St. Joan of Arc Parish in Harper County, Kansas has roots that trace back to the late 1800s, when Catholic settlers first established small mission churches throughout the area. One of the earliest was St. Patrick Catholic Church in Harper, founded in 1882, which, along with other mission communities, was served by traveling priests from nearby towns. As the Catholic population grew and communities developed, these early missions gradually became more established parishes. The modern identity of St. Joan of Arc Parish began to take shape in the mid-20th century, with records indicating that the first Mass associated with the parish was celebrated on September 16, 1946, in a temporary location. Over time, due to shifting populations and the needs of rural ministry, several local parishes were into a single parish structure. >
Today, St. Joan of Arc Parish serves the communities of Harper County through its churches in Harper (St. Patrick), Anthony (Sacred Heart), and Danville (Immaculate Conception). As part of the Diocese of Wichita, the parish continues to foster a strong Catholic presence in the region, uniting multiple towns into one faith community.
