St. Paul Catholic Church sits on the growing west side of Olathe, Kansas, where 21650 West 115th Terrace has been home to the parish's worship space since December 2018. Tracing its roots to the first recorded Mass celebrated in Olathe on February 2, 1860, St. Paul is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, and it now serves more than two thousand registered families in English and Spanish. The parish describes itself as a "welcoming diverse community that loves and serves God through worship, faith formation, sacramental participation, and service to others," and it is in the middle of a multi-phase capital campaign to build a new church on the same campus.
Mass and Confession Schedule
The Eucharist is at the center of life at St. Paul. The parish invites visitors and parishioners to gather for Mass six days a week, with two weekend Masses celebrated in Spanish.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 4:00 PM (English); 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM (Español)
- Tuesday through Friday: 8:00 AM daily Mass
- First Saturday of each month: 8:00 AM Mass
Reconciliation is offered Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM and Saturday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, with confessions heard in both English and Spanish. Appointments for confession can also be requested through the parish office.
More Than a Century and a Half of Catholic Life in Olathe
The Catholic Church in Eastern Kansas took root among Native American communities relocated to the region in the 1820s. Bishop John B. Miege, S.J., had been ministering to scattered Catholics in what is now Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico since 1851. On February 2, 1860, the first recorded Mass in Olathe was celebrated in the home of local resident Terence Cosgrove.
Four years later, Olathe donated a lot six blocks east and two blocks north of the public square, and local farmers dug the foundation and hauled rock and timbers for a small 30-by-40-foot church. On October 8, 1868, Father Alois Mayer celebrated the first Mass in the completed building. The altar was donated by a more prosperous parish and the pews were purchased secondhand from the local Methodist-Episcopal Church. In 1876 the bishop purchased four lots at the southwest corner of Santa Fe and Chestnut streets for $400, and the larger church built there was opened on the Feast of All Saints, November 1, 1884.
The early twentieth century brought two lasting marks on the parish. In 1901, Saint Paul's families assembled for the first Mass of Father Bernard S. Kelly, the first priestly vocation from the parish. In 1907, Father Hugh Herron recognized the needs of the Kansas School for the Deaf, located in Olathe since 1886, and began learning sign language so that he could preach to the deaf pupils each Sunday morning. That ministry laid the foundation for today's Deaf Ministry at the parish. In 1913, a parochial school opened in a residence at Santa Fe and Chestnut, and in 1916 Bishop Ward of Leavenworth blessed the new Our Lady of Victory School on the west side of the church.
Looking ahead to further growth, Father Patrick Smith bought and donated a five-acre tract in 1950, and construction began on the new site in 1959. A convent for the resident nuns followed in 1963, along with the rectory at 840 Larkspur, and the school took its current name, St. Paul's School. The Parish Activity Center opened in 1993, adding a gymnasium, kitchen, meeting rooms, and the Knights of Columbus Hall. The parish administration building at 900 Honeysuckle was dedicated in the late 1990s.
By 2018, the parish had outgrown the original Santa Fe and Chestnut campus. On December 28, 2018, parishioners moved north to a new worship space within the St. Paul School building at West 115th Terrace and South Lone Elm Road. The parish is now in the home stretch of building a permanent new church on that same site.
The New Church: Phase 2 of the Capital Campaign
What was once a dream and a hope is now very close to becoming a reality, Pastor Fr. Michael Hermes wrote when announcing Phase 2 of the St. Paul Capital Campaign. More than 2,200 parishioners gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on May 11, 2024, to mark the start of construction on a new church designed to seat more than 1,000 people.
The design is rooted in Romanesque architecture with a Spanish Colonial facade and a courtyard inspired by the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. Inside, plans call for classically inspired interiors, stained glass windows, statues of the saints, and a spacious, reflective adoration chapel.
Gifts can be made as one-time donations or as pledges, and the parish also accepts gifts of stock, IRA charitable rollovers, and employer matching gifts. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas provides the brokerage account for stock transfers and routes gifts to the parish. Construction is scheduled to wrap up with finishing and first Mass in 2026.
