About Our Lady of the Presentation · Lees Summit, Missouri
Our Lady of the Presentation is a Roman Catholic parish in Lee's Summit, Missouri, in the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph. Founded in 1885 by Thomas Mulligan, it is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the area and today serves more than 2,000 families with a full schedule of Masses in English and Spanish, daily Eucharistic adoration, and an accompanying parish school (K–8). The parish describes itself as 'a community where you can meet Jesus and grow in relationships that are rooted in the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church,' and it carries out that mission through its school, faith-formation programs, youth ministry, music ministry, and an extensive Pastoral Care outreach to the sick, homebound, grieving, and widowed.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Presentation (Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Tom Holder
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Presentation welcomes more than 2,000 families with abundant opportunities for worship and service: four Sunday Masses (including a Spanish Mass at 2:00 pm), daily 8:15 am weekday Masses, three days of Eucharistic adoration in St. Ann's Chapel, and weekly Confession. Parishioners can grow in faith through children's faith formation, RCIA and adult faith formation, youth ministry, and an accomplished music ministry with multiple ensembles; they can serve the wider community through Pastoral Care ministries (visits to hospitals and care centers, Meals Ministry, Prayer Chain, BeFriender, Grief Support, Widows Group, OLP Seniors, and the 'Gifted with Flowers' repurposed-bouquet ministry), as well as youth service partners such as One City Cafe and UPLIFT serving Kansas City's homeless. With its parish school (K–8), active liturgical life, and outreach to the sick and homebound, OLP offers a place to belong at every age and stage.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Presentation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM
- Sunday 1:15 PM to 1:45 PM (English & Spanish)
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (in St. Ann's Chapel)
- Wednesday 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (in St. Ann's Chapel)
- Friday 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (in St. Ann's Chapel)
Parish History
Our Lady of the Presentation traces its roots to 1885, when Thomas Mulligan organized a small group of Lee's Summit Catholics to form a parish. St. Mary's Church at Third Street and Johnson was built in 1887; a parish school followed in 1939 under Fr. Francis Hagedorn with the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth teaching. The parish moved to its present Murray Road campus in 1963, built the present church in 1985, celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2010, and completed a multi-phase Capital Campaign in 2021 that expanded the school and Gathering Space and added the 'Mulligan Room' in honor of the parish's founder.
- 1885 — Thomas Mulligan organizes Lee's Summit Catholics to found the parish
- 1887 — St. Mary's Church built at Third & Johnson
- 1939 — Fr. Francis Hagedorn appointed pastor; school established with Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
- 1947 — Fr. Francis J. Sullivan appointed pastor; new school building completed 1948
- 1963 — New parish and school construction begins on the present Murray Road site
- 1985 — Present church built; old church converted to school classrooms
- 2010 — 125th Anniversary celebrated; $1.5 million Capital Campaign launched
- 2019 — Capital Campaign construction begins
- 2020 — School addition completed
- 2021 — Final Capital Campaign phase (Gathering Space expansion, meeting spaces, Mulligan Room) completed
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Tom Holder, pastor since 2011, who previously served as associate at St. John LaLande and Christ the King, and as pastor of Holy Cross and St. Regis parishes. A staff of directors oversees faith formation, youth ministry, liturgy and music, pastoral care, communications, stewardship, and school administration.
- Fr. Tom Holder — Pastor
- Marilyn Schmidt — Director of Pastoral Care
- Anna Mitchell — Communications Director
- Jane Krawczyk — Director of Stewardship
- Christy Gruenbaum — Director of Youth Ministry
- Jo Engert — Director of Children's Faith Formation
- Tony Butel — Director of Adult Faith Formation
- Mary Pat Storms — Pastoral Associate, Adult Faith Formation / RCIA
- Jodi Briggs — School Principal
- David Armstrong / James Wagner — Director of Liturgy (& Music)
- Rex Scott — Parish Administrator
Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic School
Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic School, located at 150 NW Murray Road (adjacent to the church), educates students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 as part of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph. The school community numbers approximately 480 students and partners with parents to provide a faith-based education rooted in academic excellence and service. Recent expansions in 1995, 2012 and 2020–2021 added classroom space and modern facilities.
- K–8 Catholic school
- Approximately 480 students
- Located at 150 NW Murray Road, Lee's Summit, MO
- Major expansions in 1995, 2012 and 2020–2021
- Part of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph school system
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at OLP spans early childhood through adulthood. Children's Faith Formation covers Preschool through Grade 5, including Sunday School and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, with Vacation Bible School typically held in mid-June. Sacramental preparation is offered for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Adult Faith Formation includes RCIA, retreats, seasonal enrichment, and sacramental preparation for adults.
