FOOLS RUSH IN WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD?

ANOTHER ADVENTURE

I NEVER EVER IMAGINED MYSELF

Leading A Byzantine Deacon /Priest  Retreat

for the

Eparchy of Parma, Ohio

October 22-25, 2018
Saint Meinrad Archabbey

What is an eparchy?

The world-wide Catholic Church consists of smaller geographical territories called “dioceses” from Latin or “eparchies” from Greek. Every eparchy/diocese is headed by a bishop, a successor to the apostles. The Eparchy of Parma encompasses the geographical area of Ohio (except the eastern border counties), Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Byzantine Catholics living in those states are members of our local Church of Parma.

Our History

     Wishing to foster religious life among Byzantine Catholic faithful in the United States, Pope Paul VI issued the decree "Christi Ecclesia" officially establishing the Eparchy of Parma on Feb. 21, 1969.
    The new Eparchy of Parma encompassed the states of Ohio (except counties on the eastern border) and all states west of Ohio, including Alaska and Hawaii. His Grace, the Most Rev. Emil Mihalik (1969-1984) became our first bishop.
    In 1982, at the request of the American Byzantine hierarchs, the Holy See established the western Eparchy of Van Nuys, reducing the territory of the Eparchy of Parma.
    Having grown under the episcopacy of Bishops Andrew Pataki (1984-1996), Basil Schott (1996-2002), and John Kudrick (2002-2016), the faithful now await the appointment of the fifth bishop of Parma.
    As we continue through the 21st century, we embrace our past and look toward the future with hope, certain that we are a church empowered by the Holy Spirit “to set hearts on fire” by the way we worship and by the way we live. 

---

His Grace, The Most Rev. John Kudrick (2002-2016)

Bishop John Kudrick was born on Dec. 23, 1947, in Lloydell, Pa., the son of George and Amelia Kudrick (both deceased). 

He attended Adams-Summerhill High School, from which he graduated as valedictorian, and attended Saint Francis College in Loretto, Pa., where he received a bachelor of arts in philosophy and in mathematics in 1970. 

He entered the Third Order Regular of St. Francis on Jan. 29, 1967, in the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. After graduating from Saint Francis College, he continued his studies for the priesthood at St. Francis Seminary in Loretto, from which he received a master of divinity degree in 1975. He also studied at Indiana University of Pa. and received a master of science degree in mathematics in 1973 and pursued and obtained a master of science degree in computer and information science from The Ohio State University in 1977.

The bishop was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1975, and began serving on the mathematics and computer science faculty of Saint Francis University.  In 1978, he assumed responsibilities for university computer services. 

From 1976 to 1980 he was assistant director of postulants for his Franciscan order. As a Franciscan priest, he also assisted in parishes of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. He became a priest of the archeparchy in 1987 and served in several Pennsylvania parishes – St. Nicholas, Nanty Glo; St. Mary, Windber; SS. Peter and Paul, Jerome; SS. Peter and Paul, Patton; St. Anne, Clymer; Holy Spirit, McKees Rocks; SS. Peter and Paul, Duquesne; and SS. Peter and Paul, Braddock. From 1998 until his episcopal ordination, he served as protopresbyter of the Cathedral of St. John in Munhall, Pa. In 1998, Metropolitan Archbishop Judson Procyk ordained then-Father John as the first archpriest of the Archeparchy.

Following the death of Metropolitan Judson, then Archpriest John was elected administrator of the vacant Archeparchy of Pittsburgh on April 24, 2001, and served in that capacity until the installation of Metropolitan Basil Schott as archbishop on July 9, 2002.

Bishop John was ordained and installed as bishop of Parma on July 10, 2002, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Parma, Ohio. The ordaining bishop was Metropolitan Basil Schott, with Bishop Andrew Pataki and Bishop William Skurla assisting.

On May 7, 2016, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, accepted the retirement of Bishop John and appointed Metropolitan Archbishop William Skurla of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh as the Apostolic Administrator of the eparchy until a new bishop is selected and enthroned.

What is an Eastern Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church is a communion of churches. It is made up of churches from the Eastern Tradition and the Western Tradition. Eastern Catholics are in union with Rome. We share the same basic faith and the same mysteries (sacraments), however, our way of expressing them follows the same tradition as the Orthodox churches. In reality, there are many Eastern churches, each with its own heritage and theology, liturgy and discipline.

