About Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Kansas City, Missouri
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish located at 5141 Main Street in the Country Club/Plaza area of Kansas City, Missouri, within the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph. Founded in 1909 by Fr. Thomas McDonald on his family farm south of the city, Visitation has grown from 12 families to a multi-generational community of more than 1,200 households anchored by a Spanish Mission-style church (often cited as a possible inspiration for the Country Club Plaza), a parish school, and a wide array of faith formation, music, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Gregory (Greg) Haskamp
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph
Why belong here
Visitation is a more-than-century-old parish rooted in the same Midtown Kansas City neighborhood since 1909, with deep family ties across generations — many parishioners can trace their connection back to those original 12 farm families. The parish combines a landmark Spanish Mission church (rumored inspiration for the Country Club Plaza), an on-site parish school, a parish school of religion for children in public schools, adult faith formation and retreat programs like Christ Renews His Parish, a vibrant music and liturgy program under a full-time Director of Liturgy/Music, and a strong stewardship/social-concerns mission serving neighbors from State Line to Meyer Boulevard. The community gathers around the same Eucharistic altar in a single, unified worship space — a deliberate choice made when the church was expanded in 2004 so that 'Tighe Hall Mass people' and 'Main Church Mass people' became one Visitation people.
Mass times at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm
Parish History
Visitation was founded in 1909 by Fr. Thomas Benjamin McDonald on his family farm south of Kansas City, growing from 12 families to a community of more than 1,200 households. The parish built a Spanish Mission-style church (dedicated 1917) patterned after California's Mission Santa Barbara, expanded it dramatically in 1974 and again in 2004, and today anchors the Country Club/Plaza corridor of Midtown Kansas City with school, faith formation, and outreach ministries. The full narrative — including the gold-coin-in-a-barn founding gift, the Pendergast-donated altar, and the WHB-founder-donated chimes — is told on the parish's Our Parish History page.
- Founded September 5, 1909, in Fr. McDonald's farmhouse
- First permanent church dedicated May 6, 1917 (Spanish Mission style)
- 1974 renovation under Fr. Carney; 2004 expansion under Fr. Rotert
- Visitation began its centennial year (2009) with 1,255 families / 3,833 individuals
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Visitation Parish offers religious education programs for children, youth and adults. The School of Religion (SOR) is the primary religious-education program for parish children in grades K–8 who do not attend the parish school, and operates as a subcommittee of the parish Faith Formation Ministry Team with a vision to 'support the domestic church, make disciples of Jesus, encourage servant leadership, and reinforce a Catholic identity.' Classes meet weekly on Monday evenings from 5:30–6:30 pm.
- Adult Faith Formation
- Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat
- School of Religion (K–8, Monday evenings 5:30–6:30 pm)
- Sunday Pre-School for ages 1–6 during the 9:00 am Mass hour
- Vacation Bible School (summer, ages 4–9)
School of Religion Tracks
The School of Religion guides children through their sacramental and faith-formation journey: K/1st graders are introduced to Jesus and the Church; 2nd graders prepare for Confession and First Holy Communion; 3rd–5th graders focus on being Catholic and serving (Kid Greeters, prayer petitions, community meal service); and Junior High 6th–8th graders prepare for Confirmation. Children not attending a religious school must complete one year of SOR before their First Communion year.
- Kindergarten & 1st grade — introduction to Jesus and the Church
- 2nd grade — preparation for First Reconciliation & First Communion
- 3rd–5th grade — service opportunities after First Communion
- 6th–8th grade — Confirmation preparation
Visitation Parish School
Visitation School, founded in 1921 on land a block west on Baltimore, was renamed the Monsignor Thomas B. McDonald Memorial School in honor of the founding pastor after an 18-classroom building was begun in 1947. The school has grown through numerous additions (a gym in 1940, additions in 1925, 1949 and beyond), was renovated in 2000, and expanded to three classes per grade — with Kindergarten classrooms added in the renovated church basement during the 2004 worship-space project.
- Founded 1921
- Renamed Monsignor Thomas B. McDonald Memorial School (1947 groundbreaking)
- Renovated in 2000 and expanded to 3 classes per grade
- Kindergarten classrooms added in church basement (2004 renovation)
Parish Staff
The parish staff includes a full Pastor, a Priest in Residence, three Pastoral Associates, a Director of Liturgy/Music, a Director of Stewardship, a Business/Financial Manager, a Parish Secretary, and a Ministry Scheduler/Bookkeeper. Parish office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
- Fr. Greg Haskamp — Pastor ([email protected], x1302)
- Fr. Charles Rowe — Priest in Residence
- Jennifer Greene — Pastoral Associate (x1309)
- Karen Miller — Pastoral Associate (x1308)
- Teresa Albright — Pastoral Associate (x1306)
- Alejandro Manso — Director of Liturgy/Music (x1307)
- Megan Burdolski — Director of Stewardship (x1305)
- Isaac Uzcanga — Business/Financial Manager (x1313)
- Joni Chichuk — Parish Secretary (x1301)
- Janet Ridder — Ministry Scheduler/Bookkeeper (x1304)
Mission Statement
Visitation describes itself as 'a community of communities,' committed to a way of life based on Christ's teaching and the Catholic tradition, dedicated to lifelong conversion in faith, healing sanctuary in the sacraments and relationships, an educational environment for children that emphasizes Catholic values and is committed to excellence, and awareness of and responsiveness to the needs of neighbors and society.
Parish Boundaries & Contact
Visitation's canonical parish boundaries run from State Line on the west to Oak Street on the east, and from 47th Street on the north to Meyer Boulevard on the south. The parish office is at 5141 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64112, and is open Monday–Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Phone 816-753-7422; fax 816-753-5505.
- North: 47th Street
- South: Meyer Boulevard
- West: State Line
- East: Oak Street
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Thomas Benjamin McDonald1909–1957
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of the 1917 Spanish Mission church, the school, and convent; later named Monsignor.
- Arthur M. Tighe1957–1972
Second pastor; later Monsignor. Tighe Hall, remodeled 1973, is named for him.
- Richard F. Carney1972–1981
Third pastor; supervised the 1974 renovation of the church.
- Henry G. Bauer1981–1983
Fourth pastor.
- Thomas Minges1983–1986
Fifth pastor.
- Robert A. Rost1986–1995
Sixth pastor.
- Norman Rotert1995–2005
Seventh pastor; led the 2004 expansion and dedication of the present worship space.
- Patrick J. Rush2005–2016
Eighth pastor.
- Bradley S. Offutt2016–2023
Ninth pastor.
- Gregory Haskamp2023–present
Tenth and current pastor; arrived July 2023.