About the House

Gratia Plena was founded on May 1, 2017 ~ The Feast of St. Joseph The Worker!
     Our mission is to foster and support the discernment process by providing resources and connections to Consecrated Religious Life and to have a place for women to live 'in community' while working in the world and discerning their vocation. The Director lives in residence and provides additional hospitality for non-residents at any stage in their spiritual journey, offering a peaceful, quiet place for prayer, spiritual guidance, mini retreats and quarterly days of recollection. 
     Mass is celebrated daily at various times at nearby parishes. A Chapel for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Marian meditation garden, and the outdoor stations of the cross are all within a short walking distance. Gratia Plena is independent of, but works in conjunction with, the Archdiocese, and is located next to Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa, KS.
     Regardless of the decisions made and the paths followed, lives will be transformed by prioritizing the Interior Life and discovering the deepest desires of the heart.

Meet Kathleen Fox

Co-Founder and Director
In the Fall of 2014, while praying about her own vocation, Kathleen Fox had an inspiration...an idea that quickly turned into a desire to establish a house where women could live ‘in community’ and feel supported in the process of discerning a call to Consecrated Religious Life. She recognized from her own experience that our modern culture is not conducive to prioritizing the spiritual life, a necessary component to discerning God’s will.

Kathleen has been a practicing Catholic her entire life, although she’s the first to admit she wasn’t intentional about discerning her own vocation as a young woman. Following the influence of the culture, she graduated college and pursued a career in the medical industry, ultimately leading her to form her own small business in women’s health and wellness.

After many months of prayer and spiritual guidance, Kathleen came to understand the great need for a house of discernment for women and was advised to request permission from the Archbishop. In the Spring of 2016, Kathleen received his blessing and the approval from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, in Kansas, to begin a search for a suitable property. Gratia Plena (which means Full of Grace) was founded one year later, in the Spring of 2017.

By God’s grace and mercy, Kathleen’s discernment eventually led her to privately consecrate her life and serve the Lord in this Apostolate to help other women discover their vocation too. Her daily prayer and sacramental life, along with ongoing spiritual direction and formation in the Catholic Spiritual Mentorship Program help guide her in her role as the ‘in residence’ Director as she oversees the operations of Gratia Plena. Kathleen creates an environment of simplicity, peace and calm so residents and guests can deepen their friendship with Jesus,  and enhance their ability to listen to His voice to discover His will for their lives. She encourages women to seek the Lord in their daily lives, to discover where He may be leading them, and have the grace to respond generously.

Board of Directors

Kathleen Fox, President
Co-Founder and Director
Fr. Scott Wallisch, Chaplain
St. Joseph Church, Shawnee KS
Kathleen Willis, Member at Large
Holy Trinity Church, Lenexa KS
Lisa Blackstock, Secretary/Treasurer
St. Paul's Church, Olathe KS
Mike Costello, Member at Large
St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood KS

Founding of the House
​May 1, 2017

     The Lord will not be outdone in generosity! Every year on May 1st we recall and celebrate the marvelous sequence of events that occurred in 2016/2017 to bring about Gratia Plena House of Discernment for Women. 
     In March of 2017, after 9 months of an exhaustive search for a starter home, our Board of Directors began to pray a special novena with confidence in the intercession of St. Joseph. Within 30 days of his Feast Day, we had the option of not just ONE but TWO homes to choose from. Simultaneously, documents to incorporate as a Nonprofit Organization were finalized and filed...Gratia Plena was officially recognized on May 1st, 2017! 
     Our Founder's Day is The Feast of St. Joseph the Worker!  As the years unfold, we have been blessed with 7 resident discerners, more than a dozen women inquiring to live here every year, and countless opportunities to provide spiritual hospitality to non-residents.

"Oh Lord, it is You who have accomplished all that we have done." Isaiah 26:12

Fundraiser  Feb 2020!

     The Marion Feast of the Presentation of the Lord ~ Saturday Night February 1st, 2020, Gratia Plena hosted our very first fundraising banquet, "A Celebration of Consecrated Life". The evening began with time of gratitude before the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration followed by a social hour. Then, Fr. Scott Wallisch opened with a special blessing of taper candles ~ our gift for each of the 150 guests, in honor of the ancient tradition in our Church called Candlemas. Dinner, catered by Paulo & Bill American Bistro, was outstanding! We are beyond grateful to our food & beverage sponsors. We'd also like to give a special shout out to THANK Mike Dennihan for hosting the event as our Emcee. He and his wife Kristi serve the Archdiocese through their ministry School of Love ~ deepening Catholic marriages and families, in Faith and in Love! 
     The HIGHLIGHT of the night was certainly the keynote address from my dear friend Sr. Marie Hesed S.O.L.T. Sister Hesed graciously shared her personal journey and call to the Religious Life, along with her vocational discernment spanning over 4 decades and 3 communities, including 27 years along side St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta as a Missionary of Charity Contemplative. Our guests were invited to venerate Mother Teresa's pillowcase and Sister's profession crucifix, which was blessed by St. John Paul II. 
     The impeccable hospitality and attention to detail complimented the entire event thanks to the Holy Trinity Hostesses & Volunteers! THANK YOU again to the countless volunteers who helped make everything about this evening so special! THANK YOU to all who attended and contributed to our mission! 

"If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor." Psalm 127:1​

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