About Immaculate Conception · Hawesville, Kentucky
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Hawesville, Kentucky, the seat of Hancock County, and a member of the Diocese of Owensboro. It is clustered with its sister parish, St. Columba in nearby Lewisport, forming the "Catholic Community of Hancock County" that shares clergy, a website, weekly bulletins, and a parish office at 240 Court Square, Hawesville. The current church, dedicated in 1959 on Main Street, stands as the spiritual home of a Catholic community that traces its roots on the Ohio River back to the 1850s and is currently served by Pastor Fr. Terry Devine.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of her Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Fr. Terry Devine
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a small, multigenerational Catholic community that worships in a beautiful limestone church on Main Street in Hawesville and shares its pastoral life with sister parish St. Columba in Lewisport as the Catholic Community of Hancock County. Members are invited into a full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation after every Mass, RCIA inquiry sessions, Vacation Bible School, Adult Scripture Study, and parish fellowship like 1st Sunday Donuts. For anyone new to the area or curious about the Catholic faith, Fr. Terry Devine makes himself readily available for confession, RCIA questions, and sacramental preparation.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Fr. Terry is available for Confession following all Mass times — please make your request before Mass
- Available by appointment — call the parish office or Fr. Terry at 270-860-0924
Adoration times
- Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM at Immaculate Conception
- Thursday, 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM at St. Columba
History of Immaculate Conception Parish
The Catholic community of Hawesville predates the church building itself. Before 1871, when a priest could make the trip from Cannelton, Cloverport, or Reed, Catholic families would gather in private homes for Mass, confession, baptism, and weddings. The parish was formally begun through Bishop Martin J. Spalding of Louisville, who in 1854 asked Father Bede O'Connor of Cannelton, Indiana, to begin preparations; in 1858 Spalding purchased the building lot on Main Street, and the hand-hewn limestone church built by Mr. Bill Snowden was completed in 1871. The parish grew into a full community life through the 20th century: a 1947 Catholic school staffed by the Sisters of Loretto, a 1949 high school, a new and larger church dedicated February 19, 1959, a Parish Hall in 1999, and the historic restoration of Johann Schmitt's painting 'The Immaculate Conception' celebrated with Bishop William F. Medley in June 2025.
- 1854 – Bishop Spalding asks Fr. Bede O'Connor to prepare a church in Hawesville
- 1858 – Lot purchased for $400 from the Powers and Stone families
- 1871 – Original limestone church completed (built by Bill Snowden)
- 1937 – Ohio River flood damages altar and interior; Diocese of Owensboro created
- 1946 – Fr. Anthony Higdon becomes Hawesville's first resident pastor
- 1947 – Catholic elementary school dedicated Nov. 1; Sisters of Loretto arrive
- 1949 – Catholic high school constructed under Fr. Anthony Thompkins
- 1958 – Cornerstone laid for a new and larger church
- 1959 – Present Immaculate Conception Church dedicated Feb. 19
- 1969 – High school closes
- 1992 – Elementary school closes
- 1995 – Parish offices relocated to the former high school building
- 1999 – New Parish Hall built on the site of the old rectory
- June 2025 – Bishop Medley celebrates the restored Johann Schmitt painting
Architecture & Buildings
The present Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street is the second church building on the parish grounds, dedicated February 19, 1959 to replace the smaller 1871 limestone structure. The original church's stained-glass windows were carefully removed and re-installed in the new sanctuary. The campus today also includes the 1999 Parish Hall (built on the site of the demolished old rectory) and the parish offices and meeting spaces in the former high school building (relocated there in 1995). The native Ohio River limestone, with its distinctive golden tone, gives both the historic and surrounding architecture a unified regional character.
- Original 1871 hand-hewn limestone church (National Register of Historic Places)
- Present church dedicated February 19, 1959
- Original stained-glass windows transferred to the 1959 church
- Parish Hall built 1999
- Parish offices relocated to former high school building in 1995
Pastor & Staff
Immaculate Conception is served by Fr. Terry Devine, who is pastor of both Immaculate Conception (Hawesville) and St. Columba (Lewisport) as the clustered Catholic Community of Hancock County. He can be reached through the parish office at 270-927-8419 or directly at 270-860-0924 for confession requests, RCIA inquiries, and sacramental preparation. The parish office is at 240 Court Square, Hawesville.
