About St. Vincent de Paul · Andover, Kansas
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a suburban Catholic parish serving Andover, Kansas, just north of Kellogg (US‑54) on Andover Road in the Diocese of Wichita. The community was established in 1954 by eleven Catholic families concerned about their children's religious education and has grown to roughly 1,148 families (about 2,573 individual Catholics). Today it offers weekend Masses, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday, Reconciliation on Saturdays and by appointment, faith formation for children and youth (LIFE, EDGE, LifeTeen), OCIA (Becoming Catholic), and outreach rooted in its patron saint's love for those in need.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Kenneth S. (Ken) VanHaverbeke
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a large, family-friendly suburban parish with a full daily and weekly schedule — daily Mass, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday Reconciliation, and live-streamed liturgies — so members can build prayer into a busy week. Its faith-formation program (LIFE for families, EDGE for middle school, LifeTeen for high school, and OCIA for adults and youth exploring Catholicism) makes it a natural fit for households with children of any age. Rooted in the patron saint of charity, the parish also actively serves those beyond its borders, so joining means plugging into a community of hospitality, compassion and faith that has been blessing the Andover area since 1954.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:40 pm in the Daily Chapel
- 30 minutes before each weekday Mass
- Communal Penance services during Advent and Lent
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (Eucharistic Adoration all day)
Parish History
St. Vincent de Paul began in 1954 as a mission community of eleven Catholic families in the Andover, Kansas area and was formally established as a parish by Bishop Mark Carroll in June 1955. The parish worshipped successively in private homes, a cabin at Shady Rest Resort, a converted Sinclair gas station on Four-Mile Creek, and a church built in 1959–60 and dedicated by Bishop Carroll on January 8, 1961.
- 1954: Eleven Catholic families begin gathering; first Mass on October 10 in the Seimer home.
- 1955: Parish established in June by Bishop Mark Carroll; Fr. Justin Betzen named first pastor.
- 1955–58: Worship held in a converted Sinclair pump station on Four-Mile Creek.
- 1958: Four-Mile Creek floods three times under Fr. Denis Dougherty.
- 1960: New church built; Midnight Mass celebrated Christmas Eve; Bishop Carroll dedicates the church January 8, 1961.
- 1991: F4 tornado destroys all parish facilities; Kathy Sargent and baby Malone killed.
- 1993: Bishop Eugene J. Gerber dedicates the rebuilt complex and gives a relic of St. Vincent de Paul.
- 2020: Fr. Kent Hemberger dies July 22; Fr. Kenneth VanHaverbeke assigned October 13.
Patron Saint and Identity
Parishioners chose St. Vincent de Paul — patron of charity — as their patron when Bishop Carroll offered the choice between him and St. Francis Xavier. The 17th-century French priest (1581–1660) is celebrated in the Roman Calendar on September 27 and is the namesake of the worldwide Society of St. Vincent de Paul charitable organization.
- Feast day: September 27
- Patron of charities, charitable societies and volunteers
- Inspiration for the parish's outreach to those in need beyond its borders
Faith Formation
Faith formation is described as a 'top priority' for children and families. The parish runs a parish-wide family program called LIFE (Living … Faith Everywhere), a children's program called Time Travelers, and a dedicated youth track through EDGE and LifeTeen. Adult inquirers enter the Church through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program.
- LIFE — parish-wide family faith formation
- Time Travelers Kids
- EDGE — middle school ministry (grades 6–8), Tuesdays 7:00–8:30 pm in the youth room
- LifeTeen — high school youth ministry
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic — for adults and youth 4th grade and older (contact Teresa Marshall-Patterson, [email protected], 316-733-1423)
- Faith Quest — preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation, Monday evenings 6:30–8 pm
- Vacation Bible School and Summer School of Religion
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Ken VanHaverbeke (assigned October 13, 2020) and supported by a staff team handling youth ministry, faith formation, music, stewardship, and facilities.
- Fr. Ken VanHaverbeke — Pastor ([email protected])
- Shelby Wasinger — Facilitator of Youth Ministries ([email protected])
- Teresa Marshall-Patterson — Faith Formation / OCIA ([email protected])
- Michele — parish staff ([email protected])
- Shane — Director of Stewardship / Facilities
- Director of Music (Ada, [email protected])
- Facility Supervisor / Building & Technology staff
Pastor Succession
The parish has been led by a succession of priests since its 1955 establishment, including a founding pastor, a pastor who guided it through devastating floods, a 24-year pastor who oversaw the transition from country to suburban parish, a pastor who brought Ignatian spirituality and then died in 2020, and the current pastor assigned in October 2020.
- Fr. Justin Betzen — first pastor, 1955
- Fr. Denis Dougherty — pastor during the 1958 Four-Mile Creek floods
- Fr. Mike Baldwin — pastor for 24 years (through 2011); returned as administrator in 2020
- Fr. Kent Hemberger — pastor 2011–2020; died July 22, 2020
- Fr. Kenneth S. VanHaverbeke — current pastor, assigned October 13, 2020
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of initiation through its Faith Quest program (children) and the OCIA process (adults and youth 4th grade and older), and welcomes inquiries about marriage, anointing of the sick, and Communion for the homebound through the parish office.
- Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation preparation — Faith Quest, Monday evenings 6:30–8 pm
- OCIA for adults and youth — contact Teresa Marshall-Patterson
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick and home visits by appointment
Visit, Contact and Location
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is located in Andover, Kansas, just north of Kellogg (US‑54) on Andover Road. Visitors are invited to stop in at any time, and emergency messages left on the parish line are forwarded immediately to the priests.
- Address: 123 N. Andover Rd., Andover, KS 67002
- Phone: (316) 733-1423
- General email: [email protected]
- Just north of Kellogg (US‑54) on Andover Rd.
- After-hours emergencies: leave a message at 316-733-1423 — a priest will be contacted
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Justin Betzen1955–
First pastor of the parish when Bishop Mark Carroll established it in June 1955.
- Fr. Denis Doughertylate 1950s
Pastor during the 1958 Four-Mile Creek floods; parishioners developed informal 'shoveling mud' and 'hosing off furnishings' ministries.
- Fr. John Curran1954
Presided at the very first Mass of the mission community on October 10, 1954, in the Seimer home.
- Fr. Mike Baldwinc. 1987–2011
Served 24 years as pastor, leading the parish from a small country parish to a large suburban one; returned to administer the parish in 2020 after Fr. Hemberger's death.
- Fr. Kent Hemberger2011–2020
Brought Ignatian spirituality, updated the campus, and pushed outreach to the poor. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020; died July 22, 2020.
- Fr. Kenneth S. VanHaverbeke2020–present
Assigned October 13, 2020; previously served as pastor of Christ the King, Wichita, and held diocesan roles including Director of the Office of Stewardship and Director of the Spiritual Life Center.