About Corpus Christi · Lawrence, Kansas
Corpus Christi Catholic Church is a Stewardship parish of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, located at 6001 Bob Billings Parkway in west Lawrence, Kansas. Founded in 1981 as a daughter parish of St. John the Evangelist downtown, the community has grown from roughly 300 founding families to more than 1,400 Catholic households worshipping at its Italian-village-on-a-hill style church and campus, which opened in the fall of 2000. The parish is known for an affiliated parish school (one of the few still using the stewardship funding model for Catholic schools), a vibrant music and liturgy program, daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and a wide array of ministries for youth, families, and the homebound.
- Established
- 1981
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. Carter Zielinski
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Corpus Christi is a Stewardship parish where members are invited to share their time, talent, and treasure as a response to God's call to discipleship, and worship is built around the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist as the source of all parish life. The community centers on family faith formation (grades 1–6), a thriving youth ministry and Confirmation prep, and one of the few Catholic schools in the region still operating under a stewardship funding model. With daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration multiple times a week, a robust music ministry, and outreach to the homebound and those in need through ministries like Family Promise, Corpus Christi offers a strong spiritual home for Catholic families in west Lawrence.
Mass times at Corpus Christi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday – 30 minutes before Mass
- Tuesday – 30 minutes before Mass
- Wednesday – 30 minutes before Mass, and 6:00 p.m. (following 5:30 p.m. Mass)
- Thursday – 30 minutes before Mass
- Friday – 30 minutes before Mass
- Saturday – 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- No confession on Mondays
Adoration times
- Tuesday – 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday – 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- First Friday – 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (Adoration); 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Holy Hour with Benediction, followed by Adoration until 9:00 p.m.
Mission & History
Corpus Christi's mission is to 'bear witness to the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by our work, worship and hospitality,' with the Eucharist as the center of parish life. The parish describes itself as a Stewardship parish, meaning that stewardship of time, talent, and treasure is the core way members respond to God's call to discipleship. Founded in 1981 by Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker as a daughter parish of St. John the Evangelist, the community moved from its original site at 11th & Kasold to the current Italian-village-on-a-hill campus at 6001 Bob Billings Parkway in fall 2000, when the church and school opened together.
- Founded 1981 by Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker
- First pastor: Fr. Frank Horvat
- Original church built at 11th & Kasold; early Masses held at West Junior High and 1st Baptist Church (13th & Kasold)
- Current church and school opened fall 2000 under Fr. Jim Shaughnessy
- Fr. Mick Mulvany expanded the campus and grew the parish to 1,400+ families
- Current pastor: Fr. Carter Zielinski (since November 2025)
Sacraments
Corpus Christi prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Baptism preparation classes are held the first Saturday of the month at 9:00 a.m. with the pastor (parents are encouraged to register during pregnancy). First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are a two-year program starting in 1st grade. Confirmation is a two-year process beginning in 7th grade, with the sacrament celebrated in the fall of 9th grade year. Matrimony requires a minimum of eight months of preparation per Archdiocesan policy, and weddings are not celebrated during Lent. Anointing of the Sick is offered communally and individually.
- Baptism — class first Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — 2-year program starting 1st grade
- Confirmation — 2-year process starting 7th grade, celebrated fall of 9th grade
- Matrimony — 8 months minimum prep; not during Lent
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment with the pastor; communal celebrations scheduled periodically
- Reconciliation — scheduled times and by appointment
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Family Faith Formation is the umbrella for religious education of children in grades 1–6 and their families, offering three complementary tracks: Religious Education classes for children who do not attend Corpus Christi School, Domestic Church gatherings for families with young children, and quarterly Parent Formation evenings. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is integrated into this program, and all parent volunteers must be VIRTUS trained.
- Religious Education for grades 1–6 (fall and spring sessions)
- Domestic Church — quarterly family gatherings after 10:00 Mass in Fr. Mick Commons
- Parent Formation — quarterly Wednesday evenings; required for First Sacraments and Confirmation parents
- VIRTUS training required for all parent volunteers
- Catechists have their $125 registration fee waived
Youth Ministry & Confirmation Prep
Corpus Christi Youth Ministry supports teens in deepening their faith in a safe, trusted community of peers, 'using the Gospel Truth as our guide.' The program includes Confirmation preparation, the Life Teen high school program, summer youth activities, and service hour opportunities. Youth are also encouraged to serve at Mass as acolytes, ushers, lectors, and musicians. Confirmation itself is celebrated in the fall of a teen's 9th grade year.
