About Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary · Lexington, Kentucky
Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic parish in Lexington, Kentucky, part of the Diocese of Lexington. Founded in October 1960 out of St. Paul's Parish downtown, it grew rapidly from initial expectations of 500 families to more than 2,000 registered families by 2014. The parish is bilingual (English and Spanish), celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010, and continues to serve a diverse community through a parish school, the Education Life Center, multiple Mass times in two languages, adoration, and active youth, young adult, music, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary (Our Lady of Victories)
- Rector
- Rev. Miguel Alvizures
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky
Why belong here
Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary is one of the largest and most active parishes in the Diocese of Lexington, with Masses in both English and Spanish every day, a 600-student Education Life Center, a vibrant Music Ministry using several Mass settings (Christ the Savior, Chant Mass, Mass of Creation, Misa Luna, Redemption, and Mass for Immigrants), and a young-adult Theology on Tap program at Ethereal Brewing. The parish also runs ACTS retreats, CRHP retreats, a dedicated Devotions committee, weekly Adoration of the Exposed Blessed Sacrament, faith formation for all ages, and a strong youth/young adult outreach — making it a fitting spiritual home for families, students, and Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Lexington area.
Mass times at Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Sunday 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Adoration times
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
- Monday 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday 7:30 AM – 11:59 PM
- Friday 12:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Saturday 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Adoration of the Exposed Blessed Sacrament: Thursday after the 8:15 AM Mass until the start of the 8:15 AM Mass on Friday
Parish Identity, Mission, and History
Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary is a bilingual Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, founded in October 1960 by Bishop Ackerman out of St. Paul's Parish downtown. Its name commemorates Pope Pius V's call to pray the Rosary before the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and the resulting feast day of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary on October 7. On Pentecost 2023, the parish adopted a new mission statement: 'Receive God's Love, Proclaim the Greatness of the Lord, Serve Joyfully, and Make Missionary Disciples of Jesus Christ.'
- Founded October 1960 from St. Paul's Parish, Lexington
- Feast day: October 7 (Our Lady of Victories / Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary)
- Initial target: 500 families; over 2,000 families by 2014
- Adopted Pentecost 2023 mission statement
- Part of the Diocese of Lexington since 1988
Buildings, Worship Space, and Renovations
The parish sits on eleven acres at the corner of Clays Mill Road and Hill N' Dale Drive. The original 1962 building was a dual-purpose modified-cross structure with classrooms forming the arms. The current 800-seat church was built on the corner lot in 1994–1995 — the parish's longtime 'field of dreams' — and was dedicated by Bishop J. Kendrick Williams on October 1, 1995. Stained glass, the crucifix, and refurbished Stations of the Cross were carried over from the original church. A major renovation during the COVID-19 shutdown added new pews, sound system, flooring, and paint; the church reopened August 1, 2020.
- 1995 dedication of current 800-seat church
- 2005: Education Life Center completed; old church/school demolished; new parking lot added
- 2020 renovation: new pews, sound system, flooring, paint
- 2024 Together in Christ Capital Campaign: pay off ELC debt, build a new adoration chapel
Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School
The parish school (605 Hill N Dale Rd.) has been part of the parish since the early 1960s and today serves PK through Grade 8 as a coed Catholic elementary school affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). Half-day Kindergarten was established in 1968 and expanded to full-day in 2003. Students benefit from a low student-teacher ratio (about 10.8:1, per NCES 2023–24) and an enriched curriculum of religion, language arts, math, science, social studies, Spanish, library/computer, music, art, physical education, and guidance.
- Address: 605 Hill N Dale Rd., Lexington, KY 40503
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
- Enrollment: ~468 students (NCES 2023–24)
- Student-teacher ratio: ~10.8:1
- Phone: (859) 277-3030
- Affiliated with NCEA
Clergy, Deacons, and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Miguel Alvizures (installed July 2022), who previously served here as Parochial Vicar from 2014 to 2016. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Michael Flanagan (joined July 2024) and Deacon John Becerra (Pastoral Associate since 2021). Long-serving Deacon Bill Rood retired in 2024 after 16 years at MQHR.
- Rev. Miguel Alvizures — Pastor (since 2022)
- Rev. Michael Flanagan — Parochial Vicar (since July 2024)
- Deacon John Becerra — Pastoral Associate (since 2021)
- Deacon Bill Rood — retired 2024 after 16 years
- Jennifer Longworth — Communication & Parish Life Coordinator (became Catholic at MQHR in 2008)
- Adam Beeken — Music / Liturgy Committee chairperson, [email protected]
- Kimberli Castelan — part-time bilingual parish secretary (2024)
- Leslie McGraw — Business Administrator
- Chris Claunch — Youth / Confirmation Coordinator (2024)
- Brian Carlson — Business Manager (since 2018)
- Brian Hunt — Music Director (returned 2018)
- Tara Kaufmann — Operations Manager
- Zach Wiley — Facilities Manager (2019)
Liturgical and Music Ministries
The Liturgy Committee, chaired by Adam Beeken under clergy leadership of Fr. Miguel Alvizures, oversees all parish worship. Liturgical ministries include altar servers, Children's Liturgy of the Word on Sundays, school Masses, Home Eucharistic Visits, and sacramental-preparation liaisons. The Music Ministry draws on cantors, psalmists, instrumentalists, singers, and tech from across the parish and uses several settings — Christ the Savior, Chant Mass, Mass of Creation, Misa Luna, Redemption, and Mass for Immigrants — chosen to reflect the bilingual, immigrant character of the community.
