Holy Rosary
Catholic Church
Served by the Scalabrinian
missionaries since 1890
911 E. Missouri Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
News from the Parish
In loving memory of Mary Fasone
Mary Fasone was a life long member and a pillar of Holy Rosary parish community. She was a loving, caring, and giving person. Everyone was family to her. No one was a stranger. She was gentle, dedicated, enthusiastic, and empowering. She began her career as a cook for Holy Rosary school children; she was loved by them, the staff and the parents.
Limo Service
Mary & her husband Tony owned one of the first cars in the Columbus Park area. She drove nuns, people to doctors’ appointments, meetings, shopping, anywhere they needed to go. When I arrived in Kansas City, she
offered to be my chauffeur. St. Joseph’s Table Mary started the first St. Joseph’s
Table in Kansas City at Holy Rosary in the early 1960’s. She motivated the whole community to work with her. Her efforts have made our Table the best. She made the best Ravisani cookies, often copied, never matched.
Security Guard
Mary spent hours in her balcony, her watch tower, enjoying the sunlight and at the same time keeping a close watch of the parish buildings and property. She assured that all doors were locked and all lights were turned off.
Mary’s activity extended to the community. She was involved in Rockhurst and Glennon high schools where her children attended. She was active member
of the Columbus Park Association.
“Vox populi, vox Dei”
At the request of Holy Rosary parishioners, a plaque in recognition of Mary’s loving dedication was installed in the Scalabrini Hall on November 13, 2005. I considered “the voice, (the request) of the people, the voice of God”. Mary loved coming to church and participated at all parish activities. The church and the community was her life and she was present as long as she was able. Her daughters Gloria and Linda, and granddaughter Mary Beth accompanied her when she got weak.
The last time I saw Mary was June 23. The day before, Mary had a bad day. The family requested that I anoint her. I went the morning of the 23rd and I found Mary all smiles, happy and talking. The reason? It was her 89th birthday and part of her family was there to celebrate. She received communion with her family and was anointed, but I told the family that Mary was not ready to go.
On her last few days, Mary told her family that her time was up and she was ready to go back to the Father. God called her early Wednesday morning on
July 26. Her life was a candle that gave light and joy until the end.
Grand Send-off
The participation at the visitation and the funeral celebration was a splendid tribute to Mary. She was loved, admired, and followed in her
faithful work for God, the church and the community. This tribute to Mary is extended to her family, the many friends and supporters who trusted Mary’s
leadership and joined her in her mission of service.
Mary was a beacon whose light was absorbed by all her friends and will continue to shine as we continue her legacy of loving service. “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the World”. (Mt. 25: 34).
Holy Rosary has another angel to guard us and protect us. Thank you, God.
Donations in her memory Mary’s family requested that donations in memory of Mary be made to Holy Rosary Church for the St. Joseph’s Table. The family
will decide how the money will be used.
Fr. Joseph Vicentini, cs
Fr. Joe's 50th Anniversary Celebration Photos available
A professional photographer was hired to take pictures of the 50th
Anniversary mass, plus the dinner at the Argosy. These photos are available for viewing and ordering.
You may view and order photos online. Go to Whitaker Photo.
When prompted, enter this email address: [email protected]
When you are prompted for a password, enter 51505 and click the
"Sign in" button. Questions, please call (913) 268-9943.
Scalabrini Centennial Memorial Mass, June 2005
The Scalabrinian Missionaries celebrated the 100th anniversary of
the death of their founder, blessed Bishop Scalabrini on June 15 with
a multi-cultural memorial Mass. The parishes from the Northeast deanery
and from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas where the Scalabrinian
priests are working, participated. The service was conducted in English,
Spanish, and Vietnamese. Read more about Bishop Scalabrini.
Fr. Pat Murphy, Fr. Tony DeAngelis, and Fr. Joe Vicentini extend their
thanks to the parishioners from Holy Rosary, Holy Cross, Church of the Holy Martyrs and the two churches from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas—St.John the Evangelist and St. Joseph-St. Benedict who
participated in and attended the mass. Besides our own choir, a
hispanic choir sang. The music was truly uplifting. A special thanks
to the ladies at Holy Rosary who helped with the refreshments.