Jesus sent his disciples to the four corners of the world to spread the Gospel. Eventually, four great centers of Christianity emerged with distinctive Christian customs, but the same faith. These centers were Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome and Alexandria. A few centuries later when the capital of the Roman Empire was moved to the Eastern city of Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople, an adaptation of the Antioch celebration of the liturgy was made.

From this powerful cultural center the Byzantine church emerged. 

Who are we as Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics?

The Ruthenian faith-journey begins in the homeland of our ancestors, “the old country,” central Europe.

Envision a map of the European continent. Our ancestral homeland known variously as Carpathian Rus’, Transcarpathia, Carpatho-Ruthenia, Carpatho-Russia, and Carpatho-Ukraine is the very heart of the picture, presently eastern Slovakia, southwest Ukraine, northeast Hungary and northwest Romania.

The religious life of these people came from the East. Like the other East Slavs, the Carpatho-Rusins received Christianity from the Byzantine Empire.

In the year 863, two Byzantine Greek missionaries, the brothers Cyril and Methodius – “The Apostles to the Slavs” – introduced Christianity and the new Slavonic alphabet to Greater Moravia, the present Czech Republic and Western Slovakia.

Thereafter, the followers of these Byzantine missionaries moved eastward, eventually converting the Ruthenian people.

IT CANNOT BE THAT WAY WITH YOU!

James and John came to Jesus and said to him,"

Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your

right and the other at your left." When the ten 

heard this, they became indignant at James and 

John. Jesus summoned them and said to them,

"It shall not be so among you.Rather, whoever 

wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 

whoever wishes to be first among you will be the

slave of all.

Mark 10: 35-45

If Jesus were to have been born in our day, instead of 2,000 years ago, he might have graduated from Bellarmine University’s W. Fielding Rubel School of Business. I recently retired from there after 17 years of weekend campus ministry. As a graduate, he might have used a management consultant to help him get his ministry off the ground and to help him choose his twelve apostles. If so, he may have submitted the resume' of would-be apostles to that consultant for feedback. Here is how that feedback might have sounded. I have referred to this funny consultant report several times over the years.

_____________________________________

To: Jesus, Son of Joseph

% Woodcrafter Carpenter Shop

Nazareth

From: Jerusalem Management Consultants

Dear Jesus:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have recruited for management positions in the new church you want to found. All twelve of them have now taken our battery of tests; we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologists and vocational aptitude consultants.

We regret to inform you that it is the staff’s opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no leadership qualities. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been black-listed by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, son of Alpheus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.

One of your candidates, however, shows great potential - Judas Iscariot. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend this man as your controller and right-hand man.

We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sincerely yours,

Hugh Mann, President

Jerusalem Management Consultants

______________________________________

This little fictitious "consultant report," in which Judas is picked as showing the most potential as an apostle" makes a very important point. One of the most interesting things about God is that "God does not see as we see. We see people's externals, but God sees into their hearts." The more familiar you are with the Scriptures, the more you realize that God is always picking the weak - the incompetent, the unqualified, the least, the lost and the loser - and then makes them strong in carrying out his work. These choices are not isolated events. They happen, over and over, again. In today's gospel, we have two of these "least likely to succeed personalities" in today's gospel – James and his brother John. There are many, many more!

First, there is Isaiah. One day, while in the Temple of the Lord, he is overcome by an awareness of God's greatness and his own unworthiness! He is so overcome with his own unworthiness that he cries out, "Woe is me! Not only do I have a foul mouth, I come from a bunch of foul-mouthed people! I am surely doomed!" God's response was to send an angel, with a hot coal, to wash out his mouth out and clean up his lips for the preaching ministry he had chosen for him! What a choice!

Second, there is Paul! For years, Paul had been the lead bounty-hunter in tracking down Christians for execution. Smug with righteousness, he felt as if he was doing God a favor by ridding the world of these heretics who had no respect for the old-time religion. He had even held the coats of those who stoned Saint Stephen to death. One day, on his way to round up some more for execution, God knocked him off his proverbial "high-horse" and called him to make a complete u-turn in his thinking. Instead of persecuting Christianity, he was called to be its biggest promoter! What a choice!

