About Fathers of Mercy · Auburn, Kentucky
The Chapel of Divine Mercy at Auburn, Kentucky is the public chapel and motherhouse (Generalate) of the Fathers of Mercy (Congregatio Presbyterorum a Misericordia, C.P.M.), a Roman Catholic congregation of missionary priests founded in 1808 by Father Jean-Baptiste Rauzan in Lyon, France. Originally known as the Missionaries of France, the community was renamed the Fathers of Mercy in 1934 and elevated to its current form as the Congregation of the Priests of Mercy in 1961. Their primary apostolate is preaching parish missions and retreats throughout the United States, Canada and Australia, with a special emphasis on the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Confession. The chapel and grounds, located a few miles outside of Bowling Green on Shaker Museum Road, host daily Mass, daily adoration and daily confessions for visitors and pilgrims.
- Established
- 1808 (chapel consecrated 2008)
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (patron of the Congregation of the Priests of Mercy)
- Rector
- Very Rev. David Wilton, C.P.M. (Superior General of the Fathers of Mercy, elected 1 September 2009)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro (served by the Fathers of Mercy; the congregation also ministers in the Archdiocese of Louisville and the Diocese of Green Bay)
Why belong here
The Fathers of Mercy were founded to renew the Faith where it has grown cold, and the Chapel of Divine Mercy at Auburn continues that mission today. Pilgrims and visitors can join a community that lives the Eucharist and Confession as its primary apostolate — the chapel offers daily Mass, daily Eucharistic adoration, and daily confessions in a setting built around the Divine Mercy devotion, with over 100 saints' relics venerated on site. It is a place both for retreat-goers seeking a quiet refuge and for those simply wanting to draw near to the Merciful Father in the heart of rural Kentucky.
Mass times at Fathers of Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Daily 6:00–7:00pm
Adoration times
- Daily 4:30–5:30pm
About the Fathers of Mercy
The Fathers of Mercy is a Marian Congregation of Priests of Pontifical Rite (C.P.M.), founded in 1808 by Father Jean-Baptiste Rauzan as the Missionaries of France. Its purpose was the re-evangelization of the French people after the devastations of the French Revolution. Today the community is headquartered only in America, at the motherhouse a few miles outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Members profess the vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, and are committed to the propagation of the Faith and the salvation of souls through parish missions and ministry to rural or neglected areas — endeavoring to manifest the image of the Merciful Father to God's prodigal children.
- Founded 1808 in Lyon, France
- Original name: Missionaries of France
- Approved by Pope Gregory XVI in 1834 as the Society of the Priests of Mercy
- Renamed Fathers of Mercy in 1934; elevated to Congregation of the Priests of Mercy in 1961
- Habit: black Roman cassock
Our History
Cardinal Fesch of Lyons asked Father Rauzan in 1808 to form a mission band of five priests. The Missionaries of France preached city-wide missions, refuted modernist errors, restored Catholic devotion, and brought the lost back through confession and the Eucharist. A Paris Generalate was set up in 1814. After the 1830 Revolution, Rauzan traveled to Rome, where Pope Gregory XVI approved the new Society of the Priests of Mercy on 18 February 1834, placed it under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception, and affiliated it to the Propaganda Fide. Rauzan died in Paris in 1847. Through subsequent French anti-clerical measures the community moved to Belgium in 1905, and eventually established its sole Generalate at Auburn, Kentucky, where the Chapel of Divine Mercy was begun in 2006 and consecrated in August 2008.
- 1814 — Generalate established in Paris
- 1834 — Papal approval by Pope Gregory XVI
- 1847 — Death of Founder Rauzan
- 1880 — Expulsion of religious orders in France
- 1905 — Move to Belgium after separation of Church and State
- 1934 — Renamed Fathers of Mercy
- 1961 — Elevated to congregation of pontifical right (C.P.M.)
