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St Monica Catholic Church
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St Monica Catholic Church
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Welcome to our parish. Let us know how we can help you!

Father Leonard Gicheru

“I trust in God to guide me,” he said. “He is leading me the right way.”

-read more about Fr. Leonard's journey to the priesthood in this Catholic Key article.

African American Heritage Trail

Explore the History in KC

St. Monica Catholic Church is the first Catholic Church founded for African Americans in Kansas City in 1910. St. Katherine Drexel provided the funding to establish a mission and school for “the education in religion and secular knowledge for Colored People.” The former school and church built in 1913 is still used today.

Explore All Trails

 Click on the African American Heritage Trails of Kansas City MO website to see all trails. https://aahtkc.org/ 

St. Monica Catholic Church

Celebrating 110 years at St. Monica Catholic Church & Still Going Strong

Video History & Music Rights Information.

About Us

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Our History

     Early in 1909, the late Bishop John J.  Hogan noticed that there were between 23,556 to 35,000 Colored people in the  Kansas City area.  At the time, most were economically deprived, maligned, and treated as second class citizens.  They lived in dilapidated shanties in overcrowded communities.  Because of discrimination and segregation, Bishop Hogan believed the church needed to do something for colored Catholics.  He asked Fr. Cyprian Sauer to start a mission.  He canvassed the neighborhood and discovered several superstitions about Catholicism.  Ruth Lange identified 30 fellow black Catholics. 

     Father Cyprian experienced a rough and trying time.  He needed money for a place of worship and a school. He decided to write to Mother Katherine Drexel, who was known for her generosity.  When months passed without hearing from her, Father Cyprian, appealed in prayer to St. Monica of Africa (331-187 A.D.).  St. Monica of Africa was a Black woman, who was known for her long years of prayer for the conversion of her son, Augustine, who became a great Doctor of the Church.  Fr. Cyprian promised to dedicate the mission in her name.  Exactly one week later, he heard from Mother Drexel.  She came to Kansas City, and with Father Cyprian, picked the site of 17th and Lydia for the location of the church and school. She presented him a check for $8,000.00.  In addition to the $8,000, Bishop Hogan donated $50 of his own money and Bernard Corrigan contributed $1000.  With these donations they purchased the land and building for the education of colored children.  Nearby churches contributed items and artifacts necessary for conducting mass.   

On Sunday, October 2, 1910, the mission was formally opened. It was called, “St. Monica Mission for Colored Catholics.” After three years the buildings became too dilapidated for use as a church and school.  The congregation was then allowed to celebrate mass in the Saint Joseph Sanctuary located at 19th and Harrison Ave.   

    The men of the Catholic Club decided to help the St. Monica Mission obtain a new site. They made a pledge and were very prompt in their payments. There were many other benefactors who contributed generously. The pastor, once more appealed to Mother Katherine Drexel, who immediately sent a check for $3,000.  The total cost of the building at that time was $12,676.11.   This generosity made it possible to have a new building free of debt soon after it was built.   The new building was blessed on Sunday, July 2, 1913.  The Solemn Dedication took place on October 26, 1913.   

     The church was on the second floor while the school was on the first floor and basement. The convent was in the back of the building. The Priest occupied another cottage on the property.  In 1940, Bishop O'Hara formally presented the old St. Joseph Church building  located on 19th and Harrison to the St. Monica Mission parishioners.  It was at this time that the name “Saint Monica Mission” was changed to “Saint Joseph Parish”.    

St. Joseph Church had in its sanctuary, two unique statues. They are the life-size statues of two black saints, St. Benedict the Moor and St. Ephygenia of Africa. These statues were imported from Paris by the late Attorney, W.T. Johnson.   He later donated the famous statues to the Mission.   

In 1940, with the aid of Bishop O'Hara, a high school was provided for the Black boys and girls.  It was located on the top floor of the Mission, which was formerly the church.  In 1944, the high school was proud to hold its first graduation. In 1959, Father Alvin Deem. O.F.M. purchased property at 16th and  Paseo Boulevard, which would become the location of the new St. Joseph Church and Rectory. The property was purchased for $50,000. The new buildings were dedicated by Bishop Cody, on Sunday, April 16, 1961.  

The history of Saint Monica is filled with the past of not just one church, but two.   The merger of the Risen Christ and the Saint Joseph Parishes in June 1995 serve as the foundation for today's united parish.  

On October 19, 1995, the two Parishes agreed to merge into a new parish at the Saint Joseph site.  The two Churches officially ceased to exist as separate Parishes when the first mass of the united congregation was held on October 22,  1995.  Approximately 500 people attended the Mass, which was conducted by the new Pastor, Father Philip M. Egan, at the site of the former Church of the Risen Christ.  The united parish was temporarily called the New Community Catholic Church.   Following a six month planning process, the people of the new Parish reached back into history and dedicated the congregation to Saint Monica.  The new Church name would become, "Saint Monica Catholic Church".  

      A Capital Building Fund Campaign was initiated for the construction of a new Sanctuary in September 1998.  The campaign was designed to fund the building of an 11,500 square foot Sanctuary with seating for 750 people.  This new edifice would be attached to the church building (St. Joseph), at 1616 Paseo Boulevard. The Sanctuary of the new Saint Monica Catholic Church was dedicated by Bishop Raymond Boland, on October 21, 2001.  

The Risen Christ Catholic Church and the St. Joseph Catholic Church closed two sets of historical doors and opened a new set of doors to the future! The parishioners share their experiences of God’s work in this Church. 

Parish Council

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St. Monica Parish Council

The St. Monica Parish Council meets on the first Wednesday of the month.


LETTER TO PARISH FROM PARISH COUNCIL 

July 2020 


  Dear St. Monica Parishioners,

We hope that you are well and staying safe!! 

We had hoped that by now the broader Kansas City community would have the Covid 19 virus under control and that St. Monica Parish would be back to normal. Unfortunately, that is not the case and it will likely be some time before the virus is under control.

In that spirit, the parish council wanted to reach out to you, give an update and let you know that we miss you all, are thinking of you and praying for you!

For now, the mass schedule will remain as it is with both 8am and 10am masses being held in person for those that feel comfortable coming out and wearing masks. 10am mass is being live-streamed on our Facebook business page then posted on our website and our YouTube channel. If you have not looked at the website lately check it out for all the current information. We have the bulletins, prayer requests, graduate recognition, online giving, the video of mass for that week, and the Toiletry Campaign information.  For those that do not have Internet capability, please call the parish if you have prayer intentions, school graduates or any other updates.

To support those of you worshiping at home, we would like to make missalettes available to you. If you would like one and could drive by the parish during mass time on Sunday 7/19 or Sunday 7/26, we will pass them out in front of the church. If you are not available during mass time, you can come by the church office and pick one up any time the office is open. This will help you and your loved ones to follow along with readings. Remember that “a family that prays together stays together” and more so during these trying times.  For those that have smartphones, apps like Laudate can be downloaded to your phones and are quite user friendly to follow along with the scriptures during mass and/or for many other prayers.

Thank you so much to all of you who have the ability and are continuing to give your time, talent and treasures to the parish. Your continued support is essential.

We are looking for ways to maintain and grow our connections with you through these tough times. If you have ideas on how we can improve in this effort, please let us know. Until we are worshipping together again in person, may the Peace of Christ be with you and sustain you!

Thanks again for all you do to support our parish.


Your Parish Council

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