About Our Lady and St. Rose · Kansas City, Kansas
Our Lady & St. Rose Catholic Church is a historically Black Catholic parish in Kansas City, Kansas, formed in 1968 by the merger of St. Rose of Lima (founded 1907) and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (founded 1924), itself the first parish for Black Catholics in what is now the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Today the parish still worships at the historic church building at 8th & Quindaro Boulevard — described by its own parishioners as 'the beacon on the hill' — and gathers every Sunday at 11:00am for Mass, music and fellowship. It is currently served from nearby Blessed Sacrament Parish and identifies as a 'faith-filled, diverse, family community' devoted to worship, evangelization, and works of justice and charity.
- Established
- 1968 (unification of St. Rose of Lima, founded 1907, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, founded 1924)
- Patron
- Our Lady (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) and St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Msgr. Stuart Swetland (also continuing as president of Donnelly College)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Our Lady & St. Rose is a faith-filled, family-sized parish where liturgy, music, formation and outreach all happen in one welcoming building on Quindaro Boulevard. Worship is led by a celebrated Gospel choir under Music Director Lorraine Long, who rehearses each Sunday at 9:45am and sings at the 11:00am Mass — an experience visitors consistently describe as joyful and spirit-filled. The parish also runs Religious Education for K–12, a Multimedia Ministry, Knights of Peter Claver (council, ladies auxiliary, juniors and junior daughters), Bible study, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, and a Homeless Ministry — meaning new members can plug into faith formation, service, music or media right away.
Mass times at Our Lady and St. Rose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays 10:15am
Parish History
Our Lady & St. Rose traces its roots to two distinct Catholic communities on Kansas City's northeast side. On September 13, 1968 the Eastern Kansas Register announced the unification of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Rose of Lima, effective September 24, 1968; the combined parish took the name Our Lady & St. Rose, with Our Lady's congregation then numbering about 250. The parish notes that it is 'still the beacon on the hill at 8th & Quindaro Blvd in Kansas City, Kansas.'
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (founded 1924)
In February 1924, Fr. Angelus Schaefer, OFM — less than a year ordained, but already marked by his interest in ministry to Black Catholics as a seminarian — was sent to found the very first parish for Black Catholics in what is now the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, and named it Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Fr. Angelus served as pastor from 1924 to 1943, building up an array of parish societies — Altar Society, Holy Name Society, a St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary — the most enduring of which was the Knights of Peter Claver.
- Founded February 1924 by Fr. Angelus Schaefer, OFM
- First parish for Black Catholics in what is now the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
- Fr. Angelus pastored from 1924–1943
St. Rose of Lima (founded 1907)
The other root parish, St. Rose of Lima, was founded in 1907. Its current church was dedicated in 1921; the parish school, already in operation, donated two of the church's stained glass windows, and students played in the park across the street. The early history of St. Rose of Lima is still being researched, and the parish welcomes visitors and former members to share their stories.
- Founded 1907
- Church dedicated in 1921
- School donated two stained glass windows to the church
- Early history still being researched — former members invited to share stories
Holy Week & Easter
The 2026 Holy Week schedule published on the parish site begins with a Holy Thursday Meal at 5:00pm followed by the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 6:00pm; Good Friday liturgy at 6:00pm; Holy Saturday Mass at 8:00pm; and Easter Sunday Mass at 11:00am — the regular Sunday hour.
- Holy Thursday Meal 5:00pm; Mass 6:00pm
- Good Friday 6:00pm
- Holy Saturday 8:00pm
- Easter Sunday 11:00am
Music Ministry — The Gospel Choir
A signature ministry of Our Lady & St. Rose is its Gospel Choir, directed by Ms. Lorraine Long, which rehearses every Sunday at 9:45am and sings at the 11:00am Mass. The parish invites worshippers to 'Come and worship with us and feel the spirit of God alive and well!' Choir members enter through the chapel door on the south side. Laleta Jones also serves as the parish pianist, and Lorraine Long is the overall Music Director.
- Gospel Choir directed by Ms. Lorraine Long
- Rehearsal: Sundays 9:45am
- Sings at every Sunday 11:00am Mass
- Pianist: Laleta Jones
Knights of Peter Claver & Ladies' Auxiliary
The Knights of Peter Claver were formally organized at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on September 12, 1929 as Council #61 (chartered the following month, with charter members including Theodore Jacobs, Heziak Tackett, Edward LaSalle, T.B. Waller, John Horrid, Gabrel Glaze, Jess Davis, Cornelius James, Lewis Phillips, H.W. King and Henry Wells). In 1940 Council & Court #61 hosted the District Conference. The Ladies Auxiliary was formed in 1932 and reactivated in January 1966 under Fr. Joyce Finnigan; the Junior Knights and Junior Daughters were added in 1977. Today the council and court remain the only such units in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, with several current members being descendants of the original charter members.
