GUARDIAN ANGELS PARISH HISTORY
1909 - 1996

Observing that German families were beginning to move south toward the 43rd and Roanoke Parkway area, Fr. Ernest Zechenter purchased a lot on the northwest corner of 43rd and Mercier Streets for $2000 in 1909. The idea was suggested to him as the result of a card game in the home of one of the founding fathers. This lot, 200' x 132', was large enough for a church and a school/convent. Forty-third Street was part of the old Santa Fe Trail. It and most of the other streets were not paved.

Many of the first families were in fact former members of Sts. Peter and Paul and had attended its school. The rapid expansion of Kansas City's downtown forced people to move south. Some of the families only moved as far south as Our Lady of Sorrows parish, but when the Union Station was built on the site of that church in 1907, more of the families decided to move further south to Westport. By 1909, there were approximately 40 Catholic families in the area of 43rd and Mercier. Many of these people had come to Kansas City by way of the southern United States. They still spoke German and observed their customs, although they had been in the U. S. for 40 years or more.

In the spring of 1909, the first pastor was appointed, Fr. Karl Joseph Haeckler, who was German speaking. Services were first held in May 1909 in a vacant grocery store building at 43rd and Belleview, but prior to this organizational meetings were held on the lawn of the Froeschl home.

By September 1909, a two-story brick building 65' x 55' had been erected on the northwest corner of 43rd and Mercier with a chapel on the second floor, school rooms and quarters for the Sisters on the first floor, and a clubroom in the basement. The congregation celebrated Mass in the new space on the feast of the Guardian Angels, 2 October 1909. The German name of the new parish was Schutz Angel Kirche; that is, Guardian Angel Church.

The first organizations established were the St. Leo's Benevolent Society, which provided help in the event of sickness (first president: Frank Bauer), and the Mutter Gottes Altarverein - Altar & Rosary Society (first president: Mrs. William Muehlebach).).

On 11 September 1910, a school with 40 pupils was opened with the Sisters of St. Benedict from Atchison in charge. The students occupied two rooms and the Sisters the other two. It is said that in those first days cattle grazed up to the classroom windows. The Sisters' furnishings were in a style which is called "functional" today. Orange crates served as wash stands and a wooden box with two shelves as a closet. The kitchen table was a board supported by two saw horses. Because those attending Mass on the second floor complained that they could smell the food the Sisters were preparing for Sunday dinner, the Sisters were asked to do their Sunday cooking on Saturdays.

Fr. Haeckler stayed until his health failed in 1914. He was replaced by Fr. Peter P. Rosch, a native of Treves, Germany. He continued the practice of preaching in German, but after a time allowed for one English sermon on Sunday. At the time he came, there were approximately 100 families of German origin. However, by this time non-German speaking families were moving into the area from the Cathedral and Sacred Heart parishes.

During world War I, being a national German church in the midst of the city brought with it its own problems. The parish recognized the need for a gesture of loyalty to the United States. They decided to place a flagpole to the south of the present church. It was dedicated in an elaborate ceremony.

In 1916, a piece of ground adjoining the property on the west was purchased for $2800. In the summer of 1917, a nine-room brick rectory was built which cost $10,000. The Sisters moved to the former rectory. It had been built in 1912 at a cost of $4500 and contained eight rooms. Prior to its construction, the pastor stayed in the homes of parishioners.

The Bishop assigned boundaries to the parish in 1918. Up to this point the parish had simply served all of the German-speaking Catholics on the south side of Kansas City. In August, 1921, ground was broken for a new church as the parish had outgrown the upstairs chapel. The proposal was to build only the basement for the church. This was completed in time for Christmas Mass, 1921. The cost was $19,000. In the winter of 1921-1922, plans were made to build a Gothic church in the late northern French style of Carthage Stone, without interior pillars. Construction was begun in March, 1922. The cornerstone was laid on 14 May 1922. The new church cost $150,000. The architect was H. W. Brinkman, of Emporia, KS.

The main altar was carved in St. Louis by the Tarjanny and Hageman Company. Images of the saints were displayed amid the intricately carved woodwork. The side altars were brought out from the old Sts. Peter and Paul church which was torn down in 1923. The church bell was also brought along and it remains today. The first Mass was celebrated in the new church on Christmas Day, 1923.

Fr. Rosch was quite a promoter of the parish and the area. To promote the area, he gave away a newly built and completely furnished home at 4326 Holly. The home was worth $10,000. A ticket which admitted one to the Mammoth Indoor Circus, sponsored by the Roanoke Club of Guardian Angel Church, cost $1 and entitled the purchaser to participate in the drawing. It was not long before the parish had 700 families of assorted origins.

In 1931, Fr. C. J. Strasburger was assigned to the parish in the midst of the Depression. To boost the spirits of the people, he organized the Friendly Club, which was for all ages. The club produced plays, sponsored mixed bowling (a venturesome thing at the time) and other sports leagues, Christmas parties, and family picnics. It even had its own orchestra at one time. The club had a state charter which was granted in December of 1934. The first president was James D. McLeese.

