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200 Years of St. Mary Parish in Independence

The first footsteps of the Church arrived in this part of the country, what would become the town of Independence, MO. Fr. Charles de la Croix, a French missionary arrived to serve the Catholic families in the region. This video celebrates the Bicentennial of St. Mary Parish and 200 years of God’s work in bringing His Kingdom into the region.

The mission that laid the foundation for what would become the parish of St. Mary’s began in 1823, marking St. Mary’s as the first church to be established in Independence, Missouri and for what is now the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.  It is rightfully known as “the Mother Church–Cradle of Catholicism” for this region of Missouri.  As described in the historical accounts of the first priest serving the area, Rev. Charles de la Croix, this mission served both Native Americans and a few families that had begun settling in the newly formed town.  The parish itself, was formally established by Fr. Bernard Donnelly in May of 1845 and the cornerstone of the church building laid in 1864, marking St. Mary’s church as one of the rare churches built during the civil war.  Since its completion in 1965, the steeple and gold-plated cross have looked over the arrival of many and growth of Independence.

Parish History

Our Story

From the diocesan history book, “The Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph”, author Kevin Kelly writes about St. Mary Parish:

“Perhaps a man more experienced in reading the signs of a fickle climate would have seen the warnings written in the sky on that mid-winter Saturday morning in 1850. But the young Irish-born priest began his ride to Independence on horseback not expecting an unseasonably mild February to turn into a raging blizzard on Saturday.

He had Sunday Mass to celebrate the next day at St. Mary Parish. The rain quickly soaked him to the skin as his horse plodded through mud, then rain turned to ice, then to a hard, blowing snow as the temperature plummeted.

He passed just three houses on his way, but seeing no light, he pressed on. Drowsiness set in. The priest knew that giving in to sleep would mean certain death. He talked loudly to his only companion, his horse. He prayed, he sang, he slapped his cheeks and pulled at his hair – anything to stay awake and alive.

Finally, as the priest neared the brink of unconsciousness, he felt his horse quicken his pace, perhaps recognizing a familiar landmark. He had made it to the edge of Independence. Hearing faint hoof beats, neighbors peered from their cabins to wonder that anyone would be out in such a storm. They recognized the priest, and pulled him inside to a fire.

The next day, he was at the altar of St. Mary Parish, celebrating Mass. Such was the steel of the pioneer Catholics of western Missouri. One can only imagine how the history of Catholicism here, and even the history of Kansas City, might be different had Father Bernard Donnelly, the `Pioneer Priest,` perished that day.”

Our Parish

Founded in 1823, Saint Mary Parish is the oldest in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph. Settled by Catholic pioneers and missionaries, Saint Mary has a long and interesting history. The church has survived uprisings among settlers of different faiths, raids by outlaws, and the Civil War. Though faced with many trials and tribulations, our founding settlers remained steadfast in their faith. The cornerstone of the existing building was laid in 1864 with the building completed in 1865. The cornerstone laying marked the departure of the first train from Kansas City which went to Independence for the purpose of carrying Fr. Bernard Donnelly, our first pastor, and five carloads of people to the celebration.

After more than 180 years, St. Mary Catholic Church still stands at the corner of College and Liberty Streets, calling to the community around to join in the glory of God that abounds from within its walls. We welcome new members every year and have an active, growing parish. In the tradition of Fr. Donnelly, today`s shepherd, Rev. Kendall Ketterlin, leads this community in building a future for all. Come be a part of history! Come visit historic Saint Mary Parish in Independence, Missouri.

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The Art of St. Mary's

The blessing of religious images or statues begins:

“Almighty, everlasting God, Thou dost approve of the sculpted or painted images of thy saints, in order that when we behold them, we may be led to contemplate and imitate their lives and holiness.”

It is through the work of our hands that artists and the faithful seek to unveil the treasures of Heaven.  The artwork of St. Mary’s, both present and planned for the future, seeks to reflect the deeper truths of the unseen reality of God’s creation, to raise our eyes to the divine realities and lift our hearts to prayer.

