About Guardian Angels · Kansas City, Missouri
Guardian Angels is a Catholic parish in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 1909 to serve the many German-speaking families living near the old Santa Fe Trail in what is now the Westport area. The parish's striking Gothic church, built of Carthage stone and dedicated in 1924, still anchors the neighborhood around 43rd Street and Westport Road. Today it is a culturally rich, multicultural community in the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, home to Our Lady of Hope school, a long-running food pantry, RCIA and family faith formation, and a wide array of lay ministries. Current parish life is led by Parochial Administrator Rev. Carlito Saballo, SOLT, with Mass celebrated in English on weekends and weekdays.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- The Guardian Angels
- Rector
- Rev. Carlito Saballo, SOLT (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph
Why belong here
Guardian Angels welcomes every Catholic and seeker 'regardless of where you are from, your occupation, age, family, marital status, personal history, race, background, ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, or gender.' A culturally rich, bilingual-in-spirit community in the heart of Westport, it offers daily and weekend Mass, a daily Eucharistic Adoration chapel, the parish food pantry that serves the surrounding neighborhood, Our Lady of Hope school right next door, and a full slate of formation for children and adults — including RCIA, Family Faith, and sacramental prep. Whether you want to sing in the choir, quilt on Wednesdays, serve on the Pastoral or Finance Council, stock the food pantry, or simply pray in the 1924 sanctuary, there is a place here for you.
Mass times at Guardian Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
- Tuesday: 4:45 PM (Adoration Chapel, before 5:30 PM Mass)
- Wednesday: 4:45 PM (Adoration Chapel, before 5:30 PM Mass)
- Thursday: 4:45 PM (Adoration Chapel, before 5:30 PM Mass)
- Other days — by appointment (call Parish Office)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 4:45 PM – 5:20 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Wednesday: 4:45 PM – 5:20 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Thursday: 4:45 PM – 5:20 PM (Adoration Chapel)
Parish History
Guardian Angels was founded in 1909 as Schutz Angel Kirche to serve the German-speaking Catholic families living west of old Westport near the Santa Fe Trail. The parish grew rapidly, opening a school in 1910 and outgrowing its first chapel within a decade. After completing a Gothic church of Carthage stone in 1924, the parish transitioned from a German national church to a territorial parish serving all Catholics within its assigned boundaries. The 20th century brought floods, fires, the social upheaval of the surrounding Westport neighborhood, and a quiet name change from 'Guardian Angel' to 'Guardian Angels' in 1952–53. Around the millennium the parish undertook a major Renewal, Restoration, and Renovation campaign that raised $1 million without going into debt, and in 2008–09 the parish celebrated its centennial. Most recently the school was reborn as Our Lady of Hope in 2016 through a merger supported by the Hunt family's Loretto Foundation.
- 1908: idea for a German-speaking parish first discussed at a card game
- 1909: Bishop John J. Hogan grants permission; Fr. Karl J. Haeckler named first pastor
- May 1909: first Mass in vacant grocery store at 43rd and Belleview
- October 2, 1909: first Mass on the Feast of the Guardian Angels in the partially finished building
- September 11, 1910: school opens with 40 students and two Benedictine sisters
- 1915: Fr. Peter Rosch becomes second pastor
- 1918: Bishop Lillis draws territorial boundaries for the parish
- 1921: church basement completed; first Mass Christmas Day 1921
- May 14, 1922: cornerstone laid by Bishop Lillis
- December 25, 1923: first Mass in the unfinished Gothic church
- May 4, 1924: official dedication of the present church
- 1926: changed from German national to territorial parish
- 1952–53: name quietly changes from 'Guardian Angel' to 'Guardian Angels'
- 2008–09: centennial celebration; Bishop Robert Finn presides October 4, 2009
- 2016: school reborn as Our Lady of Hope through merger with Our Lady of Guadalupe
About the Parish
Guardian Angels describes itself as 'a culturally rich Catholic community strengthened and united in faith and worship,' striving 'to be messengers of hope, making God's Word active in our everyday lives.' Its guiding principles center on the Eucharist, the Word of God, reconciliation, peace, justice, and love, and the baptismal call to ministry. The parish deeply values the inter-cultural and inter-ethnic gifts, talents, and abilities of each person, collaborates with neighboring organizations to serve the Westport area, and is committed to non-judgmental support and acceptance of people as they are.
