Archivist hopes map will assist genealogists, further research opportunities By Elizabeth Wong Barnstead, The Western Kentucky Catholic Cemeteries are important for many reasons. They serve practical purposes and emotional purposes, as well spiritual purposes in the Catholic Church, which upholds “burying the dead” as a corporal work of mercy. But for genealogists and archivists, cemeteries fill…
Around the Diocese
2016-2017 Catechetical Leader Award
Rose Wheeler, director of religious education at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Henderson, received the 2016-17 Bishop John J. McRaith Catechetical Leader Award on Monday, May 8. Rose was nominated due to her more than 15 years working with children in religious education. She volunteered for years before being hired in 2006 after…
2017 Priest Assignments
The following priest assignments take effect June 13, 2017, unless otherwise noted. Parish Pastor Rev. Mark Buckner: Pastor, St. Anthony Parish, Browns Valley. Rev. Jojy Joseph: Pastor, St. Paul Parish in Princeton and St. Mark Parish in Eddyville. Rev. Ken Mikulcik: Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Russellville. Rev. Shaiju Thomas: Pastor, St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Sorgho and…
Catholic Charities announces 2017 award winners
The Catholic Charities selection committee has awarded the 2017 Bishop John J. McRaith Providing Help, Creating Hope award certificates to the following individuals and groups who have demonstrated charity in their work and deeds without financial compensation. The committee focused on programs and individuals whose work has reached outside their family and parish and impacted…
Diocese names new CFO
The Diocese of Owensboro is pleased to announce the appointment of Raymond T. Purk as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective June 1, 2017. This position has been held since March 2008 by Ernie Taliaferro who came to work for the Diocese after retiring from Texas Gas, where he worked for more than 25 years.…
Diocese of Owensboro’s 2017 picnic list now available online
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.
Most Reverend John J. McRaith
Most Reverend John Jeremiah McRaith, Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro from 1982 to 2009, died the morning of Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the age of 82. John was born in Hutchinson, Minnesota on December 6, 1934 to Arthur Luke McRaith and Marie Hanley McRaith. He grew up with three siblings; James, Jane and…
Diocese forms Office of Evangelization
The Diocese of Owensboro is pleased to announce the hiring of Joseph (Joe) Bland as Director of the Office of Evangelization, effective March 15, 2017. The Office of Evangelization was conceived through the 2016-2018 Pastoral Plan for the diocese. One of the strategies within the goal of “Foster a sense of discipleship among Catholics of…
Diocese to host traveling Fatima statue
The Diocese of Owensboro will be host to the traveling replica of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima on Monday, April 24 through Wednesday, April 26. This comes to the diocese through the Fatima Tour for Peace, led by the World Apostolate of Fatima U.S.A. This event is in celebration of 100 years since Our…
Statement concerning St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 17, 2017
Issued March 8, 2017 Many people have been asking if I will allow Catholics to eat meat on St. Patrick’s Day since March 17th falls on a Friday of Lent this year.
Bishop William Medley’s Statement on Immigration
Mensaje del obispo en español. My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, In recent months, but most especially in recent days, our nation’s attention has been focused on the reality of our more than 11.1 million undocumented immigrants. Our new president asserts that following his election, our country is expecting intensified enforcement of immigration laws.…
Ecumenical Celebration
At least ten congregations, representing at least six Christian denominations, will come together for an Ecumenical Celebration of the Word of God on Thursday, January 19, 2017. The service, which will be held as part of the area’s observance of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, will take place at St. Stephen Cathedral, 610 Locust Street beginning…
Marriage enrichment retreat to be held March 2017 at Lake Barkley Lodge
Retreat to be grounded in John Paul II’s ‘Theology of the Body’ By Elizabeth Wong Barnstead, The Western Kentucky Catholic God calls married people to holiness – “by being able to find it in everyday life,” says Mario Sacasa, who will lead a Catholic, diocesan-based retreat for married couples at Lake Barkley Lodge on March…
more: Marriage enrichment retreat to be held March 2017 at Lake Barkley Lodge
El obispo Medley invita a toda la diócesis a rezar vísperas por inmigrantes y refugiados
Por Elizabeth Barnstead/WKC El martes 3 de enero, 2017 a las 6:30pm en la Catedral de San Esteban en Owensboro se rezaran las vísperas bilingües en apoyo a inmigrantes y refugiados. Esto en conexión con la Semana Nacional de Migración que cada año en Enero convoca la conferencia del episcopado norteamericano. Monseñor William presidirá y…
more: El obispo Medley invita a toda la diócesis a rezar vísperas por inmigrantes y refugiados
Bishop invites all in diocese to immigrant, refugee prayer service
By Elizabeth Wong Barnstead/WKC On Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro will host a bilingual prayer service in support of immigrants and refugees. This is in connection to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Migration Week held every January. Bishop William F. Medley of the Diocese of…
more: Bishop invites all in diocese to immigrant, refugee prayer service
2016 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Schedule
St. Joseph in Bowling Green, KY December 11: Procession at 4 p.m., Dances at 5 p.m., Mass at 8 p.m. and “Mañanitas” (Marian Hymns) at 11 p.m. December 12: Solemn Mass at 7 a.m. Sts. Joseph and Paul in Owensboro, KY December 12: “Mañanitas” at 4 a.m., Solemn Mass at 7 p.m., followed by community…
St. Benedict’s ‘bed sponsorships’ cover more than just beds
By Elizabeth Wong Barnstead/WKC St. Benedict’s Emergency Shelter for Men, also known as St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter, is now accepting bed sponsorships for 2017. “This is our fifth year of doing this,” said Harry Pedigo, who directs the shelter, located in Owensboro. “These bed sponsorships open up so many opportunities for us.” Pedigo said that…
more: St. Benedict’s ‘bed sponsorships’ cover more than just beds
Timothy Cardinal Dolan Announced as Catholic Men’s Conference Keynote Speaker
The Catholic Men’s Conference of Western Kentucky will host their sixth annual conference at the RiverPark Center in downtown Owensboro on February 11, 2017. The keynote speaker will be His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
Fall 2016 Theology on Tap speakers lineup
Theology on Tap in the Diocese of Owensboro is back for a Fall 2016 series! This season’s speakers will discuss a range of topics including discernment, what to do after the Year of Mercy ends, and how to debunk myths about the Catholic Church. All four events this season will take place on Wednesdays at…
‘A wonderful day for mercy’: Diocesan Hispanic pilgrimage draws 400+
By Elizabeth Wong Barnstead, The Western Kentucky Catholic “Boom, boom, boom-boom-boom,” echoed the drum as the steady beats bounced off and around the interior walls of St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro on Aug. 27. Behind the traditional matachines dancers – whose leader was beating the drum – hundreds of Hispanic Catholics began to pour into…
more: ‘A wonderful day for mercy’: Diocesan Hispanic pilgrimage draws 400+