About St. James · Liberty, Missouri
St. James Catholic Church in Liberty, Missouri is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, founded in November 1837 by Jesuit missionaries who also ministered to the Kickapoo Indians near Fort Leavenworth. Today the parish of more than 2,000 families is served by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.) and the diocese, and worships in a new church dedicated in October 2019 on the same 10-acre campus on South Stewart Road that also houses St. James School (PK–8). The community lives out a Eucharistic-centered mission of prayer, stewardship, and service to the marginalized, with schools, religious education, OCIA, Eucharistic Adoration, and a full range of parish ministries rooted in nearly 190 years of Catholic life in Liberty.
- Established
- 1837
- Patron
- St. James the Greater
- Rector
- Rev. Lac Pham, C.PP.S.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Why belong here
St. James is a vibrant, 2,000-family Catholic community that has served Liberty, Missouri since 1837 and is cared for by both the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph. Members worship in a beautiful new church dedicated in 2019, send their children to a PK–8 Catholic school on the same campus, and grow through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation), faith formation for all ages, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, daily Rosary, and a Rosary for Healing every Thursday. The parish organizes its life around four ministry commissions—Liturgy, Education, Groups, and Social Care—so there are concrete ways to serve neighbors, mentor youth, sing in the choir, or visit the homebound.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 4:30 PM
- 1st Saturday of each month at 7:30 AM
- By appointment—contact the parish office to request a priest
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Exposition every Thursday from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM (closing prayer service at 9:00 PM)
- Tuesdays Exposition 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (per the Other Ministries page; Thursday page lists Thursday only)
- The church is open daily for personal visits
History of St. James Parish
Founded in November 1837 by two Jesuit missionaries who had been ministering to the Kickapoo Indians near Fort Leavenworth, St. James the Greater began with about 170 members in Liberty, Missouri. For seventy-five years it functioned as a mission church with Mass on average once a month. A brick church erected in 1847 was consecrated the next year by Archbishop Kendrick of St. Louis, and the parish was served in turn by many early pastors including Revs. Bernard Donnelly, P. A. Ward, James Murphy, Matthew Dillon, John J. Caffrey, Daniel Haley, Dennis Kennedy and others. The parish hit its sesquicentennial on July 25, 1997, and grew from 666 families in 1988 to nearly 1,000 in 1997 to over 2,000 today. In 1977 the bishop entrusted the community to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, who had sited their seminary in Liberty.
- Founded November 1837 by Jesuit missionaries who also served the Kickapoo near Fort Leavenworth
- 1847 brick church consecrated 1848 by Archbishop Kendrick of St. Louis
- Sesquicentennial celebrated July 25, 1997
- Entrusted to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.) in 1977
- Pastoral staff growth: 666 families (1988) → ~1,000 (1997) → 2,000+ today
Campus, Building & Growth
St. James sits on a 10-acre campus at 309 South Stewart Road in Liberty. The current church/school facility was built in 1981, with a school and social-hall addition in 1988 and a major three-phase expansion in 1996 that added a 12,272-square-foot activity center (stage, kitchen, gym, meeting rooms), cafeteria, art and music rooms, six classrooms, and more parking. A 2012 capital campaign funded additional parking and a new church; groundbreaking came in April 2018 and the new St. James Catholic Church—whose cross is visible across Liberty—was dedicated October 19, 2019.
- 1981: original church/school facility built on 10-acre site
- 1988: school & social-hall addition
- 1996: activity center, cafeteria, art/music rooms, six classrooms, more parking
- 2018 groundbreaking for new church; new church dedicated Oct. 19, 2019
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
St. James is staffed by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood together with diocesan clergy. The current pastor is Rev. Lac Pham, C.PP.S., who was appointed on July 1, 2025. He is assisted by two senior priests in residence, Fr. Mike Roach (pastor 2011–2025, a Liberty native ordained in 1981) and Fr. Michael Volkmer, C.PP.S. (ordained 1968, former Precious Blood Seminary teacher, appointed Senior Priest in Residence July 1, 2019). Two permanent deacons serve the parish: Deacon Chuck Koesterer (ordained 2011; member since 1988) and Deacon Juan Rodriguez.
- Pastor: Rev. Lac Pham, C.PP.S. (since July 1, 2025)
- Senior Priest in Residence: Rev. Mike Roach
- Senior Priest in Residence: Rev. Michael Volkmer, C.PP.S.
