotions. Families find a deeply catechized community — Baltimore Catechesis-based First Communion and Confirmation classes, Beginning Apologetics, a year-round Youth Group and Young Adult Bible Study, weekly Adult Catechism, and ongoing Scripture study. As a personal parish with no territorial boundaries, Catholics anywhere in the Archdiocese (or beyond) who love the ancient liturgy can register here and find a spiritual home, even if it means a longer drive.
Mass times at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- Saturday 5:00–5:30 pm
Adoration times
- Devotions to the Sacred Heart with Benediction after every Mass on Fridays
- Benediction follows the Sung Mass on the 4th Sunday of most months
Our Story
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne began in 1988 as a Latin Mass apostolate under Archbishop James P. Keleher. After eight years of growth it was entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) in 1996. The community worshipped at St. Mary's-St. Anthony's and then at Blessed Sacrament on Parallel Parkway before purchasing the former Westwood Lutheran Church in July 2011. After a careful restoration the new church opened January 12, 2013, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann canonically erected it as a personal parish on August 4. Today the parish serves more than 800 families devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass.
- 1988 — Latin Mass Community founded by Archbishop Keleher
- 1996 — Entrusted to the FSSP; Fr. Edouard de Mentque named first chaplain
- 2002 — Fr. Philip Wolfe, FSSP succeeds as chaplain
- 2009 — Fr. John Fongemie, FSSP takes over; launches building search
- July 22, 2011 — Former Westwood Lutheran Church purchased
- January 12, 2013 — St. Philippine Duchesne opens its doors
- August 4 — Elevated to personal parish by Archbishop Naumann
Our Patroness: St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Born August 29, 1769, in Grenoble, France, Rose Philippine Duchesne was drawn to religious life at the Visitation boarding school of Ste. Marie d'en Haut and entered the Visitation convent at eighteen. The French Revolution dispersed the nuns and for eleven years she nursed prisoners, sheltered orphans, and fed the poor. In 1804 she joined the Society of the Sacred Heart and sailed for America in 1818 on the stormy seventy-day voyage of the Rebecca, eventually arriving at St. Charles, Missouri, where she opened the first free school west of the Mississippi. In June 1841, at seventy-one, she finally realized her dream of mission work among the Indians, serving the Potawatomi at Sugar Creek, Kansas. The Potawatomi called her 'The Woman Who Prays Always.' Her dying words are inscribed on the parish's home page: 'Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you my heart, my soul, and my life – oh, yes, my life, generously.'
- Born August 29, 1769, Grenoble, France
- Entered Visitation Order; survived the French Revolution
- Joined the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1804
- Crossed the Atlantic on the Rebecca in 1818
- Opened the first free school west of the Mississippi at St. Charles, Missouri
- Served the Potawatomi at Sugar Creek, Kansas in 1841
- Named 'The Woman Who Prays Always' by the Potawatomi
The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)
The parish is staffed by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, a clerical Society of Apostolic Life of pontifical right whose members work together for the common mission of providing pastoral care for the Catholic faithful using the traditional liturgy of the Roman Rite according to the liturgical books of 1962. The Fraternity operates two major seminaries — the original formation house in the Diocese of Augsburg, Germany, and a second in Nigeria — and currently serves chaplaincies in countries including Great Britain and New Zealand.
- Clerical Society of Apostolic Life of pontifical right
- Dedicated to the 1962 Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass)
- Two major seminaries (Augsburg, Germany and Nigeria)
- Pastoral care at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne provided with permission of Archbishop Joseph Naumann, D.D.
Clergy
The parish is currently served by three FSSP priests — a pastor and two parochial vicars. A succession of FSSP chaplains and pastors has shepherded the community from its founding as an apostolate in 1996 through its erection as a personal parish.
- Fr. Jonathan Heinricy, FSSP — Pastor
- Fr. Graham Latimer, FSSP — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Daniel Mould, FSSP — Parochial Vicar
Devotions
In addition to the Mass itself, the parish maintains a full round of traditional Catholic devotions: weekly Sacred Heart devotions with Benediction, a weekly Marian novena, monthly Immaculate Heart devotions, and monthly Sunday Benediction.
- Devotions to the Sacred Heart with Benediction after every Mass on Fridays
- Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help — Wednesdays at 5:30 pm
- Devotions to the Immaculate Heart after the 9:00 am Mass on First Saturdays
- Benediction follows the Sung Mass on the 4th Sunday of most months
Catholic Education
The parish runs a complete catechetical program rooted in the Baltimore Catechism, with classes for children, youth, and adults. First Communion and Confirmation preparation are offered each year, with the Archbishop himself administering Confirmation on-site every two years.
- First Holy Communion — Sundays 10:15–10:45 am (teacher: Abby Ratterman; Baltimore Catechism #1)
- Confirmation — Sundays 10:15–10:45 am (teachers: Tony & Christine Funk; Baltimore Catechism #2); Archbishop confirms on-site every two years
- Beginning Apologetics — Sundays 10:15–10:45 am (teachers: Tony & Christine Funk)
- Youth Group Bible Study — 2nd & 4th Saturday evenings, year-round
- Young Adult Bible Study — monthly
- Adult Catechism — weekly during the academic year, Church Hall basement
Our New Building
After an eighteen-month search undertaken under the patronage of Our Lady of Good Remedy, the community purchased the former Westwood Lutheran Church on Rainbow Boulevard in 2011. The building is in the Spanish Mission style and was renovated to house a Romanesque altar set and a solid oak communion rail. Renovation costs were about $700,000. The renovated church opened its doors on January 12, 2013, and the parish website invites visitors to browse archived posts documenting the restoration.
- Former Westwood Lutheran Church, 5035 Rainbow Blvd
- Spanish Mission architectural style
- Romanesque altars and solid oak communion rail installed
- Purchased July 22, 2011; opened January 12, 2013
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The rectory phone is answered during parish hours; the Sacramental Emergencies line is staffed for urgent needs (anointing of the sick, last rites).
- Address: 5035 Rainbow Boulevard, Westwood, KS 66205-2063
- Rectory Phone: 913-236-0005
- Sacramental Emergencies: 913-909-8690
- Church and rectory share the same property; rectory is east of the church across the parking lot
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edouard de Mentque, FSSPc. 1996–2002
First chaplain of the Kansas City Latin Mass Community; placed the community under the patronage of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and moved it to Blessed Sacrament Parish on Parallel Parkway.
- Fr. Philip Wolfe, FSSP2002–2009
Succeeded Fr. de Mentque; grew the apostolate substantially over seven years.
- Fr. John Fongemie, FSSP2009 – July 1, 2014
Recognized need for a dedicated church; led the search and purchase of the former Westwood Lutheran Church; oversaw the January 2013 opening; guided the community to personal-parish status.
- Fr. Joseph DeGuzman, FSSPsucceeded Fr. Fongemie July 1, 2014
Previously served at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Mableton, Georgia; led the parish in its new personal-parish status.
- Fr. Jonathan Heinricy, FSSPcurrent
Current pastor, assisted by two FSSP parochial vicars.