- Liturgy Committee chairperson: Adam Beeken ([email protected])
- Music Director: Brian Hunt (returned 2018)
- Wednesday rehearsals: Music Ministry 6:15–7:00 PM; Special Choirs 7:00–7:45 PM; Coro (Spanish) 8:00–8:45 PM; Clase de Música 8:45–9:30 PM
- Summer music camp for 5th–11th graders ($75/camper, scholarships available)
- Rehearsals livestreamed and recorded to Music Ministry Facebook group
Faith Formation, Youth, and Young Adults
Faith formation at MQHR reaches every age. The parish runs K–12 religious formation, sacramental preparation, ACTS retreats (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) for women and men in both English and Spanish, and Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreats. Under Fr. Dan Noll's 12-year pastorate the parish hosted 11 English-language women's CRHP retreats and 8 men's CRHP retreats. Youth ministry is now led by Chris Claunch (Youth/Confirmation Coordinator, hired 2024), and young-adult ministry centers on Theology on Tap — held the first Thursday of each month on the second floor of Ethereal Brewing Public House in downtown Lexington — plus weekly Bible study and Adoration.
- ACTS retreats (women's & men's, English & Spanish)
- CRHP retreats (11 women's, 8 men's English during Fr. Noll's tenure)
- Youth / Confirmation Coordinator: Chris Claunch
- Theology on Tap — first Thursday, Ethereal Brewing Public House, downtown Lexington
- Young Adult Bible study and Adoration (announced via Flocknote)
- International Food Festival fundraiser
Devotions and Spiritual Life
The Devotions Committee meets virtually on the 13th of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 PM to pray a communal Rosary for the continents, the 50 states, and personal intentions. The committee's goal is to educate, encourage, and invite parishioners to pray traditional Catholic devotions — Rosary, Novenas, Litanies, and Chaplets — throughout the year as a personal and parish-wide practice.
- Devotions Committee meets the 13th of each month, 6:30–8:00 PM
- Communal Rosary for the continents, 50 states, and personal intentions
- Contacts: Jeanne Singh (859-224-8775) and Peggy Mann (859-229-6865)
Outreach, Evangelization, and Parish Life
The parish's constitution outlines standing committees for Christian Service/Social Concerns, Evangelization, Parish Life, and Formation/Education, each of which sends a member to the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC). The Christian Service/Social Concerns Committee works to serve others and to change the social conditions that create needs both within and beyond the parish. Evangelization efforts aim to bring the Good News of Jesus into every human situation, while Parish Life emphasizes family, hospitality, and community-building. The parish also supports the Little Mountain School in Haiti through fundraising (including Deacon Nick's swim challenge).
- Christian Service / Social Concerns Committee
- Evangelization Committee
- Parish Life Committee (family, hospitality, social events)
- Formation / Education Committee
- Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) with ministry representatives and a Youth Representative
- Outreach to The Little Mountain School (Haiti) — free education and meals for rural children
Diocese of Lexington
Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary is one of more than two dozen parishes in the Diocese of Lexington, established in 1988 when the Diocese of Covington and the Archdiocese of Louisville split off the central and eastern Kentucky counties as a new diocese. Bishop J. Kendrick Williams was its first bishop, succeeded by Bishop Ronald Gainer (2003–2014) and currently Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. — ordained and installed as the third Bishop of Lexington on May 5, 2015.
- Diocese of Lexington formed 1988
- Current bishop: Most Rev. John Stowe, OFM Conv. (third bishop, since May 5, 2015)
- Diocese Catholic Center: 1310 W. Main St., Lexington, KY 40508
- Cathedral: Cathedral of Christ the King, Lexington
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leonard B. Nienaber1960–1980
Founding pastor; led the parish from its establishment in October 1960 through the construction of the original multi-purpose church/school in 1962 and decades of growth.
- Rev. John Mueller1980–1987
Came to MQHR from the Diocese of Covington; led the parish into the new Diocese of Lexington (formed 1988).
- Rev. William Bush1987–1989
Pastored the parish during the transition into the newly formed Diocese of Lexington.
- Rev. Robert (Bob) Nieberding2009–2010
Served as Parish Administrator (pro tempore) before Fr. Dan Noll's installation.
- Rev. Joseph Muench2006–2010
Pastor who oversaw the 50th-anniversary era and the arrival of Spanish-language ministry.
- Rev. Dan Noll2010–2022
Installed August 1, 2010 by Bishop Ronald Gainer; previously pastor of St. Leo's in Versailles. Celebrated the 50th anniversary in 2010, oversaw growth to ~2,000 families, launched 11 Women's and 8 Men's CRHP retreats plus multiple ACTS retreats; retired 6/30/2022.
- Rev. Miguel Alvizures2022–present
Installed at the end of July 2022; previously served at MQHR as Parochial Vicar (2014–2016). Oversees the bilingual parish and the 2024 Together in Christ Capital Campaign.