About Christ the Healer · Edmonton, Kentucky
Christ the Healer Parish is a small Roman Catholic mission parish in Edmonton, Metcalfe County, Kentucky, in the rural south-central part of the Archdiocese of Louisville. Founded in 1975 on a farm just outside Glasgow by Father George Bowling and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, it is believed to be the first Catholic mission in the Metcalfe County area and today serves around 50 active parishioners. The parish is best known for its social-justice outreach, its food pantry and clothing store at MARC Park, and its warm welcome to a region historically dominated by Baptist and Church of Christ congregations.
- Established
- 1975
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Thomas, C.M.I. (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
Christ the Healer is a small but deeply missionary Catholic community in rural south-central Kentucky with a half-century history of service to the poor and a strong spirit of ecumenical witness. The parish runs a food pantry, clothing store, and shelter at MARC Park, fields an active social-justice ministry, and welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics through its dedicated Hispanic Ministry. With daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on the first Sunday of the month, and a parish office staffed by a deacon and lay directors of formation, worship, music, and social service, it offers a warm, family-sized place to worship and serve.
Mass times at Christ the Healer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Sunday — 10:00 a.m.
Christ the Healer Parish — Overview
Christ the Healer is a small Roman Catholic parish in Edmonton, Kentucky, in the southern part of the Archdiocese of Louisville. The parish operates out of 1610 W. Stockton Street and is administered by Rev. Joseph Thomas, C.M.I., with Hispanic Ministry led by Rev. Silvio J. Fonseca Martinez and permanent-deacon ministry by Deacon John G. Froehlich. The parish has roughly 24 registered households and about 50 active parishioners who are notably engaged in the wider Metcalfe County community.
History and Founding (1975)
Christ the Healer was founded in 1975 on a farm just outside Glasgow under the pastoral direction of Father George Bowling. It is believed to be the first Catholic mission in the Metcalfe County area, introducing Roman Catholic faith, tradition, and culture to a region historically dominated by Baptist and Church of Christ congregations. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth were central to the early mission: a restored farmhouse served as both a church and a convent, and the sisters began prayer groups, religious education classes, and home visits.
- 1975 — Established on a farm outside Glasgow by Father George Bowling.
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth arrived alongside the founding mission.
- Original worship space: the living room of a restored farmhouse.
- Renovated barn used as a worship space, nicknamed 'The Stable.'
- 1982 — New church built; the first church dedicated by Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P.
MARC Park — Recreation and Outreach
MARC Park is the parish's combined recreation-and-outreach campus founded by Father George Bowling and parishioners. Father Bowling envisioned a community that served the poor while also providing recreation, and the park reflects both aims. After Father Bowling retired, the park was renamed in his honor.
- Walking track
- Gymnasium
- Tennis, basketball, volleyball, and softball courts
- Shelter for the poor
- Food pantry
- Clothing store
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
Day-to-day pastoral leadership is shared by an administrator priest, a permanent deacon, and a Hispanic-ministry priest. A small team of lay directors (some volunteers) oversees formation, social service, worship and hospitality, and music. Business management and bookkeeping round out the staffing listed on the Archdiocese of Louisville parish page.
- Administrator: Rev. Joseph Thomas, C.M.I.
- Hispanic Ministry: Rev. Silvio J. Fonseca Martinez
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon John G. Froehlich (also Director of Formation)
- Director of Social Service: Kathy Frick (volunteer*)
- Director of Worship and Hospitality: Sue Powers (volunteer*)
- Director of Music: Tim Timko (volunteer*)
- Business Manager, Bookkeeper, and Director of Music: Kenneth Scheller
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Christ the Healer's ministries center on formation, hospitality, music, social service, and Hispanic outreach. The parish is also active in regional coalitions and in civic life beyond the church walls, partnering with the larger Metcalfe County community at events such as Relay for Life and the Pumpkin Festival.
- Hispanic Ministry — Rev. Silvio J. Fonseca Martinez
- Faith Formation — Deacon John G. Froehlich
- Social Service Ministry — Kathy Frick
- Worship and Hospitality — Sue Powers
- Music Ministry — Tim Timko; Kenneth Scheller
- Social Justice Ministry — coalition partner working to end the death penalty for juveniles
- Relay for Life participation
- Pumpkin Festival participation
- Food pantry, clothing store, and shelter at MARC Park
Visit, Contact, and Practical Information
The parish's physical location at 1610 W. Stockton Street, Edmonton, KY is distinct from its mailing address (P.O. Box 599, Edmonton, KY 42129-0599). Phone lines are (270) 432-0686 and (270) 432-5024, and the parish email is [email protected]. The parish's official online home is its Archdiocese of Louisville page; a Facebook page under the name Christ The Healer Catholic Church is also maintained.
- Location: 1610 W. Stockton Street, Edmonton, KY 42129
- Mailing: P.O. Box 599, Edmonton, KY 42129-0599
- Phone: (270) 432-0686
- Phone: (270) 432-5024
- Email: [email protected]
- Archdiocese of Louisville parish page: http://www.archlou.org/parishes/christ-the-healer-parish/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristTheHealerCatholicChurch/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Bowling1975 (founding) – retired
Founder of the mission; led establishment of the parish on a farm outside Glasgow and creation of MARC Park (later renamed in his honor).
- Rev. Cornelius Kayemba Ssewante
Served as Sacramental Moderator of Christ the Healer (Edmonton) and Christ the King (Tompkinsville), per Archdiocese appointment.
- Rev. Luder Wilfredo Fernandez
Appointed Administrator of Christ the Healer, Edmonton and Christ the King, Tompkinsville (Archdiocese announcement).
- Rev. Joseph Thomas, C.M.I.current
Current Administrator of the parish (CMI — Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales / CMI Fathers).