Corpus Christi is a community of over 1300 families who make up the Catholic church in the western part of Lawrence, KS. Our community is made up of single adults, married couples and families, both young and old alike. Our community gathering is the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. It is this gathering each week that makes sense of all that we do as a community, and all that we do as individuals the rest of the week.
History
Welcome to the Community of Corpus Christi. In 1981, Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker, named a new parish in Western Lawrence, as a daughter parish of St. John the Evangelist located downtown. 300 plus families, living west of Iowa Street, became the founding members of the church of Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ), with Fr. Frank Horvat assigned as founding pastor. While the initial church building was being constructed at 11th & Kasold, parishioners attended Mass at West Junior High and the 1st Baptist Church (13th & Kasold). Within a few years, it became evident that the rapid growth of western Lawrence and the Catholic community would a new building and space for a school, which had always been part of the master plan. With Fr. Jim Shaughnessy at the helm, fundraising began as plans were formulated that eventually became this beautiful site at 6001 Bob Billings Parkway. This new Corpus Christi Church and School opened in the fall of 2000, and once again this community moved home. Fr. Jim, parishioners, artists and business people went to great lengths to take sacred art and architecture into account when building this worship space and educational center. The attention to detail and symbol is reminiscent of the great edifices built in the Early Church all throughout Europe. The sacred space in which we gather is indeed important, and the symbols and the art actually teach us as we pray and evangelize all those who walk through our doors. As the third pastor of this Corpus Christi Community, I am humbled to be able to lead worship in this beautiful and sacred space. We welcome you to learn about and tour our spiritual home.
God bless!
Reverend Father Mick Mulvany
History
Welcome to the Community of Corpus Christi. In 1981, Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker, named a new parish in Western Lawrence, as a daughter parish of St. John the Evangelist located downtown. 300 plus families, living west of Iowa Street, became the founding members of the church of Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ), with Fr. Frank Horvat assigned as founding pastor. While the initial church building was being constructed at 11th & Kasold, parishioners attended Mass at West Junior High and the 1st Baptist Church (13th & Kasold). Within a few years, it became evident that the rapid growth of western Lawrence and the Catholic community would a new building and space for a school, which had always been part of the master plan. With Fr. Jim Shaughnessy at the helm, fundraising began as plans were formulated that eventually became this beautiful site at 6001 Bob Billings Parkway. This new Corpus Christi Church and School opened in the fall of 2000, and once again this community moved home. Fr. Jim, parishioners, artists and business people went to great lengths to take sacred art and architecture into account when building this worship space and educational center. The attention to detail and symbol is reminiscent of the great edifices built in the Early Church all throughout Europe. The sacred space in which we gather is indeed important, and the symbols and the art actually teach us as we pray and evangelize all those who walk through our doors. As the third pastor of this Corpus Christi Community, I am humbled to be able to lead worship in this beautiful and sacred space. We welcome you to learn about and tour our spiritual home.
God bless!
Reverend Father Mick Mulvany