About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Louisville, Kentucky
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in the Park DuValle neighborhood of West Louisville, Kentucky, belonging to the Archdiocese of Louisville. Founded on September 3, 1953, by Archbishop John A. Floersh and staffed originally by the Verona Fathers (Sons of the Sacred Heart), the parish grew from humble beginnings — early Masses were celebrated in an old barn without electricity — into a community known for its strong parish council, outreach ministries, and a 1955 church-and-school complex on Louis Coleman Jr. Drive. The parish was suppressed by decree of Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre effective December 31, 2025, with its territory merged into nearby St. Martin de Porres Church.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. George Otuma, A.J. (last pastor before the parish's suppression on December 31, 2025)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary has been a West End Catholic home where faith is lived alongside service to neighbors in need. The parish's Social Concerns Committee has run a 25-plus year Thanksgiving food-box tradition, partnered with Dare to Care as a distribution site since 2020, hosted an AA group, and maintained a monthly 'Benevolent Collection' to assist those in need. Members also served through the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver, Family Life, Junior Daughters, Men's and Women's Clubs, and a Lifelong Learning program — all grounded in the parish's identity as a Catholic African-American community in the Park DuValle neighborhood. (Note: the parish was suppressed effective December 31, 2025, with its territory and ministries continuing at St. Martin de Porres Church.)
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By Appointment
Parish Overview & Identity
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville, rooted in West Louisville's Park DuValle neighborhood. The community identified strongly as an African-American Catholic parish serving a West End area that has long been described as a food desert. The parish's story stretches from its 1953 founding to its 2025 closure — a 72-year run of faith, education, and outreach.
- Established: September 3, 1953
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Louisville
- Patron: Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Feast Day: Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
- Final pastor: Rev. George Otuma, A.J.
History
Archbishop John A. Floersh created the parish on September 3, 1953, entrusting it to the Verona Fathers (Sons of the Sacred Heart) with Father Alfio Mondini, F.S.C.J., as founding pastor. The first Mass was offered November 12, 1953, in the old house at 3203 Southwick Avenue; as the parish grew, parishioners lovingly fashioned a chapel in an old barn on the property — without electricity — to get through the cold winters of 1953 and 1954.
- Verona Fathers administered the parish from 1953 until 1971, when they handed it over to diocesan clergy.
- School opened September 1954; Dominican Sisters arrived as teachers in early 1955.
- Church and school dedicated December 4, 1955.
- Worship space renovated 1999–2002 (parish worshiped at Christ the King during the work).
- Parish suppressed effective December 31, 2025 by decree of Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre; territory given to St. Martin de Porres Church.
Education & School Legacy
Immaculate Heart ran a parish school from its early years, staffed for decades by Dominican Sisters. After the parish school era, the school building served the wider West End community as West End Catholic School, and later the parish supported All Saints Academy at Christ the King Parish.
- Parish school opened September 1954; Dominican Sisters began teaching in early 1955.
- West End Catholic School (1973–1989) — jointly supported by Immaculate Heart, Holy Cross, and St. Augustine parishes.
- All Saints Academy (housed at Christ the King Parish) supported until its 1995 closure.
Clergy & Staff
The Verona Fathers staffed the parish from 1953 to 1971. In the 2020s the parish was served by Father Christopher S. Rhodes (who was also assigned to St. Augustine and Christ the King) and, most recently, by Father George Otuma, A.J., a member of the Apostles of Jesus religious order from Uganda.
- Pastor (final): Rev. George Otuma, A.J. — Apostles of Jesus, from Ayiko, Northern Province, Uganda; ordained July 21, 2001
- Choir Director: Steve Kniffley
- Secretary: Adriene Taylor-Mitchell
- Bookkeeper: Jane Hoben
- Parish Leadership Team Chair: Valarie Boone-Johnson
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Per the Archdiocese of Louisville parish page, the published Mass schedule is brief and intentionally simple; daily Masses are listed by reference to the bulletin and confession is offered by appointment.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.
- Daily Mass: see bulletin
- Holy Day Mass: 7:00 p.m.
- Confession: By Appointment
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Immaculate Heart was known for an active Social Concerns Committee and a strong cluster of parish organizations rooted in Catholic African-American community life. The parish's Thanksgiving food-box ministry ran for more than 25 years, distributing roughly 60 holiday meal boxes to nearby group homes, schools, and parishioners identified by the Social Concerns Committee, each including a gift card to purchase meat.
- Social Concerns Committee: Thanksgiving food baskets, monthly Dare to Care food distribution (since 2020), AA group, monthly Benevolent Collection.
- Family Life
- Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver
- Lifelong Learning
- Junior Daughters
- Men's Club
- Women's Club
- Community gardens (started by Father Otuma to share the Gospel through gardening, a way of life from Uganda)
Music & Liturgy
Music at Immaculate Heart of Mary was led by Choir Director Steve Kniffley as part of the parish's liturgical life.
- Choir Director: Steve Kniffley
Facilities & Rentals
The parish campus on Louis Coleman Jr. Drive included the church and church hall. The London Room, attached to the back of the church hall, became available for outside rentals — a sign of the parish's willingness to make its facilities a neighborhood resource.
- London Room (attached to church hall) — available for outside rentals
- Parish hall used for Thanksgiving basket assembly, Dare to Care distributions, and community gatherings
Contact & Location
Parish offices were located at the church complex in the Park DuValle neighborhood of West Louisville. (The parish was suppressed effective December 31, 2025; parishioners are directed to St. Martin de Porres Church, 3112 West Broadway.)
- Address: 1545 Louis Coleman Jr. Drive, Louisville, KY 40211-1871
- Phone: (502) 774-5772
- Fax: (502) 774-5899
- Email (per archdiocese page): [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/ImmaculateHeartofMaryLouisville
Closure (2025)
After years of declining Catholic population in the area and dropping registrations — and with parish leadership itself requesting suppression — Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre issued a decree on November 24, 2025, formally suppressing Immaculate Heart of Mary effective December 31, 2025, and transferring its territory to St. Martin de Porres Church. The final Mass was celebrated on Gaudete Sunday, December 14, 2025, with Father George Otuma, A.J., presiding and Father William M. Bowling, pastor of St. Martin de Porres and Holy Name, concelebrating. Items from Immaculate Heart, including the Stations of the Cross, were incorporated into the receiving parish.
- Decree date: November 24, 2025
- Effective date of suppression: December 31, 2025
- Receiving parish: St. Martin de Porres Church, 3112 West Broadway
- Final Mass: Gaudete Sunday, December 14, 2025
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Alfio Mondini, F.S.C.J. (Verona Fathers / Sons of the Sacred Heart)1953 (founding)
First pastor; established the parish under Archbishop John A. Floersh.
- The Verona Fathers (Sons of the Sacred Heart)1953–1971
Religious order that administered the parish from its founding; handed administration over to diocesan clergy in 1971.
- Rev. Christopher S. Rhodesserved in the 2020s (prior to Father Otuma)
Was assigned to three primarily Black Catholic churches in the West End — St. Augustine, Christ the King, and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- Rev. George Otuma, A.J.until December 31, 2025 (closure)
Member of the Apostles of Jesus religious order from Kenya/Uganda; last pastor; celebrated the parish's final Mass on Gaudete Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.