About St. John the Baptist · Kansas City, Kansas
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a historic Croatian-heritage parish at 708 N. 4th Street in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, founded at the turn of the 20th century by Croatian immigrants who settled in the Argentine area of KCK. It is part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and is currently led by Fr. Joseph M. Arsenault, SSA, JV, VF. The parish gathers for Sunday Mass at 9 a.m., a weekday Mass on Thursday at 8 a.m., and a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4 p.m. (alternating months with nearby Holy Family Church). It maintains an active Altar Society, the St. John's Catholic Men's Club (which runs a bowling alley), a senior citizens group, a parish council, a finance council, a Crisis Prayer Line, and an annual KCK Croatian Festival that has become a neighborhood tradition.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph M. Arsenault, SSA, JV, VF
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a deeply rooted Croatian Catholic heritage in the heart of Kansas City, Kansas's Strawberry Hill neighborhood, with three weekly Masses (Saturday vigil, Sunday morning, Thursday morning) and confession before Saturday Mass or by appointment. Parishioners can join a real community of long-standing organizations — the 100+ year-old Altar Society, the St. John's Catholic Men's Club (which runs a bowling alley), a Senior Citizens group, a Parish Council, a Finance Council, and a Crisis Prayer Line. The annual KCK Croatian Festival each August, sarma-making days, and ongoing support for Resurrection Catholic School, the Wyandotte County Pregnancy Clinic, and the historic St. John Children's Home make this a parish where faith, family, and Croatian-American heritage are lived out together.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. (before the 4:00 p.m. Mass)
- By appointment — call the parish office at (913) 371-0627
Parish Overview & Identity
St. John the Baptist is a historic Catholic parish in the Strawberry Hill / Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, serving the local Croatian-American community and the wider KCK area. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and is led by Fr. Joseph M. Arsenault, SSA, JV, VF, with Wendy Stimac (Christ) as Administrative Assistant and Tony Locatelli as Music Director. The parish gathers three times a week for the Eucharist: Sunday at 9 a.m., Thursday at 8 a.m., and Saturday Vigil at 4 p.m. (alternating months with nearby Holy Family Church). Confession is heard Saturday at 3 p.m. or by appointment.
- Founded 1900; church blessed January 1905
- 125th anniversary celebrated in 2025
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fri 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Founding & Early History (1900–1905)
Croatian immigrants who had settled in Kansas City, Kansas, since the late 1880s met on May 26, 1900, at Union Hall on West Ninth Street in Kansas City, Missouri, to organize a parish of their own. With Bishop Louis M. Fink, O.S.B., of the Diocese of Leavenworth's approval (and a $100 personal donation), the committee purchased seven 25-by-150-foot lots at Fourth Street and Barnett Avenue for $1,650. The first priest to serve the community was Rev. Josip Polic, who arrived January 17, 1902, from Calumet, Michigan, and celebrated the first Mass in the basement on January 19, 1902. The first permanent pastor, Fr. Martin Davorin Krmpotic, arrived June 28, 1902, and drove the building project to completion. The cornerstone was blessed May 15, 1904, and Bishop Thomas Lillis blessed the finished church in January 1905 — the first church dedication of his episcopate.
- May 26, 1900: founding meeting at Union Hall on West 9th Street, KC, MO
- June 25, 1900: seven lots at 4th & Barnett purchased for $1,650
- Sept. 9, 1901: invitation sent to Rev. Politeo
- Jan. 19, 1902: first Mass celebrated in the basement
- June 28, 1902: Fr. Martin Davorin Krmpotic arrives as first permanent pastor
- May 15, 1904: cornerstone blessed by Very Rev. Thomas Moore, V.G.
- January 1905: church blessed by Bishop Thomas Lillis, first dedication of his episcopate
The School, the Orphanage, and Growth
From the earliest years the parish was both a spiritual and an educational center. In 1905 the church basement became a school for 63 children taught by lay teachers, and in 1907 a new frame building was blessed as the first Croatian Catholic School in the United States. Four School Sisters of St. Francis arrived from Maribor, Slovenia, on October 11, 1909, to take charge. After the 1918 influenza epidemic left many Croatian children orphaned, Fr. Krmpotic founded an orphanage and day nursery, blessed by Bishop John Ward on Thanksgiving Day 1919. Renamed St. John Children's Home, the property and building were transferred to the Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King (Lemont, Illinois) in 1963; the home has served approximately 3,666 children over its lifetime and is licensed by the Kansas State Board of Health for the care of children ages 6–14.
