Blessed Sacrament

Parish History

Blessed Sacrament was organized on August 13, 1899, by ten founding families meeting at the home of Frank T. Lyons at 1834 Parallel Avenue, at the request of Father Bernard S. Kelly, then chancellor of the Diocese of Leavenworth. The first chapel was a rented storeroom at Locust Street and Parallel Avenue; the parish moved to a hall, then in 1900 purchased the present block at Twenty-second and Troup. A frame church was dedicated by Bishop Fink in 1901, and a school opened in 1903, placed under the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth in 1904. By the time Father Kelly was reassigned in 1907, the parish numbered around 125–155 families and had built what was, in 1906, called the most substantial parish house in the diocese. The present Gothic church, built of white native limestone, was completed around Christmas 1920 at a cost of $127,000, with the basement first used as a chapel in November 1921. The old frame building was remodeled into classrooms to serve the growing school. Through the twentieth and into the twenty-first century the parish has remained a Wyandotte County landmark, and the parish website declares it is 'in our second century, continuing the work of those who went before us.'

Founding Clergy

Father Bernard S. Kelly, the parish's founder and first pastor, served from 1899 until 1907 and simultaneously served as chancellor of the Diocese of Leavenworth — a remarkable feat praised by a 1911 history. He was succeeded by Father Patrick McInerney, who continued to expand the young parish and later became rector of St. Peter's parish and chancellor of the diocese.

• Rev. Bernard S. Kelly, pastor 1899–1907 (founder, also chancellor of the Diocese of Leavenworth)
• Rev. Patrick McInerney, pastor from 1907

Parish Staff & Clergy

The parish staff, both English- and Spanish-speaking, supports Blessed Sacrament's bilingual mission and its wider pastoral role serving Christ the King and Our Lady & St. Rose communities.

• Rev. John Nicholas Blaha, STL — Pastor / Párroco (ext. 4)
• Rev. Hernan Pinzón — Parochial Assistant (Hispanic Ministry)
• Mary Torres — Parish Secretary (ext. 2)
• Maria Dominguez — Parish Secretary (ext. 2)
• Maria Aguilar — Coordinator of Sacramental Formation
• Adriana Ford-Rios — Bookkeeper

Parish Ministries

Beyond the celebration of the sacraments, Blessed Sacrament hosts prayer, formation, and outreach groups that knit its bilingual community together.

• Reach KCK — outreach ministry
• Grupo de Oración Carismática — Charismatic Prayer Group
• Consejo de Finanzas / Finance Council
• Escuela de Educación Religiosa (EER) — parish religious education school
• Formación Catequética para Adultos — Adult Catechetical Formation (RCIA-style)
• Coordinación de Formación Sacramental — Sacramental Formation Coordination
• Quinceañera Masses (Misas de Quince Años)
• Marriage Preparation (Matrimonio)
• Baptism Preparation (Bautismo)

Sacramental Life

The parish prepares and celebrates the chief sacraments of initiation and vocation. Sacramental formation is coordinated by Maria Aguilar; the parish office provides bilingual support for those preparing to receive the sacraments.

• Baptism
• Marriage
• Quinceañera Mass
• First Communion / Confirmation through the Religious Education School
• Adult Catechetical Formation

School & Faith Formation History

Blessed Sacrament opened a parish school just three years after its founding; from 1904 the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth staffed it. As the parish grew, the original frame church was remodeled into classrooms, and in the early twentieth century seven Sisters of Charity served a student body of around 325. In more recent decades the parish's students were educated at Christ the King Elementary, jointly serving Christ the King, Our Lady & St. Rose, and Blessed Sacrament parishes. Christ the King Elementary closed at the end of the 2023–2024 school year after 79 years due to financial strain, and pastor Father Nick Blaha pledged the building will continue to serve education in new ways.

Office Hours & Contact

The parish office is open five days a week with a half-day on Friday. Inquiries in English or Spanish are welcomed.

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Phone: (913) 321-1958
• Email: [email protected]

Mission Statement

As published on the parish website: 'Nuestra Misión: La Parroquia Católica de Blessed Sacrament situada en el Condado de Wyandotte es una Comunión Santa, conectándonos con Cristo y uniéndonos con los demás en el camino hacia los cielos. En nuestro segundo siglo, continuamos la obra de aquellos que nos precedieron. Cristo une nuestras diversas culturas en una unidad familiar de amor y servicio. Juntos estamos comprometidos a crecer en la santidad, proclamando el Evangelio, compartiendo nuestra fe y trabajando para traer el Reino de Dios.'