Chapter 6 :: 1991-2003

In July 1991, Father John Wolf, C.PP.S., was assigned as the sixth pastor at Saint Charles Borromeo, opening the era of parish leadership provided by the priests from the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. A diocesan priest, Father Craig Maxim, was assigned as associate pastor. Later in Father Wolf’s tenure, associate pastors were assigned by C.PP.S. From his religious community, Father Wolf brought with him “a sense of community, concern for the poor, and the importance of good worship and liturgy.”

In 1992, under Father Wolf’s leadership, the first steps were taken to restructure the parish council. The new model moved away from a council of representatives from various ministries and staff to one with members selected from the entire parish via a discernment process. The council ministry evolved from concern over day-to-day administration to concern for the parish’s overall mission, direction, and vision. By 1994, the restructuring of the parish council evolved to become “Called to Be Church,” a leadership approach designed to form and educate the entire parish on ministry.

A new parish Mission Statement was developed in 1993 that included the following principles:

• Transformed by Eucharist, we embrace Jesus’ call to be sisters and brothers to each other.

• Our journey in faith and love calls us to walk with one another.

• We espouse a model of church in which laity are valued.

• We believe that education empowers us to be more fully human.

• Our journey calls us to risk becoming peaceful and justiceminded people.

Father Wolf, faced with aging structures on the Saint Charles campus in need of renovation and repair, as well as the need to place the parish on a path to sustain itself, initiated a program called “God’s Plan for Church Support” which renewed the focus for parish support on tithing commitments, resulting in a $5000 increase in tithing pledges.

In 1995-1996, the parish was able to renovate Borromeo Hall with a new kitchen and efficient heating, cooling, and lighting at a cost $296,825. In the church, the marble altar rail was removed. A bright sign was constructed in front of the rectory with the name of the parish and Mass times; one of many Eagle Scout projects that have enhanced the grounds and environment throughout the history of the parish. In 1998, new book racks were built by the Knights of Columbus and installed in the pews to accommodate new hymnals; an example of many projects that the Knights developed throughout the history of the parish. Other noticeable changes to the facilities in the early part of Father Wolf’s tenure included a portable building placed on the property to accommodate preschool students and construction of a new school playground. Technology was becoming a greater influence and the first parish website was created in 1999 to better communicate with parishioners.

In June of 1995, the parish was blessed by the ordination of another parishionier as Robert Kerr was ordained to the priesthood.

Midway through Father Wolf’s tenure, the parish reached its 50-year milestone. Entitled “In God We Glory, Year by Year”, the parish’s Fiftieth Anniversary was celebrated throughout 1997. Festivities kicked off with a parish picnic and publication of a parish cookbook in 1996. The highlight of the year was an anniversary celebration the weekend of April 5-6 including Mass with Bishop Boland and a banquet where tribute was paid to long-time sacristan Kay Campbell. A book, titled The Spirit of Saint Charles Borromeo Church: A Parish History, authored by Tom Marshall, was published to document the history of the parish from 1947-1997. This book was a wonderful resource for the materials developed to celebrate the 75th Anniversary in 2022.

Following the 50th anniversary year, additional facility needs were identified during a “Stirring the Spirit” project, and these needs could not be handled out of operating funds. In 2000, a Capital Campaign titled “Building Our Future/Building Our Faith” was launched to fund needed building improvements. The funds raised by this campaign, along with a loan obtained from the diocese, allowed the parish to embark on extensive church and school renovation with a construction cost of $1.8 million dollars.

During the renovation, Masses were held in the school gym for eight months and eighth grade classes were held in trailers behind the school. In the church, sanctuary renovations included a new altar, ambo, and presider chair with similar design features to highlight the connection between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The side altar on the west side of the church was removed to make room for a permanent baptismal font and enlarged choir area. A new Eucharistic Chapel replaced the cry room, and the Tabernacle was moved from the sanctuary to the Eucharistic Chapel. A new Marian Shrine was installed on the east side of the church. A new ceiling with skylights, along with new lighting and sound systems, completed the church renovation. The school renovation project included four new classrooms and renovation of the basement classroom. The parking lot was also reconstructed during this time. Removal of asbestos, found in both the school and church, complicated the renovation. On January 6, 2002, the renovated church was dedicated with Bishop Boland presiding, assisted by Father Wolf, several former pastors, and other clergy.

Father Wolf’s commitment to live out his order’s concern for the poor and vulnerable aligned well with the parish’s history of social outreach and concern for each other and led him to bring a full-time Social Services minister and a licensed family counselor to the parish staff. Four broad service ministries, including Social Outreach Services, Parish Pastoral Services, Counseling Services and Justice Ministries were vibrant during this time.