- 1905: school opens in church basement with 63 children
- 1907: first Croatian Catholic School in the U.S. blessed
- Oct. 11, 1909: four School Sisters of St. Francis arrive from Slovenia
- 1918: flu epidemic spurs orphanage campaign
- Thanksgiving Day 1919: St. John's Orphanage blessed by Bishop John Ward
- 1963: deed transferred to Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King
- 1975: Diamond Jubilee (75th) celebrated with anniversary book
Our Priests — A Succession of Shepherds
St. John's has been served by a small, deeply devoted line of pastors and assistant pastors, several of them sons of the parish itself. After the temporary ministry of Rev. Josip Polic, Fr. Martin Davorin Krmpotic (later Monsignor) guided the parish for nearly 30 years, founding the school, orphanage, and church building. He was succeeded in 1931 by Fr. Charles A. Stimac, the first son of the parish to be ordained (1926), who served 33 years until 1964 and was raised to Domestic Prelate by Pope Pius XII in 1954. Monsignor John W. Horvat, the third son of the parish to be ordained, became pastor on Aug. 26, 1964, after resigning as Archdiocesan Director of Catholic Charities. The parish is currently served by Fr. Joseph M. Arsenault, SSA, JV, VF. Sons of the parish who went on to priesthood include Fr. Stanley J. Loncaric (1936), Fr. Charles Plese, O.F.M. (1940), Fr. John B. Yadrich (1951), and Fr. Paul (Jerry) Hadusek, O.S.B. (1969).
- Fr. Martin Davorin Krmpotic (1902–1931)
- Monsignor Charles A. Stimac (1931–1964, 33 years)
- Monsignor John W. Horvat (1964–)
- Fr. Joseph M. Arsenault, SSA, JV, VF (current)
- Assistant pastors historically included Rev. Francis Bahoric, Rev. Wenceslaus Vukovic, O.S.O.F., Rev. Vincent Uvodic, Rev. Nicholas Pazin, O.M.C., Rev. Marion Kotinek, O.S.B., Rev. David Zrno, O.F.M., Rev. Charles Plese, O.F.M., Rev. Earl Dekat, and Benedictine and Augustinian weekend assistants
Mass & Sacraments
Weekly Mass is offered Saturday at 4 p.m. (Vigil, alternating months with Holy Family Church), Sunday at 9 a.m., and Thursday at 8 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard Saturday at 3 p.m., before the Vigil Mass, or by appointment. Because hospitals do not automatically notify the parish, parishioners are asked to call the church office at (913) 371-0627 if a loved one is hospitalized or homebound and would like a visit or to receive Communion.
- Saturday Vigil: 4 p.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m.
- Thursday: 8 a.m.
- Confession: Saturday 3 p.m. or by appointment
- Hospital / homebound visits: call (913) 371-0627
St. John's Altar Society
Founded February 9, 1913, by Fr. Martin Krmpotic under the name Gospojinsko Oltarsko Drustvo Imena Isusova (Ladies Altar Society in the Name of Jesus), and later renamed Majke Marijine (Mothers of Mary Altar Society) by Fr. Charles Stimac around 1932, the Altar Society is in its 101+ year of ministry. Its patroness is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Originally, the women raised money for vestments, altar linens (many hand-sewn and crocheted), the school, and the orphanage; minutes were kept in Croatian until 1946. Today the society renews the faith of the women of the parish, cares for altars, vestments, liturgical supplies, and rectory needs, and supports Resurrection Catholic School and the Wyandotte County Pregnancy Clinic. Membership is $5/year and open to all women who are members, former members, or spouses of former members.
- Founded Feb. 9, 1913 by Fr. Krmpotic
- Patroness: Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
- Motto: 'To be charitable to the greater honor and glory of God'
- Current President: Kelly Moutray
- Officers: Connie Kolich (VP), Bernadette Horvat (Treas.), Cynthia Wolf (Rec. Sec.), Nancy Gasparovic (Fin. Sec.), Sherri Ciliberti (Parish Council rep.)
St. John's Catholic Men's Club
The parish men's organization operates the St. John's Club bowling alley, a long-standing community gathering place. It hosts meetings, sponsors Croatian cultural events, and serves as a hub for parish men.
