Holy Spirit Parish History

Holy Spirit is a community of believers that aspires to be formed by the values of the Gospel and finds its strength in coming together to celebrate Eucharist and to be transformed into the Body of Christ. As a Eucharistic People, we who are being nourished must share the bread we have with others, wash the feet of our brothers and sisters and welcome all who come, as Christ Himself. 

Fr. Robert B. Pflumm, 1981-1991
Fr. Albert Hauser, 1991-2001
Fr. Harry Schneider, 2001-2009
Fr. Richard Storey, 2009-2015
Fr. Thomas Dolezal, 2015
Fr. Richard Halvorson, 2016

Holy Spirit Parish was canonically established on July 15, 1981, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, by Archbishop Ignatius Strecker. Father Robert Pflumm was appointed its founding Pastor. Property for the building of the initial parish church and school was donated to the Archdiocese by the Mrs. Elizabeth Brulez and her son, Isadore.

Soon after the establishment of the Parish, a home was purchased in Oak Park subdivision at 10255 Barton to be used as an initial rectory, church office, and chapel. Due to subsequent need, a storefront location was obtained for meetings and general work in the Metcalf 103 Shopping Center. Soon thereafter, Father Pflumm arranged for the renting of the original Oak Park Mall Theaters for Sunday Masses. As the Parish grew, a larger worship space was needed and a final temporary location was secured at the Lenexa Community Center. 

In August of 1981 Father Pflumm began the task of forming a committee to address the task of creating physical plant of the parish. The Pastor and the committee retained the Hollis and Miller architectural firm to design the initial structure that would be used as the worship space along with offices and a school designed to hold grades K-3. The original plan was to utilize the worship space for as long as it would take to complete adding grades K-8 to the school and then the church would be remodeled into a large gym and stage for the school and a separate standing church and sanctuary would be built on the North end of the property.

Groundbreaking for Phase I occurred on June 4, 1983. One year later on June 4, 1984 the original worship space and school were dedicated. Over the course of the ensuing years, more additions were completed: classroom space, a new gym, a parish center, parish office space and a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.

In 2005, Fr. Harold Schneider determined that it was the right time to begin renovation of the sanctuary and narthex. The campaign was deemed "Lift High the Cross". The name was chosen to glorify our Lord's sacrifice and was signified by the permanent crucifix that was installed. The cross, weighing over 700 pounds, was a culmination of a two year process, custom designed by Joe Skeeba.
The cross portrays our Lord in the moments just before he gave up his spirit in the completion of the ultimate sacrifice of love. His eyes are open and looking to his heavenly Father in submission and His hands, nailed to the branch of the cross, are turned ever so slightly upward embracing the Holy Spirit, portrayed by our original terra cotta icon located behind and above the installation.

Holy Spirit was rededicated on Thursday, December 18th by Archbishop Naumann.