Main Altar

Behind the main altar is the coronation of Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, surrounded on left and right by the hosts of the Saints, represented by 12 men and women.  Underneath, is the foundation of the apostles, represented in two ways.  First, by the precious stones described in the Book of Revelation and also the Prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the temple.  Then, through the sheep, each with a shield depicting the manor of the apostle’s death.

On the floor level, attending to the altar of God, are the Archangels.  Their presence reinforcing the union of the heavenly and earthly altars.

Saints Above the Altar

Left Side

   

St. John Paul II & St. Mother Teresa represent saints of the modern era as well as the Papacy and religious life.

St. Pope John Paul II is one of the most beloved popes of the 20th century. He lost his family at an early age, saw his country conquered by the Nazi regime, and survived an assassination attempt. He is credited with helping to end Communism in Europe and left the Church with a rich legacy of theological writings and insights.

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta was born in Macedonia in 1910. She entered the Sisters of Loretto at the age of 18 and a year later she was sent to India and began teaching at a convent school. In 1946, Mother Teresa experienced a call to serve the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta, India. That call would lead her to establish her own order of religious sisters known as “The Missionaries of Charity”.

   

St. Benedict &  St. Scholastica represent the relationship between siblings.

St. Benedict was born in 480 A.D. just North of Rome. At a young age Benedict desired to wholly serve God by joining a religious order. His zeal for reform and discipline eventually lead him to write his own rule and found what is known as the Benedictine Order.

St. Scholastica is the twin sister of St. Benedict. Like her brother, she wished to devote her whole life to prayer and study. The two would remain close friends throughout their lives., supporting each other through prayer and a shared passion for our Lord.

   

St. John Vianney & St. Philomena represent parish priests and martyrs of the church.

St. John Vianney grew up during the tumultuous time of the French revolution. After the church was reestablished in France, Vianney joined the seminary. He was appointed the pastor of a small town named Ars in Eastern France. St. John Vianney worked tirelessly to rekindle the faith that had been all but destroyed by the revolution. It is said that he would spend between 8 and 16 hrs a day hearing confessions. The saint had a great devotion to St. Philomena.

Little is known about the life of St. Philomena except that she was a virgin martyr. Her bones were discovered in a catacomb in 1802. Shortly after her body was exhumed miracles began to occur in association with her relics. She is said to have appeared several times to St. John Vianney. St. Philomena has also become a symbol for the pro-life movement and is the patron saint of babies and infants.

Right Side

   

Saints Louis & Zelie represent the vocation of marriage and family.

Louis  and Zelie Martin are most well known as the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux but their own lives are a example of saintly virtue. Both Louis and Zelie desired to enter religious life but ultimately discerned other vocations. Louis and Zelie were married in 1858 and at first they desired to live a chaste marriage but under the council of a priest they decided to start a family. The Martians would have 9 children, 4 of whom died in early childhood.

The Martin home was one of piety, charity, and happiness. Even through hardships the Martins showed their children an example of devotion and submission to the perfect will of God.

   

St. Francis & St. Clare represent holy friendship.

St. Francis was a 12th century friar and founder of the Franciscan order. At a young age, Francis walked away from a life of comfort and wealth to live a life of poverty and radical adherence to the Gospel. He is one of the most loved religious figures and on of the first recorded people to receive the stigmata.

Inspired by a sermon that St. Francis gave, Clare decided to join a convent at the age of 18. She was a close friend of St. Francis and cared for him in his final days. Clare would go on to establish her own order based on the same principles of the Franciscan order.

   

St. Augustine & St. Monica represent the special bond between a mother and child.

St. Augustine is one of the most famous theologians and philosophers in the whole history of the Catholic Church. But he was not always a champion of the faith. In fact St. Augustine spent most of his early life living an epicurean lifestyle. He was involved for a short time with a heretical sect of gnostics called the Manichees. But through his mothers fervent prayers, Augustine was converted to Christ and eventually became a Bishop and Doctor of the church.

St. Monica was the faithful mother of St. Augustine. Through her life of  prayer and sacrifice she was able to bring bother her pagan husband and wayward son to faith in Jesus Christ. She is a true example for parents of the power of persistent prayer.