Third, there is Peter! Peter is an uneducated, red-neckish, bumbling blow-hard of man with a big heart! He was a thick-headed, hard-headed and empty-headed clod who meant well! He would brag one minute and fall on face the next! When the chips were down, he pretended that he didn't even know Jesus - not once, not twice, but three times. This is the one that Jesus left in charge of his church at his death. What a choice!

Fourth, there is James and his brother John. Like Peter and Andrew, they were fisherman. They were men of the sea. In the gospel today, we see James at his worst. In the Gospel of Mark, written earlier than Matthew, James and John ask Jesus for the best seats in his new kingdom. As time went by, the writers of the Gospels could not bring themselves to have such tacky and self-serving words coming out of the mouths of the exalted apostles, so Matthew changes the story and has the request coming out of their mother’s mouth. Blaming women has been a favorite technique of men since Adam blamed Eve!

The list goes on and on! Moses, who was charged with convincing the Israelites to leave Egypt and making a forty-year desert crossing, actually had a speech impediment. He stuttered so badly that they could still be in Egypt if he had not gotten someone else to do his speaking for him. What a choice!

Mary, when she was chosen to be the mother of the world's Savior, was probably still a teenager - and dirt poor at that! What a choice!

We see James and John at their worst in today’s gospel. They are climbers, ambitious self-seekers and a sneaks. Again, we see in their lives that yet again “God choses the weak and makes them strong.” Jesus evidently saw something in them because they end up in the inner circle. Along with Peter and John, they witnesses the Transfiguration, some of the miracles including the raising of Jarius’ daughter rand the agony in the garden. Beheaded, James was the first the apostles to give his life. His death is the only biblical record we have of the death of one of the Apostles.

The list goes on and on, throughout Scripture and Church history, to this day! It seems that "God is always choosing the weak and making them strong in bearing witness to him!" My friend and former associate pastor, Father Bill Medley, was consecrated the new bishop of Owensboro a couple of years ago. He was shocked, and many of us were pleasantly surprised at this choice, because, in many ways, he is not the "type" to be selected. He has no advanced degree in theology. He is not a canon lawyer. He is not a career chancery official from Philadelphia or Detroit. He did not study in Rome. He is simply a good pastor from a small rural Kentucky town and yet it was he who was chosen for this important ministry! What a choice!

In my own experience, all throughout my priesthood and the years that led up to it, I have always felt like the "least likely to succeed." Looking back, I am amazed as I have seen this scrawny little boy from Rhodelia, painfully bashful, labeled a "hopeless case" by seminary officials, being led over the years by the hand of God to places like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and through experiences that I never could have imagined when I first started this journey in the fall of 1958! What a choice! After 47 years of this, I want to believe that "the best is still yet to come!"

Let me speak directly to those of you who struggle with your self-image, with feelings of unworthiness, with thoughts of never being good enough and with being labeled, rejected or discriminated against. The world may be dealing you a bad hand today, you may have been passed over and put upon in the past, you may feel that you will never be good enough or can never measure up, but also know this: God may have his eye on you right now, he may have a mission for you that he is about to announce! He may be ready to take you to places you cannot even imagine. Your pain and suffering could be part of some grand plan! You may have been learning what you need to know for the job that God has always had in store for you.

Think of James, John, Peter and Andrew fishing on the sea of Galilee. Think how God took them, in their weakness, and tuned them into powerful witnesses. Just as God took them, fragile clay pots as they were, and filled with his great treasure, God has done, and can do, the same with you. When God calls you, don’t be afraid of your weaknesses, just be ready to answer, with Isaiah, "Here I am, Lord, send me!"

STILL ANOTHER HERO PRIEST

FRENCH PRIEST HAS HIS THROAT SLIT WHILE SAYING MASS

July 26, 2016

Jacques Hamel was a priest in the parish of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray. Hamel was murdered during the Normandy church attack by two Muslim men pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant while he celebrated Mass in his church.

Father Jacques Hamel was killed by Islamic State inspired attackers on July 26 of 2016 while celebrating daily mass at a small parish church outside of Rouen, France.

On that day only a handful of parishioners were on hand for Mass. A year later, however, the anniversary mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Dominique Lebrun, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, and broadcast throughout the country.

