About St. Mark the Evangelist · Independence, Missouri
St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church is a large Roman Catholic parish serving the southeast Independence, western Blue Springs, and northern Lee's Summit communities in Missouri, located at 3736 S. Lee's Summit Road. Founded in 1965, it is one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, currently home to more than 2,500 families. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, robust faith formation for children and youth, a long-running preschool, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and what local coverage has described as roughly 74 active ministries and parish organizations.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Msgr. Brad Offutt
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Why belong here
St. Mark's is a large and active parish family of more than 2,500 households with a wide range of ways to belong: daily and weekend Mass in English and Spanish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, an on-site Preschool (Small Wonder), a Parish School of Religion, a youth ministry program, and roughly 70+ ministries covering everything from Knights of Columbus and Boy Scouts to Mental Health Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, RCIA, choir and bell choir, Ladies' Auxiliary, and a regular food-repackaging outreach with Harvesters. It is also a parish with deep roots — celebrating its 60th year in 2025 — that still prioritizes personal welcome and a visible faith community in southeast Independence.
Mass times at St. Mark the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM
- Saturday 7:00 PM (Spanish — Confesiones en Español)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Parish Hall)
- Friday 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (Hispanic Ministry Adoration)
Parish History & Identity
St. Mark the Evangelist was canonically established in 1965, the same year that the first Mass was celebrated on August 1. The property on Lee's Summit Road had been acquired back in 1960 in anticipation of a new parish to serve the growing Catholic population of southeast Independence and the west edge of Blue Springs. The parish started with about 250 families and worshipped at Blackburn Elementary School, then at the B&D Roller Rink owned by parishioners Bill and Dorothy McDonald, before the original church building on Lee's Summit Road was dedicated in 1968. As the parish expanded, that first church became the parish center when a new, larger church was built next door and dedicated in 2004; the parish hall was renovated in 2012.
- 1960 — Property purchased for a new parish
- 1965 — Parish canonically established; first Mass celebrated at B&D Roller Rink
- 1967 — Construction began on the church and offices
- 1968 — Original church building dedicated
- 2004 — Current church dedicated
- 2012 — Renovated parish hall rededicated
- 2015 — 50th anniversary Mass celebrated by Fr. Jim Taranto; time capsule sealed
- 2026 — Proposed renovation of Sanctuary, Chapel, and Gathering Space (pending capital campaign)
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Mark's is led by Pastor Msgr. Brad Offutt, with sacramental assistance from Fr. Angel Lemus on Wednesdays. The parish is also served by multiple deacons and a large lay staff team covering liturgy, music, youth ministry, faith formation, care ministry, missions and social justice, the preschool, finance, and operations.
- Msgr. Brad Offutt — Pastor
- Fr. Angel Lemus — Sacramental (Wednesdays only)
- Deacon Jonathan Davis
- Deacon Ken Fuenfhausen — Youth Ministry Director
- Deacon Joe Walker
- Deacon Susan Walker
- Chris Masuch — Liturgy Director
- Ann Falkenberg — Sacristan
- Janice McQuillan — Director, Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Betsy Ward-Gales — Director, Care Ministry
- Hilda Beck — Director, Missions and Social Justice
- Charlotte Davis — Director, Small Wonder Preschool
- Diana Sullivan — Admin. Assistant, Youth Ministry
- Vonda Geary — Business/Operations Manager
- Nicholas Evans — Finance Coordinator
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mark's Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides religious education for parish children, with classes for preschool/kindergarten (Sunday during the 10:00 Mass), grades 1–5 (Sunday 11:30 AM–1:30 PM and Monday 5:00–6:15 PM), and a High School Faith Formation program on Sunday evenings. Adult faith formation is supported through RCIA, a Men's Faith-Based Discussion Group, and the parish's Adult Education offerings. The Youth Ministry office, led by Deacon Ken Fuenfhausen, runs ongoing programs and formation for teens, including Confirmation preparation.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Janice McQuillan, Director
- Preschool/Kindergarten PSR — Sunday during 10:00 Mass
- Grades 1–5 PSR — Sunday 11:30 AM–1:30 PM and Monday 5:00–6:15 PM
- High School Faith Formation — Sunday 7:00 PM
- RCIA — Wednesday 6:00 PM
- Men's Faith-Based Discussion Group — 2nd Thursday, 6:30 PM, Room 6
- Adult Education offerings
Small Wonder Preschool
Small Wonder Preschool has been part of St. Mark's since the late 1970s, after starting as an in-home preschool in 1970 and spending a brief period off-site. The preschool is nationally accredited, uses a curriculum based on Missouri State Standards, and offers a Christ-centered environment welcoming children of all denominations. It is currently directed by Charlotte Davis.
