About Holy Spirit Parish/University of Kentucky Newman Center · Lexington, Kentucky
Holy Spirit Parish — better known as the University of Kentucky Newman Center — is the Catholic parish serving the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Kentucky. Erected in 1963 as a personal parish (rather than a territorial one), it is the spiritual home of the 'Catholic Wildcats' student community, with daily noon Mass during the academic year, weekly student Masses, and a robust schedule of confession and Eucharistic adoration. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Lexington and is staffed by a pastor, sacramental minister, deacon, and a Sister of Providence pastoral associate. Beyond worship, it runs more than twenty ministries — from a Congolese refugee ministry and Knights of Columbus council to OCIA, a student liturgical team, a Laudato Si' action team, and a campus kitchen — all aimed at forming students, faculty, and Lexington neighbors in the Catholic faith.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- The Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony McLaughlin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington
Why belong here
Holy Spirit/Newman Center is the spiritual home of UK's Catholic Wildcats — and welcomes anyone in the Lexington community, not just students. The parish combines a robust sacramental life (daily noon Mass, multiple Sunday Masses, weekday confession, and abundant Eucharistic adoration during the academic year) with hands-on formation: a student liturgical team, an OCIA process for adults, faith formation for youth, and a 'Catholic Studies' intellectual tradition on campus. Its outreach arms — the Congolese refugee ministry, Knights of Columbus council, BUILD interfaith justice work, Catholic Action Center lunches, Habitat for Humanity, and a Laudato Si' action team — give parishioners concrete ways to serve Lexington. For a university student, faculty or staff member, or Lexington neighbor, it's a parish where you can worship well, be formed in the faith, and live it out in service.
Mass times at Holy Spirit Parish/University of Kentucky Newman Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
- Tuesday 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
- Wednesday 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
- Thursday 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
- Thursday 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM (only during UK Spring and Fall semesters)
- Friday 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (only during UK Spring and Fall semesters)
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (only during UK Spring and Fall semesters)
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (only during UK Spring and Fall semesters)
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (only during UK Spring and Fall semesters)
- Thursday 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM (only during UK Spring and Fall semesters)
- Friday 9:00 AM – 11:45 PM (only during UK Spring and Fall semesters)
About Holy Spirit Parish / Newman Center
Holy Spirit Parish — the University of Kentucky Newman Center, branded as 'Catholic Wildcats' — is the Catholic parish serving the UK campus at 320 Rose Lane in Lexington, Kentucky. Erected as a personal parish in 1963 and staffed today by Rev. Anthony McLaughlin (pastor), Rev. Danny Taylor (sacramental minister), Deacon Brendan O'Sullivan, and Sr. Ellen Kehoe, SP (pastoral associate), it sits in the Diocese of Lexington and welcomes students, faculty, staff, and Lexington neighbors. The parish describes its mission in three movements: opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ, formation in Catholic teaching, and a community with whom to live out the faith.
- Personal parish erected in 1963 for the UK Catholic community
- Diocese of Lexington (Bishop John Stowe referenced in parish materials)
- Brand identity: 'Catholic Wildcats'
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–7:30 PM; Fri 9 AM–4 PM
History of the Parish
Catholic presence at UK goes back to 1914, when Fr. William Punch gathered the first Catholic Club of 26 students. The mid-century decades brought a full-time chaplaincy (Fr. Herlihy, 1958), the move to 320 Rose Lane (1959), Fr. Elmer Moore's chaplaincy (1960), and the canonical erection of Holy Spirit Parish in 1963. A 1972 building campaign produced the current Newman Center, followed by the 1990 church addition, kitchen, and renovation. Supporting the parish is the Newman Foundation, Inc. — established in 1969, renamed in 1994 — which runs the Grants Program (1980) and the Distinguished Speakers Program (1984), and helped establish the Cottrill–Rolfes Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies at UK in 2005.
- 1914: UK Catholic Club formed (26 members)
- 1958: First full-time chaplain, Fr. Herlihy
- 1959: Meetings move to 320 Rose Lane (135 weekly worshippers)
- 1963: Holy Spirit Parish erected as a personal parish
- 1969: Newman Center Foundation, Inc. established
- 1972: Newman Center building erected and dedicated
- 1990: Church addition, kitchen, and renovation campaign
- 1994: Supporting org renamed Newman Foundation, Inc.
- 2005: Cottrill–Rolfes Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies established at UK
- 2022: Philipp Rosemann assumes the Chair of Catholic Studies
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Anthony McLaughlin as pastor, with Rev. Danny Taylor serving as Sacramental Minister, Deacon Brendan O'Sullivan assisting, and Sr. Ellen Kehoe, SP, as Pastoral Associate. Pastoral leadership is complemented by two lay councils: a Pastoral Council chaired by Dr. Samuel Awuah (meeting the second Wednesday of every month) and a Finance Council chaired by Joey Payne (meeting quarterly and as needed).
- Pastor — Rev. Anthony McLaughlin ([email protected])
- Sacramental Minister — Rev. Danny Taylor ([email protected])
- Deacon — Brendan O'Sullivan ([email protected])
- Pastoral Associate — Sr. Ellen Kehoe, SP
- Pastoral Council Chair — Dr. Samuel Awuah
- Finance Council Chair — Joey Payne
Student Life & Catholic Wildcats
The student side of the parish — known as Catholic Wildcats — exists to help students put Jesus Christ at the center of their lives through encounter, formation, and community. Students serve as liturgical ministers (altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors) at the 8:30 PM Sunday and 7:30 PM Thursday Student Masses, sing in the Music Team (vocalist only, rehearsing Tuesdays at 5:30 PM), cook Tuesday-night meals with the Kitchen Team (5–8 PM at least once a month), and greet as part of the Hospitality Team. The Newman Foundation supports student formation through its Grants Program (since 1980), Distinguished Speakers Program (since 1984), and Cottrill–Rolfes Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies (since 2005).
