The Office of Respect Life and Social Justice offers a variety of programs and opportunities to serve the community throughout the month.
RLSJ Ministries
First Saturday Rosary
The First Saturday Rosary at Trust Women abortion facility (5107 E. Kellogg Dr.) will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, April 4.
We are currently looking for priest volunteers who would be willing to lead the rosary each month. We have openings May-December. You can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49ABA62CA7F5CF8-58726405 first or contact Mary for any questions, [email protected].
Birthmother’s Gathering – Will not be meeting in June & July
Seeing a need to support these brave birth mothers, the Respect Life and Social Justice Office is partnering with birthmothers in the area to host a support group with an opportunity to learn coping skills to help them journey through healing and hope. Each adoption story is unique. By sharing prayers, stories, emotions, fears, and scripture with other birthmothers, the healing can begin.
If you are a birthmother, please consider joining us at our monthly meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Spiritual Life Center located at 7100 E. 45th Street N. in Wichita. For more information call Bonnie Toombs at 316-269-3935, or email Carolyn Utter at [email protected].
Prayer & Action – A Week of Faith, Service, and Joy!
Each summer, high school youth from across the Diocese of Wichita encounter Christ through a week of service, prayer, and joyful community. Participants serve the poor and local ministries while growing in faith through Mass, Adoration, and small-group reflection. This summer, teens will be based at St. Joseph Parish in McPherson, where they will live, pray, and serve together as missionary disciples.
Registration is now open, and spots fill quickly. One adult chaperone is needed for every 6 youth. For questions or more information, contact: Bonnie Toombs 316-269-3935 [email protected]
2026 Prayer & Action Dates
Week One: June 7–12
Week Two: June 14–19 – openings for chaperones only
St. Dismas Ministry to the Incarcerated
St. Dismas Ministry to the Incarcerated is seeking priests who feel called to bring the mercy and presence of Christ to those who are incarcerated. We are currently in need of priests to hear confessions and celebrate Mass at Sedgwick County Jail.
The ministry gathers at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays, with volunteers meeting with men and women on alternating weeks. Because of this schedule, we hope to have a priest available each week so that both groups may have the opportunity to receive the sacraments approximately twice per month.
We are also looking for priests who would be willing to assist on an as-needed basis at prisons throughout the diocese when the regularly scheduled priest is unable to visit.
If you feel called to share Christ’s mercy through this ministry, please contact Mary McDonald for more information, [email protected].
Sidewalk Advocates for Life
In the first quarter of the year, sidewalk advocates have been able to witness 11 babies saved, 2 potential saves, and one abortion worker quit. Thanks be to God! This year, we have been very blessed to have full coverage on Fridays and mostly full coverage on Wednesdays. In addition, we have several hours filled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This has amounted to over 40 hours of prayer and presence on the sidewalk each week. We look forward to advancing this coverage throughout the year.
If you are interested in becoming a Sidewalk Advocate, there will be a training on June 17, 9:00am to 3:30pm at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (645 N 119th St W, Wichita in the Bishop Gilmore Room). Contact Taylor Wegerer to sign up [email protected] Lunch & materials provided for free.
Grief and Healing Ministries
Project Rachel Ministry
The Project Rachel Monthly Support Gathering will meet on Monday, May 18, 6:00-7:30, in Wichita. The Monthly Support Gathering provides an opportunity for women to heal from the wounds of past abortions by sharing their grief and processing emotions related to their abortions with other women who have been through similar experiences. For more information, contact Stephanie Nemechek (316) 269-4673 or [email protected] .
Catholic in Recovery
Catholic in Recovery seeks to serve those suffering from addictions and unhealthy attachments. Through a twelve-step recovery and the sacramental love and mercy provided by the Catholic Church, Catholic in Recovery strives to share the Good News that God can bring about healing and recovery. Catholic in Recovery group meets in-person in Wichita on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM. For more information, email [email protected] Virtual groups are available at https://catholicinrecovery.com/
Red Bird Grief Support Ministry For Child/Grandchild Loss
Red Bird Catholic Grief Support Ministry serves those who have experienced the loss of a child or grandchild from miscarriage through adulthood. For more information, contact Mary Johnson at 316-393-5472 or email her at [email protected].
Grieving With Great Hope Ministry
Grieving with Great Hope is a Catholic-based Grief Support program for anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one. This five-week video-based series is a prayerful, practical, and personal guide that has helped thousands of people who are grieving. The current session is being held at Saint Francis of Assisi in Wichita, weekly April 16 to May 14, 6-8 PM. For more information or answers to your questions, please contact Mary Johnson, [email protected] or text 316-393-5472. To register for this class, call the Saint Francis Parish Office at 316-722-4404.
Senior Adult Ministries
The Cradle of Roman Catholicism – Save the Date | September 21
Join the Wichita Diocese Senior Adult Ministries group for a meaningful day of faith, history, and fellowship as we explore what can truly be called the Cradle of Roman Catholicism in Southeast Kansas.
On September 21, we’ll depart from Wichita in the morning and travel to Chanute, where we will visit St. Patrick Catholic Church – a beautiful parish with deep roots in the early Catholic presence of the region.
From there, we will continue to Girard for lunch and fellowship before making our way through Greenbush KS and the ruins of St. Aloysius.
Our journey will conclude in St. Paul with a visit to St. Francis Hieronymo Catholic Church – the oldest parish in the Wichita diocese and a cornerstone of the missionary activity in diocese. While there, we’ll also explore the Osage Mission – Neosho County Museum, gaining insight into the rich history of the Osage Missions and the early Church on the frontier.
This trip offers a wonderful opportunity to deepen your appreciation of the Catholic heritage that helped shape our diocese. Mark your calendar and plan to join us! More details and registration information coming soon.
Future trips for Southeast Kansas parish are also being planned, coming soon.