- Early Learners (age 2 by July 31) — Tues/Thurs 9:30–12:00, $140/month
- 3-Year-Old Class — multiple options, $170–$295/month
- Pre-K Class — multiple options
- Maximum 10 children per classroom
- Registration fee: $75
Liturgical Ministries
The parish's liturgical life is supported by a large group of commissioned lay ministers coordinated through the Liturgy Director, Chris Masuch. The Church teaches that these roles are official ministries of the assembly — not just 'volunteer jobs' — and each has formation requirements set by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Altar servers are trained starting in the fourth grade.
- Lectors (proclaim the Word)
- Eucharistic Ministers (distribute Holy Communion)
- Greeters (welcome at South and North entrances)
- Ushers (hospitality, collections, emergencies)
- Altar Servers (grade 4 and up; also weddings, funerals)
- Gift Bearers (bring forward bread and wine)
Hispanic Ministry
St. Mark's has an active Hispanic Ministry that serves Spanish-speaking parishioners through a weekly Spanish Mass, Spanish-language Confessions, a Hispanic Ministry Marriage Group, a Hispanic Dance Group, Confirmation classes, and a dedicated Friday evening Holy Hour of Adoration.
- Spanish Mass — Saturday 7:30 PM
- Spanish Confessions — Saturday 7:00 PM (Confesiones en Español)
- Hispanic Ministry Marriage Group
- Hispanic Dance Group Rehearsal
- Hispanic Ministry Confirmation Class
- Hispanic Ministry Adoration — Friday 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Outreach, Charity & Social Justice
Outreach is a major part of parish life at St. Mark's. Hilda Beck directs Missions and Social Justice, and the parish regularly partners with Harvesters to repackage food for those in need in the Kansas City area. The parish is also one of the host sites for Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph's Parish Mental Health Ministry, which offers spiritual companionship, practical support referrals, and education around mental health challenges. Each Advent, the parish hosts Catholic Charities' Project Shining Star Christmas giving tree.
- Harvesters food repackaging — regular volunteer evenings (bring a few dollars for McDonald's)
- Catholic Charities Project Shining Star Christmas gifts for children and adults
- Parish Mental Health Ministry — [email protected]
- Respect Life Ministry
- Care Ministry (Betsy Ward-Gales, Director)
Prayer & Devotions
Beyond the daily and Sunday Mass schedule, the parish offers several regular times for communal prayer. The Chapel Rosary is prayed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings at 8:10 AM, and a Rosary Prayer Group meets Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM. The parish also livestreams two Masses each week for the homebound and those unable to attend in person.
- Chapel Rosary — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8:10 AM
- Rosary Prayer Group — Tuesday 6:00 PM
- Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration — 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Parish Hall)
- Friday Hispanic Ministry Adoration — 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- Livestreamed Mass — Sunday 9:30 AM and Wednesday 9:00 AM
Parish Organizations & Community Life
Parish life at St. Mark's is supported by a wide array of organizations and groups. The Knights of Columbus run membership drives and service projects; the Ladies' Auxiliary (St. Mark / Nativity of Mary Ladies' Auxiliary 6794) hosts social and fundraising events such as Bunco Luau; scouting is active through both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts troops; and musical ensembles include a Flute Circle, Bell Choir, and broader music ministry under the parish Music Director.
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies' Auxiliary 6794 (St. Mark / Nativity of Mary)
- Cub Scouts / Boy Scouts
- Bell Choir — Tuesday 6:30 PM rehearsal
- Flute Circle — Tuesday 6:00 PM
- Music Ministry / Choir — under Music Director
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at (816) 373-2600 or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM. The church is located at 3736 S. Lee's Summit Road in Independence, Missouri, about half a mile north of I-70.
- Address — 3736 S. Lee's Summit Rd, Independence, MO 64055
- Phone — (816) 373-2600
- Email — [email protected]
- Office Hours — Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jim Taranto2005–at least 2015
Presided over the parish's 50th anniversary Mass in 2015; previously spent his diaconate year at St. Ann parish in Independence.