KANSAS CITY, MO [DOM] – Reconciliation Services in Kansas City, MO, recently celebrated a significant milestone filled with joy and gratitude. On the feast day of Saint Maria of Paris, Saturday, July 20th, 2024 we held the first Divine Liturgy in the newly established Chapel of St. Maria of Paris within Reconciliation Services. His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest who established the Chapel as an institutional chapel within the Diocese of the Midwest, presided over the first Divine Liturgy.
Archpriest Justin Mathews, Hieromonk Alexii, co-founder of Reconciliation Services served with the Archbishop. The responses were sung by Archpriest Timothy Sawchak and his family.
The chapel, located on the fifth floor and overlooking downtown KC, features stunning iconography by Seraphim O’Keefe. Following the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Daniel blessed all five floors of our newly renovated building. The weekend continued with a grand banquet and multiple dinners with local OCA clergy and their spouses, including also Fr. Christopher Foley visiting from Holy Cross (NC).
On Monday, July 22nd, the official grand reopening of Reconciliation Services and Thelma’s Kitchen at the corner of 31st Street and Troost Ave was held. This event marked the culmination of over two years of comprehensive renovations, transforming the historic building, built around 1910, into an enhanced community space that will significantly increase access to critical social and mental health services for over 3,500 client guests annually.
“The reopening of Reconciliation Services on Troost Ave., a street long associated with division and discrimination, represents more than the opening of a beautiful building or a $16-million investment in a community long burdened under the weight of compounding disinvestment”, reported Fr. Mathews. “It symbolizes our commitment to addressing poverty and trauma in our community as Orthodox Christians, along with others who share our sense of urgency to “love one another—so long as it is love to the end, and without exceptions,” quoting Mother Maria. Sitting atop the highest point on Troost, like a light upon a hill, Reconciliation Services and the Chapel of St. Maria serve as a reminder of the possibility of authentic reconciliation and care for our neighbor as we seek to be faithful to God and the missionary spirit of the Orthodox Church in America.”
The grand reopening began at 9:00 a.m., with the street closed to accommodate almost 500 attendees who enjoyed music, coffee, and pastries. Archbishop Daniel offered an invocation and shared inspiring remarks to commence the ceremony. Remarks from a City Council member, the City Manager, Board President Ryan Brunton, and myself were followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
After the ribbon cutting, Thelma’s Kitchen, Kansas City’s first pay-it-forward café, which closed on March 13th, 2020, due to COVID-19, officially reopened its doors. This social venture café offers a shared table where all are welcome, regardless of their economic status or need.
Named after the late Mat. Michaela “Thelma” Altschul, co-founder of RS, Thelma’s Kitchen is inspired by her life and ministry. It is a place where we can share our family stories and build friendships to make reconciliation more possible today than it was yesterday.
Gusts were invited to explore the expanded program spaces, including the new Center for Reconciliation event space, the fifth-floor outdoor therapy garden, and the Chapel of St. Maria of Paris.
