About St. Teresa · Hutchinson, Kansas
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Hutchinson, Kansas, part of the Diocese of Wichita. The parish worships in a stately Romanesque Revival church built in 1910-1911 and designed by renowned architect Emmanuel L. Masqueray, a former chief of design for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1994, the church serves a multi-parish Catholic community in Hutchinson alongside Church of the Holy Cross, sharing clergy and faith-formation programs. Today the parish offers daily and weekend Masses, Saturday and weekday confessions, parish school of religion classes (PSR), OCIA for adults, youth ministry (CYM), ACTS and Cursillo retreats, Eucharistic Adoration, and a full slate of hospitality and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1879 (Catholic presence in Hutchinson); current church building dedicated 1911
- Patron
- St. Teresa of Avila
- Rector
- Reverend Jerome J. Spexarth
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Teresa offers the rare combination of a historic, architecturally significant Romanesque church — designed by Emmanuel L. Masqueray and listed on the National Register of Historic Places — and a close-knit, active Catholic community. The parish shares three priests and a robust formation program with Church of the Holy Cross, giving members daily Mass, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA/OCIA for adults becoming Catholic, PSR for public-school children K-6, a high-school youth ministry (CYM), and signature retreats like ACTS and Cursillo. Hospitality ministries (Welcome Committee, Harvest House seniors, homebound visits, lap-blanket ministry) make it easy for newcomers and long-time parishioners alike to find a place to serve.
Mass times at St. Teresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Weekdays: 30 minutes before Mass
- By appointment (call 620-665-5163)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered (contact the parish office for the current schedule)
About St. Teresa of Avila Parish
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Hutchinson, Kansas, belonging to the Diocese of Wichita. The parish worships in a 1910-1911 Romanesque Revival building designed by the celebrated architect Emmanuel L. Masqueray and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. Today the parish shares pastoral and formation staff with the neighboring Church of the Holy Cross, while keeping its own identity, Mass schedule, and historic church building on East 5th Avenue.
- Diocese: Wichita
- Patron: St. Teresa of Avila
- Pastor: Rev. Jerome J. Spexarth
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. Matthew D. Marney
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Andrew J. Meng
- 272 registered families / 425 individual Catholics (Diocese of Wichita directory)
History of the Parish
Catholics have worshipped in Hutchinson since 1879. By 1901 the congregation had grown enough to require two priests, and in 1896 the parish purchased its present site on East 5th Avenue, moving the original wooden church there. Rev. Farrell became pastor in 1908. A fundraising collection in September 1909 launched a new building campaign; ground was broken in March 1910, the cornerstone was laid in May 1910, and Bishop John J. Hennessy dedicated the completed Romanesque Revival church on May 18, 1911.
- 1879 — first Catholic church in Hutchinson established
- 1896 — current site purchased; original frame church moved here
- 1908 — Rev. Farrell becomes pastor
- September 1909 — fundraising collection for new building
- March 1910 — groundbreaking
- May 1910 — cornerstone laid
- May 18, 1911 — dedication by Bishop Hennessy
- April 29, 1994 — added to the National Register of Historic Places (#94000390)
Architecture & Historic Significance
The church is a Romanesque Revival design by Emmanuel L. Masqueray (1861-1917), with Harry I. Ellis as builder. Masqueray was a French-born, Beaux-Arts-trained architect who worked for Carrere and Hastings and then as chief assistant to Richard Morris Hunt, before becoming chief of design for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. His Hutchinson commission came through Archbishop John Ireland of St. Paul. The building was nominated to the National Register under criteria A and C — for its historical association with the growth of Catholicism in Hutchinson and for its architectural merit — and was listed on April 29, 1994.
- Architect: Emmanuel L. Masqueray
- Builder: Harry I. Ellis
- Style: Romanesque Revival
- NRHP reference No. 94000390
- Listed April 29, 1994
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish says explicitly that 'religious education is a lifelong process,' and supports formation for every age. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) supports parents as the first educators of their children's faith, with Sunday-morning classes for public-school children in grades K-6, plus a post-Confirmation class for grades 7-12 held twice a month. Adult formation is offered through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those becoming Catholic, ACTS retreats (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service), Cursillo weekends with ongoing friendship groups, and Theology on Tap — a monthly presentation at Salt City Brewery in downtown Hutchinson.
