A History of our Parish

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. Isadore maintains the original family home and a portion of their original property just west of the church.

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 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 5, 1983. One year later on June 4, 1984 the original worship space and school were dedicated. Over the course of the ensuing years two more additions were completed in accordance with the master plan including classroom space allowing grades K-8, then a new gym, parish center, additional parish office space and a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. In 2005 Father Harold Schneider determined that the time was right to begin the renovation of the current sanctuary and narthex. A committee was formed and began establishing goals, designing and implementing a parish needs survey, and identifying the scope of the project.The development of the plan and the capital campaign were aptly named “Lift High The Cross” in order to both glorify our Lord’s sacrifice and the overwhelming desire of the parish to commemorate that act of love through the installation of a permanent crucifix in the renovated sanctuary.

In 2006 the committee selected the firm of Shaughnessy, Fickle & Scott (SF&S) to work with them in responding to the needs and desires of the parish community. The final design was sent to bid in early 2007 and through a competitive process, the construction firm of Haren Laughlin Construction was chosen as general contractor. In the spring of 2008 the parish relocated its sanctuary temporarily to the school gym for weekend masses and the parish center for daily masses. The project was completed and rededicated on Thursday, December 18, 7:00pm by Archbishop Joseph Naumann.