The martyrdom of Hamel sent shockwaves throughout France, Europe, and the world and its significance has been the subject of much debate. For some, the killing was further evidence of the threat of Islamic extremism in Europe. Others warned that efforts to promote Hamel as a martyred saint would only concede victory to extremists encouraging interreligious violence.

Pope Francis has emphasized the absurdity of such violence, reminding the world that killing in the name of God is satanic. Lebrun used the attack to plead with French citizens to practice forgiveness and reconciliation among neighbors of differing faiths.

Recently, I considered the external consequences of Hamel’s martyrdom, arguing that it should lead to a recovery of the practice of solidarity, which could revitalize the project of European integration. Today, I’d like to consider what his death might mean internally for those within the Catholic Church.

When Hamel was killed at the altar at age 85, he had spent 58 years of his life as a priest. He was ordained a priest just before the Second Vatican Council and was known primarily for his work as a local pastor.

While he had the option of retiring at age 75, he continued his priestly ministry with an indefatigable work ethic - only taking time away from his parish to visit his sisters.

I spent the better part of June in France, much of it talking to Catholic leaders, seminarians, and rectors. The subject of Hamel’s death was always among the first to come up and I was particularly curious how younger priests viewed the witness of this older martyr.

One young priest in Paris put it to me like this: “Hamel was an ordinary priest from a very different generation than mine. Too often we’ve tended to label priests of his era as more liberal, or even less Catholic, than the priests of my generation. His martyrdom now serves as a bridge and I think many of us in the younger generation now have a special devotion to him.”

The turbulent years following Vatican II presented undeniable changes and challenges for the priesthood and the universal Church. Different factions within the Church effectively took sides-be it in debates over liturgical matters or political engagement - and many of the results have been less than edifying. Such tribalism has persisted and is particularly evident in the Francis era where there has been no shortage of those willing to exploit these divisions within the Church.

The extraordinary response to Hamel’s martyrdom throughout France has been one of unity and an abiding belief that his sacrifice would yield a greater good for both the Church and the country. It was a moment in which differences between self-described “traditionalists” and “Vatican II” Catholics were put aside and as that young Parisian priest said to me, “we were reminded that we were primarily all Catholics first.”

Upon his death, another priest serving at the same parish as Hamel remarked, “He was very balanced when it came to the evolution of the church, not too traditional, but not too permissive either. He welcomed all the changes made by the pope. His open-mindedness made him someone who wasn’t afraid of change.” In other words, he loved his Church, loved his Pope, and was open to the Holy Spirit. He was simply, yet profoundly, Catholic.

The week following his killing, Islamic leaders throughout France encouraged Muslims to attend mass as a sign of solidarity.

One Catholic described to me the experience of a Muslim family sheepishly entering their small village church in Bordeaux: “After the Mass I approached the father and thanked him for his presence. I then introduced my children to his children and I hope it’s an experience that they will never forget. We hugged one another and vowed to remember each other’s family in prayer.”

This spirit of unity has been critical in healing a divided nation, but the lessons to be learned from Hamel’s martyrdom are not merely political. Here, we’ve been offered a blueprint from how those in both the pews and pulpit ought to model our lives and our Catholic witness.

It’s long been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. In this time of polarization and ecclesial divisions, we would do well to remember the life of Father Jacques Hamel so that his blood be not shed in vain.

IT"S NOT TOO EARLY - GIFT IDEAS FOR THE MISSIONS

TIRED OF GIVING PRESENTS TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE TOO MUCH?

I would like to offer some alternatives.  Take your pick. 
You can designate your help to a variety of causes.

"How wrong we would be to stop helping anyone because we cannot help everyone."
Charles Swindoll

IT TAKES TIME TO GATHER THINGS UP!
I have some toys I bought last January and February while they were on sale.  

IT TAKES TIME TO BUNDLE THINGS UP! 
I have some more special requests to fulfill. 

IT TAKES TIME TO SHIP THINGS DOWN! 
I would like to send most of the items no later than  November 15,  if possible. 







Santa (fellow volunteer Fergal from Ireland) and Carmelite Sister Nyra Anne, Administrator of the Saint Benedict Home for Children.



