by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org
SHAWNEE — For weeks, St. Joseph pastor Father Scott Wallisch has been telling parishioners here there would be a fun announcement at the groundbreaking of the school’s new athletic facility the morning of Dec. 1.
And he didn’t disappoint.
“That announcement is that the National Football League (NFL) has awarded us a $250K grant to help make this project a reality,” he said.
According to Geoff Jolley, executive director for the Greater Kansas City Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), 16 cities were selected to receive over $3 million from the NFL foundation and the LISC grassroots field grant program.
Also partnering on the project are the Kansas City Chiefs and the Hunt Family Foundation.
“It is always special to have the chance to work with the NFL Foundation and LISC on a field grant to provide local youth with access to a safe space to stay active and healthy,” said Anne Scharf, Kansas City Chiefs Vice President of Community Impact and Civic Affairs.
“We will continue supporting young athletes throughout Chiefs Kingdom and are excited for the St. Joseph, CYO, Shawnee and Special Olympics Kansas communities to utilize this new field once it is complete,” she continued.
“To receive their approval and grant not only helps us financially, but it helps us see this is something the greater community wants to get behind,” added Father Wallisch. “It’s impressive to see how the NFL and the Chiefs are willing to invest in communities throughout the country and promote healthy lifestyles for young people through athletics.
“It’s super exciting that they would see merit and value in what we’re doing and be willing to put themselves behind it.”
A lot of memories
The stadium was originally built in the 1950s for high school sports and has been used extensively over the years for CYO football and track meets.
In fact, Father Mike Hawken, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the archdiocese and the parish’s former pastor, played in his first CYO football game at the facility in fifth grade as a student at St. Peter Cathedral Grade School in Kansas City, Kansas.
“This stadium holds a lot of memories for me,” he said.
But the facility has deteriorated and been used sparingly in recent years.
‘Steward well what has been entrusted to us’
The ceremony opened with a prayer from Father Hawken, who took a moment to remember those who got St. Joseph to what it is today.
“What we enjoy here today,” he said, “is a gift that has been handed down to us through the generosity of those who came before us. What a privilege it is to be good stewards and build upon what has been entrusted to us.”
Improvements will include expanding the athletic field and installing new turf. The football field will be regulation size and convertible into multiple flag football fields.
The turf will also be able to be converted into multiple youth soccer fields.
Three lanes of a meter-length track will also be built. Although it will not be used for track meets, it will be sufficient for practices and useful as a walking and jogging track.
The renovation also includes a new sound system, field lighting, fencing and a video scoreboard.
Blessing in the snow
Father Hawken blessed the construction site in the snow and prayed for the safety and health of those working on the project.
“Whenever we look to the interests and needs of our community and serve them, we are in a sense God’s coworkers,” he said. “Let us therefore pray . . . that God will bring the construction of this renovated athletic facility to a successful completion and that his protection will keep those who work on it safe from injury.”
Bigger than a parish
The project will not only benefit St. Joseph and Shawnee. Also partnering are the CYO and Special Olympics Kansas communities.
“That synergy with Greater CYO is extremely important,” said Pat Regan, a lifelong parishioner who is on the campaign committee. “Having them as part of this project is wonderful because all the other parishes are going to be able to use this facility.
“This is much bigger than a St. Joseph thing. This is an archdiocese thing.”
Regan has a brother with cerebral palsy who has been involved with Special Olympics his whole life. To have them involved touched his heart.
“Special Olympics is a group that gives to the people in our community that need it most,” he said. “When I found out they were going to be part of this, it warmed my heart and it’s amazing they are doing that.”
A generational campaign
The athletic facility is the first phase of the Generations Growing Together campaign. The second phase will be to renovate and expand the St. Joseph Early Education Center, with the hope of beginning that project in the spring.
“This is the only Early Education Center in the archdiocese that can help infants and toddlers,” said Regan. “We need to build on that. And the fact that we’re adding to the facility that’s going to be state-of-the-art for our families and kids for decades to come — that’s amazing and that’s going to help our parish grow.”
‘Jesus is amazed’
Lamar Hunt Jr. was in Dallas for the Chiefs game against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving a few days prior.
But on this day, he was in the St. Joseph gym representing the Hunt family and showing how much the Chiefs organization cares about this project.
He attended Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas in Dallas on Thanksgiving morning and shared three things the priest said that stuck with him.
“The first thing he said is to slow down,” he said. “The second thing he said was you are not self-made. The third thing was to display gratitude and try to write down something each day through Advent that you are thankful for.
“Today, mine was Jesus is amazed.”
Amazed, indeed, at what is to come on the St. Joseph campus.
“I love this archdiocese and this parish,” said Father Wallisch. “I’m really proud that St. Joseph is doing something that’s going to benefit both, and especially for all the youth here in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.”