Social Outreach Services provided support for the greater community through year-round programs such as Food Pantry and Habitat for Humanity, as well as seasonal efforts such as Rice Bowl, Lenten Soup Suppers, Mitten Sock Masses, Saint Joseph’s Table, Advent Giving Tree, Jump for the Heart, and special collections for a variety of ministries throughout the Kansas City Metro area. Saint Charles parishioners had long supported the Cooperative Social Services of the Northeast since its opening in 1972 through volunteer efforts and donations and efforts such as “Our Bag”. This important city-wide outreach center, renamed The Bishop Sullivan Center in 1994, continues to operate today with significant support from Saint Charles parishioners.

The Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry closed in 2000 and the Saint Charles Food Pantry opened in 2002 in service of families in the Northland under the leadership of parishioners Mary Bulman-Griggs and Deacon Frank Peak. Monetary donations from individuals, community grants and the Knights of Columbus have continually supported operations. Harvester’s, the Regional Food Bank, is the primary source of food items, augmented by contributions from local supermarkets, parishioners and the annual “Souper Bowl” soup drive. Under the leadership of Mary Bulman-Griggs, Deacon Jim and Mary Olshefski and Deacon Frank Peak, this ministry thrives, continuing to serve the Northland to this day. The food pantry has grown from serving 423 families in 2003, to a high of 2718 families in 2014, and 1625 families in 2021, indicating the fluctuation of needs over time.

Parish Pastoral Services, a social service team of volunteers, was developed by Brother Robert Herman, C.PP.S., to provide support within the parish. Services included support for the sick and homebound, RESPITE volunteers (helping those with aging parents), Adopt A Shut-in Program, hospital and nursing home visits, health care ministry, emergency assistance, Concerned Care/Connecting with Care program (transportation to Mass and assistance with household repairs), and parenting services including parenting classes and babysitting coop.

The Counseling Program ministry continued to provide programs and services such as Mourning Has Broken (bereavement support), Emotions Anonymous, Befriender Ministry, Divorced and Separated Support, annulment counseling. With the assignment of licensed family counselor Father Gary Richmeier, C.PP.S., to the parish in 1994, a counseling center was opened in the basement of the rectory with services provided on a sliding-scale payment basis.

The Justice Ministries included Respect Life, Prison Ministry, Peace and Justice Team (world justice issues), and the Guatemala Program of Hope.

Father Wolf’s desire to build community in the parish was supported by the Parish and Family Life Ministry which included a broad range of social ministries designed to provide social cohesion to the parish and promote family life for parishioners of all ages. These included Circles, Friendly Club, New Members Welcoming Team, Coffee and Donuts, Funeral Dinners, Adult Sports, Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner, Saint Charles Singles, Young Adult Group, Cana Group for young married couples, Youth Groups for Junior and Senior High students, Parish Picnics, as well as Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.

Child and Adult Faith Formation ministries were an important part of the faith community with programs to bring new people of all ages into the Church as well as programs supporting the faith journey of existing members. During this time a full-time religious education director was employed to serve along with the Adult Faith Formation Director and Youth Minister. Programs for children and youth included the Saint Charles School of Religion for those children not attending the Saint Charles School, Liturgy of the Word for children, Confirmation preparation for teens, Special Persons Religious Education with Disabilities (SPREd), Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC), Vacation Bible School among others. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for young children was introduced in the parish in 2001 and classes continued into 2003. This program was returned to the parish many years later under Father Don Farnan. An active youth group supported middle and high school youth. Adult faith formation opportunities included Small Christian Communities (SCC), Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), Bible study groups, parish retreats and missions, marriage preparations, among many others.

Saint Charles Borromeo School continued to be a central focus of parish ministry. Mary Omecene was hired as principal of the Saint Charles School in 1993 and continued to serve the school through the remainder of Father Wolf’s tenure and beyond, until 2013. Through leadership from the Diocese, the School Endowment Trust Fund was formed to provide long-term financial support for the school. The 50th Anniversary of Saint Charles School was celebrated in 2002 with an alumni Mass, display of school archives and activities for alumni.

In the area of Worship and Liturgy, the parish liturgist coordinated lay ministry leaders who were responsible for scheduling and communicating with lectors, eucharistic ministers, sacristans, altar servers, and hospitality ministers, as well as the art and environment and music liturgy teams. One environmental change was the purchase of a jeweled cross for the sanctuary. It was later determined that this decorative cross did not meet the requirement for the sanctuary cross to include the corpus of the crucified Christ. The jeweled cross was replaced by the processional crucifix which was designed to coordinate with the new altar, ambo and presider’s chair introduced in the 2001 renovation and remains in use today.

Father Wolf’s tenure, a period of renewal and growth, renovation and outreach, came to a close in July 2003.