Katie Klassen grew up in a large Catholic family – a home full of lots of love, family and faith. Along with strong Catholic family and community, she had wonderful pastors growing up and had 13 years of Catholic education.  She is a graduate of NWMSU.

She is from the Kansas City metro area and has been active in parishes throughout her life.  She was born into Holy Trinity Parish in the Northeast area of Kansas City.  When it closed, she and her family became members of St. Raphael’s Parish in Gracemore.  When that parish closed they became members of St. James - Liberty.

Over the years, she has served her parishes through many ministries: Parish Council, Finance, and Stewardship committees; Lector, Eucharistic Minister, sacristan, choir; Fund raisers, clothing drives, food pantry, food kitchen, Youth and Prayer Shawl ministries; Mission trips to Guatemala.

Katie joined the St. James staff as Finance Manager. in fall of 2011.  She was a Buyer with Mercantile Stores for 14 years and a General Manager /Buyer for a Hallmark chain for 9 years.  She took time to be with her Mom for a few years before stepping into her role at St. James.

Katie has been married 27 years and they have two children who have 15 years of Catholic education and are both currently attending her alma mater NWMSU.

Contact Katie - 816-781-4343  x220

At the end of Summer 2021 – St James reorganized and our business manager absorbed the role of Facilities Manager.  We decided that our greatest need was and is a qualified Maintenance Lead.  A person that understands commercial buildings, schools and churches.  Someone that is able to work flexible hours that a church needs and the constant demands of a school.

NOW HIRING!

We are actively hiring for Maintenance Lead as of August 2021.  Please follow this link to apply for the job of Maintenance Technician – for our lead position.

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/699521

When we hire the position – this post will change to their bio…

Daniel A. Baker joined the St. James Parish staff in July of 2007, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Danny grew up just south of Liberty in Raytown. Following high school, he studied music at Northwest Missouri State University. There, his primary focus was vocal performance and piano. During his time at NWMSU Danny served as a student accompanist in 5 voice studios giving him wonderful exposure to a wide variety of styles and methods of teaching voice.

In the summer of 2001 Danny was hired as a staff accompanist at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, MI. There he accompanied for private vocal studies, musical theatre performance classes and the concerto festival. Upon his return home, Danny accepted a position at St. Gregory’s Catholic School in Maryville, MO as K-8 General Music Teacher. The following year he became the Music Director for the church. When learning of his father’s cancer diagnoses, Danny returned home and became the staff accompanist at his alma mater, Raytown South High School from 2006-2007. It only took one year for Danny to truly miss and realize his call to music ministry.

As a singer and pianist, Danny has performed numerous concerts, recitals, fundraisers and musical theatre shows. For the past 4 years Danny has been the accompanist for the Liberty Community Chorus, a mixed non-auditioned chorus of 60-80 singers here in Liberty, MO. Danny also maintains a private voice and piano studio where he teaches students of all ages!

Since his time at St. James, we’ve seen our Music Ministry flourish. He directs the Parish Choir, Youth Choir, The Music Group, Contemporary Youth Ensemble, The Handbell Choir, and our Youth String Orchestra. Danny also over see’s and coordinates every Mass at St. James and those ministries involved. Danny is humbled to be a member of this amazing parish time and is honored to serve the St. James community.

As the Director of Music and Liturgy, Danny’s job encompasses more than the Music Ministries, he also oversees Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Sacristans, Lectors, Ushers and Art & Environment.

To Contact Danny Baker  781-4343  x207   danny@stjames-liberty.org

Jennifer Scanlon-Smith became the principal of St. James Catholic School in July of 2015.  She has lived in the Kansas City metro area her entire life and attended Notre Dame de Sion High School. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors of Science degree in Education and received a Masters degree in School Leadership from Baker University.

