About St. Anthony · Kansas City, Missouri
St. Anthony Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Northeast neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Originally founded in 1909 as Assumption Parish by Italian immigrants, it now serves a vibrant, multicultural community of Mexican, Vietnamese, Caucasian, African, and Central/South American faithful, with most Masses celebrated in Spanish. The parish is housed in a striking cruciform church building completed in 1927 that was restored and rededicated for its centennial in 2022. Its motto, "Where strangers find a home," captures more than a century of welcoming newcomers to its pews.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Father Andres Moreno
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Why belong here
St. Anthony is a bilingual, multicultural parish where, in the words of one visitor, "strangers find a home." With three Sunday Masses (one in English, two in Spanish), a daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, and a Thursday Holy Hour, it offers rich liturgical life for both long-time residents and newcomers. Its ministries span every age and culture — from the Altar & Rosary Society and Knights of Columbus to Lazos de Amor Mariano, Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, Neocatechumenal Way, Cursillo-style Talleres de Oración y Vida, youth and young-adult groups, and a robust religious-education program preparing children for First Communion. A walk through its cruciform sanctuary, with its cross-painted ceiling and restored altars, is a daily reminder of more than a century of welcome on the Northeast side.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 5:00–6:00 PM
- After daily Mass (Tuesday–Friday) / Después de misa diaria
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00–7:00 PM (Holy Hour)
Parish History
The parish began as Assumption Parish on August 15, 1909, when Bishop John Hogan founded it for the Italian immigrant community on Kansas City's Northeast side. After moving through rented halls and a frame-and-stucco church on Lexington Avenue, the cornerstone of the present cruciform church at 309 Benton Blvd. was laid on October 16, 1922, and the building was completed in 1927. Designed by architect Chester Dean of White and Dean in a Romanesque/Mission style with reinforced concrete and steel girders, it was built under the supervision of Father Michael J. Lyons, who also taught in the parish school. In 1991 St. Francis Seraph and St. John the Baptist parishes were merged in, and the parish was renamed St. Anthony's. A phased restoration for the building's centennial was completed in 2022 under Pastor Father Andres Moreno, with Bishop James V. Johnston Jr. presiding at the jubilee Mass.
- Founded August 15, 1909 as Assumption Parish by Bishop John Hogan
- Present church cornerstone laid October 16, 1922; completed 1927
- Designed by architect Chester Dean (White and Dean) in Romanesque/Mission style
- Stained-glass windows from Munich, Germany; interior finished by Dante Cosentino
- 1991 merger with St. Francis Seraph and St. John the Baptist; renamed St. Anthony's
- Centennial celebrated October 16, 2022 with Bishop James V. Johnston Jr.
Parish Staff
St. Anthony is led by Pastor Father Andres Moreno, originally from Colombia, who was ordained May 23, 2015 and became pastor of St. Anthony in 2017. He is assisted by three deacons and a lay staff including the parish secretary, director of religious education, First Communion coordinator, and maintenance lead.
- Pastor: Father Andres Moreno ([email protected])
- Deacon Jordan Schiele
- Deacon Julio Lara
- Deacon Juan Garcia
- Office: Laura Valencia ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Cathy Hernandez
- Catechesis of First Communion Coordinator: Susana Arizmendi
- Maintenance: Isaac Arizmendi
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish runs a wide array of Spanish- and bilingual-language ministries and organizations, many of them named in its weekly bulletin. Liturgical, devotional, educational, and family-oriented groups meet throughout the week, with representatives listed for each.
- Lazos de Amor Mariano
- Monaguillos / Altar Servers
- Coros (Choirs)
- Talleres de Oración y Vida
- Movimiento Familiar Cristiano
- Catechists / Catequistas
- Neocatechumenal Way / Neocatecumenos
- Grupo Centenario
- Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Young Adults / Jóvenes Adultos
- Youth / Jóvenes
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar & Rosary Society
- Women of St. Anthony
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education at St. Anthony is directed by Cathy Hernandez, with Susana Arizmendi coordinating the Catechesis of First Communion program. Children typically celebrate First Communion in May — the 2026 class is scheduled for May 16. Catechists (catequistas) are listed among the parish's named ministries, and the bulletin regularly carries faith-formation announcements in both English and Spanish.
