About St. Wenceslaus · Wilson, Kansas
St. Wenceslaus Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish in Wilson, Kansas — the town that has officially called itself the 'Czech Capital of Kansas' since 1974. Founded in 1882 by Irish railroad workers and Bohemian (Czech) Catholic settlers, the parish is part of the Diocese of Salina and sits at 2811 Avenue D in the town of Wilson (Ellsworth County). The present stone church is the third building to serve the congregation, completed in 1912 on the foundation and walls of its fire-damaged predecessor, and it remains an active worship site with Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, and Saturday confessions. The parish shares its pastor with neighboring St. Mary Parish in Holyrood and St. Joseph Parish in Dorrance.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- St. Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (patron saint of the Czech Republic)
- Rector
- Fr. Daryl Olmstead (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
St. Wenceslaus is a small but enduring parish with deep roots in the Czech Catholic heritage of Wilson — a town that has proudly called itself the 'Czech Capital of Kansas' since 1974. Worshippers gather for a traditional Sunday morning Mass, weekday Masses on Monday evening and Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings, and Saturday confessions, all in a historic stone church built in 1912 that has stood through fire and rebuilds for more than a century. As one of the few Catholic parishes serving this part of north-central Kansas, it offers a close-knit community life in the Diocese of Salina and a tangible link to the Bohemian pioneers who settled the area in the 1870s.
Mass times at St. Wenceslaus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30–5:00 pm (or by appointment)
History of St. Wenceslaus Parish
Irish Catholics working on the Kansas Pacific Railway settled in Wilson in 1867, and over the following decade they were joined by Bohemian (Czech) Catholic immigrants. Discussions about building a church began almost immediately, and a parish was formally organized in 1882. The first church was completed in 1885 to serve the growing community.
Three Churches on One Site
The original church was soon outgrown, and a larger stone church was dedicated in September 1906. That second church was destroyed by fire in 1910, and the present church — the third on the site — was rebuilt using the surviving foundation and walls of the burned building and dedicated in November 1912. The sanctuary suffered another fire in 1942 but was repaired soon after.
- First church completed 1885
- Second (stone) church dedicated September 1906; burned 1910
- Third (present) church dedicated November 1912
- Sanctuary damaged by fire in 1942 and repaired
Parish Facilities
A parish center was built in 1964 to support parish life, gatherings, and fellowship. A new rectory was nearly complete in 1995 when fire destroyed it; it was rebuilt and occupied in 1996.
- Parish center built 1964
- Rectory rebuilt 1996 after a 1995 fire
Pastoral Leadership
The most notable pastor in the parish's history was Msgr. John McManus, who was assigned to St. Wenceslaus in 1928 — less than two years after his ordination — and served for nearly 35 years until his retirement in 1963. He died in 1964 at the age of 73. The parish today is administered by Fr. Daryl Olmstead, who was appointed in 2026 to also serve St. Mary Parish in Holyrood and St. Joseph Parish in Dorrance, succeeding Fr. Tony Kulandaijesu, HGN, who returned to his religious community in India after ten years of service.
- Msgr. John McManus — pastor 1928–1963 (nearly 35 years)
- Fr. Tony Kulandaijesu, HGN — pastor approx. 2015–2026
- Fr. Daryl Olmstead — Parish Administrator from 2026
Patron Saint
The parish is named for St. Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (c. 907–935), the patron saint of the Czech Republic and the 'Good King Wenceslaus' of the famous 1853 Christmas carol. He was a young ruler, killed by his brother, and was posthumously declared a king. He is a particularly fitting patron for a parish founded by Bohemian Catholic immigrants in central Kansas.
- Feast day: September 28
Diocese of Salina
St. Wenceslaus Parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Salina, which covers much of north-central and western Kansas. The parish is grouped with neighboring missions and parishes served by the same priest, including St. Mary Parish in Holyrood and St. Joseph Parish in Dorrance.
- Diocese: Salina
- Cluster parishes: St. Mary (Holyrood), St. Joseph (Dorrance)
Visiting & Contact
The church is located on Avenue D in Wilson, Kansas. Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office by phone or email, and the parish maintains a Facebook page for updates and announcements.
- Address: 2811 Avenue D, Wilson, KS 67490
- Phone: (785) 658-3361
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/wilsoncatholic/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. John McManus1928–1963 (retired); died 1964
Assigned to the parish in 1928, less than two years after ordination; served nearly 35 years until retirement in 1963. Died the following year at age 73.
- Fr. Tony Kulandaijesu, HGNapprox. 2015–2026
Served as pastor of St. Wenceslaus (Wilson), St. Mary (Holyrood), and St. Joseph (Dorrance) for ten years before returning to his religious community in India in 2026.