- PSR (K-6): Sundays 9:15-10:15 AM in the parish hall
- Post-Confirmation class (grades 7-12): twice a month
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic): contact Elaine McCrary, 620-899-5037
- ACTS retreats: contact Steve & Trish Stacey, 620-664-2324
- Cursillo: contact Doris Dreiling, 620-200-1004
- Theology on Tap: first Monday of the month, 7:00 PM at Salt City Brewery, 514 N. Main St.
Catholic Schools
St. Teresa parishioners have access to parish-supported Catholic schools serving the wider Hutchinson community.
- Holy Cross Grade School
- Trinity Catholic High School
Youth Ministry (CYM)
CYM gives high-schoolers a chance to encounter Jesus through prayer, service, and fun, build Christ-centered friendships that last, and get involved as leaders. It is run by a board of teenagers and several young adult volunteers, with parent chaperones welcomed for larger events.
- Open to all high-schoolers in the area
- Teen-led board plus young-adult volunteers
- Contact Molly Smith, 620-833-4662
Hospitality & Outreach Ministries
Hospitality — described by the parish as 'an important Biblical principle' from Hebrews 13:1-2 — is at the heart of parish life at St. Teresa. The Welcome Committee makes a special effort to greet newcomers; trained Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring the Eucharist to the homebound and to local nursing homes every Thursday; Harvest House offers monthly potlucks, service projects, and trips for parishioners 55 and older; and the Lap Blanket ministry sews and delivers blessed blankets to shut-ins, hospice patients, and new moms through Birthright.
- Welcome Committee (greets newcomers)
- Homebound Visits — Communion to homebound and nursing homes on Thursdays (contact Jeanette Casida, 620-259-0863)
- Harvest House — monthly activities for ages 55+ (contact Lora Lobmeyer, 620-770-1234)
- Lap Blanket ministry — ~40" x 50" lap blankets for shut-ins, hospice, and new mothers (contact Pat McLain, 620-665-7824)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Infant baptism requires a one-time formation class for parents; older children and adults prepare through OCIA/RCIA. Confirmation is typically received in the sophomore year of high school in the Diocese of Wichita. Reconciliation is offered on Saturday afternoons, before weekday Masses, and by appointment; Anointing of the Sick is available on request, including for those entering the hospital.
- Baptism (infants, children, adults)
- Confirmation (Diocese of Wichita — typically sophomore year)
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Saturday 2:30-3:30 PM, before weekday Masses, or by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick (call the office when entering the hospital)
- Matrimony (call the parish office)
- Holy Orders / Vocations (call the parish office)
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is served by three priests and a small lay staff. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, and is located at 2631 Independence Rd., Hutchinson, KS 67502 (mailing address). The historic church building at 211 E. 5th Ave. is open daily from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM for private prayer.
- Rev. Jerome Spexarth — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Matthew Marney — Senior Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Rev. Andrew Meng — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Tammi Ediger — Parish Secretary, 620-665-5163 ([email protected])
- Karen Wasinger — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Molly Smith — Receptionist & Sacramental Records, 620-665-5163 ([email protected])
- Ron Hamby — Custodial / Maintenance ([email protected])
Contact, Location & Visiting
The parish welcomes visitors and newcomers. Mass is offered every day of the week, confessions are easy to access, and the historic church is open mid-day for private prayer. Anyone entering the hospital is encouraged to call the office so a priest can visit for Anointing, Reconciliation, or Communion.
- Church address: 211 E. 5th Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67501
- Office / mailing address: 2631 Independence Rd., Hutchinson, KS 67502
- Phone: (620) 665-5163
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM & 1:00 PM–4:30 PM
- Church open for private prayer daily 12:00 PM–3:00 PM
- Livestream Masses on the parish YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Farrell1908-
Pastor when the parish still met in a small frame building; oversaw fundraising for the new church.