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From 1868 until 1906, Holy Trinity was a mission parish of St. Joseph Church in Shawnee, Kansas -with the exception of one year, (1892-1893) when it was a mission of Eudora, Kansas.
On August 28,1868 Rev. Henry Deusterman was the first resident pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Shawnee, Kansas. St. Joseph’s Parish served 1/3 of Johnson County, including what would be known in the future as Holy Trinity in Lenexa. Thirty people normally attended Mass each Sunday with the average collection being 45 cents. Fr. Deusterman traveled by horseback or horse and buggy to different locales in Johnson County. In the Lenexa area, Mass was offered in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Krumm, who settled in the area in 1864.
Rev. J. Pichler replaced Fr. Deusterman on April 1, 1873. Fr. Pichler and Fr. Deusterman were farmers out of necessity to augment the small income from the collection plates. Fr. Pichler built a two-story brick school and taught the children himself.
Holy Trinity is founded…
On July 16, 1876, Rev. Albert Weikmann became pastor, a post he held until 1884. In 1880, twenty Catholic families requested permission to form a parish. The request was granted and Holy Trinity was founded. The small community of Catholic families in Lenexa raised money through subscriptions, picnics, and dinners and purchased four lots at a cost of $160.00.
New White Frame Mission Church in 1882
A small white frame mission church was completed in 1882 at a cost of approximately $1200.00. This church was built where the current rectory now stands. Written in the Lenexa Parish Account by Fr. Weikmann are the words: “This place formed one Mission with Shawnee up to 1882. In 1881 Lenexa built its church and is tended once a month on Sunday since January 1, 1882.”
Fr. William Schellberg was pastor from 1884 to 1890. During this time, Mass was celebrated every other Sunday in Lenexa. For one year, 1891-1892, Fr. Hardes had charge of the Lenexa mission. In 1892, Lenexa became a mission of Eudora under the direction of Fr. Burke.
From 1893 to 1906, Holy Trinity once again became a mission of Shawnee under the direction of Fr. Francis Herberichs.
Next: The Stone Chapel
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