St. Joseph Stadium Dedication & Ribbon Cutting
STADIUM DEDICATION & RIBBON CUTTING SEPTEMBER 9
St. Joseph Athletic Facility (outdoors) 
11525 Johnson Drive
Shawnee, KS 66203
Stadium Tours 11:00 - 11:30 am
Lunch 11:30 am - 12:20 pm
Ribbon Cutting & Dedication 12:30 pm
Program & Speakers 12:45 - 1:25 pm
Join us to celebrate the exciting transformation of Mirocke Stadium into the St. Joseph Athletic Facility, a multi-purpose youth sports hub on Wednesday, September 9.
The ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony will be held at 12:30 pm, with tours of Security Bank of Kansas City Field (11:00 am) and a complimentary concession-style lunch (11:30 am) preceding. Registration is required for this event by Fri., Sept. 4.
Register for the Dedication & Ribbon Cutting
THE PROGRAM
Archbishop Shawn McKnight, Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas will preside over the field dedication. He will be joined by Fr. Nathan Haverland, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Shawnee and Fr. Scott Wallisch, former pastor of St. Joseph and current pastor of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, they will be joined by parish and community leaders to officially open the St. Joseph Athletic Facility. Brief remarks will follow the ceremony, and a special announcement of the St. Joseph Blue Streak Alumni Decade Challenge is planned.
ABOUT THE ST. JOSEPH ATHLETIC FACILITY
The St. Joseph Athletic Facility continues the rich legacy of youth sports at Mirocke Stadium, home of the St. Joseph High School and Aquinas Blue Streaks (1953 - 1989) and the St. Joseph Grade School Jaguars (1990-present).
The St. Joseph Athletic Facility is now home to the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of the Archdiocese, one of the largest and most successful youth sports organizations in the region. In addition, Special Olympics Missouri, Sporting Youth Soccer, Catholic Challenge Sports and other community and recreational organizations will utilize the facility, conveniently located on Johnson Drive in downtown Shawnee.
The $4.2 million renovation of Mirocke Stadium creates a multi-purpose facility for youth football, soccer, track & field and other sports and events. More than 150 games and events are already scheduled here for the 2026-2027 school year, and the facility expects approximately 30,000 visitors in its first year.
RELATED EVENT
ABOUT THE ST. JOSEPH EARLY EDUCATION CENTER RENOVATION
The St. Joseph Athletic Facility renovation is part of a $12.5 million capital investment by St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee. Another renovation project is underway on the 22-acre campus to renovate and expand the St. Joseph Early Education Center, which provides infant through pre-K childcare and preschool education for children. The EEC project is expected to be complete by late summer 2027. Both projects are privately funded.
The St. Joseph Early Education Center groundbreaking is also planned for Wed., Sept. 9, from 10:30 - 10:50 am. Registration is required separately for that event.