Scrubbed and combed and ready for last year's Diocesan Christmas Party! 
It doesn't hurt to pray and be grateful! 




One of several severely handicapped and abandoned children in Sister Nyra Anne's care whom we try to help! 



One of the beautiful kids in the Saint Benedict Home for Children (Princeton is his name).  There are needs for everything from diapers to food to basic health care. 



OTHER POSSIBILITIES 

We will operate our second summer Computer Camp for Kids this coming summer. We are looking for five more usable laptops. There is a need for snacks and some transportation. 



Louisvillian, Beth Kolodey, Camp Director and Teacher, will return this coming summer with two more Louisvillians, hopefully, to assist her, Tim and Karen. This is truly life-changing for some kids who are learning to access a world of information beyond the islands.  

Badly Needed Phone and Security System 

I have been doing priest retreats and parish missions, inviting my friends to join me,  to upgrade the Pastoral Centre (Bishops home, Catholic Chancery, Retreat House, Diocesan meeting rooms seven retreat rooms and my headquarters). We want to upgrade this building to be able to attract more adult professional volunteers. We are almost there with the renovation.
One of the last major needs is a new phone and security system. I hope to have it paid for by this Christmas. 


Mary, Star of the Sea Church

This is Mary, Star of the Sea Church in Sandy Bay, one of the poorest areas of the diocese. I have been collecting used church furniture and furnishings to try to make it a little more inviting for church services. Below is the artist sketch of what we propose to do. 

It is expensive to get even used furniture down there. 
You can underwrite all, or part, of the total expenses of $17,000.00. 

Besides the used furniture (chairs, Mary and Joseph statues, a crucifix, an altar and Stations of the Cross), we hope to ship down some used paperback hymnals, add some ceiling fans and give it a new paint job. 

JUST THINK, YOU CAN UNDERWRITE A WHOLE CHURCH RENOVATION FOR JUST $17,000.00!

If you do the whole thing, we will make sure a plaque and photo of your family will hang in the back to remind the people to pray for you! 

This could be a project for a large extended family? Maybe in memory of their parents or deceased family members? 

Saint Mary's School

The Catholic School system on Saint Vincent is very effective on a shoe string. 
You can sponsor a child in need for only $250.00 a year tuition. 
You can choose a child being raised by a grandparent.
You can choose a child being raised by a single parent.
You can choose a child selected by Sister Carmen, Sister Martha or Sister Jacinta.



Other Needs for the Two Homes for Children

This is only one of the sweet little children being raised in one of the two orphanages.  Her name is Kayla. 



Here's another! Her name is Kelsee. 

You can help sponsor some of their basic needs for $150.00 a year.  

EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO GIVE, 
YOU CAN ROUND UP SOME
 FREEBIES!

I had a USED BALL POINT PEN DRIVE a few months back, before school started. To my complete surprise, I ended up with almost 3,000 pens. The drive continues. Maybe everyone in your family could be invited to gather up used ball point pens and bring them to your Family Christmas gathering? 

I just brought home from Canada about 100 pens left on the table after our Study Days ended. 
I also brought back a 10 pound bag of mints left in small jars  on the tables. 
The candy mints will go in my Christ candy shipment to the orphans. 

Since I travel a lot, I take my own shampoo but I come home with many of those small bottles of hotel shampoos, conditioners and body lotions. These are very useful in many places down in SVG. Recntly, I sent down a huge bag of about 75 shampoos, 75 conditioners and 75 body lotions to be shared by the orphans, the nuns and the Pastoral Centre staff. 


FREEBIES. WE LOVE FREEBIES
If you get into collecting, and get your friends and family to help collect for you, there is no telling how many "freebies" you can gather up: pens, candies, toiletries, usuable ipads, useable iphones, usable laptops, new toothbrushes and small toothpastes (the dentist always gives you some) and even small desk calendars. 
Freebies are everywhere if you keep an eye out for those who can use them. 

It costs money to send things down to the islands. I can always use money to help defray shipping costs. 
I take things to Forward Air out near the Louisville airport They are flown to Amerijet in the Miami airport and them flown on to Kingstown in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 

I pay my own travel expenses, typically $1200.00 per trip. I give all the money I make from priest retreats in Canada and the US to my work in the the Caribbean Missions. If you want to sponsor one of my trips, I will have more to give the missions. 

