Our History

History of the Province

The Early Years - The Hays Missions

(10) The Missions of Hays

Foremost among these missions is Katherinenstadt, or Catherine. The latter is the official, the former the popular name of the settlement. The colony was founded by German immigrants from Russia, in 1876, and named after the Russian City from which they bailed.

The town is situated about seven miles northeast of Hays City. At first its population did not exceed sixty families, but this number has since been more than doubled. During the first two years of its existence the spiritual needs of the colony were attended to by diocesan priests from neighboring cities or towns. Among the priests who visited the place from time 10 time were Father Wibbert of Salina, Father Huhn of Leavenworth, and Father Sommereisen. Services were held in private houses, there being no church building. The first Capuchin to visit Catherine was Father Matthew, who said Mass there, for the first time, May 21, 1878. After his untimely death Father Joseph Calasance attended the mission, saying Mass there nearly every Sunday. In 1879, the people erected a stone edifice for school purposes, the building serving at the same time as a church. This school (a public school) was later purchased by Father Martin, O.M. Cap., for the sum of $1,000.00.

The following priests have, so far, served the mission of Catherine: Father Anthony, called "Little Anthony," to distinguish him from Father Anthony Maria, 18801881; Father James, 1881; Father Anastasius Joseph, 1881-1885; Father Martin, 18851887; Father Matthew, 1887-1888; Father Martin, 1888-1893; Father Chilian, 1893; Father Emmeram, 1893-1896; Father Joseph Leonissa, 1896-1900; Father Jerome, 19001906; Father Joseph Leonissa, 1906-1907; Father Alphonse, since August, 1907. Catherine was attended from Victoria until 1901; since then from Hays City. Since 1903 the mission has bad regular services on every Sunday and feast day of the year.

The church, a very creditable stone structure, erected by Father Martin in 1890, at an expense of $18,000.00, was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Hennessey of Wichita (who was Administrator of the Diocese of Concordia at the time), October 6, 1902.

The school was a public school until 1897. In that year it was turned into a parochial school by Father Joseph Leonissa, and two years later taken in charge by the Sisters of St. Agnes. Under the administration of Father Jerome a new school building was erected in 1902. The school is fully graded, has an efficient staff of teachers, and is at present attended by some 140 children.

The priest in charge of Catherine at first resided in an addition built to the church for his accommodation. When the Sisters of St. Agnes came to Catherine they took possession of this dwelling, a small parish house for the priest having been built elsewhere.

The people of Catherine have long desired a resident priest. The importance and growth of the mission justifies their wish, which will be realized within the course of the present year, the Capuchin Fathers having decided to establish a small monastery there this summer.

Another important mission served from Hays City is that of Ellis. The town owes its existence to the Union Pacific Railway Company. Ellis being the terminus of the third division of the Union Pacific a roundhouse and railway shops were located there, which employ a considerable number of men. Ellis has enjoyed a rapid growth, and the number of its inhabitants is about 1,200 at present.

The first Mass offered on the present site of Ellis was said by Father Fogerty in 1872, which seems to prove that a small contingent of Catholics must have resided in the vicinity even before the Union Pacific reached the place. Other priests visited that part of the country from time to time, though the number of Catholics was exceedingly small until the arrival of the German-Russian settlers. From the year 1878 Father Fogerty visited the colony occasionally. In 1888 the Diocese of Concordia was erected, and its first bishop, Msgr. Scannell, appointed Father Fogerty resident pastor of Ellis. Father Fogerty built a small frame church there and remained until 1893, when the Capuchins were given final charge of the mission.

