St. Charles Borromeo

About St. Charles Borromeo

St. Charles Borromeo is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph serving the Northland area of Kansas City, Missouri, just north of the Clay–Platte county line. The parish's website describes it as 'a loving faith community open to everyone' that helps people grow in faith, find purpose, and meet life's challenges. The parish shares its campus with Borromeo Academy and offers daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, and a livestreamed worship experience.

Parish History

The parish was organized in 1947 when Bishop Charles LeBlond assigned Fr. Maurice F. Wogan to canvas a five-square-mile area straddling the Clay–Platte county line, where he found about 85 families. The first Mass was celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947, at the Englewood Public School Auditorium on North Oak and Englewood Road. A surplus Army Quonset chapel was brought from Coffeyville, Kansas, in April 1947, disassembled and reassembled on parish property by Fr. Wogan and parishioners, and used for the first time at Midnight Mass on Christmas 1947.

• Five acres purchased from Michael F. and Margaret L. Lynch, Feb. 21, 1947
• First Mass: Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947 at Englewood Public School
• Quonset chapel dedicated February 14, 1948
• Four more acres purchased from Margaret L. Lynch, June 16, 1950
• Ground broken for new church: September 4, 1955
• Current church dedicated: September 3, 1956

Architecture & Stained Glass

The 1956 church was designed in a 'contemporary' style with horizontal lines, built of colonial brick and Carthage limestone. The nave seats 650. Three sets of stained-glass windows define the sanctuary: traditional male-saint windows by the Emil Frei Studio of St. Louis; the 'Images of Growth' windows by Philomene Bennett (greens, blues, and warm colors) on the east wall and above the entrance, fabricated by Kansas City Art Glass Studio; and the female-saint windows designed and created by Kansas City artist Bryan Lewis, installed on the west wall in December 2020.

• Architects: Shaughnessy, Bower and Grimaldi
• General contractor: J.E. Dunn Construction Company
• Original cost: $300,000
• Capacity: 650
• Stained glass: Emil Frei Studio (male saints), Philomene Bennett / Kansas City Art Glass Studio (Images of Growth), Bryan Lewis / The Bryan Lewis Studio (female saints, 2020)

Borromeo Academy

Borromeo Academy is the parish school, located at 804 NE Shady Lane Dr., Kansas City, MO 64118 (phone 816-436-1009). It is a co-educational Catholic classical school serving Early Childhood through 8th grade, operating as part of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph Catholic School System. In 2017 the former St. Charles Catholic School was rebranded as Saint Charles Borromeo Academy with a Catholic classical liberal-arts curriculum centered on truth, beauty, and goodness. The school offers extended care, tuition assistance, and accepts the MOScholars Missouri Empowerment Scholarship program.

• Grades: Early Childhood through 8th
• Address: 804 NE Shady Lane Dr., Kansas City, MO 64118
• Phone: 816-436-1009
• Principal: Mary Stewart
• Admissions Coordinator: Alex Cavallaro ([email protected])
• Members: Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph Catholic School System

Faith Formation & RCIA

Religious formation at St. Charles Borromeo centers on Together in Faith, an intergenerational religious education program introduced under Fr. Jack McClure, C.PP.S. The parish also offers RCIA for adults preparing to enter the Church and supports youth ministry programming.

• Together in Faith (intergenerational religious education)
• RCIA
• Youth ministry

Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Team

The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Sunoj Thomas, a Benedictine priest from Kerala, India, who previously pastored St. Catherine of Siena Parish in south Kansas City. Deacon Victor Quiason assists the parish, and the staff includes a parish accountant, pastoral assistant, two co-office managers, a facilities manager, a music director, and a communications coordinator.

• Fr. Sunoj Thomas — Pastor ([email protected])
• Deacon Victor Quiason — [email protected], 816-679-7189
• Mike Baker — Facilities ([email protected])
• Lorie Grider — Parish Accountant
• Barb Liles — Pastoral Assistant
• Sarah Simon — Co-Office Manager
• Edie Ferrara — Co-Office Manager
• Madalyn 'Maddie' Jenkins — Music Director
• Gina Ferrara — Communications Coordinator

Sacraments

The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons and seasonally; baptisms, weddings, First Communion, RCIA, anointing of the sick, and funerals are coordinated through the parish office during business hours.

• Baptism
• First Communion / Eucharist
• Reconciliation (Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM or by appointment)
• Confirmation
• Marriage
• Anointing of the Sick
• RCIA
• Funeral

Outreach & Retreat House

St. Charles Borromeo has a strong service and retreat dimension. In June 2016 parishioners — including 'parishioners without borders' — renovated the rectory and established the Saint Charles Borromeo Retreat House. The parish also runs a music and livestream ministry and hosts the Flame of Love Rosary group, Rosary for Life, and seasonal communal reconciliation services.

• Saint Charles Borromeo Retreat House
• Parishioners Without Borders
• Flame of Love Rosary Group
• Rosary for Life
• Online Mass livestream on YouTube

Visit & Contact

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 816-436-0880 during office hours (Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM). The parish is located at 900 NE Shady Lane Drive, Kansas City, MO 64118, sharing a campus with Borromeo Academy at 804 NE Shady Lane Dr.

• Address: 900 NE Shady Lane Drive, Kansas City, MO 64118
• Phone: 816-436-0880
• Fax: 816-436-0103
• Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–4 PM; Fri 8 AM–12 PM