- 2006 — Construction begins on the Chapel of Divine Mercy
- 2008 — Chapel consecrated by Bishop McRaith
Chapel of Divine Mercy
Through the generosity of benefactors, the Fathers of Mercy built the Chapel of Divine Mercy to glorify God and His abundant Mercy, giving visitors a quiet refuge from the noise of the world. Solemnly dedicated in 2008, this Romanesque-style chapel was built as the primary oratory of the Fathers of Mercy. Its murals and colors express the Mercy of God through features that also accentuate the charism and apostolate of the congregation.
- Romanesque style, consecrated August 2008
- Main sanctuary mural: image of Divine Mercy with the parable of the Prodigal Son, plus Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette
- Left-side murals: The Last Supper, The Baptism in the Jordan, Jesus with the little children
- Right-side murals: Jesus giving the keys to St. Peter, The Good Shepherd, the Sermon on the Mount
- High Altar niches: statues of St. Paul, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and St. Augustine
- Relic case at the front-left of the nave with 100+ saints' relics
- Nave inscriptions from the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Apostolate and Ministries
The primary apostolate of the Fathers of Mercy is preaching parish missions and retreats. A parish mission is a five-night spiritual renewal for a church, including Eucharistic adoration, the preaching of repentance and catechesis, and the hearing of confessions. Parish missions are conducted at the invitation of the pastor or bishop. The community also staffs multiple religious locations in great need of sacramental care, particularly small rural parishes.
- Parish missions and retreats (United States, Canada, Australia)
- Five-night mission format with adoration, preaching and confessions
- Staffing of small rural and neglected parishes
- Vocations formation for prospective priests
- 'The Fathers of Mercy Hour' on Catholic radio
- CD distribution of retreat conferences
Marian Devotion and Religious Life
As a Marian congregation, each member prays the Rosary daily, ends all spiritual exercises with the ancient prayer the 'Sub Tuum Praesidium,' and consecrates himself each year to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The community holds firmly to the devotion of the Immaculate Conception and believes that the special favors of which they are unworthy are due to this special devotion.
- Patronage: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Daily Rosary
- Sub Tuum Praesidium at the close of spiritual exercises
- Annual consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Members and Leadership
The community is led by a Superior General. Very Rev. David Wilton, C.P.M., a native of Natural Bridge, New York, has served as Superior General since 1 September 2009. He joined the congregation in 1985, was ordained in 1993, and is a 1989 graduate of Christendom College (philosophy) with theology studies at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. Fr. William Casey, C.P.M., preceded him as Superior General (1997–2009). As of the end of 2023 the congregation numbered 37 members, 30 of them priests.
- Fr. David Wilton, C.P.M. — Superior General since 2009
- Fr. William Casey, C.P.M. — Superior General 1997–2009
- Fr. Michael French, C.P.M. — professed member
- 37 members, 30 priests (2023)
Formation and Vocation
The Fathers of Mercy accept solid Catholic men interested in a priestly and religious vocation. St. Joseph's Novitiate is located in South Union, Kentucky, and novices attend classes at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati.
- St. Joseph's Novitiate, South Union, Kentucky
- Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Cincinnati (theology classes)
- Initial formation in Christendom College / Holy Apostles Seminary tradition
Visit, Pilgrimage and Contact
The Generalate welcomes visitors in person to attend Mass, adore the Blessed Sacrament, go to confession, and venerate the more than 100 saints' relics displayed in the chapel. The address is 806 Shaker Museum Road, Auburn, Kentucky 42206, a few miles outside of Bowling Green. Phone inquiries are welcome at (270) 542-4146.
- Address: 806 Shaker Museum Road, Auburn, KY 42206
- Phone: (270) 542-4146
- Website: fathersofmercy.com
- YouTube channel: youtube.com/fathersofmercy
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Jean-Baptiste Rauzan, C.P.M.1808–1847
Founder; led the Missionaries of France and the Society of the Priests of Mercy until his death in Paris.
- Fr. William Casey, C.P.M.1997–2009
Past Superior General, succeeded by Fr. David Wilton.
- Fr. David Wilton, C.P.M.2009–present
Current Superior General; native of Natural Bridge, New York; joined the congregation in 1985 and was ordained in 1993.