Becoming Catholic: OCIA and RICA
Adults who want to learn more about the Catholic faith or who are discerning baptism, Confirmation, or reception into the Church take part in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. OCIA classes meet every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Worship Space, led by Nicholas Gardner. The parish also welcomes practicing Catholics to serve as sponsors or volunteers.
A parallel Spanish-language process, the Rito de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos (RICA), meets on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the San Jerónimo Salon. The parish invites Spanish-speaking adults who are exploring the Catholic faith, as well as Catholics willing to walk with them as padrinos and madrinas, to connect through the RICA registration form.
Faith Formation for Children, Teens, and Families
St. Paul's Family Faith Formation program serves children and youth from preschool through twelfth grade. Sacramental preparation for First Communion begins in first grade and Confirmation begins in seventh grade, with both sacraments approached as two-year processes. Registration for the 2026-2027 year is open online and at the parish office, under the direction of Mayra Valadez.
- Sunday Program: 9:15 to 10:15 AM, a traditional classroom model using trained catechists and volunteers. Includes Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3-4, kindergarten, and First Communion and ongoing formation for grades 1 through 6.
- Tuesday Family Program: 6:00 to 7:00 PM in English, or 7:30 to 8:30 PM bilingual. An intergenerational model in which parents and children learn the faith together.
- Monday RCIC/RCC: 7:00 to 8:30 PM for grades 1-12. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Children serves ages 7 through 17 who have not received formal religious education or who are unbaptized; at least one parent must attend.
For older students, Confirmation is offered on Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM and on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, with separate tracks for grades 7-8 and 9-12. Parents of Year II Confirmation students are required to attend a monthly session with their teen.
Adult Formation and Retreats
Adults have several ongoing formation opportunities. A Thursday Evening Discipleship Group meets weekly at 6:00 PM in Room 103, exploring the mystery and riches of the Catholic faith. A Saturday Morning Men's Bible Study meets at 8:30 AM, reflecting on the upcoming Sunday Scriptures. The Aquila and Priscilla Young Married Couples group, for newlyweds through couples married up to ten years, gathers on the second Friday of every month.
The parish also offers Journey, an overnight retreat for adult parishioners held on the St. Paul campus. The women's retreat takes place one weekend and the men's another, with Reconciliation available on site and Sunday Mass celebrated together. There is no cost to attend, and the retreat is sponsored by the parish. A monthly Rosary is prayed on the third Saturday of each month at 8:30 AM.
St. Paul Catholic School
St. Paul Catholic School shares the 115th Terrace campus with the worship space and operates as a Christ-centered preschool through grade school program fully accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education and Cognia. The school enrolls approximately 300 students, with an average class size of 20, and half of the teachers hold advanced degrees.
The school's mission is to nurture, educate, and empower each student to achieve their full spiritual and academic potential in union with families, educators, and the parish community. Its core values are framed around embracing Christ, appreciating diversity, recognizing equality, cultivating knowledge, and nurturing relationships, with Catholic faith woven into every lesson plan. The school office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM during the summer and from 7:50 AM to 3:25 PM during the regular school year.
Ministries and Outreach
More than forty ministries and groups are organized under four umbrella areas.
Caregiving ministries include Funeral Dinners, led by Kristie Altman, which prepare and serve meals for families after a funeral Mass; the Nursing Home and Homebound Ministry, led by Mary O'Sullivan, which brings the Eucharist to those unable to attend Mass; Hospital Ministry, led by Stacie Bachamp, with Extraordinary Ministers visiting Catholic patients; St. Mary's Food Kitchen, led by Jim and Julie Bird, which prepares and serves casseroles at the local food kitchen; and the Johnson County Jail Ministry, led by Thomas Dujenski.
