About Holy Cross · Overland Park, Kansas
Church of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in Overland Park, Kansas, within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Founded in 1968, the parish serves approximately 1,276 households (about 3,850 individuals) across a geographic area bounded by 83rd Street (north), 119th Street (south), Lamar (east) and Antioch/Grant (west). Holy Cross describes itself as 'a diverse community, welcoming and accepting, united in Catholic Faith, and committed to forming people in the image of Christ to better serve the Lord and our neighbor.' Since January 2023 the parish has been led by the Scalabrinian Missionaries (Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo), and it operates both a vibrant Hispanic ministry (with weekly Mass in Spanish) and Holy Cross Catholic School.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- The Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. Abner Ables, CS
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a genuinely multicultural Catholic family — English- and Spanish-speaking households from across the Americas, alongside longtime Overland Park parishioners — where weekly Mass in both languages, lively ministries, and a parish school are all woven together. It offers the full sacramental life (daily Mass, Reconciliation twice weekly, Anointing of the Sick, Baptism prep, Matrimony with six months' notice, and RCIA), as well as faith formation for children, a youth group, Small Christian Communities, Legion of Mary (in both languages), a Homebound Ministry, and the parish's beloved September festival. Welcoming and outward-looking — the parish has financially supported its adopted missionary in Brazil since 1971 — Holy Cross is a place where new families, lifelong Catholics, and anyone exploring the faith can find a home.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45–3:45 pm
- Wednesday 5:30–6:45 pm
- First Saturday after the 8:30 am Mass (per 2022 bulletin)
About Church of the Holy Cross
Church of the Holy Cross is a Catholic parish in Overland Park, Kansas, in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The parish's stated mission is to be 'a diverse community, welcoming and accepting, united in Catholic Faith, and committed to forming people in the image of Christ to better serve the Lord and our neighbor.' It serves roughly 1,276 households — about 3,850 people — across a defined geographic area in north-central Overland Park. Holy Cross operates Holy Cross Catholic School and offers Mass, formation, and outreach in both English and Spanish.
- Parish households: ~1,276 (about 3,850 individuals)
- Geographic boundaries: 83rd St. (north), 119th St. (south), Lamar (east), Antioch/Grant (west)
- Families make up 60% of households within parish boundaries; renters are about 40%
- Median age of area: 38.3 years
- Member of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Parish History
Holy Cross was established in 1968 and quickly built the institutional and physical foundations that define it today — church, rectory, school, festival, and a global missionary outreach. The timeline on the parish website highlights the moments that have shaped community life, from the early 'St. Glenwood' theater Masses to the arrival of the Scalabrinian Missionaries in 2023.
- 1968 — Parish established; Sunday Masses at the Glenwood Theater
- 1970 — Archbishop Strecker approves the church building plans
- 1971 — Parish adopts Fr. Mark Tillia, a missionary in Brazil (still supported today)
- 1972 — New church completed; 'goodbye' to the theater
- 1974 — Rectory completed; priests move in
- 1986 — Purchases the former Valley View School; Holy Cross Catholic School opens with 179 students
- 1990 — Annual parish festival begins each September
- 1993 — 25th anniversary celebrated
- 1998 — Faith Response Capital Campaign and RENEW 2000 launched
- 2000 — Fr. Mark celebrates the first parish Mass in Spanish
- 2001 — Small Christian Communities become a regular part of parish life
- 2022 — Fr. Oswaldo Sandoval and Fr. Abner Ables serve as Pastors in Solidum (July–December)
- 2023 — Fr. Abner Ables, CS installed as first Scalabrinian pastor by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
- 2024 — Parish festival celebrated with representatives of the parish's ethnic groups
Clergy & Parish Staff
Holy Cross has been served by the Scalabrinian Missionaries since 2023. The current pastor is Rev. Abner Ables, CS, with Rev. Marcos Manuel Lopez Bustamante, CS serving as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Tim McEvoy assisting. The lay staff supports faith formation, music, youth ministry, finances, and parish operations.
