Holy Rosary
Catholic Church

Served by the Scalabrinian
missionaries since 1890

911 E. Missouri Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri

The History of Holy Rosary Parish in Kansas City, Missouri

(This material originally appeared in 1991 in the 100th Anniversary of Holy Rosary Parish booklet. The article was researched and written by Angelo Bongino.)

The Founding and Early Years of the Parish || The 1920's to the 1940's >>

The Founding and Early Years of the Parish

The first inscription over Holy Rosary's door read:

"Chiesa Del Santissimo Rosario, Fatta dai poveri" ("Church of the Holy Rosary, built by the poor")

No one knew the story behind that any better than the first pastor, Fr. Ferdinando Santipolo (Photo below. From the Silver Jubilee booklet of 1920. Acrobat/pdf of the Silver Jubilee booklet also contains a history and is posted and transcribed in this section) Fr. Fernando Santipolo, first pastor of Holy Rosary

He had been sent to Kansas City by Bishop Scalabrini, himself, in October, 1890, to start an Italian language church. he found that few Italians spoke English. Most were blue collar workers, and they had no church of their own. Until then they had gone to Mass at St. Patrick's on Eight and Cherry. Services were give them through an interpreter.

The first of Father's humble storeroom chapels was near the corner of Firth and Forest. Vestments, an chalice and money were provided by Bishop Hogan. James Ghio, a business man, donated a crucifix and a statue of St. Anthony. Mrs. Marie Paretto gave the figure of the Immaculate Conception. The first baptism took place there on November 22, 1895. The last such site was at 619 East Fifth Street, between Cherry and Holmes. There, the Sisters of Mercy began a Sunday school for the children who numbered 25 at the time.

Finally, the workers of the parish put together $183 for a building fund. Father Santipolo donated $250 for his own. Construction of a new, permanent church was finished in the fall of 1895. The dedication took place 10 o'clock Sunday, November 10, 1895.

At 9 o'clock that morning, a procession formed at the old Fifth Street site to transport the holy objects to the new location. School girls wearing white dresses carried candles, statues and holy pictures through the neighborhood behind a sprightly band and several dodges.

Bishop Hogan arrived to bless the cornerstone and officiate the day's activities, assisted by priests from other parishes. The Archbishop of St. Louis, John J. Glennon, gave the dedicatory sermon. The musical portion of the Mass was performed by special choir and band.

At 7:30 that evening Holy Rosary's new facade was lit by Japanese lanterns, while another crowd gathered. The Archbishop performed Pontifical Vespers and dade another address, ending a magnificent day for the parish.

The church and lot (50 feet by 142 feet) had a price tag of $5,000. Collections covered all by $2,000. Included in the collection were monies given by a legendary group of nine, each contributing $100. They were Michael Abbanddonato, Gregorio Albano, Giacomo Nigro, Michael Nigro, Giovanni Ribasti, Rocco Scarcello, Santo Scarcello, Guiseppe Stasi, and Pasquale Stasi.

Antonio Lapetina gave $44. Antonio Zitto purchased the front door. Mrs. Libbie Sansone gave $30 to handle ceiling expenses. Lorenzo Mello collected alms of $10. Antonio Basile pledged the cost of an altar to St. Anthony of Padua.

Father Santipolo had more than fulfilled his mission. He not only built a church, but also installed in the parish volunteerism that has persisted to the threshold of the 21st century.

The parish, home of the Italian immigrants, eventually embraced Triestese, Cubans, Mexicans and Vietnamese. Over the past fifteen years, the Vietnamese, like their ethnic predecessors, have prospered and moved to other areas. Holy Rosary has truly become the Church of Immigrants in western Missouri.

Old and ailing Fr. Santipolo went back to Italy in October 1897. He did not witness the Parish's unique and glorious moments. Those were for other priests and other generations of parishioners to savor.

He would have been surprised to see Italian soldiers attend Mass at Holy Rosary at the height of World War II. They arrived under military guard as POWs, trucked in from Riverside, Missouri on Sundays.

Scalabrini visits Holy Rosary

He would have thrilled at meeting Bishop Scalabrini, himself, who visited Holy Rosary on September 29, 1901, as a guest of Fr. Pietro Lotti. Two bands, several mounted men and a number of fraternities paraded the Bishop from Bishop Glennon's home to the parish. During a specially written musical Mass, two hundred children were confirmed that morning. That evening, an additional 500 received the sacrament as they and their sponsors overflowed the church into the streets. Two hundred more were baptized. The bishop sermonized on continued loyalty to America while warning against international terrorism from anarchists of the day. He had dinner at Fr. Lotti's residence next to the church.

When General Armando Diaz, Italian hero of World War I came to pray at Holy rosary, it was Fr. Cesare Molinari who blessed the church entrance for him and celebrated the Mass. Diaz had arrived in late October, 1921, to help dedicate the Liberty Memorial in November. His picture was taken before the altar with Fr. Molinari and several parish leaders. That evening, October 30, a veritable pageant was held for the general at the Muehlebach Hotel. Vincent Scudiero, program chairman, on behalf of the all Kansas City Italians, presented Diaz with a gold sword encrusted with dozens of diamonds and other precious jewels.