The basement of the church was finished for social activities. The interior of the church was renewed and new side altars were installed. Property was purchased in 1940 on the west side of the church on Terrace Street for a playground.

Sometimes people wonder if the name of the church is Guardian Angel or Guardian Angels. The 1952 edition and previous years of the Polk Directory refer to the parish as Guardian Angel. In 1953, the reference is to Guardian Angels. As noted above, the original name of the parish was written in the singular in German.

Fr. Strasburger often talked about building a new school. It did not seem very practical in those days, but over the years he accumulated a building fund of $170,000. In May, 1953, Fr. Strasburger died of a heart attack and the following month Fr. Robert E. Walton took over. During this time, five homes and a 50' lot on the west side of Mercier were purchased for $71,113 as a site for a new school and convent. The cornerstone was laid on March 6, 1955. In September, 1955, the school was completed and cost $200,000. At that time there were 290 students. (The 1909 school had cost $40,000.)

In 1962, the new convent at 4220 Mercier was completed at a cost of $144,000. A contract was signed 6 August 1963, to tear down the old convent at 4240 Mercier. Cost was $585. In 1966, three additional lots were purchased on Terrace Street. In October of that year a renovation was completed of the Church sanctuary under the direction of John Lawrence Daw and Associates. In the process of renovation, 26 statues were removed from the sanctuary. The side altars were replaced by three statues. At that time the church was re-wired, air conditioned, and a new boiler was installed.

In 1966, a peak number of 1000 registered families was reached. In the summer of 1969 it was announced that Our Lady of Good Counsel School was closing and 50 children from Good Counsel registered.

In 1971, Monsignor Martin Froeschl was named the pastor, a grandson of one of the founding families of the parish. In April 1974, the parish debt was retired.

In December, 1982, Slawomir Jezierski, a Polish refugee, was adopted by the parish.

A brief article in The Kansas City Star on 14 August 1983, pointed out that the angel standing atop the church has one white wing and one gold wing. No one could be found who could explain why this was true.

In 1984, when the parish celebrated its 75th anniversary, about 500 parishioners and former parishioners attended the Mass and dinner. At that time there were 171 students in the school, and there were 715 families registered in the parish. The four charter members of the parish who attended the celebration were: Agnes McCarthy, Alvina Enderle, Frank McLaughlin, and Margaret Tumberger.

On 15 June 1988, Brother Terrance McGlennon, FSC, became the Pastoral Administrator of the parish and the first in the Diocese. Fr. Kevin Cullen, SJ, was appointed pastoral associate. At this time the Benedictine Sisters moved from the convent.

Four other Jesuit priests moved into the Sisters' convent to experiment in small group living. They called themselves Arrupe Jesuit Community, after a recent Father General of the Order. In the spring of 1990, the Jesuits purchased a home in Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. The Benedictine Sisters returned in July to live in the convent. The six Sisters living there work in various ministries around the metro area. Brother Terry resigned because of ill health and Margaret Lima was appointed as Pastoral Administrator.

On 6 September 1991, it was announced that the school would close. Children could attend the two associated schools of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Our Lady of Guadalupe which would open in the fall of 1992 with a multi-cultural program.

During the 1990's, the Parish continued its tradition of lay involvement and initiative by forming a viable Pastoral Council and Ministry Areas with a mission to serve the needs of the parishioners and the community. Renters were found for the school building. Plaza Academy, an alternative high school serving about 35 students, occupied the second floor. AAU Basketball rented the gymnasium for training, practice and tournaments. The Parish continued to make use of the first floor for children's religious education classes and various adult offerings. The cafeteria remained available for Parish use and special occasion rental. The additional rental income allowed the Parish to meet the costs of keeping the building functional (the boiler had to be replaced) and operating.

Much needed attention was also given to the aging facilities. Numerous volunteers have come forward, offering their time and expertise. A stained-glass window campaign was launched in the fall of 1991 and completed in early 1993, raising enough money to remove and relead all of the Church windows. The outside of the Church was painted, and parts of the tile roof repaired. In 1994 the parking lots were resealed with the help of volunteers. The next year saw the convent windows replaced and work begun on the school windows. 1996 was the year for repainting the Parish Hall, a needy neighbor's house, and the outside of the Parish Center (the school building). The Parish Office also received a new roof and siding.

Throughout all the events during its near 90-year history, Guardian Angels has continued its tradition of being a welcoming parish, able to adapt to whatever challenges the changing times have thrown our way. At the millennium, the Parish is confident that God's loving hand will continue to guid us in the 21st Century. We pray that we may continue to be messengers of that love to the Westport neighborhood and to all we meet.

Source: THIS FAR BY FAITH: A HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY-ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, pp. 142-145.