Water Damages Rectory, June, 2005
When it rains… This rain was not from the sky, but from broken drain
pipes from the rectory bedrooms. It was Wednesday, June 1, the 100th
anniversary of the death of Bishop Scalabrini. After mass, water was
coming down from the ceiling of the dining room and corridor and
caused great damage to the floor, the walls, and some furniture. The
damage was extensive. The ceilings had to be removed and all the
plumbing is being replaced. Insurance covers the water damage but
not the plumbing. It will be several weeks before we return to normal.
The kitchen cannot be used for the time being, a good chance to lose a few pounds.
Father Joe's 50th Anniversary of Ordination, May 2005
St. Joseph's Table, 2005
Larger version (Acrobat/pdf/578kb)
Fire and Clay Retreat
Photos from the 2005 Fire and Clay Retreat.
Monthly services offered to Columbus Park Plaza residents
Columbus Park Plaza, at 801 Pacific Street in the Columbus Park neighborhood, has requested a monthly prayer service and communion for the residents. They also requested the celebration of the mass on special occasions. I was happy to accept their request. The dates for the service are posted in the residents' monthly calendar.
--Fr. Joe
Appreciation Mass and Dinner
Saturday, February 5, 2005
The Saturday evening Mass February 5, was offered for all the volunteers to the parish and for the generous benefactors who support Holy Rosary during the year, followed by dinner in the Scalabrini hall. This mass and dinner expresses our appreciation for the people who are actively involved in the liturgical and social life of Holy Rosary. 70 parishioners and friends of the parish attended and enjoyed BBQ beef brisket and side dishes from the attendees.
Our prayer to God and to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary is to bless them and their families. We also pray for the people of our parish community that they will join in our common effort to make Holy Rosary a stronger and more dedicated family community.
Friday, November 26, is the 52nd anniversary of my arrival in the United States as a student of theology.
I was totally unprepared and I was chosen unexpectedly to replace a volunteer classmate. I survived and thank God daily for sending me.
On November 28, 1887, Bishop Scalabrini founded a Community of Missionaries for the pastoral care of Italian Migrants in the Americas. Holy Rosary was one of the first parishes to receive a Scalabrinian missionary in 1890.
At present Scalabrinians are serving migrants and refugees in 29 countries. On Sunday as we celebrate our 117th anniversary. Join us in our thanksgiving to God and in our prayer for new vocations.
Fr. Joe
posted October 20, 2004
Feast of the Holy Rosary, 2004
My dream is that all the Italian American people who were born, raised, baptized, confirmed and married at Holy Rosary together with the Vietnamese people who have lived in our community for over 25 years attend this feast as a solid community, return once a year to the Alma Mater where it all started to honor and give thanks to Our Lady of the Rosary for all their blessing.
How can this happen? First of all we need the present parishioners of Holy Rosary to give the example, to participate with their family and to be the model and the messengers to former parishioners and friends. It will take a few years but it can be done.
How was the feast this last weekend? We are grateful to God and to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary,
our Patroness, for a marvelous day last Saturday. After a cool morning that might have kept a lot
of seniors at home, the weather warmed up and we were able to celebrate the Mass outdoors and enjoy
the rest of the evening. The attendance was fair and we had delicious food and drinks for a much larger
crowd, but those who participated enjoyed it; children enjoyed the moon walk and all were entertained
by music and singing.
We thank the people who donated food and drinks, the people who prepared it and served it, all the volunteers and the scouts for setting up, putting all things away and cleaning up. We thank all who participated at the Mass, the choir and all who patronized our feast. We thank the Vietnamese community for participating at the feast and for providing delicious and abundant food, all donated.
A special thanks to the Vietnamese people who made a special donation in honor of Our Lady
of the Rosary; so far they have contributed $1,745.00. May God and Our Lady of the Rosary
bless all of us for our love and devotion expressed in our feast.
Fr. Joseph Vicentini, cs
posted October 20, 2004