An era that began in 1878 is ending in Hays this week.

Three Capuchin priests are moving from the St. Joseph friary in Hays to a friary in Victoria. The Capuchin order started the St. Joseph parish in 1878 but the order announced last spring that it would leave the parish this year.

Fathers Earl Befort, pastor of three small area Catholic parishes, and retired priests Father Canice Froehlich and Father Felix Petrovsky will join eight other Capuchins at the St. Fidelis Friary, 10 miles from Hays in Victoria.

For the first time in 135 years, the ministry at St. Joseph Parish will be returned to the Diocese of Salina.

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Associated Press information from: The Hays Daily News