Father Emmeram, O.M. Cap., then attended the place until August, 1893, when he was succeeded by Father Martin. Under the latter's administration, which lasted until August, 1895, the church was enlarged, the additions consisting of a new sanctuary, sacristy, and a lodging room for the visiting priest. In 1895 Father John Chrysostom took charge of Ellis. During the last few years the mission had grown to very respectable proportions, owing chiefly to the large influx of Austrian immigrants, and the need of better church accommodations was keenly felt. To fill this want Father Chrysostom took steps to purchase a tract of about forty acres admirably adapted for parish purposes. However, the actual purchase of thirty acres of this coveted tract was not accomplished until the fall of 1897. Negotiations with the Union Pacific Railway Company, which owned the land in question, were resumed by Father Paul, who had succeeded Father Chrysostom at Ellis, in August of that year. The deal was at last successfully closed, and a plot, 600 feet square, was laid out for church, school, and presbytery, three acres were reserved for a cemetery, and the remainder of the tract was sold for building lots to the colonists, who kept coming to Ellis in large numbers. A two-story frame building, 40 x 60 was erected, the upper story being furnished for church purposes, the lower story for a school and priest's lodging. The building was completed by Father Richard, who succeeded Father Paul in August, 1900, the latter having been appointed Superior of the monastery at Canal Dover, Ohio. The old church building was sold, and a parochial school was opened in the new building, in 1892, and given in charge of a lay teacher.

In 1903 Father James became pastor of Ellis, Father Theodosius succeeding him in August of the following year. Soon after his appointment Father Theodosius built a new presbytery, his former residence being turned over to the Sisters of St. Agnes, who took charge of the parochial school in September, 1904. The school is in a flourishing condition, the attendance being about 120.

The growth of the mission was so marked that a new church became an absolute necessity. Father Theodosius had taken steps to that effect when, in August, 1906, he was succeeded by Father Michael, who has since been very active in bringing the matter to a happy issue.

The third and most recent of the Hays City missions is Hyacinth. This settlement is about twelve miles northwest of Hays. As early as 1900 the few farmers living there had taken steps to have a church of their own, but their wishes were not realized until the year 1906, when their petition was favorably received by Father Richard, at that time Pastor and Superior at Hays City, who recommended the matter to the consideration of the Bishop and the Superiors of the Order.

In July, 1906, Father Edward was appointed pastor 01 the prospective parish and received orders to begin at once with the building 01 a church. As there were barely twenty families to depend upon this was no easy matter. With undaunted courage Father Edward set about his difficult task. Protestant friends in Hays City subscribed about $800.00 to the building fund; the people of Hyacinth, seeing that a good start had been made, contributed liberally, despite the hard times, and before long a good church building, 80 x 32, with a two-story sacristy, 16 x 18, and a neat tower, 62 feet high, rose on the hill that had been chosen for a site. A priest's residence was likewise built, all the work being done under the personal supervision of the pastor. The cost of the two buildings was $3,800.00. July 22, 1906, Mass was said for the first time in the new church by Father Edward and on November 29th of the same year the building was solemnly blessed by Bishop Cunningham of Concordia. The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of its principal benefactor. The church also boasts a fine bell, which, by permission of the Bishop, was solemnly blessed by Father Cassian, Superior at Hays City, November 8, 1906. Hyacinth has services on three Sundays of the month.

Among the benefactors of the Hyacinth church John O'Loughlin heads the list. He donated twenty acres of land and the sum 01 $400.00 in cash, besides rendering other important services to the new parish. Alexander Royer, a French settler, gave ten acres, and J. Ross five acres and various amounts in money. Adam Pfeifer, Peter Schoenfeld, Christian Vonfeldt, John Miller and others, besides giving pecuniary help, furnished a vast amount of labor free-of-charge.

Hyacinth was named in honor of the late Father Hyacinth, the founder 01 the Capuchin Province of Pennsylvania and loyal friend of the Ellis county missions. Its pretty and substantial church is a monument to the faith and liberality of the Ellis county Catholics, and to the energy of its pastor.

Fr. Martin Muelders, OFM Cap

Fr. Jerome Mueller, OFM Cap

Fr. John Chrysostom Jacob, OFM Cap

Fr. Richard Dei, OFM Cap

Fr. James Steppe, OFM Cap

Fr. Theodosius Mullen, OFM Cap

Fr. Michael Neff, OFM Cap