- Council #61 chartered in October 1929 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Ladies Auxiliary formed 1932; reactivated January 1966 and named for Fr. Joyce Finnigan
- Junior Knights and Junior Daughters organized in 1977
- Hosts the Junior Daughters' 'Angel Tree' Christmas project
- Ladies Auxiliary collects food donations for the Catholic Charities food pantry
- Only Knights of Peter Claver council and court in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Religious Education & Youth
Religious Education classes are offered for youth entering grades K–12, meeting on the 3rd Sundays at 12:30pm, September through May. The program is staffed by Directors of Religious Education Anthony Marie Johnson and Patricia Goering.
- K–12 Religious Education
- Meets 3rd Sundays at 12:30pm, September–May
- Directors: Anthony Marie Johnson & Patricia Goering
- Vacation Bible School under Franchiel Nyakatura
Multimedia Ministry
The Multimedia Ministry uses electronic and digital media to extend the parish's mission beyond its walls — through its website, social media, and other digital platforms. It is actively recruiting volunteers for audio/visual, social media (Facebook/Instagram), and website management teams.
- Spreads the Gospel via web, social media, and digital platforms
- Volunteers needed for A/V, social media, and website management
- Volunteer sign-up form on the parish website
Homeless Ministry
Our Lady & St. Rose maintains an active Homeless Ministry as part of its commitment to 'works of justice and charity,' rooted in the parish's founding mission under Fr. Angelus Schaefer and continuing the tradition of service the parish has carried since 1924.
- Outreach to those experiencing homelessness in the Kansas City, KS community
Parish Organizations & Contacts
The parish's lay organizations and ministry contacts are published on its Get Involved page, making it easy for newcomers to plug into the life of the parish.
- Pastoral Council — Deacon Bill Scholl
- Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. — Jonathan Goering
- Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary — Barbara Bailey
- Knights of Peter Claver Jr. Knights — Jonathan Goering
- Knights of Peter Claver Jr. Daughters — Franchiel Nyakatura
- Eucharistic Ministers — Tanya Selectman
- Lectors — Barbara Bailey
- Ushers — William Henderson
- Religious Education / Vacation Bible School — Franchiel Nyakatura
- Music — Lorraine Long
Staff
The parish is led by Msgr. Stuart Swetland as pastor, supported by Deacon Bill Scholl as parish administrator and Barbara Bailey as pastoral associate.
- Msgr. Stuart Swetland — Pastor
- Deacon Bill Scholl — Parish Administrator
- Barbara Bailey — Pastoral Associate
- Laleta Jones — Pianist
- Frances Smith — Homebound Minister
- Anthony Marie Johnson & Patricia Goering — Directors of Religious Education
- Lorraine Long — Music Director
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the office at 913-321-1958 x3. The parish office is at 2203 Parallel Ave., Kansas City, KS 66104, and the church building itself stands at 2300 N. 8th St. / 8th & Quindaro Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66101. For Sunday Mass and Gospel Choir rehearsal, enter the church through the chapel door on the south side.
- Parish office: 2203 Parallel Ave., Kansas City, KS 66104
- Church site: 2300 N. 8th St. / 8th & Quindaro Blvd
- Phone: 913-321-1958 x3
- Sunday Mass entry (including choir): south-side chapel door
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Angelus Schaefer, OFM1924–1943
Founder of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the first parish for Black Catholics in what is now the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas; organized the parish's many lay societies including the Knights of Peter Claver.
- Fr. Joyce Finnigan
Pastor at the time the Ladies Auxiliary to the Knights of Peter Claver was reactivated in January 1966; the auxiliary was named after him.
- Fr. Bill McEvoyc. 1994–1995 onward
Shared pastor from Blessed Sacrament after the parish office moved to the Blessed Sacrament facility in 1994–1995.
- Fr. Nicholas Blaha
Reassigned from pastor of Our Lady & St. Rose to continue as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Christ the King Parish, Kansas City, Kansas.
- Msgr. Stuart Swetland
Current pastor (while continuing as president of Donnelly College).