Apostolic Lambs

Planned Artwork

The goal for the completed vision is to surround worshippers in a space that place them in the midst of the work and history of salvation, while moving them from our point of entry in the earthly life (at the entrance of the church), to the heavenly which is accessed through the altar.  The Blessed Virgin Mary, as patroness of the parish, provides the vehicle through which the mysteries of salvation will be opened.  Stylistically, we will continue in a similar fashion with the wall behind the altar: while noticeably western, it is heavily influenced by the iconography of the east, embedded with traditional and meaningful symbolism and featuring a somewhat flattened appearance which reinforces the principle that these are shallow reflections, capturing only a part of the depth of the fuller, heavenly reality.

Beginning from the entrance of the church, the panels will depict, on the Northside, the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the Southside, the prefigurements of Mary in the Old Testament, giving a chronological advancement from the creation of Adam and Eve, to the consummation of the new Heaven and new Earth.  To the side of the altar, the space which marks a transition and threshold between the earthly life of the Old Testament and Virgin Mary and the heavenly depiction of the Throne and Saints, will be the Transfiguration of the Lord on the Southside, itself marking the transition from the Old Testament to the New and marking the revelation of the union of heaven and earth, and on the Northside, the wedding feast of the Lamb, being similarly the point of transition from the earthly to the fulfillment of the union of the New Heaven and the New Earth.  

Underneath these murals will be, in continuity with the apostolic lambs, symbolic foundations.  Beneath the Transfiguration, the Old Testament foundations for priest, prophet, king and the tree of Jesse; beneath the Wedding Feast of the Lamb will be the prophetic depictions of the four evangelists.  

Above the altar will be depicted the ranks of creation, plants being in the furthest circle, leading through fish and birds, animals, mankind and angelic beings who stand in the immediate presence of the Divine, with a symbolic representation of the Holy Trinity at the center.

North Wall

Nativity of Mary

Mary’s entry and dedication to the Temple

Betrothal to Joseph

The Annunciation

Nativity of the Lord

Presentation of the Lord

Assumption/Dormition

The Wedding Feast of the Lamb

(Union of the Lamb and bride at the end of all things)

Prophetic depictions of the 4 Evangelists:

Lion, Ox, Eagle, Man

South Wall

Eve taken from Adam (Includes allusion to the Church pouring from the side of Christ)

Noah’s Ark and the Ark of the Covenant (The vessel of Purity and Word of God)

Joseph the Dreamer

Burning Bush and Elijah’s Cloud (God announcing liberation of the captive and life-giving water)

Daughter of Zion (Is. 37:22)

Sarah, Ruth, and Esther

The Woman of Revelation

Transfiguration of the Lord

(Union of heaven and earth and meeting of the old with the new)

Prefigurations of the Church: Priest, Prophet, King and the Tree of Jesse

Plants ; birds and fish ; animals ; mankind ; angelic beings in respective orbit around Holy Trinity

Baptistry

Within the baptistry the newly initiated will be surrounded by the life of the Sacraments as others will be recollected into the life that is entered through baptism and the promises of the Sacraments.  The North wall will feature depictions of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism-the baptism of the Lord; Confirmation-Pentecost; 1st Communion-the Lord’s Supper.  Along the East wall will be two confessionals with the image of Divine Mercy between; The South wall will depict the Sacraments of Healing and Union: Marriage-the Wedding at Cana; Anointing of the Sick-Collage of the healing of the blind, the leper, the lame and curing of the demoniac; Holy Orders-the washing of the feet.

Parish Staff and Support

Rev. Kendall Ketterlin

Pastor

816-252-0121, ext 103
[email protected]

John Williamson
Technical Support

Tami Routh
Bookkeeper 

816-252-0121, ext 104
[email protected]

Lorie Sage
Executive Secretary

816-252-0121
[email protected]

Angelina Gearke
Music Director

Maggie Cruz
Outreach Agency

816-252-0121, ext. 103
[email protected]

Tony Douglas
Contributions

816-252-0121, ext 102
[email protected]

Cathy Anderson
Altar & Rosary Society

Eric Holder
Grand Knight – Council 10746

Daylon Hodgin
Maintenance

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