Holy Cross

Holy Cross Parish — Overview

Holy Cross Parish is a small Roman Catholic community located on U.S. Highway 41-A in Providence, Webster County, Kentucky. It belongs to the Diocese of Owensboro and, according to the diocesan directory, counts roughly 15 parishioners in 10 families. Despite its size, the parish maintains a regular worship schedule and continues the Catholic presence first planted in the Providence area in the late 18th century.

History

Diocesan histories trace Catholic life at Providence, Kentucky, back to 1785, when Holy Cross was established as one of the very first Catholic parishes west of the Alleghenies. A 2022 article in the Western Kentucky Catholic describes Holy Cross as the first parish founded in Providence, Ky., in 1785, part of the early Catholic settlements scattered across frontier Kentucky before the Diocese of Bardstown was erected in 1808. Today the parish is a small but enduring mission of the Diocese of Owensboro.

• 1785 — Holy Cross established at Providence, Kentucky, among the earliest Catholic parishes in the state.
• Early priests who served western Kentucky from these frontier outposts included missionaries sent from the Diocese of Bardstown.

Clergy & Staff

Holy Cross is staffed by Fr. David Kennedy, who serves as pastor, with Deacon Michael Marsili assisting in ministry. Fr. Kennedy also pastors the two other parishes in the Tri-Parish Cluster — Resurrection in Dawson Springs and Immaculate Conception in Earlington. According to the diocesan directory, the parish bookkeeper is Penny Giardinella and the Parish Council Chair is Roxie Rhea.

• Pastor: Rev. David Kennedy
• Deacon: Michael Marsili
• Bookkeeper: Penny Giardinella
• Parish Council Chair: Roxie Rhea

Mass & Worship Schedule

The parish gathers for Mass twice each week. The Wednesday morning Mass and the Saturday evening Vigil Mass are the parish's regular opportunities for public worship. The diocese's published directory lists the weekend Mass as Saturday at 5:30 PM; secondary Mass-time listings also show the Vigil at 6:00 PM, which may reflect updated or seasonally adjusted times. Call the rectory to confirm the current schedule.

• Wednesday — 9:30 AM
• Saturday Vigil — 5:30 PM (diocesan directory) / 6:00 PM (some published listings)

Tri-Parish Cluster

Holy Cross shares a single priest with two neighboring Catholic parishes in Hopkins County and surrounding counties: Resurrection Parish in Dawson Springs and Immaculate Conception in Earlington. The cluster arrangement allows each small community to keep a regular Mass schedule while sharing pastoral care. The cluster's mailing address is in Earlington.

• Holy Cross — Providence, KY
• Resurrection — Dawson Springs, KY
• Immaculate Conception — Earlington, KY

Visit & Contact

The parish church is located at 730 N Highway 41-A, Providence, KY 42450. The rectory can be reached at (270) 383-4743, and email correspondence goes through the pastor at [email protected]. Visitors traveling from State Highway 670 should head northeast on Highway 41-A to reach the parish.

• Address: 730 N Highway 41-A, Providence, KY 42450
• Mailing address: 112 S Day St., Earlington, KY 42410
• Phone: (270) 383-4743
• Email: [email protected]
• Diocese listing: owensborodiocese.org/listing/holy-cross-parish/