Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.  Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. (from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1213)

Infants and Young Children

The Church encourages parents to baptize their children as soon as they are able. Typically this can be within the first week or two. First time parents will need to meet with the Pastor prior to their child’s baptism.

Children 7 and over

After the age of 7, children are considered to have reached the age of reason. This means that they have the volition of ability to choose baptism for themselves Once they have reached the age of 7, they will receive the full sacraments of initiation and will go through a period of preparation. Although not required, actually they will receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

Adults (7 and older)

Adults seeking baptism and to join the church are normally brought into the church through RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). Formation (classes) for the inquiring or wanting to be baptized typically last 9-12 months. For more details, visit the page for RCIA, or contact the parish office person at 816-252-0121.

General Guidelines

The Rite of Baptism tells us: the entry into the Body of Christ is entry into a Community, also Baptism for both children and adults typically takes place within the celebration of the Mass. For infants and children under the age of 7, this will be on a Sunday in ordinary situations, another time may be scheduled.

Godparents

Everyone baptized must have at least one Godparent. This will be a Catholic who takes on the responsibility and place of Spiritual Fatherhood and Motherhood. If one has a Godparent, it must be a Godfather and Godmother. One cannot have 2 Godfathers or 2 Godmothers. At times families wish for a non-Catholic Christian to be a Godparent. They may serve as a Christian Witness.

Sunday Masses
Sunday Vigil: 5pm
Sunday 8am | 11am | **

Weekday Masses
Monday: 7:30 am
Tuesday: No Daily Mass
Wednesday: 7:30 am | **
Thursday: **
Friday: **

*Latin Masses are not listed. Please check the MyParish App or contact parish office for times.

The Holy Mass is at the center of our Catholic life because the Holy Eucharist is “the source and summit” of our Faith. 

Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper while celebrating the Passover meal with his apostles.  The gift of the Holy Eucharist makes Jesus present to us today and every day.  He did not abandon us, rather he gave us the Church in whose authority priests and bishops consecrate the unleavened bread and wine at the Mass by which it becomes the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus.  Through this miracle the same Jesus who was crucified and rose from the dead may be received by Catholics today.

The grace of this sacrament provides supernatural food for the soul to strengthen and nourish the faithful as they seek greater union with Christ in their daily life.  Each time Catholics receive holy communion they have an opportunity to grow in holiness through their openness to the graces offered in this encounter with Jesus.  In the Catholic tradition we call these graces the fruits of Holy Communion.

Question 292 in the Compendium of the Catechism describes these fruits…

Holy Communion increases our union with Christ and with his Church. It preserves and renews the life of grace received at Baptism and Confirmation and makes us grow in love for our neighbor. It strengthens us in charity, wipes away venial sins and preserves us from mortal sin in the future.

Catholics believe that the presence of Jesus remains in the consecrated host and Precious Blood as long as they remain unconsumed and intact.  For this reason, all of the Precious Blood is consumed during the Mass.  Any remaining hosts are placed in the tabernacle, a beautiful box that reminds us of the tabernacle of the Old Testament where God visited his people.  Today, Jesus waits for us in tabernacles throughout the world.  He has given us a wonderful gift in his enduring presence in the Holy Eucharist and invites us to visit him often to find peace in his presence and give him our adoration and thanks.  Throughout the history of the Church the Holy Eucharist has been taken to the sick or homebound who are not able to attend Mass.  This is only possible because of the gift of Christ’s abiding presence.

Children ordinarily prepare to receive First Holy Communion around the ages of 7-8 (2nd grade).  Part of the process includes preparation for First Penance (Confession).

Adults who have not yet been baptized or those who were baptized in another Christian tradition prepare for First Holy Communion through the RCIA process.

The Real Presence of Jesus Christ: Witnesses from the Early Church

So long as the prayers of supplication and entreaties have not been made, there is only bread and wine. But after the great and wonderful prayers have been completed, then the bread is become the Body, and the wine the Blood, of our Lord Jesus Christ.  -St. Athanasius

Just as the bread and the wine of the Eucharist before the holy invocation of the adorable Trinity were simple bread and wine, but the invocation having been made, the bread becomes the Body of Christ and the wine the Blood of Christ.  -St. Cyril of Jerusalem

They [the Gnostics] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of Our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in his goodness, raised up again.  -St. Ignatius of Antioch

The bread, as the Apostle Paul says, ‘is consecrated by God’s word and by prayer’; not through its being eaten does it advance to become the Body of the Word, but it is made over immediately into the Body by means of the word, just as was stated by the Word, ‘This is My Body!’ …In the plan of His grace He spreads Himself to every believer by means of that Flesh, the substance of which is from wine and bread, blending Himself with the bodies of believers, so that by this union with the Immortal, man, too, may become a participant in incorruption.  -St. Gregory of Nyssa

“Jesus said to him in reply, ‘so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ ” (Mt 16:18-19)

Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation we receive both healing and forgiveness of sins, restating our broken or strained relationship with God and our fellow man. Often times the most noticeable effect is the interior healing that we receive from this encounter with our Lord–remember the paralytic to whom Jesus said: “Your sins are forgiven”, he then said, “pick up his mat and walked away.”

