About St. Therese Little Flower · Kansas City, Missouri
St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church is a small urban-core Roman Catholic parish in the Blue Hills neighborhood of mid-town Kansas City, Missouri, belonging to the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph. Founded in 1925 under Father Maurice E. Coates and named for St. Thérèse of Lisieux — who was canonized that same year — the parish worships over 200 families and is widely regarded as a pillar of its neighborhood through its commitment to community outreach. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary on Thanksgiving Day 2025, marking a century of faith-filled, diverse, and spirit-led worship in the city. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9 a.m. and is supported by a vibrant gospel choir, with the liturgy livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (the Little Flower)
- Rector
- Father Don Farnan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph
Why belong here
St. Therese Little Flower offers a warm, diverse, and close-knit faith community in mid-town Kansas City that is small enough to feel like family yet large enough to serve its neighbors in tangible ways. The parish supports a full weekly schedule of vibrant worship — Sunday Mass with its renowned gospel choir, a Wednesday noon Mass, rosary before Sunday Mass, and a livestream for those at home — alongside an extraordinary range of outreach ministries including an Emergency Assistance & Food Pantry program serving over 100 families a month, a Senior Center, a Community Garden, a Parish Nurse who visits the homebound and hospitalized, and a Christmas Basket program that has served hundreds of families for nearly thirty years. It is also the only remaining Catholic church in a vast area of east Kansas City, making belonging to St. Therese a meaningful way to keep the Catholic presence alive in this part of the city.
Mass times at St. Therese Little Flower
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (contact Estelle Tunley at 816-444-5406)
Our History & 100th Anniversary
St. Therese Little Flower Parish will proudly celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2025. Founded on October 18, 1925, by Father Maurice E. Coates at the assignment of Bishop Thomas Lillis, the parish is the first shrine to the Little Flower in Missouri. Today it is a loving community of over 200 families and a recognized pillar of the Blue Hills neighborhood through its dedication to community outreach. The parish was recognized in Paul Wilkes's Catholic Parishes: The Guide to Best Places and Practices as one of the best parishes in the United States and was named Kansas City's Best Church by The Pitch in 2002.
- Founded October 18, 1925, under Father Maurice E. Coates
- Named for St. Thérèse of Lisieux, canonized the same year
- First Little Flower shrine in Missouri
- First Mass: home of Frank Wheeler near Euclid & 48th Terrace
- School opened January 5, 1927, staffed by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Current native-stone, modified Gothic church dedicated 1948 (ground broken April 4, 1948)
- Recognized in Paul Wilkes's Catholic Parishes: The Guide to Best Places and Practices
- Named Kansas City's Best Church by The Pitch in 2002
- 100th anniversary celebrated on Thanksgiving Day 2025
Our Mission
Saint Therese Little Flower Parish is a diverse faith community of love and acceptance, serving God and our dear neighbor through vibrant liturgies and social outreach. The parish describes itself as a very faith-filled, diverse, spirit-led community that is small enough to be an intimate, close-knit family yet large enough to serve brothers and sisters in the community who are less fortunate.
Liturgy & Music
Mass at St. Therese Little Flower is described as a prayerful yet spirited celebration. The gospel choir supports the Liturgy, which features contemporary and traditional gospel music. The Lead Me Guide Me Hymnal is a primary resource for music at the parish. Choir members also visit parishioners living in long-term care or assisted-living facilities so they can continue to feel the love of the parish.
- St. Therese Gospel Choir & Instrumentalists Ministry
- Hymns, contemporary and traditional gospel, and spiritual music
- Lead Me Guide Me Hymnal as primary resource
- Visits to parishioners in long-term care and assisted-living facilities
- Director: Sandy Midkiff ([email protected])
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Estelle Tunley ([email protected], 816-444-5406)
Devotions & Prayer
Each Sunday at 8:30 a.m., before Mass, the parish gathers to pray the Rosary for the parish, personal intentions, and the neighborhood. The parish encourages making the Blessed Mother's Rosary part of one's daily prayer routine.
- Our Blessed Mother's Corner
- Rosary prayed 8:30 a.m. Sundays before Mass
- Prayer Request option via the parish website
Parish Staff & Leadership
Father Don Farnan has served the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph since his ordination on June 13, 1987. He is also the founder of the Farnan Spirituality Center, hosts the Upon This Rock Podcast, and writes a blog. In addition to St. Therese Little Flower, he serves as Pastor & Parochial Administrator of St. Francis Xavier and St. James parishes.