- Pastor — Rev. Abner Ables, CS (Scalabrinian; installed January 14, 2023)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Marcos Manuel Lopez Bustamante, CS
- Permanent Deacon — Dcn. Tim McEvoy
- Parish Manager — Richard Warwick
- Office Secretaries — Nubia Palacios, Janie Booker
- Faith Formation — Patricia Argueta ([email protected])
- Youth Group — Daniel Ordones
- Accountant — Kelly Paik
- Music Director — Megan Hill ([email protected])
- Office Manager — Carol Morris
- Wedding Coordinator — Donna Hogue
- RCIA contact — Dave West (816-560-7853)
- Homebound Ministry — Margi Foley (913-381-8145)
Sacraments
Holy Cross prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism preparation is offered monthly, Marriage preparation requires at least six months' notice, and adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church are welcomed through the RCIA process.
- Baptism — English Baptisms are offered monthly after the 4:00 pm Saturday Mass; preparation class on the first Wednesday of each month
- First Communion & Confirmation — through the Faith Formation program
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturday 2:45–3:45 pm and Wednesday 5:30–6:45 pm
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office to schedule
- Matrimony — at least six months' notice; contact the parish office
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — contact Dave West at 816-560-7853
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Cross offers faith formation for children and youth, a youth ministry, and the RCIA process for adults. The Faith Formation office, led by Patricia Argueta, coordinates classes and sacramental preparation that connects parish families to the liturgical life of the church.
- Faith Formation Director — Patricia Argueta
- Youth Group — led by Daniel Ordones
- RCIA — adult inquiry and sacramental preparation (Dave West, 816-560-7853)
- Baptism prep classes — first Wednesday of each month
Holy Cross Catholic School
Holy Cross Catholic School is the parish's elementary school, founded in 1986 when the parish purchased the former Valley View School from the Shawnee Mission School District. The school opened that fall with 179 students and today serves preschool through 8th grade with a full faculty of classroom teachers, interventionists, a counselor, music and art programs, and athletics.
- Founded 1986 — opened with 179 students
- Address: 8101 W. 95th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212
- Phone: 913-381-7408; Fax: 913-381-1312
- Principal — Mr. Ben Compton
- Secretary / Tuition Manager — Martha Beisser
- Enrollment Mgmt & Communications — Stefanie Bridges
- Preschool — MacKenna Riley (PK3 teacher); Kate Troy (PreK teacher)
- Counselors — Jackie Reeb, Marian Petri
- Music Teacher — Dr. Adam Stallings
- Art Teacher — Kourtney Greer
- Band Instructor — John Burgess
- P.E. Teacher — Janine Obershaw
- Digital Literacy / Library — Caitlyn Jacobs
- Pastor (canonical link to school) — Rev. Abner Ables, CS
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Marcos Lopez, CS
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond Mass and formation, Holy Cross supports a wide range of ministries that serve both parishioners and the wider community. The parish has supported its adopted missionary in Brazil since 1971 and runs regular food collections for Catholic Charities.
- Small Christian Communities (since 2001)
- Legion of Mary — English and Spanish praesidia
- Homebound Ministry — visits and Communion for parishioners unable to attend Mass
- Adopt-a-Missionary — financial and prayer support for Fr. Mark Tillia in Brazil (since 1971)
- Catholic Charities food drives — monthly (no collection in December)
- Wedding Coordination
- Bunco women's group
- FLOCKNOTE parish email/text updates
Getting Involved & Stay Connected
Holy Cross invites new parishioners, returning Catholics, and visitors to plug into parish life through Mass, formation, ministries, and the annual September festival. Communication runs through FLOCKNOTE (text 'hcop' to 84576) and a Facebook page, while bulletins are archived on the parish website.
- Parish office: 8311 W. 93rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66212 — 913-381-2755
- Rectory: 8315 W. 93rd Street — 913-341-5618
- Email: [email protected]
- FLOCKNOTE — text 'hcop' to 84576 to receive parish updates
- Annual Parish Festival each September since 1990
- Welcome to new parishioners (announced in bulletin)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mike Stubbs
Pastor in 2016 per parish bulletin; one of the early pastors of record on the parish website.
- Rev. Anthony Saiki
Parochial Vicar and youth ministry director, listed in 2016 bulletin.
- Rev. Oswaldo Sandovalthrough 2022 (transitioned to Scalabrinians)
Built up the parish's intercultural and Hispanic ministry; served as Pastor in Solidum from July–December 2022 with Fr. Abner before handing leadership to the Scalabrinians.
- Rev. Abner Ables, CSeffective January 14, 2023
First Scalabrinian pastor; installation celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.