- Director of Religious Education: Cathy Hernandez
- First Communion Coordinator: Susana Arizmendi
- Catechist / Catequista ministry
- First Communions celebrated annually in May
Parish School (Historical)
Assumption Parish's school dates back to 1913, when the first floor of the pastor's residence at 309 Benton was used as classrooms and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet — Sisters Inez and Gertrude — began teaching some 60 pupils. A frame house at 307 Benton, dubbed "Junior University," was purchased in 1919 and used for fourth and fifth grades; Fr. Lyons himself taught there for a term. When the 1922 building campaign began, the old structure was torn down to make way for the new cruciform church-and-school complex, with the school occupying the two arms of the cross.
- School opened 1913 in the pastor's residence
- Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet — Sisters Inez and Gertrude — first teachers
- Approximately 60 pupils in the first two classrooms
- 307 Benton (the "Junior University") used for grades 4–5 starting 1919
Sacraments
Information about Baptism, First Communion, Marriage, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick is coordinated through the parish office. Confession is offered Friday afternoons and after daily Mass, or by appointment; First Communion is celebrated in the spring.
- Baptism — through the parish office
- First Communion — Catechesis program
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Reconciliation — Friday 5–6 PM, after daily Mass, or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, and Organizations
Parishioner-led councils help guide the life and finances of the parish. The Pastoral Council includes Susana Figueroa, Julio Lara, Karen Donnelly, Jeff Henggeler, and Sylvia Raya. The Finance Committee is chaired by Ignacio Elizarraraz, with Roberto Galvan, Thomas Strenge, Eduardo Garcia, Jake Wernel, and Jennifer Henggeler. The Knights of Columbus, the Altar & Rosary Society, and Women of St. Anthony each have named contacts in the bulletin.
- Pastoral Council: Susana Figueroa, Julio Lara, Karen Donnelly, Jeff Henggeler, Sylvia Raya
- Finance Committee: Ignacio Elizarraraz, Roberto Galvan, Thomas Strenge, Eduardo Garcia, Jake Wernel, Jennifer Henggeler
- Knights of Columbus contact: Henry Rizzo (564-1715)
- Altar & Rosary Society contact: Becky Rellihan (913-710-3965)
- Women of St. Anthony contact: Sylvia Raya (816-231-0465)
Visiting, Contact, and Getting Involved
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 309 Benton Blvd. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to call 816-231-5445 or email [email protected]. Volunteer opportunities are coordinated through [email protected], and the parish participates in annual fundraisers — including raffle ticket sales for its parish festival — to support its mission.
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM
- Phone: 816-231-5445 / Fax: 816-231-5446
- Email: [email protected]
- Volunteer inquiries: [email protected]
- Annual parish festival and raffle fundraiser
Diocesan and Safety Contacts
As a parish of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, St. Anthony publishes the diocesan ombudsman and victim-assistance contacts in its bulletin. These resources are provided for anyone reporting concerns related to the protection of children, youth, and vulnerable adults.
- Diocesan Ombudsman: David Noordeloos — 816-213-6024 / [email protected]
- Victim Assistance Coordinator: Michelle Graff — 816-714-2357 / [email protected]
- Missouri Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael J. Lyons1916–1944
Designed the cruciform Benton Blvd. building and served as general contractor on its construction; also taught upper grades in the parish school.
- Fr. Thomas Wiedertholt
Former pastor who attended the 2022 centennial celebration.
- Fr. Paul Turner
Former pastor who attended the 2022 centennial celebration.
- Father Andres Moreno2017–present
Became pastor of St. Anthony in 2017; led the centennial restoration and Jubilee Year.