About Good Shepherd Catholic Church · Frankfort, Kentucky
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of approximately 500 families in Frankfort, Kentucky, belonging to the Diocese of Lexington. Its 15-acre campus on Shepherd Way in eastern Franklin County includes the church, parish life center, school, gymnasium, and playing fields. The parish describes itself as a multi-cultural faith community whose mission is to live the teachings of Jesus Christ: Love God, Love Neighbor, Make Disciples. Active parish life centers on the celebration of the Eucharist and is sustained by Faith Formation programs for all ages, an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, a Knights of Columbus council, a parish school, and a bilingual ministry that includes a Sunday Mass in Spanish.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd)
- Rector
- Rev. John Lijana
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington (Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky)
Why belong here
Good Shepherd welcomes parishioners into a multi-cultural faith family of around 500 households with a real range of ways to belong: a parish school serving PreK through 8th grade, Faith Formation for children, youth, and adults (including OCIA/RCIA), Sacramental Preparation in both English and Spanish, and a Sunday Mass in Spanish. Outreach runs through an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference and a Knights of Columbus council, and prayer life is supported by rosary groups, patriotic rosary, First Friday Adoration, monthly all-night Adoration on last Mondays, and May Crowning. The 15-acre campus — church, parish life center, school, gym, and fields — gives families room to gather, learn, and serve together.
Mass times at Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays after the 5:30pm Mass
- Saturdays 3:00pm-3:45pm (and up to 4:45pm per parish)
- Fridays 11:00am-11:55am
- Sundays approximately one hour before the 11:30am Spanish Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sundays (in Spanish)
Adoration times
- First Fridays 12:45pm-4:45pm
- Last Mondays — All Night Adoration beginning at 6:00pm and continuing until 7:45am Tuesday morning
Parish Identity and Mission
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is a parish of roughly 500 families in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington, situated on a 15-acre campus on Shepherd Way in eastern Franklin County. Its campus includes the church, parish life center, school, gym, and playing fields. The parish describes itself as a multi-cultural faith community whose mission is to live the teachings of Jesus Christ: Love God, Love Neighbor, Make Disciples.
- About 500 families
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington
- 15-acre campus in eastern Franklin County
- Multi-cultural faith community
- Mission: Love God, Love Neighbor, Make Disciples
History of the Parish
The first Catholic congregation in Frankfort met at the tunnel house on the corner of High and Broadway, and by 1837 had outgrown that space and become St. Patrick Mission. With an influx of German and Irish immigrants in the late 1840s, Bishop Flaget appointed Father J. M. Lancaster as the first permanent pastor in 1848; Lancaster bought the former First Presbyterian Church on Wapping Street and contracted John and Denis Haley to build the present Good Shepherd church, which was dedicated in 1850. In 1860 the first Catholic school in Frankfort was established at the parish. The parish marked its centennial in 1948 and today worships on its Shepherd Way campus.
- 1808: First Catholic ministry in Frankfort by Reverend Angier
- 1837: Congregation formally constituted as St. Patrick Mission
- 1848: Father J. M. Lancaster appointed first permanent pastor
- 1848: Wapping Street property purchased from First Presbyterian Church
- 1850: Church dedicated as the Church of the Good Shepherd
- 1860: First Catholic school in Frankfort established
- 1948: Centennial celebration with published historical sketch
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by a pastor assisted by four permanent deacons. Laura Hack serves as Director of Faith Formation and is the contact for baptism preparation and sacramental formation.
- Rev. John Lijana — Pastor
- Deacon Bob Amato
- Deacon Tom Kaldy
- Deacon Mike Lynch
- Deacon Tom Snyder
- Laura Hack — Director of Faith Formation (Baptism and sacramental prep contact)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Good Shepherd serves children, youth, and adults, in English and Spanish. Programs include catechesis for K-5th grade, middle and high school formation, adult and family catechesis, Sacramental Preparation, Vacation Bible School, and the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) — including an adapted OCIA for Children. The parish's pandemic-era 'Christ in My Home' initiative continues to support families through weekly Gospel reflection videos.
- OCIA (RCIA) for Adults — English
- OCIA adapted for Children — English
- Religious Education / CCD for Children — English or Spanish
- Catechesis & Faith Formation K-5th Grade, 6th-12th Grade, Adults & Families
- Sacramental Preparation — English or Spanish
- Vacation Bible School — English or Spanish (June 22-26, 8am-noon)
- Christ in My Home family videos
- Tribunal Advocates available for those seeking annulments
- Safe Environment Certification required for all ministry with minors/vulnerable adults
Sacraments
The parish website provides guidance and contacts for each of the seven sacraments. Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation is handled through Faith Formation programs or the parish school. Anointing of the Sick is available on request, and an emergency line is provided through the parish office.
- Baptism (under age 7): parent & godparent prep session, registration, birth certificate, godparent parish affirmation
- First Reconciliation / First Holy Eucharist / Confirmation — through Faith Formation or school
- Anointing of the Sick — on request, with after-hours emergency line
- Matrimony — contact parish office
- Reconciliation (Confession) — weekly schedule plus by appointment
Parish School
The parish school provides Christ-centered Catholic education for students in PreK through 8th grade, sharing the Shepherd Way campus with the church. The school is currently enrolling for the 2026-27 academic year.
- PreK through 8th grade
- Christ-centered education
- Located on Shepherd Way campus
- Now enrolling for 2026-27
Parish Life and Ministries
Beyond the sacraments, Good Shepherd hosts a vibrant parish life including liturgical, social justice, and fellowship ministries. The parish maintains an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference and a Knights of Columbus council, both of which connect parishioners to service locally and beyond.
- Liturgical ministries: choir, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Homebound visitation / Eucharistic Ministers for the Carebound
- Bible study and prayer groups
- Senior citizens lunch ministry
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference
- Knights of Columbus council
- Campus clean-up and annual parish picnic
- Youth Service events
- Garden Club
Upcoming Events and Calendar
The parish keeps an active calendar of community events. Recent and current items on the public calendar include a Garden Club, First Friday Adoration, May Crowning, a Youth Service day, a Volunteer Appreciation Event, and Vacation Bible School in late June. A printable at-a-glance calendar is made available monthly.
- Garden Club
- First Friday Adoration
- May Crowning in church
- Youth Service
- Volunteer Appreciation Event
- Vacation Bible School (June 22-26)
- Printable monthly at-a-glance calendar
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. M. Lancaster1848-
First permanent pastor; appointed by Bishop Flaget of Bardstown in 1848; purchased the Wapping Street property and oversaw construction of the church dedicated as Good Shepherd in 1850.