Jennifer began her educational career nineteen years ago as a 2nd grade teacher in the Kansas City Missouri Public Schools; then taught at a local charter school and have experience teaching children ages 6 weeks - through fifth grade. Prior to coming to St. James School, she was the principal at Christ the King and St. Regis Schools for the past nine years.

Jennifer is married to Adrian and they have a four year old daughter Kennedy who is excited to start Pre-K here at St. James in August.

To Contact Jennifer Scanlon-Smith - 816-781-4428 x213.

Email

Cecilia Richardson has been involved in catechetical ministry here at St James since 1997, when Fran Riley, the previous DRE, asked her to be a hall monitor for the Sunday morning RE program. That one day of hall duty segued into co-teaching a 4th grade class. After a few years of teaching 4th grade, Fran asked her to take over the RE program so that Fran could concentrate on evangelization. When Fran became ill, Fr. Joe Miller asked Cecilia to step in as DRE in 2004.

In the 17 years since she first started as a volunteer, St James has grown and changed tremendously. The RE program has more than doubled in size, has expanded to 2 sessions and has dramatically increased the number of adult and teen volunteers involved in this very rewarding ministry. In addition to the RE program, Cecilia also directs our sacrament preparation program for Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion, and along with Miss Lori, develops programs for parents and their young children.

Cecilia grew up all over the world as an Army brat, but primarily lived in Springfield. She attended Catholic elementary, high school and college. She is thrilled that her youngest daughter is now attending Rockhurst, the university that she once attended. (Go Hawks!) She’s been married to her husband, Jim, for 30 years this year, and together they have 5 children—James, Cynthia, Sarah, Lisa & Emily.

While her primary work experience was in the financial industry, she left the work force to be a stay-at-home Mom to Sarah, Lisa & Emily. During that time, she became highly involved in Mommy & Me, the PTA at Alexander Doniphan, and the PTAs at South Valley Middle, Junior High, and the Liberty PTA Council. For many years, she was a substitute teacher for the Liberty Public School system. The knowledge and experience gained in working with young children and their families was a good preparation for working with the families of St James. She loves the time spent here in working with the children, their families and our wonderfully gifted group of volunteers.

To Contact Cecilia Richardson  816-781-4343 x208    

Sandra Gagnon became a Catholic and Parishioner of St. James in 1995.  Prior to joining the St. James family, Sandy attended Liberty Christian Church.  She began volunteering with the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), that same year, under the leadership of Ann Tucker.  She became the director of RCIA in 1997 and continues in that position to the present. She says that for her, St. James is home. Her children, grandchildren, and she have celebrated both joy and sorrow with our St James family. There have been baptisms, confirmations, funerals, weddings, reconciliation, ordinations, anointing of the sick, sharing the Eucharist, and one very special wedding. She met and married her beloved Gene at St. James, and although their earthly life together was brief, he remains very much a part of her and her ministry. Together they had the privilege of journeying with many catechumens and candidates, and witnessing their joy upon reception of the Sacraments of Initiation. They also witnessed many of their weddings, birth of their children, and continuing growth in the faith. Gene’s spirit continues to keep her focused on opening her heart, and saying “Yes” to Jesus, wherever that yes leads her.

Sandy holds a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from the University of Loyola – New Orleans. She taught in the Life and Physical Science Departments, at Penn Valley Community College, for nearly 30 years. She also did research and taught at Kansas University Medical Center and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. However, she confesses she has been a loyal MU Tiger since she was very young, and finally fulfilled a long time goal when she attended MU-Columbia and received her doctorate in 1990. She says, “I was a bit slower than many people in reaching this goal, but I postponed my education to live in Germany, and to raise three children, Julie, Kurt, and Ross. And as a Gagnon I am blessed with three additional children, Jim, John, and David, and together Gene and I shared 12 beautiful grandchildren.”

Sandy  lived in Liberty from 1974 until 2011, when she and her husband built and settled into their new home, on a small acreage two miles east of Paradise, MO.

Contact Sandy Gagnon -   781-4343 x200