St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita Vandalized: Suspect Arrested After Hate-Filled Attack

Wichita Kansas | March 16, 2025

By Claudia Amaro | Planeta Venus

The damage was severe. Due to the damage, parishioners were unable to celebrate Mass on Saturday night. Photograph from the Kansas Catholic Conference's social media.

Wichita's Catholic community is reeling after a shocking act of vandalism and hate at St. Patrick Catholic Church, a historically Latino parish located in the working-class neighborhood along North Arkansas in the north side of Wichita.

Photo from Kansas Catholic Conference social media.

On Saturday, March 15, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Wichita Police Department (WPD) officers responded to a burglary report at the church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas St. Upon arrival, officers discovered extensive damage: smashed statues, shattered stained glass, overturned candles, a burned U.S. flag, and hate-filled graffiti, including references to a satanic website.

According to a press release from WPD, following an intensive investigation with assistance from the FBI, ATF, and Wichita Fire Department, a 23-year-old man from Saline County was arrested early Sunday morning in the 2800 block of N. Hillside without incident. The suspect faces charges of burglary, criminal desecration, and criminal damage to property.

The Kansas Catholic Conference, which advocates for the Catholic dioceses of Kansas on public policy issues, called the incident a hate crime in a Facebook post. They noted that St. Patrick Church serves a predominantly Latino, working-class congregation and operates a parish school. Parishioners were unable to hold Saturday evening Mass and may also miss Sunday services due to the damage.

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan strongly condemned the act, calling it "reprehensible" and vowing that "this will not be tolerated." "Our officers and investigators worked tirelessly to bring this suspect to justice," Sullivan said.

A rising trend of vandalism and hate crimes against churches

This attack follows a disturbing national trend. According to a recent report from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), over 320 incidents of vandalism against Catholic churches have been reported across the United States since May 2020. These attacks include arson, statue destruction, graffiti, and desecration, often marked by hateful and satanic messages.

According to local leaders, St. Patrick is more than just a church; it is a cornerstone for Wichita’s Latino community, providing religious services, education, and community support. The impact of this crime goes far beyond physical destruction — it has deeply shaken the spiritual and social life of its members.

Police continue to investigate, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.