- Mission: messengers of hope, making God's Word active in everyday lives
- Collaborates with neighbors to provide assistance to the Westport area
- Non-judgmental support and acceptance of people as they are
- Welcomes all regardless of background, ethnicity, religion, or gender
Parish Staff
Parish life is led by Parochial Administrator Rev. Carlito Saballo, SOLT, supported by a staff of lay and religious workers. Sr. Mary Rachel Craig, SOLT, serves as Faith Formation Assistant, while Christine Vaca is the Administrative Assistant in the parish office.
- Rev. Carlito Saballo, SOLT — Parochial Administrator ([email protected])
- Christine Vaca — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Dr. Hyun-ki Yoon — Music Director ([email protected])
- Judy Dugan — IT Coordinator ([email protected])
- Sarah Sutherland — Social Media ([email protected])
- David Arciga — Facilities Coordinator ([email protected])
- Ms. Diana Henry — Food Pantry Coordinator ([email protected])
- Sr. Mary Rachel Craig, SOLT — Faith Formation Assistant ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper (contact via parish office)
- Becca Flores — Administrative Assistant (recently listed on Connect page)
Pastoral and Finance Councils
Lay leadership at Guardian Angels is exercised through elected Pastoral and Finance Councils that meet monthly in the parish office.
- Pastoral Council (meets 2nd Tuesday): Andy Fox, Becca Flores, Anna Rios, Lisa Aguilar, David Kleen
- Finance Council (meets 4th Tuesday): Debra Barbosa, Darren Walrod, Antoinette Ramirez, Alison Scholes, Jim Torres, Harry Williamson
- Green Team (meets 3rd Tuesday of each month)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Guardian Angels runs a full life-long faith formation program for children, youth, and adults. Children's Religious Education meets on Sundays between the two morning Masses and includes a preschool program during the 10:30 AM Mass. Family Faith brings together children in grades 1–5 with their parents on the third Sunday of each month from 9:30 to 10:15 AM, and is required preparation for children entering First Communion classes the following year. Adults can join the monthly Faith Formation discussion group on Catholic Social Teaching, the 'What Catholics Believe' sessions, and the parish's RCIA program.
- Sunday AM Preschool (during 10:30 AM Mass, ages 3–Kindergarten)
- First Reconciliation preparation (grades 2+; begins in September)
- First Communion preparation (after First Reconciliation)
- Family Faith (grades 1–5 with parents, 3rd Sunday, 9:30–10:15 AM)
- Confirmation preparation (contact parish office)
- RCIA — Inquiry Nights each summer; September–Pentecost journey, initiation at Easter Vigil
- Faith Formation adult group (monthly, between Masses, Parish Hall)
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for all the major sacraments. Infant baptisms are usually celebrated on the second weekend of the month after a parent interview and baptism class scheduled with Fr. Carlito Saballo. Adults seeking to become Catholic do so through RCIA, with Inquiry Nights held each summer. First Reconciliation precedes First Communion, and Confirmation preparation is available through the parish. Weddings should be arranged by contacting the parish office at least nine months in advance.
- Baptism — contact Fr. Carlito Saballo after your child is born
- RCIA — contact parish office; Inquiry Nights each summer
- First Reconciliation & First Communion
- Confirmation preparation
- Marriage — contact parish office ~9 months in advance
- Quinceañera celebrations
- Anointing of the Sick / home visits by appointment
Outreach, Food Pantry, and Social Concerns
Guardian Angels has long been known for its service to the surrounding Westport community, especially through its on-site food pantry. The Social Outreach Committee coordinates signature events like the Outpace Poverty Walk, Thanksgiving Baskets, and the Giving Tree, and accepts donations of food and volunteer time year-round. Friends of the Pantry take on special projects including home deliveries to neighbors in need.
