by Eileen Scott
Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — For 150 years, Holy Name of Jesus Parish here has been a powerful presence on Southwest Boulevard.
On a crisp October weekend, parishioners and community leaders came together to celebrate the momentous anniversary.
The Oct. 17 and 18 celebrations held at the church honored the history, mission and legacy of Holy Name, which was established in 1876 as a mission church. In 1899, it was converted into a parish, and Holy Name School opened in 1901.
Heart of gratitude
The festivities kicked off on Saturday evening with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann and concelebrated by Father Mark Ostrowski, Holy Name pastor, and multiple priests who previously served at the parish, followed by a taco dinner, live music and dancing.
“It’s incredible seeing people who have demonstrated such a love of their parish and a commitment to so many years,” said Father Ostrowski. “It was a wonderful time to celebrate the past.
“We’re only two months in[to our anniversary], and we get to celebrate even more to come.”
Sunday morning’s celebration began with an outdoor Mass celebrated by Archbishop Shawn McKnight.
“I am so grateful for this parish, which began 150 years ago as kind of a daughter parish of the parish of St. Mary’s,” Archbishop McKnight said during his homily.
“This parish, from its earliest of days, has had an understanding of its mission to love God and to love our neighbor,” he said.
The archbishop also recognized the parish’s commitment to education and faith formation for the youth in the community and highlighted the impact and importance of the school’s hot lunch program.
“And I, along with all your sister parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, congratulate you and wish you well and pray for you — that you might remain faithful to your history as Holy Name of Jesus, that you might remain faithful to our Lord, who has given his all, his everything, his very life, so that we might be with him,” Archbishop McKnight said.
At the end of Mass, Archbishop McKnight presented Father Ostrowski with a framed apostolic blessing for the parish from Pope Leo XIV in honor of the 150th anniversary.
“It was great to see so many young people and their families,” said Father Ostrowski of the celebration. “Sunday was a wonderful foot forward.”
Legacy of hope
Among the community leaders in attendance on Sunday were Christal Watson, mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas senator Pat Pettey; state representative Louis Ruiz; Christian Ramirez, District 3 commissioner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas; and Sarah Oltvedt, Rosedale Development Association’s executive director.
Watson became emotional as she reflected on the impact of being in the presence of God with other believers.
“There are not enough words to express the contribution a church that’s been here for 150 years has made in this community, and the lives that it’s touched,” she said.
She and a few other civic leaders presented after the Mass, which was followed by activities for all ages.
“As mayor, I am grateful for Holy Name’s enduring presence right here in Rosedale,” Watson told parishioners. “Strong communities need people who keep showing up in compassion, and with courage and with a willingness to serve.
“And as we work to reset, renew and rebuild our community, we need that spirit.”
Ruiz, whose family has attended Holy Name for four generations, recalled his grandfather walking to Mass nearly every day and emphasized the significance of his own Catholic education.
“This parish helped mold me as I was growing up,” he said.
That commitment to shaping the lives of young people continues today at Holy Name.
“We serve a purpose to bring kids closer to Jesus and to give students a future,” said Jennifer Starcke, who teaches first and second grade at Holy Name.
“I love this church,” she said. “I love the school. We are family.”
That family is honoring its past and looking forward to the future.
As Watson said in her presentation, “So, let us honor those who have come before us by making room for those who will come after us. May the next generation say, ‘They kept the faith. They opened the door, and they made room for us.’”
