Leavenworth County Churches
Holy Epiphany Catholic Church, Leavenworth
"History of Leavenworth County," 1921
Holy Epiphany Church owes its origin to the zeal of Rev. M. Huhn,
who, encouraged by Bishop Fink, collected in the diocese the sum neces-
sary for the building of the church. The cornerstone of the structure
was laid September 29, 1878, and it was dedicated August 20, 1879. It
was the first Catholic Church west of St. Louis built for a colored congregation and the first confirmation services were conducted there by Bishop
Fink November 15, 1878.
It was through Father Huhn's efforts that a Guardian Angel's Home,
one of the very first institutions in the country for the care of homeless
colored boys, was begun. In 1887 he transferred this institution to Texas.
In 1889, however, the Colored Orphan's Home was reorganized by the
Oblate Sisters of Baltimore.
Before the arrival of Father Shorter in 1890, Rev. E. Coolen and
the Rev. H. Eummellen held services at regular intervals at Holy Epiphany
Church. Upon Father Shorter's taking charge he pressed the church
basement into service for school purposes and mass was celebrated at
this church more frequently. When the number of orphans cared for in
the school and home increased more sisters came from Baltimore to
assist, and Bishop Fink authorized the purchase of the Whitaker homestead with forty acres of ground. The orphans were subsequent to this
moved from the city to their new home, where in charge of the Oblate
Sisters of Providence they continued under the direction of Father
Shorter.
The buildings of the home as they exist today were added from time
to time. Forty acres more of land was added to the grounds during
Lillis' administration.
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