- Parish Food Pantry / Emergency Assistance — coordinated by Ms. Diana Henry ([email protected])
- Social Outreach Committee (Outpace Poverty Walk, Thanksgiving Baskets, Giving Tree)
- Volunteer translators for the parish community
- School service projects (Our Lady of Hope) supporting the food pantry
- Friends of the Pantry — home deliveries and special projects
- Collaboration with neighboring organizations to serve the Westport area
Parish Life, Fellowship, and Ministries
Beyond the sanctuary, Guardian Angels sustains an active parish life through lay-led councils, working committees, and fellowship groups that meet throughout the week. The Quilting Group meets every Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Parish Hall. The Green Team meets on the third Tuesday of each month. BUNCO nights, the annual St. Joseph Table, and seasonal celebrations round out the social calendar.
- Quilting Group — Wednesdays 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, Parish Hall
- Green Team — 3rd Tuesday monthly
- BUNCO fellowship nights
- St. Joseph Table (annual parish celebration)
- Homebound Communion ministry (organized by Pastoral Council)
- Music Ministry under Dr. Hyun-ki Yoon
Our Lady of Hope Catholic School
Our Lady of Hope Catholic School sits on the historic Guardian Angels campus at 4232 Mercier, just south of the church. It is a K–8 ministry of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph and a Bright Futures Fund school, fully accredited by the Missouri Nonpublic Schools Accrediting Association (MNSAA). The school is bi-state, drawing roughly half its families from Missouri and half from Kansas, and is intentionally diverse: about 80% Latino, 14% multiracial, 5% African American, and 91% Catholic, with 20% of students having diagnosed disabilities and 100% receiving scholarships. It was formed in 2016 through the merger of Our Lady of the Angels and Our Lady of Guadalupe; the campus was extensively renovated with a gift from the Hunt family's Loretto Foundation and was dedicated and blessed on September 11, 2016, by Bishop James V. Johnson, Jr. The school continues Guardian Angels' tradition of weekly donations to the parish Food Pantry through collections at the school Mass.
- K–8 Catholic school rooted in the parish's 1909 schoolhouse
- Located at 4232 Mercier, Kansas City, MO 64111
- Phone: (816) 931-1693; website: https://olhkcmo.org/
- Bright Futures Fund school; MNSAA accredited
- Bishop James V. Johnson, Jr. dedicated the renovated campus September 11, 2016
- Renovations funded by a gift from the Hunt family's Loretto Foundation
- Weekly student collections support the Guardian Angels Food Pantry
Joining the Parish & Contact
Guardian Angels actively invites new parishioners to register. Registration forms are available on the parish website and can be emailed to [email protected] or dropped in the collection basket during Mass. The parish office can also be reached by phone at (816) 931-4351. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM, with limited additional hours around weekend Masses.
- Registration form available at guardianangelskc.org
- Phone: (816) 931-4351
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
- Mailing address: 1310 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO 64111
- Stay connected via Facebook (Guardianangelskc) and Instagram (@guardianangels_kc)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Karl J. Haeckler1909–1915
First pastor; appointed by Bishop John J. Hogan from Sts. Peter and Paul. Oversaw founding, first Mass in grocery store, and opening of school in 1910.
- Fr. Peter Rosch1915–
Second pastor; appointed by Bishop Thomas Lillis. Built the rectory, added classrooms, began the English sermon, and oversaw construction and 1924 dedication of the present Gothic church.
- Fr. Bob Hagan, SJ2012–
Appointed associate pastor by Bishop Robert Finn in consultation with the Missouri Jesuit Provincial.
- Fr. Ed Wills2017–
Appointed pastor by Bishop James V. Johnson, Jr.
- Fr. Andrew Mattingly2017–
Appointed parochial vicar by Bishop James V. Johnson, Jr.
- Fr. Carlito Saballo, SOLT2018–
Appointed parochial vicar by Bishop James V. Johnson, Jr. in 2018; now Parochial Administrator.
- Fr. Garry Richmeier2018–
Appointed Sacramental Minister by Bishop James V. Johnson, Jr. in 2018.
- Deacon Tyrone Gutierrez2019–
Appointed Pastoral Administrator by Bishop James V. Johnson, Jr. in 2019.