About St. John LaLande · Blue Springs, Missouri
St. John LaLande Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Blue Springs, Missouri, in the Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph. Founded in 1938, it is the only Catholic parish in the world named for St. John LaLande, a 17th-century French lay Jesuit brother and North American Martyr. The parish serves the eastern Jackson County community with daily and weekend Masses, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration, an active parish school, and youth, music, and outreach ministries. Its pastoral team centers the Eucharistic Celebration as the heart of parish life, with First Saturday Masses and an array of faith formation opportunities for all ages.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- St. John LaLande (Jean de La Lande)
- Rector
- Rev. Sean McCaffery
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph
Why belong here
St. John LaLande offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life: weekday and Sunday Mass, daily confessions before Mass, and two long stretches of Eucharistic Adoration (Monday 7 AM–7 PM and Friday 7 AM–4 PM). Families can enroll children in the parish school (Preschool through Grade 8) and in faith formation through the school and youth ministry, which runs two dedicated tracks for middle school and high school teens. The parish uses FORMED for Catholic media and supports parish choirs (Adult Choir and Handbell Choir), a St. Vincent de Paul chapter, and outreach to the Bishop Sullivan Center and local food and clothing drives-making it an active, family-centered community rooted in the Eucharist.
Mass times at St. John LaLande
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:00–6:20 AM (before 6:30 AM Mass)
- Tuesday 8:00–8:20 AM (before 8:30 AM Mass)
- Wednesday 6:00–6:20 AM (before 6:30 AM Mass)
- Thursday 8:00–8:20 AM (before 8:30 AM Mass)
- Friday 6:00–6:20 AM (before 6:30 AM Mass)
- Saturday 3:00–4:15 PM (before 4:30 PM Vigil Mass; parish site says 3:30–4:20 PM, 'or by appointment')
- Sunday 7:15–7:45 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday 9:45–10:15 AM (before 10:30 AM Mass)
- First Saturday confessions are also offered prior to the 8:30 AM First Saturday Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Friday 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Parishioners may come any time during adoration or sign up for a Holy Hour (no adoration when parish offices are closed)
History of St. John LaLande Parish
St. John LaLande Parish was founded in 1938 in Blue Springs, Missouri, and was named for Jean de La Lande, a 17th-century French lay Jesuit brother martyred in 1646 in what is now upstate New York. According to parishioner Jim Heiman's 2003 parish history, the choice of such an obscure saint fit a community of weekend 'woodsmen' and a Church carried by immigrants in a region familiar with anti-Catholic prejudice. In 2013, the parish marked its 75th anniversary, and research commissioned at the time concluded that the Blue Springs parish is the only Catholic parish in the world named for St. John LaLande.
- Founded 1938
- 75th anniversary celebrated in 2013
- 2003 parish history written by parishioner Jim Heiman
- Reportedly the only parish worldwide named for St. John LaLande
The Patron Saint and Statues
St. John LaLande (Jean de La Lande) was a teenager from Dieppe, France, who sailed to New France to assist Father Isaac Jogues among the Huron and Iroquois. He was tomahawked on 19 October 1646 attempting to recover Jogues's body and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1930 with the other North American Martyrs. A limestone statue of the patron on the church lawn was dedicated in the late 1970s; for the 75th anniversary, a hand-carved wooden statue was commissioned from Studio Demetz in Ortisei, Italy, by a parish family in memory of long-time parishioner Medley Van Camp and was dedicated at Mass on 18 May 2014 by then-pastor Father Ronald Elliott, who specifically requested the figure wear a halo.
- Canonized 1930 as one of the North American Martyrs
- Limestone statue dedicated late 1970s; later moved to narthex
- Wooden statue commissioned from Studio Demetz, Ortisei, Italy
- Dedicated 18 May 2014 in memory of parishioner Medley Van Camp
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
Father Sean McCaffery was appointed pastor of St. John LaLande in May 2022, arriving from St. John Francis Regis Parish in Kansas City. He succeeds Father Ronald Elliott, who transitioned to retired status at the same time while continuing to serve the Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph as a member of the Diocesan Finance Council, the College of Consultors, and as Director of Deacons. According to the 2021 diocesan directory, the parish was also served by Father George Ssebadduka (in residence) and Deacons Douglas Myler and Shane Voyles.