- Student Mass Liturgical Ministries — Jacob Schuetter
- Music Team (Thursday Student Mass) — Dom Fanning
- Kitchen Team (Tuesday dinners) — Andrew Blair
- Hospitality Team — Hannah Kaufmann
- Newman Foundation Grants Program (since 1980)
- Newman Foundation Distinguished Speakers Program (since 1984)
- Cottrill–Rolfes Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies (since 2005)
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Beyond the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, the parish offers the OCIA (Order of Catholic Initiation for Adults) for adults exploring or entering the Catholic faith, CCD and Adult Education on weekends during the academic year, and the annual celebration of First Holy Communion (most recently at the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass). Those who cannot attend Mass may be visited at home, in a hospital, or in a care facility by the Visitation Ministry, which brings Holy Communion on a flexible weekly schedule.
- OCIA — Art Mize
- CCD & Adult Education (weekend sessions during the academic year)
- First Holy Communion — celebrated annually at the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Visitation Ministry — Bob McLaughlin
Social Outreach & Service
Service to the wider Lexington community runs through nearly a dozen ministries, addressing hunger, housing, refugees, creation, and parish life. The parish serves monthly lunches at the Catholic Action Center, builds homes with Habitat for Humanity, partners with Congolese refugees through tutoring and religious education, and joins other Lexington congregations in BUILD (Building a United Interfaith Lexington through Direct Action). A Laudato Si' Action Team carries out Bishop John Stowe's diocesan-wide creation-care plan, while smaller efforts — Warm Up America (knitting/crocheting for those in need), Giving Baskets (Thanksgiving charity baskets), and Fellowship Weekends (coffee and donuts after Mass) — build parish culture.
- BUILD — Katherine Goetz
- Catholic Action Center — Ryan Hughes
- Congolese Ministry — Nancy Herring / Sr. Ellen Kehoe
- Habitat for Humanity — Ryan Hughes
- Knights of Columbus Council 15452 — Andrew Blair
- Giving Baskets — Joelle Kendrick
- Warm Up America — Pat Dillon
- Laudato Si' Action Team — Nick McDowell
- Light Church Housekeeping — Chuck Mallory
- Fellowship Weekends — Sr. Ellen Kehoe
- Money Counter — Kathy Rossoll
Youth & Family
Although primarily a university parish, Holy Spirit extends pastoral care to local youth and families through occasional Youth Nights for middle and high school students (assisted by Youth Night Helpers), annual First Holy Communion for children, CCD religious education during the academic year, and family-friendly Fellowship Weekends with coffee and donuts after Mass on the third weekend of each month. Parishioners are also encouraged to join the Knights of Columbus Council 15452, a fraternity of Catholic men and their families.
- Youth Night Helper (middle and high school youth nights) — Bridget Starr
- First Holy Communion — annual celebration at 9:00 AM Mass
- CCD during the academic year
- Fellowship Weekends — third weekend of every month
- Knights of Columbus Council 15452
Councils & Governance
Two lay councils help guide parish life. The Pastoral Council, chaired by Dr. Samuel Awuah, meets the second Wednesday of every month. The Finance Council, chaired by Joey Payne, meets quarterly and as needed. Both councils are staffed by parishioners and collaborate with the pastor and sacramental minister in setting pastoral and financial direction for Holy Spirit.
- Pastoral Council — Chair: Dr. Samuel Awuah; meets 2nd Wednesday of each month
- Finance Council — Chair: Joey Payne; meets quarterly and as needed
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
The parish office at 320 Rose Lane, Lexington, KY 40508 is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Phone (859) 255-8566; fax (859) 254-7516; bulletin items and general email go to [email protected]. The diocesan directory notes a handicap-access ramp. Visitors can follow announcements, events, and livestreams through the parish's Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels under the Catholic Wildcats / Holy Spirit Parish Newman Center brand.
- Address: 320 Rose Lane, Lexington, KY 40508-3306
- Phone: (859) 255-8566 | Fax: (859) 254-7516
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: http://www.uknewman.com/
- Handicap-access ramp available
- 533 registered households (per 2023 diocesan directory)
- Facebook (facebook.com/catholicwildcats), Instagram, and YouTube presence
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Punch1914 (part-time chaplain of the UK Catholic Club)
Founded the UK Catholic Club with 26 members
- Fr. Herlihy1958
First full-time chaplain
- Fr. Elmer Moore1960
Full-time chaplain during the move to 320 Rose Lane and rapid growth
- Fr. Ronald Ketteler1966
First full-time associate chaplain
- Fr. Larry Hehman1978–1985
Had been associate pastor since 1969
- Fr. Dan Noll1985–1991
Associate pastor since 1982
- Fr. Tom Farrell1991–
Took over the year of the church addition/kitchen/renovation campaign
- Rev. Steve Roberts
Listed for Holy Spirit on 2022 diocesan directory
- Rev. Anthony McLaughlinas of 2023 diocesan directory
Current pastor (per 2023 Diocese of Lexington directory)