About Us
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Pawhuska is known by many as the “Cathedral of the Osage”. It was not only
built in the shape of a cathedral, but also served as an important part of the life and history of the Osage.
In 1673, Fr. Jacques Marquette, a French missionary and explorer, unexpectedly came upon a band of Osage Indians in the
area now that is the state of Missouri. In the years that followed, many other Jesuit missionaries, known as “black robes”,
visited the Osage villages, introducing them to the Christian faith.
In 1847, Fr. John Shoenmakers established a permanent mission and schools for the Osage at what is now St. Paul’s Kansas.
Known as the Apostle to the Osage, Fr. Shoenmakers worked for 36 years among the Osage until his death in 1883. By that
time the Osage had been moved southward into Indian Territory, or what is now Osage County in the State of Oklahoma.
Fr. John Shoenmakers has been characterized as the “Father of Civilization” in southeast Kansas. He came among the Osages
in the autumn of 1846 to ascertain what would be needed in the way of supplies for the school, his coworkers and himself on
the Osage Reservation. While there he inspected the condition of the buildings. The conditions he found were less than uplifting.
The Osage people welcomed him warmly hoping that it would be a permanent stay.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was established in 1887 to serve the Osage Catholics of Pawhuska. The present
Gothic style brick church is the third church built by the parish. Begun in 1910, it was completed in 1915.
The original plan for the church was to have large stained glass windows, but World War I delayed those plans. It was not until
1919 that the windows were commissioned. Twenty-two windows made in Munich, Germany adorn the walls of the church today.
Their artistry and detail is truly exceptional. Each year visitors of all faiths visit Immaculate Conception as a historical monument
of the Osage, and to view its beautiful windows and interior.