About Diocese of Lexington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington (Dioecesis Lexingtonensis) is a Latin-Rite diocese in southeastern Kentucky, erected by Pope John Paul II on January 14, 1988. It is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Louisville and covers roughly 16,423 square miles across 50 counties in central and eastern Kentucky. The diocese is designated a mission diocese by the USCCB because of the small Catholic population (about 2.6% of the total) and the acute poverty of the Appalachian counties it serves. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, and it is currently led by Bishop John Eric Stowe, O.F.M. Conv., since 2015.
- Bishop
- John Eric Stowe, O.F.M. Conv.
- Established
- 1988
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of Christ the King, 299 Colony Blvd., Lexington, Kentucky
- Territory
- 50 counties in central and eastern Kentucky, including the 16-county Bluegrass region around Lexington and the 40-county Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky. Counties taken at erection from the Diocese of Covington include Bath, Bell, Bourbon, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Whitley and Wolfe; Anderson, Boyle, Lincoln, McCreary, Mercer, Pulaski and Wayne came from the Archdiocese of Louisville.
- Parishes
- 59 parishes and missions plus 2 oratories (Diocesan Directory 2025–26)
- Province
- Archdiocese of Louisville (Ecclesiastical Province of Louisville)
History of the Diocese of Lexington
The Catholic Diocese of Lexington traces its roots to the earliest Catholic settlers who came to Kentucky from Maryland in 1785. Pioneer priest Stephen Badin walked into the commonwealth in 1793 and, for three of the next fourteen years, was the only priest in all of Kentucky. Pope Pius VII erected the Diocese of Bardstown in 1808, and Saint Paul Church — the first Catholic church in Lexington — was built in 1813. The state was later divided into the Diocese of Louisville (1841) and the Diocese of Covington (1853), and the Lexington area remained under one of those two sees for 135 years. Pope John Paul II erected the present Diocese of Lexington on January 14, 1988, carving 43 counties from Covington and seven from Louisville, and appointed Auxiliary Bishop James Kendrick Williams of Covington as its first ordinary.
- 1785: First Catholic immigrants from Maryland arrive in Kentucky.
- 1793: Fr. Stephen Badin enters Kentucky on foot; serves as the state's sole priest for three years.
- 1808: Diocese of Bardstown erected, covering Kentucky and most of the Northwest Territory.
- 1813: Saint Paul Church — Lexington's first Catholic church — is built.
- 1841: Diocese of Bardstown suppressed; Diocese of Louisville erected over all of Kentucky.
- 1853: Diocese of Covington erected, covering most of what is now the Diocese of Lexington.
- 1877: St. Joseph Hospital, the first hospital in Lexington, opens under Catholic auspices.
- January 14, 1988: Pope John Paul II erects the Diocese of Lexington.
Bishops of the Diocese of Lexington
Three ordinary bishops have led the Diocese of Lexington since 1988. The first, James Kendrick Williams, came from Covington where he had served as auxiliary bishop; he resigned in 2002 amid sexual-abuse allegations from his earlier years in Louisville. He was succeeded by Ronald William Gainer, an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia who served Lexington from 2002 until his transfer to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 2014. The current bishop, Conventual Franciscan John Eric Stowe, was appointed by Pope Francis on March 12, 2015 and consecrated at the Cathedral of Christ the King on May 5, 2015 by Archbishop Joseph Kurtz.
- Bishop James Kendrick Williams (1988–2002) — first bishop; resigned amid abuse allegations.
- Bishop Ronald William Gainer (2002–2014) — second bishop; later Bishop of Harrisburg.
- Bishop John Eric Stowe, O.F.M. Conv. (2015–present) — third and current bishop; Conventual Franciscan.
Cathedral of Christ the King
The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of Christ the King at 299 Colony Boulevard in Lexington. The parish was founded July 22, 1945 in the Diocese of Covington, originally celebrating Mass in the chapel of St. Catherine's Academy. After the war the parish moved to its present site on May 12, 1946, where Christ the King School opened in 1951 with the Sisters of Divine Providence forming the first faculty. The present Modern and late Art Deco church and rectory, designed by architect Edward J. Schulte, were built 1965–1967 at a cost of $1.5 million. On January 14, 1988, the same day the diocese was erected, Christ the King was elevated to cathedral status; a Cathedral Center was added in 1992. The cathedral is also home to a parish-school archive ministry that preserves the history of the Lexington Catholic community.
- Founded as a parish July 22, 1945.
