Leavenworth County Churches
St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Lansing
"History of Leavenworth County," 1921
The Catholic Church at Lansing was originally located at the city of
Old Delaware, which stood about two miles east of the present site of
Lansing. It was dedicated, when built, which was at an early date when
Delaware was making a strong bid for city supremacy in Leavenworth
County, to St. Francis de Sales.
Father Downey, who was succeeded at the fort parish and also in
the mission in Delaware Township by Rev. John Hurley, had made numerous attempts to secure a site for a church in the city of Lansing
without avail. Father Kinsella, who succeeded Rev. John Hurley at the
Delaware Mission, bought the ground in Lansing on which the Catholic
Church of that place now stands and had the small church building which
was standing on the present site of old Delaware moved to the new
location.
In 1888 Father Kinsella was succeeded as rector of the Lansing
Church by the Rev. E. Coolen, who is now in the Wichita Diocese. In 1890
the Rev. H. Eummellen had charge of the Delaware Mission for a period
of about five months. During their rectorship there Fathers Coolen and
Eummellen visited the Kansas Penitentiary and said mass each month.
They also had charge of the Holy Epiphany Church while there. Father
Shorter succeeded them, having in addition the Kickapoo Mission and the
St. John's Hospital.
Following Father Shorter the Rev. J. Heuberger was appointed chaplain of the St. Vincent's Home and was also given charge of the St. Francis
de Sales parish at Lansing. When he received an appointment in Miami
County, Father Shorter was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Gormley, who was
in turn succeeded by Rev. Patrick Smith. It was during the rectorship
of Father Smith that a building fund was collected. Father Smith's successor increased this fund and during the rectorship of Father McManus,
who succeeded Father Smith, and the Rev. F. A. Geinitz, who in turn
succeeded him, this fund had reached such proportions that Father Geinitz decided that instead of erecting a new building the addition of a
transept with other changes would answer the immediate needs of the
parish. Alterations and improvements were accordingly made. Stained
glass windows, new pews and a furnace were installed. During this time
Father R. B. Groener, who had been away on account of ill health, returned from Wyoming. He was shortly after his return appointed by
Bishop Ward, chaplain of St. Vincent's Home and rector of St. Francis
de Sales Church at Lansing. When Father Groener was transferred to
the Sacred Heart Church at Kickapoo he was succeeded at Lansing by
Father O'Farrell. The Rev. Father Malloy succeeded Father O'Farrell
at St. Francis de Sales and is in charge there at the present time.
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