We begin not with buildings, but with prayer. Before considering logistics, finances, or properties, we first ask what kind of parish God is calling Good Shepherd to be and what location would best support that mission.
The next step is to hear from the community. Through surveys, conversations, and parish dialogue, we will gather feedback about accessibility, travel distance, pastoral needs, openness to various types of spaces, and hopes for the future of the parish.
Once we have listened to the community, we will identify the practical and pastoral needs a future location must meet. These may include worship space, hospitality space, accessibility, parking, visibility, safety, room for ministry, and financial sustainability.
With those priorities in mind, parish leadership will begin identifying and reviewing possible locations. This may include traditional church properties, shared ministry spaces, and non-traditional buildings such as storefronts or renovated community spaces.
Any future move must be approached responsibly. We will carefully examine rent, utilities, insurance, setup costs, and long-term sustainability to ensure that any option considered is both missionally fruitful and financially prudent.
Not every available building is the right building. We will ask whether a space supports the identity of Good Shepherd as a welcoming, inclusive, and mission-driven Catholic community serving people from across the Kansas City metro.
As the process unfolds, we are committed to sharing updates openly and clearly. Major parish discernment should never be clouded by confusion or rumor. Our community deserves timely communication, honest expectations, and a clear understanding of where things stand.
This process will require the gifts of the whole community. Some may help through prayer, others through feedback, research, volunteer labor, financial support, or professional expertise. A healthy parish future is built together.
After a period of prayer, listening, research, and consultation, parish leadership will determine whether pursuing a new location is the right next step and, if so, which option best aligns with our mission and capacity.
If the discernment leads us toward a move, we will begin the practical work of preparing for that transition with care, unity, and hope. If it leads us to remain where we are for a longer season, that too will be received as part of faithful discernment.
This process is not simply about property. It is about mission. It is about making sure that Good Shepherd Catholic Community is positioned to serve well, welcome generously, worship reverently, and continue being a place where people encounter the healing and unconditional love of Christ. We ask for your prayers, your patience, and your participation as we discern this next chapter together.