- Moved to present site May 12, 1946.
- Christ the King School opened 1951, staffed by Sisters of Divine Providence.
- Current Modern/Art Deco church built 1965–1967.
- Elevated to cathedral January 14, 1988.
- Cathedral Center added 1992.
- Address: 299 Colony Blvd., Lexington, KY 40502.
- Rector: Rev. Paul Prabell.
Mission Diocese & Evangelization
Because its Catholic population is only about 3% of the total and an estimated 60% of residents identify with no church or denomination, the Diocese of Lexington is officially designated a 'mission diocese' by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Evangelization is therefore central to its identity: Bishop Stowe has made missionary discipleship the theme of his 2024 pastoral letter 'Going Forth as Missionary Disciples' and the diocese has actively participated in the 2021–2024 Synod on Synodality. The diocese spans both the affluent Bluegrass horse-farm country around Lexington and 40 Appalachian counties where 74% of children live below the federal poverty line.
- Designated a USCCB mission diocese.
- About 60% of residents within diocesan boundaries claim no church or denomination.
- 74% of children in the 40 Appalachian counties live below the federal poverty line.
- Bishop Stowe's 2024 pastoral letter: 'Going Forth as Missionary Disciples'.
- Active participation in the 2021–2024 Synod on Synodality.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Lexington
Catholic Charities is the primary social-service agency of the diocese, headquartered at the Catholic Center in Lexington and serving all 50 counties of central and eastern Kentucky. Its threefold mission is to SERVE people in times of crisis and disaster, EQUIP them through case management, training and education, and EMPOWER faith communities to lead, witness and act on behalf of others. Programs include Bridging the Gap case management, the Community Agriculture program, disaster response, refugee resettlement, and addiction-recovery services. The agency is led by Executive Director Dr. Shelli Gregory.
- Serves all 50 counties of central and eastern Kentucky.
- Threefold mission: Serve · Equip · Empower.
- Bridging the Gap case management program.
- Community Agriculture program.
- Disaster response and refugee resettlement.
- Executive Director: Dr. Shelli Gregory.
- Phone: (859) 475-5522.
- Web: www.catholiccharitieslexington.org.
Catholic Action Center & Outreach to the Poor
The Catholic Action Center, located at 1055 Industry Road in Lexington, is a House of Hospitality modeled on the Catholic Worker Movement. As an all-volunteer ministry, it serves those not reached by the established social-services network, providing three meals a day, showers, restrooms, phone and mail service, and overnight shelter. It also runs a Veterans Homeless Program, a housing program for families, advocacy and seasonal efforts such as the Annual Faith and Community Christmas Store and the Compassionate Caravan. Adjacent to the Center, Divine Providence Way at Cliffview offers a holistic, sustainable healing community for men and women suffering with drug and alcohol addiction, in partnership with Mountain Comprehensive Care and Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
- All-volunteer Catholic Worker-style House of Hospitality.
- Three meals a day, showers, overnight shelter, mail and phone service.
- Veterans Homeless Program and family housing program.
- Compassionate Caravan and Annual Faith and Community Christmas Store.
- Director: Ginny Ramsey.
- Phone: (859) 514-7210 (office) / (859) 255-0301 (24/7).
- Divine Providence Way at Cliffview: addiction-recovery community.
Catholic Schools
The Office of Catholic Schools, headed by Superintendent Dr. Kyle Lee, coordinates PreK-12 Catholic education across the diocese. The flagship elementary school, Christ the King School, opened in 1951 on the cathedral grounds and remains a center of parish life. Diocesan schools are supported by a central food-service program, an inclusion/special-services department, and a school finance office — all housed at the Catholic Center.
- Superintendent: Dr. Kyle Lee.
- Christ the King School (founded 1951) at the cathedral.
- Centralized food service and special-education inclusion services.
- Schools organized under the Office of the Superintendent at the Catholic Center.
Parishes, Deaneries & Clergy
The diocese is divided into six deaneries, including the Fayette Deanery that surrounds Lexington. According to the diocesan directory it comprises 59 parishes and missions plus 2 oratories, served by 38 active diocesan priests, 10 religious-order priests, 5 priests from other dioceses, 16 retired diocesan priests, 79 diocesan deacons, 4 parish life directors, 30 women religious, and 10 seminarians. Governance is supported by a College of Consultors (Rev. Dan Noll, Rev. Peter Joseph, Rev. Carlos Martinez, Rev. Anthony McLaughlin, Rev. Richard Watson), a Vicar for Priests (Rev. Richard Watson) and a Vicar for Ongoing Formation of Priests (Rev. Anthony McLaughlin).