Some of the orphans enjoying some of the snacks I sent down in September - in this case oatmeal pies. I buy a lot of snacks by the case at the local DOLLAR TREE. Besides cookies, crackers and candy, a big hit are cases of tuna fish and Vienna Sausages.

a case of OREO cookies - $24.00
a case of crackers - $12.00
a case of tuna - $24.00
a case of Vienna sausages - $24.00 
a case of grape jelly - $12.00
a case of peanut butter - $12.00

*DOES NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING TO S.V.G.



SPECIAL REQUESTS FROM BISHOP COUNTY

FOR SAINT JAMES CHAPEL IN THE PASTORAL CENTRE

- a small chapel size Blessed Sacrament monstrance
- a hanging sanctuary lamp






MAKE CHECKS OUT TO:

Saint Bartholomew Church - SVG Mission Fund

SEND THEM TO ME:

Rev. Ronald Knott
1271 Parkway Gardens Court
#106
Louisville, Kentucky 40217

FOR QUESTIONS, CALL ME:

1-502-303-4571

HAPPY 200th ANNIVERSARY, MY BELOVED SAINT THERESA PARISH

A FABULOUS DAY OF SWEET MEMORIES 

That's me, at twelve years old, looking up toward Saint Theresa Church in 1956. Father Bob Ray (we called him "Bud" in those days) and I used to roam the neighborhood on Sunday afternoons to entertain ourselves.  He owned the camera and took the picture.  I could not imagine then this day sixty-two years later!  Simply amazed - forever grateful! 

The historic Saint Theresa Academy where I spent my first and second grades 1950-1951 (front corner, bottom floor). 
No running water and no indoor plumbing! 

To think, Saint Theresa Academy, where I went to first and second grade, was also a boarding school at one time for Louisville orphans as well. 

Reviewing the plans for the new Saint Theresa School. 

Bibbed overalls were almost a school uniform for us mostly farm boys in my early years. 

Long-time pastor. Fr. Felix J. Johnson. He was pastor when I was born and pastor when I went to the seminary. He was a master builder - of the new parish hall, new school, new convent, new cemetery and new rectory. He told me, when I left for the seminary that I would "not make it till Christmas." I am going to be buried next to him so that I can remind him for all eternity that I "did make it!" Ha! 

My First Communion

My Confirmation

My First Mass

History

St. Theresa Church in Rhodelia is the oldest Catholic church in Meade County, where Catholic settlers began arriving in the late 1700s. Traveling missionaries said Mass in the pioneers’ log homes (called stations). The first recorded visit was in 1805.

Devoted Catholics built a log church called St. Theresa in 1818 on the banks of the Ohio River in Breckinridge County. Local baptismal records start in 1824. The congregation relocated in 1826 to a more central site in Meade County, closer to most parishioners’ homes. There, they constructed a second log church, recalled by a large wooden cross in the “old cemetery.” Many baptisms, first communions, and confirmations are recorded from Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget’s visit in 1827. St. Theresa’s congregation was the largest in Meade and Hardin counties when Father Charles Ignatius Coomes was assigned to these missions in 1830. Here he located his headquarters, becoming the first resident pastor.

Parishioners supplied materials and labor, constructing the present church under the direction of William Kelly, architect of the Cathedral of the Assumption. In use by summer 1857, it was dedicated June 16, 1861 by Bishop Martin John Spalding. The parish added the “new cemetery,” a parish hall, the present rectory, and a new school in the twentieth century.

St. Theresa Academy opened as a boarding and day school in 1866. The Sisters of Loretto, the first teachers, were succeeded in 1870 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Though the Meade County Board of Education took it over in the 1950s, the Sisters of Charity continued teaching at the school until it closed in 1993. By that time, St. Theresa had educated children for more than 125 years.

Today, the parishioners of St. Theresa, numbering about 500, share much common history and, like their ancestors, a strong sense of ownership for their parish.

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz 

Some of the congregation. Overflow with TV screen in the parish hall. 

Some of the parish priests, present pastor, former pastor, deacon, Sisters who came from the parish or served the parish or their representatives. 

A reception was held immediately after the Mass in the Meade-Breck Center