- Contact: Ken Yarnevich — (913) 371-9690
- Email: [email protected]
Croatian Heritage & the KCK Croatian Festival
St. John the Baptist is the spiritual home of Kansas City's Croatian-American community. The parish preserves the Croatian language, music, and foodways through the annual KCK Croatian Festival, the St. John's Catholic Club Tamburitzans, and ongoing Croatian-language Masses. The 2026 Festival is set for Saturday, August 15, after the 4 p.m. Mass, on the church grounds at 708 N. 4th Street, with a dance at 9 p.m. at the Strawberry Hill Museum next door. The festival features the Croatian sarma dinner ($25), povitica (nut bread), apple strudel, salami raffles, kids' games (50¢), the Strawberry Boutique, and soccer watch parties.
- 2026 Croatian Festival: Saturday, Aug. 15, after 4 p.m. Mass
- Dance at 9 p.m. on Strawberry Hill Museum grounds
- Sarma dinner $25; povitica, strudel, and salami raffles ($1 chances)
- Kids' games 50¢; treat booth, fishing pond, face-painting
- Free admission; cash recommended; online payments accepted for sarma and Strawberry Boutique
- Sarma-making day: Thursday before the Festival
- Festival info: [email protected]
Parish Leadership & Councils
Day-to-day operations are led by the pastor with the help of a small staff, two councils, and the heads of the parish organizations. The Parish Council was first organized in March 1971 under Ernest Yarnevich (followed by Frank Love and John Strick), and continues to assist the pastor in parish life. The Finance Council oversees the temporal affairs of the parish. Both councils are advised in turn by the leaders of the Altar Society, Men's Club, and Senior Citizens group.
- Pastor: Fr. Joseph M. Arsenault, SSA, JV, VF
- Administrative Assistant: Wendy Stimac (Christ)
- Music Director: Tony Locatelli
- Parish Council President: Don Taylor
- Finance Council President: Rich Sambol
- Altar Society President: Kelly Moutray
- St. John's Club President: Ken Yarnevich
- Senior Citizens President: Joanne Lally
Outreach & Community Support
Beyond the parish walls, St. John the Baptist supports a number of local Catholic and charitable causes. The Altar Society funds Resurrection Catholic School and the Wyandotte County Pregnancy Clinic, while the parish continues to be associated with the historic St. John Children's Home (now under the Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King). A Crisis Prayer Line is staffed at (913) 281-4448 for parishioners in need of spiritual support.
- Resurrection Catholic School
- Wyandotte County Pregnancy Clinic
- St. John Children's Home (historic orphanage, since 1919)
- Crisis Prayer Line: (913) 281-4448
Facilities, Location & Visiting
The parish is located at 708 N. 4th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101, in the historic Strawberry Hill neighborhood adjacent to the Strawberry Hill Museum. The parish grounds include the church, the rectory, an auditorium, and a school building (now used in part by the Altar Society and for festival prep). During the Croatian Festival, parking is available on side streets and in the University of Kansas – Strawberry Hill Campus parking garage at Fourth Street and Armstrong.
- Address: 708 N. 4th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101
- Phone: (913) 371-0627
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fri 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Festival parking: KU Strawberry Hill Campus garage at 4th & Armstrong
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Josip Polic1902 (temporary)
Came from Calumet, Michigan; blessed the basement and celebrated the first Mass on Jan. 19, 1902.
- Fr. Martin Davorin Krmpotic (later Monsignor)1902–1931
First permanent pastor; recruited from Senj, Croatia. Built the church, founded the parish school (first Croatian Catholic School in the U.S., 1907), and founded St. John's Orphanage (1919). Buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery.
- Fr./Monsignor Charles A. Stimac1931–1964 (33 years)
First son of the parish to be ordained (May 30, 1926); ordained in his home parish; became a Domestic Prelate under Pius XII in 1954; retired due to ill health; died Nov. 25, 1968, at St. Margaret's Hospital.
- Monsignor John W. Horvat1964–
Third son of the parish ordained; ordained June 11, 1938; assistant to Fr. Stimac; became Papal Chamberlain (1955) and Domestic Prelate (1960); resigned as Archdiocesan Director of Catholic Charities to take the pastorate on Aug. 26, 1964.
- Fr. Joseph M. Arsenault, SSA, JV, VFcurrent
Current pastor; member of the Society of St. Augustine (SSA).