- Six deaneries, including the Fayette Deanery.
- 59 parishes and missions plus 2 oratories.
- 38 active diocesan priests; 10 religious-order priests; 16 retired priests.
- 79 diocesan deacons; 4 Parish Life Directors.
- 30 women religious; 10 seminarians.
- College of Consultors chaired by the bishop.
Tribunal, Vocations & Permanent Diaconate
The Diocesan Tribunal, under Director Renata Babicz-Baratto, J.U.D., J.U.L., handles marriage and other ecclesiastical cases for the diocese. The Office of Vocations and the Office of the Permanent Diaconate promote priestly and diaconal vocations, with Elizabeth Keenon as administrative coordinator. A separate Office for the Acculturation of International Priests, directed by Rev. Peter Joseph, helps priests from other countries minister effectively in central and eastern Kentucky.
- Director of the Tribunal: Renata Babicz-Baratto.
- Vicar for Priests: Rev. Richard Watson.
- Vicar for Ongoing Formation of Priests: Rev. Anthony McLaughlin.
- Office for Acculturation of International Priests: Rev. Peter Joseph.
- Office of the Permanent Diaconate.
Family Life, Evangelization & Ecumenical Office
Family Life Ministries & Evangelization, under Director Mike Allen, supports marriage preparation, faith formation for families, and parish-based evangelization. The Ecumenical and Interreligious Office, led by Melissa Holland, fosters dialogue with other Christian bodies and with the broader religious community of central and eastern Kentucky — a particularly important mission in a region where most residents are culturally Christian but not formally churched.
- Family Life Ministries & Evangelization: Director Mike Allen.
- Ecumenical & Interreligious Office: Officer Melissa Holland.
- Marriage preparation and family catechesis.
- Pastoral outreach to the unchurched majority in the diocese.
Communications & Diocesan Appeals
The diocesan Communications Office, led by Director of Communications Edward Bauer and Communications Coordinator Ward Klein, publishes news, the diocesan directory and the annual 'One in Christ' Annual Appeal. The appeal is described by the diocese as 'a visible expression of our unity as the Body of Christ,' quoting John 15:12 ('love one another as I have loved you') and James 2:20 ('faith without works is useless'). The diocese has also launched a 'Providing For Our Future' debt-reduction campaign and has earned a 100% financial-transparency rating from Voice of the Faithful.
- Director of Communications: Edward Bauer.
- One in Christ Annual Appeal.
- Providing For Our Future debt-reduction campaign.
- 100% financial-transparency rating from Voice of the Faithful.
- Annual diocesan directory published each summer.
Sexual Abuse Response & Transparency
In August 2020 the Diocese of Lexington published a list of 20 priests with credible or substantiated allegations of sexual abuse. Bishop Stowe reported that ten allegations were substantiated, four were deemed credible, and six were credible but involved minors outside the diocese. All but two of the incidents predated the 1988 erection of the diocese. The most prominent pre-diocese case was that of Fr. Leonard B. Nienaber, former pastor of Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Lexington, who in 1994 pleaded guilty to ten counts of child molestation involving nine complainants from 1962–1978 and was remanded for life to a church facility in Missouri.
- August 2020: diocese publishes list of 20 credibly accused priests.
- 18 of 20 incidents predated the 1988 erection of the diocese.
- Fr. Leonard B. Nienaber: 1994 guilty plea on 10 counts of child molestation.
- Bishop Stowe's accompanying statement defined allegations as substantiated, credible, or credible-outside-the-diocese.
- Safe Environment Office coordinates background checks and training.
Visiting the Diocese
Visitors and pilgrims are warmly welcomed at the Catholic Center at 1310 W. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40508, and at the Cathedral of Christ the King at 299 Colony Blvd. The Catholic Center is open weekdays during business hours and can be reached at (859) 253-1993 or [email protected]. Mass schedules, confession times, and adoration opportunities are listed on each parish's website; the cathedral publishes its own schedule at cathedralctk.org. Parishes across the diocese can be found using the parish directory at cdlex.org.
- Catholic Center: 1310 W. Main St., Lexington, KY 40508.
- Cathedral: 299 Colony Blvd., Lexington, KY 40502.
- Diocesan phone: (859) 253-1993.
- Email: [email protected].
- Parish directory and Mass times: cdlex.org and cathedralctk.org.
- Find-a-parish search available on the diocesan website.