- Director of Youth Ministry and Confirmation: Gina Dahlstrand
- Life Teen / High School ministry
- Confirmation preparation (2-year process, beginning 7th grade)
- Summer youth activities
- Service / stewardship hours tracking
- Ministers for Mass opportunities for teens (acolytes, ushers, lectors, music)
Corpus Christi Catholic School
Corpus Christi Catholic School is a parish-affiliated K-6 school sharing the Bob Billings Parkway campus with the church, and is one of the few Catholic schools in the region still operating under a stewardship funding model. The school's mission is to prepare students academically, socially, and spiritually to become lifelong learners in a faith-filled environment, partnering with families to nurture faith, knowledge, and character. By 2006 the school had separated from the former joint 'Lawrence Catholic School' arrangement with St. John the Evangelist.
- Affiliated parish school, K-6, on the church campus
- Principal: Mrs. Heather Stessman
- Stewardship funding model (one of the few remaining in the region)
- Formerly part of the joint Lawrence Catholic School with St. John the Evangelist until 2006
- Daily prayer, strong academics, and a focus on service
Music & Liturgy Ministry
The Music Ministry at Corpus Christi is led by the Director of Music & Liturgy, Shaun Whisler, and includes choirs, cantors, handbell ringers, and instrumentalists who lead the assembly in prayer across all weekend and seasonal liturgies. The Art and Environment team collaborates with the pastor and staff on liturgy preparation, training of liturgical ministers, and formation of the assembly about worship.
- Corpus Christi Choir — rehearses Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 p.m.
- Handbell Choir — rehearses Wednesdays 6:00–7:00 p.m.
- Youth Choir (3rd grade+) — rehearses Thursdays 3:45–4:45 p.m., sings once a month
- Cantors and Instrumentalists — brass, strings, and winds welcomed
- Art and Environment ministry
- Director: Shaun Whisler
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond the music and liturgical ministries, Corpus Christi offers a wide range of parish ministries for hospitality, service, and care of the homebound. The First Impressions team focuses on welcoming visitors and parishioners; Meals for the Priest provides Tuesday and Thursday meals for the pastor; and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring Communion to parishioners in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private homes.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Communion to Retirement Communities & Homebound
- Altar Servers (5th grade and older)
- Family Promise
- LINK ministry
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- Eucharistic Adoration volunteers
- Meals for the Priest (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
- First Impressions (hospitality)
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a full team of clergy, school administration, and parish professional and support staff. Fr. Carter Zielinski serves as pastor, supported by retired Deacon Randy Horn and (historically) Deacon Chris Allen. Day-to-day operations, formation, liturgy, communications, and finance are led by a dedicated lay staff.
- Fr. Carter Zielinski — Pastor
- Dn. Randy Horn — Retired Deacon
- Louis Funk — Director of Operations
- Mrs. Heather Stessman — Principal (School)
- Bonnie Petz — Director of Finance
- Cristy Sullivan — Director of Parish Life
- Gina Dahlstrand — Director of Faith Formation / Youth Ministry & Confirmation
- Sr. Doris Engeman — Coordinator of Faith Formation
- Shaun Whisler — Director of Music & Liturgy
- Ann Wright — Director of Marketing & Communications
- Andy Doll — First Impressions
- Zechariah Mickelson — Technology Director & Teacher
Contact, Location & Visiting
Corpus Christi is located on the west side of Lawrence at 6001 Bob Billings Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66049. Visitors are welcomed to register online through the parish website. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., with the church office reachable at 785-843-6286 and the school office at 785-331-3374.
- Address: 6001 Bob Billings Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66049
- Church Phone: 785-843-6286
- School Phone: 785-331-3374
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–Noon & 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Online new-parishioner registration at cccparish.org/join
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Frank Horvat1981 (founding pastor)
Assigned as first pastor when Archbishop Strecker established the parish.
- Fr. Jim Shaughnessy
Led the parish through fundraising and construction of the current 6001 Bob Billings campus; church and school opened in fall 2000.
- Fr. Mick Mulvany
Third pastor; expanded the campus, added on to the school, and grew the community to more than 1,400 Catholic families.
- Fr. Jerry VolzJuly 2020 – November 2025
Led the parish through growth and renewal; known for stewardship, devotion to the Eucharist, and First Fridays Holy Hour with Benediction.
- Fr. Carter ZielinskiNovember 2025 – present
Succeeded Fr. Jerry Volz; current pastor.