- Rev. Sean McCaffery — Pastor (since May 2022)
- Rev. Ronald Elliott — Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. George Ssebadduka — In Residence
- Dcn. Douglas Myler
- Dcn. Shane Voyles
- Sam Geringer — Youth and Young Adult Ministry ([email protected], ext. 339)
SJL Catholic School
St. John LaLande Catholic School shares the parish campus at 801 NW R.D. Mize Rd. and serves Preschool through Grade 8 with full-day Kindergarten. Its mission is 'Developing Christian leaders who are rooted in faith, committed to service, and dedicated to academic excellence.' Susan Martin serves as principal, with Father Sean McCaffery as pastor-administrator. Religion is integrated across the program, K–8 attend Mass weekly, and students take part in Adoration of the Eucharist, a Living Rosary, and Stations of the Cross. Students support the parish St. Vincent de Paul chapter, Bishop Sullivan Center, and local food and clothing drives. Susan Martin, Father McCaffery, and Krista Mead lead the office, with Vanessa Palacios teaching Preschool and Patti Schollmeyer leading Kindergarten, plus grade-level teachers Katie Kever, Michelle Tisdale, Tricia White, Sarah Monrian, Claudia Corbin, and middle-school faculty Becky Thieman (Math & Science), Bridget Green (English & Writing), Casie Scott (Social Studies), and Andrew Lynch (Integrated Catholicism).
- Preschool through Grade 8, including full-day Kindergarten
- Principal: Susan Martin
- Pastor's liaison: Father Sean McCaffery
- Weekly Mass for Grades K–8 plus Adoration, Living Rosary, Stations of the Cross
- Athletics through KC Parochial League (cross country, flag and tackle football, volleyball, basketball, track & field)
- Kids Club before/after-school care
Faith Formation, Youth, and Music Ministries
Beyond the school, the parish runs PSR (Parish School of Religion) and a robust Youth Ministry with two tracks, Middle School and High School, led by Sam Geringer. Registration and the email list are available through the parish website. The parish also subscribes to FORMED, giving parishioners access to Catholic shows, movies, and podcasts, and supports two music ensembles — the SJL Adult Choir and the SJL Handbell Choir — both with open invitation to join.
- Youth Ministry — Middle School group
- Youth Ministry — High School group
- Contact: [email protected], 816-229-3378 ext. 339
- SJL Adult Choir — open invitation
- SJL Handbell Choir — open invitation
- FORMED subscription (formed.org/signup)
Outreach and Service
Service is a hallmark of parish identity, both inside the school and across the wider community. The parish maintains a St. Vincent de Paul chapter that supports the poor and routinely contributes to the Bishop Sullivan Center and local food and clothing drives.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Bishop Sullivan Center support
- Local food and clothing drives
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
The parish prepares children for First Communion and Confirmation through St. John LaLande Catholic School and the Parish School of Religion. Anointing of the Sick is available to parishioners in need by calling the Parish Office at 816-229-3378 and pressing 1. Funeral and marriage arrangements are handled through the parish office during published office hours.
- First Communion preparation (school and PSR)
- Confirmation preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment: 816-229-3378, press 1
Contact, Directions, and Office Hours
The parish office is at 805 NW R.D. Mize Rd., Blue Springs, MO 64015, and can be reached at 816-229-3378 or [email protected]. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. A 'Directions' link on the parish website helps visitors — including I-70 travelers — find the church, which sits in the greater Kansas City–Saint Joseph Diocese.
- Address: 805 N.W. R.D. Mize Rd., Blue Springs, MO 64015
- Phone: 816-229-3378
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–3:30 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Website: www.stjohnlalande.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ronald Elliottthrough 2022
Pastor who led the 75th anniversary (2013) and the 2014 dedication of the new patron statue in memory of Medley Van Camp; transitioned to retired status in May 2022 and continued diocesan service.
- Rev. Sean McCafferyMay 2022–present
Appointed Pastor of St. John LaLande in May 2022, arriving from St. John Francis Regis Parish, Kansas City.