Confession Schedule:

St. Mary’s offers regular confession times everyday, except for Tuesdays. If you are unable to come to one of these times, please contact Fr. Kendall to schedule a time. 816-756-6570

Saturday: 4 – 4:45 pm

Sunday: 7:15-7:45 am  | 4-4:45 pm

Monday: 11:30-11:50 am

Wednesday: 11:30-11:50 am

Thursday: 5-5:45 pm

Friday: 11:30-11 :50 am 

When do I need to go to Confession

Once per year: According to the precepts of the Church, all Catholics are to receive the sacrament at least once per year. Failing to do so, or to fulfill any of the precepts, is recognized as a mortal sin, this recognizes that we all fall short in our relationship with God, even in little ways. It is fitting that at least once per year we would go to one whom we love and who calls us His beloved to say; I am sorry that I have offended you and for anything I have done that has grieved you. Please forgive me, because I love you and never want to cause you harm.

Mortal or Grave Sin:

In the parable of the Lost Son, our Lord described God as the Father who is always keeping his arms open and eyes on the lookout for the return of a beloved child. he does not desire us to shy away when we have offended Him, but desires our return. When we have committed a Mortal Sin, one that by its nature has broken our relationship with God, we must make a confession and restore that bond before receiving communion. (If you find that you have committed a Grave or Mortal Sin, please seek confession as soon as possible. For our God desires to be with you and wants you to run to Him, especially when we are most hurt and furthest away.)

For the Good of your Faith

While there are the required times, when one must go to confession in order to receive Holy Communion, frequent confession is a worthy devotion, gives us access to God’s Grace in our daily fights against temptations, strengthens one against habitual and long enduring sins, and expresses our love and contrition for having offended God.  For most, making a monthly confession is a laudable practice; every 2-weeks is beneficial and there may be periods, such as Advent or Lent, when weekly Confession is beneficial.  

“Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:4-17)

The Sacrament of Confirmation completes the Sacraments of Initiation, incorporating the members of the Church fully into the life of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Having first been marked by the Holy Spirit in Baptism, the Confirmed receive the fullness of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, those Graces that are necessary to living a life of faith: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Perseverance, Piety and the Fear of the Lord.

Youth:

Confirmation is normally received during the 6th grade year, with classes typically beginning in September.

Adults:

If you are an adult who was baptized, but for any number of reasons, have not been Confirmed, please contact the parish office.  Preparation for adults continues year round and is tailored to the needs and spiritual life of each individual.

Through his first miracle at the wedding of Canna, Christ elevated the natural institution of marriage to a sacrament, and later said: “No man may separate what God has united.” Through this Sacramental grace, God Himself forms the bond between Husband and Wife.

The time of engagement is a privileged time that offers a couple unique gifts and blessings that are not present at any other time in the relationship.  It is in this time of a promise that is not yet fulfilled, that a couple lives in the fullness of anticipation of what is to come and prepares to receive the gifts of marriage in Christ.  It is because of the unique nature of this time that a couple needs to spend time being engaged—can you imagine what Christmas morning would be like if the day after Thanksgiving, you decided that since Christmas was coming anyway, you might as well celebrate it the day after, rather than having weeks to prepare.  Just like the Church has long testified to the preparatory nature of Advent and Lent, and their necessity in receiving the fruits of Christmas and Easter, so too do we look to reap the fruit of marriage through the period of Engagement.  And truly, we would also say that entering into marriage brings the new life and resurrection that Christmas and Easter also bring.

• Downloadable Marriage Policies
• 7 steps of marriage (downloadable brochure). 

Recently Engaged: 

If you are recently engaged and wanting to be married at St. Mary’s, please contact the Parish Office to setup a meeting with Fr. Kendall.