Christian Formation ministries include the Adoration Chapel (Michelle Leoni), Adult Bible Study (Bill and Lori Milliard), the Young Married Couples group (Annalise and Joe Tinker), Baptism Preparation (Claudia Ramirez), Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children ages 3-12 (Veronica Donegan), the Creation Care Ministry rooted in Laudato Si' (John and Ann Martin), the Deaf Ministry for parishioners with knowledge of or willingness to learn American Sign Language (Katie Locus), the Family Faith Formation team (Mayra Valadez), the Saturday morning Men's Prayer Group (Tom Schwarzenberger), OCIA sponsorship (Nicholas Gardner), and the summer Vacation Bible Study (Mayra Valadez).
Family and Community ministries include the Catholic Youth Organization under Rob Bens, the Hospitality Team led by Charlie and Christina Lamb, Moms of St. Paul (Rebecca Shafer), the Knights of Columbus (Joe Peterson), the Prayer Chain (Henny Parre), St. Gianna's Circle (Annalise and Joe Tinker), Journey retreats, Women of St. Paul (Sharon Miller), the Young Adult Group (Valeria Valadez and Theresa Burg), and the Youth Ministry team.
Liturgical ministries include Altar Servers (Mayra Valadez), Art and Environment (Patrice Walker), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Janice Cartwright), Hospitality Greeters (Jim and Janice Steinlage), Lectors (Sean Connelly), the Music Ministry under Director Joe Heron, and Ushers (Bob Hamilton).
St. Gianna's Circle: Walking with Families After Loss
St. Gianna's Circle offers comfort and support to families in the parish who have suffered the loss of a child during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Members of the circle have themselves experienced such loss and provide a safe space to share, prepare food and care packages for families in need, and connect parents with Catholic resources on miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
The ministry is named for St. Gianna Beretta Molla, an Italian pediatrician canonized in 2004 and honored as the patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children. Her feast day is April 28.
Catholic Youth Organization Athletics
The parish's Catholic Youth Organization, or CYO, is open to all children in grades 3 through 8, whether or not they attend St. Paul School. The program relies on parent volunteers and offers four sports:
- Volleyball (Fall): Practices begin in August, with matches running from early September through late October. Coaches include Maggie Reilly, Megan Rapp, and Kristen Johnson.
- Cross Country (Fall): Practices are held Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at Cedar Creek Elementary and Southglen Park. The season runs through October and culminates in city finals at the Savior Pastoral Center.
- Basketball (Winter): The season runs from late October through early March with games played Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
- Track and Field (Spring): Meets include the 100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, high jump, long jump, shot put, and a distance medley relay, with medals awarded to the top ten girls and top ten boys in each event.
The Ervin Douglas Wright II and Family CYO Scholarship Fund provides need-based support for St. Paul CYO participants to attend area sports camps. The Play Like a Champion program, developed at the University of Notre Dame, is used to train coaches and parents in the moral principles of justice, tolerance, cooperation, respect, and solidarity.
Creation Care Ministry
Rooted in Laudato Si' and Catholic Social Teaching, the Creation Care Ministry honors God by caring for creation. The ministry marks the Season of Creation from September 1 through the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year. The parish celebrates St. Francis Feast Day with a First Saturday Mass, a Blessing of the Animals at the parish entrance, a guided prayer and discussion session on the life of St. Francis, and a Transitus prayer service in the evening.
Supporting St. Paul Parish
Parish registration is available online in English and Spanish for newcomers to the area or those who have not yet registered. Weekly bulletins are published in English and Spanish, and a Wednesday email newsletter carries the most important news and updates from the parish.
Giving is managed through the parish's Realm platform and includes the general donation and tithe, the Capital Campaign, parish school support, second collections, memorials and tributes, Mass intentions, and subscription payments for The Leaven, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Stock transfers and IRA charitable rollovers are also accepted, with Amy Moritz available to assist.
The parish office at 21650 West 115th Terrace is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with summer Friday hours closing at noon. The office can be reached by phone at (913) 764-0323. Prayer intentions, Mass intentions, and memorial gifts can all be submitted through the parish Realm portal.