- Deacon Chuck Koesterer
- Deacon Juan Rodriguez
Parish Office & Pastoral Council
The parish business office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and can be reached at (816) 781-4343. A Pastoral Council chaired by Eddie Baker supports the pastor in setting the pastoral direction of the parish.
- Business Manager: Katie Klassen (x220)
- Office Coordinator: Kirsten Maggi (x204)
- Scheduling Coordinator: Jeanne Greenwald (x200)
- Bulletin/Website Coordinator: Judy Keisling (x205)
- Pastoral Council Chair: Eddie Baker (Vice-Chair Joan Peluso; Secretary Kevin Casel)
Faith Formation & OCIA
Religious education at St. James is a lifelong journey for children, youth and adults. The parish runs Faith Formation programs (Director: Stephanie Ladenthin), Confirmation preparation (Coordinator: Amanda Lewey), and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults/OCIA for those seeking to become Catholic or complete their initiation (Director: Matt Maggi). Sacramental preparation covers Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage.
- Director of Faith Formation: Stephanie Ladenthin ([email protected], x208)
- Confirmation Coordinator: Amanda Lewey
- OCIA Director: Matt Maggi ([email protected], x206)
- Children's Choir Coordinator: Ernie Collins
Liturgy & Music
Director of Liturgy and Music Sam Fleming oversees adult liturgical music; Ernie Collins coordinates the Children's Choir. Together they support St. James' liturgical life, including Masses, holy days, Reconciliation services, Adoration and special events, inviting parishioners to serve as lectors, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers and musicians.
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Sam Fleming ([email protected], x207)
- Children's Choir Coordinator: Ernie Collins
- Adult Choir, Children's Choir, Cantors
St. James Catholic School (PK–8)
St. James Catholic School, located on the parish campus at 309 S. Stewart Road, has provided a Catholic education since the 1955–1956 school year and currently enrolls roughly 350–400 students in preschool through 8th grade. The school is fully accredited through Cognia and Missouri Nonpublic Schools, is a member of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), and welcomes students of every faith, race, and ethnic background. Daily hours are 7:45 AM–3:10 PM with extended care available. Grades 3–8 use a 1:1 Chromebook program; weekly Mass is celebrated for grades 1–8 and prayer services for early childhood and kindergarten. Principal Jennifer Scanlon-Smith leads the faculty.
- Founded 1955–1956 school year; ~350–400 students PK–8
- Accredited by Cognia & Missouri Nonpublic Schools; NCEA member
- Principal: Jennifer Scanlon-Smith ([email protected], 816-781-4428 x213)
- Daily school hours 7:45 AM–3:10 PM; extended care to 6:00 PM
- Weekly Mass for grades 1–8; 3rd–8th grade 1:1 Chromebook program
- Iowa Assessments and 4th-grade CogAT testing aligned for academic excellence
Parish Ministries Overview
St. James organizes its ministries into four commissions: Liturgical Ministries (serving at Mass), Education Ministries (faith formation across all ages), Group & Prayer Ministries (welcoming and belonging for men, women, youth and children), and Social Care Ministries (serving those in need, especially the marginalized). A complete drop-down list on the website lets visitors contact each ministry directly.
- Liturgical Ministries
- Education Ministries
- Group & Prayer Ministries
- Social Care Ministries
Visit, Register & Contact
Newcomers are welcomed through online registration, New Parishioner Welcome Events, and a 'Become Catholic' track (OCIA). The parish office is open Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at 309 S. Stewart Road, Liberty MO 64068, phone (816) 781-4343. Weekly bulletins are posted online, and the parish can be followed on Facebook at facebook.com/StJamesLibertyMO.
- Office: 309 S. Stewart Rd., Liberty MO 64068 • (816) 781-4343
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- New Parishioner Registration / Welcome Events available online
- BECOME Catholic link for OCIA inquiries
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJamesLibertyMO
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ron Will, C.PP.S.Pastor as of 1997
Led the parish through its sesquicentennial year (1997) alongside Associate Pastors Fr. Dien Truong, C.PP.S. and Fr. William Dineen, C.PP.S.
- Fr. Mike RoachAppointed pastor November 1, 2011
Native of the Kansas City area, born and raised in Liberty, MO; ordained a priest for the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph in 1981.
- Fr. Michael Volkmer, C.PP.S.Appointed Senior Priest in Residence July 1, 2019
Ordained a Precious Blood priest on June 1, 1968; taught at Precious Blood Seminary in Liberty for eight years after ordination; resides at the Missionaries of the Precious Blood Provincial Center.
- Fr. Lac Pham, C.PP.S.Appointed pastor July 1, 2025
Current pastor of St. James.