St Patrick Catholic Church history

Also at this time, a new rectory was constructed just West of the new church at 1819 Stevens, replacing the rectory at 517 -19 North Central.

In November 1828, Bishop John England purchased a track of land on the corner of St Philip and Radcliff Streets for a cemetery.

The yearlong celebration began in grand style with a kickoff Mass held on January 29th, the same date the first Mass was celebrated in 1837.

In 1868, Father Philip Colleton, a Jesuit missionary from Osage Missions established missions throughout southeast Kansas.

On Sunday, January 16th, 1876, while on his way to say Mass at Parsons, he was seriously injured in an accident while using the handcar.

William Bannister, who selected 632 acres (256 ha) on the east side of Station Creek on 1 November 1878, subdivided part of his land soon after selection to form a township which he named Brandon.

In 1882, the land on the Stevens side of the block, at the head of Central, containing the former home of George Reynolds, was opened as a convent by the sisters of Loretto, who had come from their Convent at Osage Mission.

The new church was opened in 1883.

The tuition was $1.00 per month.In March 1886, five acres were purchased in the Northwest corner of the City for use as a cemetery.

The new cemetery was named Calvary.In 1887, Kansas Diocesan lines were redrawn and on July 6, 1887, the Wichita Diocese was created, but Southeast Kansas remained in the Leavenworth Diocese.

Many men and women of the parish donated thousands of hours of their labor to make the dream of this church a reality.In 1896, the Sisters of Loretto withdrew from Parsons and the Sisters of St Joseph took their place.

The decision was made to locate the church in Brandon and the building was opened in 1897 on a site close to where the first state school was constructed.

A new organ was purchased for $2,000.On April 20, 1902, Council 643, Knights of Columbus, was instituted with 65 members.

The former St Patrick's Catholic Church, Brandon, is a timber church originally constructed in 1910 when Brandon was part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton.

Father Hayden, assistant at St Patrick’s said Mass in the new edifice.Reverend Father P. McCullough was established as pastor of the new church in 1911, coming from Cherryvale.

The hospital opened in 1912.

A special feature of the “new” St Patrick’s school was the kindergarten department, which had an attendance of 22 pupils.A few years later, in 1913, the old church at Central and Dirr, which had served as a convent and academy, was torn down and a new convent constructed at the same location.

The Sisters of St Joseph were placed in charge and 34 students enrolled the first year.In 1923, a church bell tower and vestibule were added and bells were purchased for St Mary’s church at a cost of $2,350.

The historical building, erected in 1930, will be turned into a state-of-the art facility to be used as a new parish hall and church offices.

In 1937, St Patrick Parish served a population almost half the size it was at the time of Monsignor Quigley’s death.

In 1940 Father J.P Mangen took over as pastor of St Patrick’s.On June 5, 1940, Bishop Christian H. Winkelman bought Lots 1 and 3 of Block 120, the southwest corner of Central and Chess.

On 23 July 1944, a fire damaged a portion of St Patrick's sacristy which was repaired.

Also in 1950, St Patrick’s school was torn down and a new school was built on the site of the old school.

Accomplishments during the celebration year included the hiring of a full-time director of Christian Formation, Sister Mary Jane Golden. It was a time not only for rejoicing, but also for current members to learn more about the heritage they shared with the White parishioners who populated the congregation before the 1967 merger.

The church continued in use by the Roman Catholic community until 1974 when a new church was opened on an adjoining site on 21 April by Bishop Leonard Faulkner, Bishop of the Diocese of Townsville.

In 1978, the Reverend Egbert Figaro became the first black priest to serve in the Charleston area.

It was sold by the Diocese in 1979 to Filippo Patane who leased it to the Burdekin Academy of Dance.

The great organ in the choir loft was also restored.In 1988, Fathers Leo and Leon Kerschen were appointed co-pastors of St Patrick’s and Mary Queen of Peace parishes.

The Burdekin Shire Council objected to the removal of the heritage-listed building and prevented its loss from the town by purchasing it in late April 1989.

In addition, because of changes within the Catholic Church, they also labored to prepare the Catholics of Parsons for the merging of the two parishes into one.In 1995, the decision was made to close Mary Queen of Peace church and the two parishes merged.

In 1997 St Patrick's celebrated the 125th anniversary of the founding of the parish.

The tower is 165 feet tall and the largest bell in the tower weighs 2000 pounds.

Our first class to finish 8th grade at St Patrick's graduated in 2002.

Jason Borkenhagen began serving as Pastor in 2005.

Everyone agreed that the result was stunning.In 2008 the parish celebrated the 125th anniversary of the school with an all-school alumni dinner in the school gym

Highlights of our 175th Anniversary Celebration (January 29-December 2, 2012)

In 2014 Our Lady of Mercy Church, another predominately African American parish located at 77 America Street in Charleston closed and was merged with St Patrick.