Deacon Ross Beaudoin
Pastoral Administrator
Deacon Ross Beaudoin came to St. James in July 2002. Ross and Renata (Melton) were married in 1967. They have four children, two living in the Kansas City area, one near New York City and one in Portland, OR. Ross was born and raised in Palo Alto, CA, and Renata was born in Stuttgart, Germany, and raised mostly in El Paso, TX.
Ross’ background includes 27 years in parish ministry before coming to St. James: at St. Mary Parish in Ottumwa, IA; St. Mark Parish, Independence, MO; and at St. Thomas More Parish, Kansas City, MO. His roles in those parishes included Youth Minister and Confirmation Coordinator, RCIA Coordinator, Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Associate. Just prior to St. James, Ross was Diocesan Director of Diaconate and Formation of Deacons. He was ordained a permanent deacon in 1978.
One of the ministries that has been closest to Ross has been ministry in Colonias Puerto de Anapra and Lomas de Poleo, Juarez, Mexico. In 1988 he established a relationship with people in Juarez, Mexico, through Annunciation House/Casa del Peregrino. That relationship developed into ministries in the two colonias and a linking of many people from the Kansas City area with colonia families. Groups have gone to Juarez, houses were repaired and built, family assistance and school support have been shared and, in 2004, a Vacation Bible School was begun.
Ross appreciates the opportunity to serve in the very diverse and growing community of St. James. There is never a dull moment. Challenges in the parish and in Midtown Kansas City are the stuff of the Reign of God taking hold in this complex and often difficult world. Ross believes that the parishioners from 25 countries of the world bring the blessing of Divine Diversity to this corner of the city. There is always one more revelation of God’s beauty and love among the people of St. James.
Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS
Sacramental Minister
Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS, grew up on a farm in western Kansas, and left home to attend Precious Blood Seminary, Liberty, MO, as a freshman in high school. He attended Rockhurst College and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, was where he received his Mdiv. degree in Theology. Garry was ordained in 1983 for the Society of the Precious Blood, and served as Associate Pastor in various places, including Linton, ND, Garden City, KS, Sedalia, MO, and St. Charles Parish in Gladstone, MO. In 1994, he received his MA degree in counseling at UMKC in Kansas City, and now is a licensed marital and family counselor. He is presently serving as Sacramental Minister at St. James, part-time Associate Pastor at St. Charles in Gladstone and doing marriage and family therapy.
Garry has been at St. James since 2002. What he likes most about St. James is the diversity, the connectedness among its members, the willingness of the members to take ownership of the parish and its focus on peace and justice.
Sr. Donna Ryan, RSM
Facilitator of Mission & Ministries
Chris Dewberry
Youth Minister
Chris Dewberry has been a member of St. James since 1992, when her children were baptized at St. James. She has participated and continues to participate in many facets of parish life at St. James. She has volunteered for many activities and events including NASCAR, Festival of S. James, choir, knitting/crocheting group, community garden and more. Chris also taught catecisis to middle school and pre-schoolers when those programs were taking place at St. James. After many years of volunteering, Chris joined the staff as Youth Minister in 2011.
Chris enjoys the enthusiasm, energy and ideas of our young people.
Robert Basolo
Music Minister
Robert Basolo is the music director for St. James. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music from UMKC and has been serving as accompanist for St. James for nearly 23 years. Robert also teaches private piano lessons part-time and is a member of the Kansas City Music Teachers Association.
Additionally, Robert holds a full-time position as a projects assistant at the law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon. His favorite thing about St. James is making music with the parishioners.