- Children's Faith Formation (Preschool–Grade 5)
- Sunday School and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Sacramental preparation (First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Adult Faith Formation and RCIA
- Retreats and seasonal enrichment
Youth Ministry
OLP's Youth Ministry, under Director Christy Gruenbaum, supports middle school Disciple Groups, high school programming, and service opportunities. A monthly 'Fourth Sundays Contemporary Mass' at noon engages teens as liturgical ministers, and summer service days partner with local ministries serving Kansas City's homeless and working poor.
- Middle School Disciple Groups
- Adult Leadership & Plan Team
- Service Saints community service projects
- Fourth Sundays Contemporary Mass (Noon, teen helpers)
- One City Cafe service days (ages 12+), June & July
- UPLIFT KC service days (ages 14+), June & July
Music & Liturgy
The parish's Music Ministry, directed by the Director of Liturgy & Music, provides musical leadership at multiple weekend and weekday liturgies. The 4:30 PM Saturday Ensemble includes singers, piano, organ, violin, flute, percussion, and guitars, rehearsing each Saturday at 3:30 PM, and welcomes new members.
- 4:30 PM Saturday Ensemble (singers, piano, organ, violin, flute, percussion, guitars)
- Rehearsal each Saturday at 3:30 PM in the Music Ministry Room
- Prelude song each week to help worshipers prepare for Mass
- Contact: James Wagner, Director of Liturgy & Music, 816-251-1110
Pastoral Care & Outreach
Pastoral Care, directed by Marilyn Schmidt (816-251-1102), reaches beyond the parish walls to those in hospitals, care centers, and homes. Ministers visit St. Luke's East Hospital, University Health-Lakewood Hospital, and local care centers; bring Holy Communion to the homebound; coordinate Anointing of the Sick; and walk with parishioners through bereavement, divorce, widowhood, and senior isolation through a wide range of programs.
- Visits to St. Luke's East, University Health-Lakewood, and local Care Centers
- Anointing of the Sick (every ~3 months and on request)
- BeFriender Ministry (trained listeners)
- Bereavement visits, letters, and Mass of Remembrance near All Souls Day
- Grief Support Groups (fall and spring)
- Divorce Support/Recovery Group for women (10 weeks, fall and winter)
- Widows Group (monthly)
- OLP Seniors (monthly activities for ages 60+)
- Meal Ministry for parishioners returning home from hospital/care
- Gifted with Flowers (repurposed bouquet deliveries)
- Prayer Chain Ministry
- Funeral Hospitality and Funeral Pre-planning
- Transportation Ministry (including JKV bus to weekend Masses)
Getting Involved
The parish invites parishioners to share their time and talents through volunteer opportunities across every area of parish life. Children's Faith Formation especially seeks Sunday School catechists and classroom aides, Vacation Bible School volunteers, and Children's Liturgy of the Word leaders and assistants; youth ministry welcomes chaperones, meal-providers, and small-group co-leaders. All parish volunteers working with minors must be Diocesan Safe Environment Compliant.
- Sunday School Catechist / Classroom Aide
- Children's Faith Formation Catechist/Teacher (5:30–6:45)
- Door Monitor
- Vacation Bible School (June)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word Leader / Assistant
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Middle School Disciple Group Co-Lead
- Youth Ministry Adult Leadership & Plan Team
- One City Cafe and UPLIFT KC service volunteers
Visit & Contact
Our Lady of the Presentation is located at 130 NW Murray Road in Lee's Summit, Missouri. The parish office can be reached at (816) 251-1100, with Pastoral Care reachable at (816) 251-1102 and Youth Ministry at (816) 251-1107. Live-streamed and recorded Masses are available on the parish YouTube channel.
- Address: 130 NW Murray Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081
- Parish Office: (816) 251-1100
- Pastoral Care: (816) 251-1102
- Youth Ministry: (816) 251-1107
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.olpls.org/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OLP-LSMO
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis Hagedornappointed 1939
Established the parish school; Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth served as teachers.
- Fr. Francis J. Sullivanappointed 1947
Led committee to build the 1948 school building.
- Fr. Tom Holdersince 2011
Current pastor; previously associate at St. John LaLande and Christ the King, pastor of Holy Cross and St. Regis; serves on Boards of the Endowment Trust Fund for Catholic Education and St. Michael the Archangel High School.