BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Locust Street in front of St. Stephen Cathedral had an unusual sight in the late morning of May 23, 2020:  a drive-by car parade of honking, cheering St. Pius X parishioners holding up homemade signs to congratulate Fr. Stephen Van Lal Than, who had been ordained just…

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Even in following strict safety guidelines to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19, parishes celebrating public Masses again as a community cannot contain their joy.

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC A community of cloistered nuns living in a secluded corner of Daviess County have found that their already “social distancing” lifestyle can provide practical application for non-cloistered people trying to grow in their faith amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

  BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC While St. John’s Thrift Store and Food Pantry in Brownsville has been closed to the public for more than two months as a precaution against the COVID-19 pandemic, that doesn’t mean it has stopped assisting its local community.

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC The parish community of St. Michael’s in Sebree may be the only known Catholic church in the United States currently live-streaming the Mass in an indigenous Guatemalan dialect.

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused overwhelming distress to communities across western Kentucky, including many families now suffering financially due to layoffs or reduced working hours.

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Everyone knew that Fr. Joe Mills, who passed away on April 4, 2020 at age 92, loved being a priest. And not only that, but he was also known for loving and supporting his fellow priests, said Fr. J. Patrick Reynolds, vicar general for the Diocese of…

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Ordinarily, The Western Kentucky Catholic’s post-Easter issue features an array of photos from that year’s Holy Week and Easter liturgies. Some memorable pictures have included the searing “Via Crucis” portrayal of Jesus’ walk to Calvary, as depicted by Sts. Joseph and Paul parishioners in the streets of…

My dear sisters and brothers, One of the challenges of communicating during times of crisis or strife is that it seems before we complete a thought, circumstances and information changes. I have written before about such a challenge with The Western Kentucky Catholic in that its articles are often completed at least a week before…

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC On March 16, 2020, Bishop William F. Medley made an announcement that was similar to statements released by bishops all across the United States, but that did not make it any easier: he was calling for the diocese-wide discontinuation of all public Masses.

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Sixty-two little girls filled the hallway inside Owensboro Catholic School’s K-3 Campus in the afternoon of March 3, 2020, their voices raised in happy chatter as adult leaders organized them into a line. Though they were of varying ages – kindergarten through third grade – all had…

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Hopkinsville recently launched a new anti-pornography program from the Diocese of Owensboro and according to parish team member Dee Dailey, “the response from parishioners has been good.”

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Neena Gaynor, a local author and member of St. Stephen Cathedral, believes that reading fiction can become a “holy way to spend your time.”

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Tim Glemkowski, the president and founder of L’Alto Catholic Institute, likes to use the example of explorers Lewis and Clark when talking about the challenges facing parishes in the 21st century.

BY WKC STAFF Parish picnics and cooking teams are a longstanding tradition in the Diocese of Owensboro. Parishioners and non-parishioners alike gather to celebrate great food, fun games and lively fellowship during the warmest months of the year. The Diocese of Owensboro parish picnics list is available in The Western Kentucky Catholic each year, and…

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC After returning from his Jan. 24-Feb. 13, 2020 pastoral visit to India and Myanmar (also known as Burma) with Fr. John Thomas, Bishop William F. Medley said the journey “gave me hope that the Gospel and the Church are thriving.”

Says he has seen diocese blessed by ‘continuing influx of new peoples’ BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC First sung by the cantor, and then repeated by the congregation, the refrain “Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and forever,” flowed through St. Stephen Cathedral during the vespers (evening prayer) service on Feb. 17,…

Editor’s note: On Feb. 17, 2020, the Diocese of Owensboro gathered at St. Stephen Cathedral for a vespers service in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Bishop Medley’s episcopal ordination. The bishop’s homily, which he gave at the service, is reprinted below. “Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above…

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC While Easter won’t arrive until April 12 this year, parish music directors are already preparing for what one music director calls “the most important week in the life of the Church” – the Triduum, which comprises Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC An icon commissioned by the Passionist Fathers – along with a first-class relic of their founder, St. Paul of the Cross – has been traveling on pilgrimage around the world for the occasion of the Passionist congregation’s 300th anniversary.