In August of the 1938, the Catholic Register announced that there would be a new parish created in the vicinity of Blue Ridge and 40 Highway. The Assistant Pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Kansas City, Father John J. Whelan, along with Robert Joyce, Harry Hare, John Putthoff, Herman Schwickrath and John Paul Byrne canvassed the area for a suitable place to say Mass. A motel owner, Mary Martin, suggested the Pitcher School. On September 11th, the first mass was offered by Father Whelan and he announced the name of the parish to be "Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary" since it was near her feast.
In February of 1940 Father formed a church committee (Harry Hare, Fred Reinkemeyer, William Mitts, John Kieff, John Puthoff and Paul Burne) to buy a couple of acres for the church. Two acres were purchased at 36th Terrace and Blue Ridge Blvd. which at that time was a pasture.
Construction was begun on the church basement in September, 1941. Fr. Whelan depended on Hobart Blue for guidance. Father often said, "Nativity must never forget Hobart Blue", for he gave generously of his time and talent to a group that was willing to work, but didn't know how to get the job done. The basement church was dedicated September 13, 1942.
The basement adequately cared for the needs of the parish for several years. Not until 1948 were plans and work begun on the super structure for the church. The plan, conceived back in 1941, was to to have a three story structure with the basement used as a hall, the first floor the church and the second floor a four room school. The four-room school was abondoned at this time. On Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, the first Mass was said in the new Church. The actual dedication took place October 9, 1949, officiated by Bishop Marling.
With the phenomenal growth in the area in the years to come, the demands for a school could no longer be ignored. Plans for a five room school and lunch room became a near reality when construction was begun in May, 1955.
Since the school building was not ready for the beginning of the 1955-56 school year, classes for the 145 children already enrolled were held in temporary classrooms erected in the basement of the church.
Sister Carmelita was principal and teacher of the fourth and fifth grades, Sister M. Clara, teacher of second and third grades, and Sister M. Fidelis, teacher of the first grade. All 145 students were dressed in uniform. The girls wore white blouses and blue jumpers. The boys were not permitted to wear jeans.