- Father Don Farnan — Pastor & Parochial Administrator ([email protected])
- Donna Arnone — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Estelle Tunley — Director of Liturgy & Music ([email protected])
- B.J. Atkinson — Director of Emergency Assistance ([email protected])
- Yvette Tunley — Administrative Liaison ([email protected])
- Sharon Sanders — Director of Senior Center & Safe Environment Coordinator ([email protected], 816-444-3514)
- Sandy Midkiff — Director of Gospel Choir ([email protected])
- Sister Helen Alder — Parish Nurse ([email protected], 816-942-2746)
- Pastoral Council Chair: Cathy Allin
- Finance Committee Chair: Sharon Hardy
Parish Ministries
The St. Therese Little Flower community offers many ministries in which to participate, covering hospitality, liturgy, formation, outreach, and caring for the homebound and elderly. Each ministry is rooted in the parish's mission to serve God and neighbor through vibrant liturgies and social outreach.
- Hospitality — greeters and ushers
- Lector — trained readers at Mass
- Praise Dance — youth and adult sacred movement
- Eucharistic Ministers — distributing Body and Blood of Christ
- Youth Group — open to children through high-school seniors who have made First Communion
- Environment — liturgical décor reflecting the parish's diverse composition
- Bereavement — parish-wide support and a home-cooked meal after funerals
- Gospel Choir & Instrumentalists
Outreach & Community Service
The parish is highly regarded for its dedication to community outreach in the Blue Hills neighborhood. Its Emergency Assistance Program helps neighbors pay natural-gas, water, and electric bills through parishioner donations, donations from other churches, 'Friends of St. Therese' ministries, and Mid-America Assistance Coalition (MAAC) grants. The Food Pantry receives food from Harvesters, community donations, and parish food purchases, serving over one hundred families monthly. The Senior Center provides nutrition, social support, basic health screenings, exercise, and cultural outings for older adults. The Parish Nurse visits the homebound, sick, and those in hospitals and care facilities, advocates for patients regarding medications and insurance, and accompanies individuals to doctor's appointments and shopping as needed.
- Emergency Assistance & Food Pantry (Director: B.J. Atkinson)
- Senior Center (Director: Sharon Sanders)
- Parish Nurse (Sister Helen Alder)
- Community Garden — began 2009 with a grant from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
- Christmas Basket Program — food, paper goods, laundry, personal hygiene items, and gifts for ~250 families, in partnership with Hy-Vee
- Mid-America Assistance Coalition (MAAC) partnership
Sacraments
For inquiries about Baptism, Confirmation, and Funerals, or to schedule Confession, contact Estelle Tunley, Director of Liturgy and Music, at (816) 444-5406 or [email protected]. Funeral planning is guided and supported by the Director of Liturgy and Music, and the parish's Bereavement ministry helps families through difficult times with meals and prayer support.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion preparation via Sunday School)
- Reconciliation / Confession (by appointment)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick (via Parish Nurse visits)
- Funerals (coordinated by Director of Liturgy & Music and Bereavement ministry)
Contact, Location & Office Hours
St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church is located at 5814 Euclid Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64130. The parish office entrance is located behind the church. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch). The parish phone is (816) 444-5406 and fax is (816) 444-9345.
- Address: 5814 Euclid Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64130
- Phone: (816) 444-5406
- Fax: (816) 444-9345
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (closed 12–1 p.m.)
- Office entrance located behind the church
- Website: stlfkc.org
Thursday Mass at the Alvin Brooks Center
In partnership with Rockhurst University, Father Don Farnan celebrates a weekly Mass each Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at the Alvin Brooks Center Mabee Chapel (5401 Troost Avenue, Kansas City). All are welcome. The weekly gathering connects people from across parishes and the city to share in the Eucharist, strengthen community, and support ministries serving urban-core neighbors.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Maurice E. Coates1925–1955 (approx.)
Founding pastor assigned by Bishop Thomas Lillis on August 28, 1925. Moved into the unfinished school building during construction; oversaw the opening of the school (1927), building of the convent (1928), addition of the second school floor (1932), and the groundbreaking for the current native-stone church (1948). Lived at 5809 Michigan until 1955.