Civilly Married: 

For a variety of reasons, many Catholics today have been civilly married, but not married in the Church.  In order for a marriage to be a valid Sacrament, and this marriage as Jesus Christ has given to us, it must be witnessed by an approved minister of the Church (either a Priest or a Deacon), among other things.  The Church desires that you and your family receive all of the Graces and gifts that God offers, the primary among them being His promise of binding the spouses together in an unbreakable union.

If you are civilly married, please contact the parish office or Fr. Kendall to discuss the steps and what will be necessary to bring your marriage into the Church.

Annulments:

What is commonly referred to as an Annulment is a declaration by the Church that the necessary elements for the valid sacrament of marriage were not present. If you had prior, legal marriage, these must be addressed by the Church prior to entering into a marriage. Please contact Fr. Kendall immediately if you are in need of perusing a declaration of nullity. 

FAQ

Can we have our reception at St. Mary’s:

St. Mary’s has Fitzgerald Hall, equipped with a full service kitchen, kitchenette for reception service and seating for up to 120 people.  Rental for the parish Hall is $300 ($150 for registered parishioners).

How long is the Preparation:

The Catholic Church requires the couple are engaged for 1 year prior to marriage (exceptions can be made for significant and extenuating circumstances) while this may seem like a long time for many, the time ___engagement is __unique and privileged time, that offers unique gifts to your relationship, and it will go by faster than you may think.

Can a Catholic marry a non-Catholic:

Differences in faith aid an extra dimension to a marriage but does not make a marriage not possible. Being aware of this Catholics can marry someone who is not Catholic, but with added pieces to the preparation and must receive the paper permission from our Bishop.

Through the Apostle James we are instructed “Is any among you sick?”James 5:14-15

Through the Sacrament of Anointing the Christian faithful receive forgiveness and are strengthened against the sufferings, fears, temptations and variety of spiritual challenges that we face in times of serious or grave illness or injury. There is a particular grace received against temptations toward despair or hopelessness.  The Anointing also has the effect of joining the pain and suffering experienced with Christ and to the work of salvation, particularly when offered for those who have fallen away, or never been part of the Church, so that the sickness itself becomes a source of life.  There may be a result of physical healing, miraculous cures have resulted, but like the other Sacraments, this is not the primary purpose.

One should receive the sacrament anytime one has a grave or serious illness, injury, or as in the case of a long-term condition, when it has taken a considerable turn.

If you are homebound, or in a nursing home and in need of the sacrament, please contact the Parish Office (816)252-0121, or if you are able to come to Mass, ask Fr. Kendall for the sacrament following Mass.

St. John Chrysostom

“The priests of Judaism had power to cleanse the body from leprosy—or rather, not to cleanse it at all, but to declare a person as having been cleansed. . . . Our priests have received the power not of treating with the leprosy of the body, but with spiritual uncleanness; not of declaring cleansed, but of actually cleansing. . . . Priests accomplish this not only by teaching and admonishing, but also by the help of prayer. Not only at the time of our regeneration [in baptism], but even afterward, they have the authority to forgive sins: ‘Is there anyone among you sick? Let him call in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he shall be forgiven’.” (On the Priesthood, A.D. 387)

Judas, the Ruler of Israel, took up a collection among his soldiers, amounting to two thousand drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, in as much as he had the resurrection of the dead in view. (2Mc 12:43)

The burying of the dead is one of the greatest privileges we have as Christians and most significant obligations. In the funeral Mass, we both present our loved one to our heavenly Father with our prayers and tears, and at the same time offer the Holy Sacrifice which accomplished the work and won for us the reward of reopening the Gates of Paradise. 

When a loved one has died, know first of our prayers and please contact the parish office.  If you have not already selected a funeral home, we strongly recommend either of two funeral homes in the Kansas City and Independence area:  Meuhlebach and Pasintino’s.

Cremation:

Beginning in 1963, the Catholic Church has allowed for cremation in situations when it is necessary. While permitted, burial of the body remains the preferred and normal way. Although cremation may be cheaper, we recall the account from the Book of Maccabees of Judas, the Ruler of Israel, and how the expiatory offerings given for the dead were counted to him so very excellent.

When cremation has occurred the remains should be placed in a suitable urn and treated as one would the body, either buried or paced in a suitable Mausoleum They should not be kept in the home or worn as a piece of jewelry.

Stipends:

Burial of the dead is counted as one of the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy, as such we do not charge for funeral services, but do suggest the following stipend amounts:

Musicians (each) $100

Server (each) $25

Celebrant $100

St. Mary Parish $250

Meals:

We are happy to provide a meal, following the funeral Mass. Please just let us know if you like to have a meal in the parish and approximately how many to anticipate.