- Fr. Terry Devine — Pastor, Immaculate Conception & St. Columba
- [email protected]
- Office: 270-927-8419
- Direct line: 270-860-0924
- Mailing: P.O. Box 219, Hawesville, KY 42348
Sacraments
Immaculate Conception prepares parishioners for all seven Catholic sacraments. Adults seeking baptism or full reception into the Church are welcomed into the RCIA process, which begins with low-pressure Inquiry sessions (typically the first Saturday in September) at the parish office. Sacramental preparation for children, marriage preparation for engaged couples, and arrangements for Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders are coordinated through Fr. Terry.
- Baptism (infant and adult, through RCIA)
- Confirmation
- First Holy Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Holy Matrimony — contact Fr. Terry to begin preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish runs a year-round Faith Formation program and an open RCIA process. The RCIA Inquiry sessions meet on Saturdays at 10:00 AM at the Immaculate Conception Parish Office and are open to anyone curious about the Catholic faith, with no obligation to join. Faith Formation is also highlighted each summer with a Vacation Bible School held at the IC Parish Hall.
- RCIA Inquiry Sessions — Saturdays at 10:00 AM at the IC Parish Office
- Faith Formation for children and youth
- Vacation Bible School — held at the IC Parish Hall
- Adult Scripture Study — Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 PM
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond the sacraments, Immaculate Conception maintains a steady rhythm of fellowship and formation. The Adult Scripture Study meets weekly on Wednesday evenings, and St. Columba hosts coffee and donuts after the 8:30 AM Mass on the first Sunday of each month. The parish website also publishes a Minister Schedule and Live Stream Mass links so that homebound parishioners can stay connected to weekend liturgy.
- Adult Scripture Study — Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 PM
- 1st Sunday Donuts — after 8:30 AM Mass at St. Columba
- Live Stream Mass — schedule published on the website
- Minister Schedule — published under the Ministries page
The Catholic Community of Hancock County
Immaculate Conception (Hawesville) and St. Columba (Lewisport) are formally clustered as the 'Catholic Community of Hancock County,' sharing clergy, a website (icscchurch.org), weekly bulletins, and the parish office at 240 Court Square, Hawesville. The community's mission statement reads: 'Called to make Christ visible in our family, community and the world. To lead all people to experience the Light of Christ.'
- Immaculate Conception, 115 Main St., Hawesville
- St. Columba, 815 Pell St., Lewisport
- Shared pastor: Fr. Terry Devine
- Shared parish office: 240 Court Square, Hawesville, KY 42348
- Shared website: icscchurch.org
Visiting & Contact
Immaculate Conception is located at 115 Main Street, at the corner of Clay Street, in downtown Hawesville — the seat of Hancock County, Kentucky, on the Ohio River across from Cannelton, Indiana. Visitors and parishioners are welcome to attend any Mass, stay for Adoration, or call the office to arrange sacraments, RCIA inquiry, and prayer requests.
- Address: 115 Main St., Hawesville, KY 42348
- Parish Office: 240 Court Square, Hawesville, KY 42348
- Mailing: P.O. Box 219, Hawesville, KY 42348
- Phone: 270-927-8419
- Fr. Terry's direct line: 270-860-0924
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: icscchurch.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Bede O'Connor1850s
Resided at Cannelton, Indiana; at Bishop Spalding's 1854 request, began preparations to build the Hawesville church.
- Fr. Rivespre-1937
Stationed at Reed, KY; commuted by L&N Railroad to say a 6:00 AM Sunday Mass in Hawesville and return.
- Fr. Gerst1930s
Oversaw repairs and full redecoration of the original church after the 1937 flood.
- Rev. William Allard1937
Listed as pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Columba at the creation of the Diocese of Owensboro in 1937.
- Fr. Anthony Higdon1946–
Hawesville's first resident pastor, appointed by Bishop Cotton; oversaw construction of the parish school and first rectory.
- Fr. Walter Hancock1947
First assistant priest in Hawesville, arriving with the opening of the Catholic school.
- Fr. Anthony Thompkins1949–
Built the parish high school (with cafeteria) in 1949.