A tour of the Ellis County historic churches will begin at 8 a.m. June 21, and include a full day of visiting the churches, including guided tours and an Ellis County style Volga-German meal for lunch.

 

The tour will depart the Hays Welcome Center, 27th and Vine, at 8 a.m. It will be a caravan tour and individuals, families or groups can follow along in their own vehicle.

St. Fidelis Church in Victoria was dedicated as a minor basilica on June 7 and is included on the tour. This is the only minor basilica in Kansas and the newest basilica named in the United States.

Other stops on the tour include St. Catherine Church in Catharine, Holy Cross Church in Pfeifer, St. Joseph Church in Hays, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Munjor, the grotto and chapel at Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior-Senior High School in Hays.

The day will conclude with 5 p.m. Mass at the Basilica of St. Fidelis in Victoria.

The tour will be $10 per person for the guided tours and lunch. Call (785) 628-2624 before June 18 to register for the tour. For more information, visit www.germancapitalofkansas.com, www.elliscountyhistoricalmuseum.org or www.haysusa.net.