About Our Lady of Mercy · Hodgenville, Kentucky
Our Lady of Mercy is a small Catholic parish serving Hodgenville and LaRue County in central Kentucky, within the Archdiocese of Louisville. With roots that trace to the early 19th century when missionaries from St. Thomas Church and Seminary rode out to settlers' homes, the parish was formally established in 1853 when a brick church was built and dedicated in 1855. Today the parish numbers about 200 souls, offers Mass in English and Spanish throughout the year, and sustains an active profile of social-justice and ecumenical outreach in Lincoln's birthplace country.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mercy
- Rector
- Deacon Joseph R. Dant (administrator pro-tempore, since July 18, 2025) — Very Rev. Anthony L. Chandler, KCHS, serves as presbyteral moderator. (The parish's most recent pastor, Rev. Brian A. Kenney, died unexpectedly on July 10, 2025 at age 53.)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mercy offers a faithful Catholic home in Lincoln country for anyone seeking a small, intimate parish where every member's gifts are recognized and put to work. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish every week, social-justice and ecumenical outreach are active ministries, and the parish shares a pastor with St. Ann in Howardstown — meaning visitors get the warmth of a small community paired with the stability of a regional Catholic presence.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 p.m. (before the 4:00 p.m. vigil Mass)
- By appointment at any time
Parish Overview
Our Lady of Mercy is a small Catholic parish located at 208 S. Walters Avenue in Hodgenville, the seat of LaRue County, Kentucky — the birthplace country of Abraham Lincoln. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Louisville, shares a pastor with St. Ann in Howardstown, and serves roughly 200 registered parishioners (90 registered families) with weekly Mass in English and Spanish.
- Established 1853
- Part of the Archdiocese of Louisville
- About 200 parishioners / 90 registered families
- Shares a pastor with St. Ann, Howardstown
History
Catholic life in the Hodgenville area reaches back to the early 19th century, when priests from St. Thomas Church and Seminary in Louisville occasionally rode out to celebrate Mass in settlers' homes. Father Robert Abell, the first residential pastor in New Haven, purchased land in 1853 for a brick church that was dedicated in 1855. The community cycled through parish status (1866) and mission status (1869, then again after 1916) before being restored to parish status in 1982. Since then the parish has developed social-justice and ecumenical outreach, and in recent decades has built a vibrant bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic community.
- Early 1800s: missionary priests from St. Thomas Church visit settlers' homes
- 1853: Father Robert Abell purchases land for a brick church
- 1855: First brick church dedicated
- 1859–1865: Father Francis DeMeulder serves the mission
- 1866: Attains parish status; Father John Reed named first pastor
- 1869: Returns to mission status under New Haven priests
- 1876: Father William McMackin arrives; parish status restored until 1916
- 1916 onward: Hodgenville again served as a mission out of St. Ann, Howardstown
- 1982: Mission once more attains parish status
- Today: bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic presence in LaRue County
Hodgenville Catholic Cemetery
The parish's historic cemetery, located just east of Highway 210 near the LaRue County Fairgrounds, dates to the 1850s. It is the final resting place of founding-era Catholic families and several Civil War–era veterans, including Dominick Morley, Robert Middleton, James Conner, Joseph Edwards and Robert Mulhall. The original brick church on parish grounds no longer stands, but the cemetery remains part of the parish's heritage.
- Located east of Highway 210 near the LaRue County Fairgrounds
- Dates to the 1850s
- Burials include Dominick Morley, Robert Middleton, James Conner, Joseph Edwards and Robert Mulhall
Pastoral Leadership
The parish has been served by a long line of priests since Father Robert Abell first took responsibility for the Hodgenville mission in the early 1850s. After Father Brian A. Kenney's death in July 2025, Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre appointed Deacon Joseph R. Dant as administrator pro-tempore and Very Rev. Anthony L. Chandler, KCHS, as presbyteral moderator — leadership that coincides with their duties at neighboring parishes.
- Father Robert Abell (early 1850s mission)
- Father Francis DeMeulder (1859–1865)
- Father John Reed (first pastor, 1866–1869)
- Fathers Nicholas Ryan and Anthony Viala (until 1874)
- Father William McMackin (from 1876)
- Father Engelbert Schmitt (transferred residence to Howardstown)
- Father Pablo A. Hernandez
- Rev. Brian A. Kenney (died July 10, 2025)
- Deacon Joseph R. Dant, administrator pro-tempore (since July 18, 2025)
- Very Rev. Anthony L. Chandler, KCHS, presbyteral moderator
Parish Staff
Day-to-day parish operations and ministry are supported by a small but dedicated lay staff listed on the Archdiocesan parish page.
- Music Director: Karen Barnes
- Formation Minister: Diane Ronkainen (volunteer*)
- Secretary: Katie Robertson
Bilingual (English/Spanish) Ministry
In response to a wave of Hispanic immigration into LaRue County, parishioners formed a multicultural awareness committee, sought out Spanish-speaking clergy, and placed Hispanic leaders on various parish committees. As a result, Our Lady of Mercy now offers Mass and ministry in English and Spanish on a regular, year-round basis — a distinctive feature among the rural parishes of central Kentucky.
- Multicultural awareness committee
- Weekly Spanish-language Mass and ministry
- Hispanic leaders serving on parish committees
Social Justice & Ecumenical Outreach
Alongside its bilingual ministry, Our Lady of Mercy is recognized for an array of social-justice activities and ecumenical involvements with the wider LaRue County community — fitting for a parish that serves the birthplace country of Abraham Lincoln.
- Social-justice ministries
- Ecumenical and community outreach
Faith Formation & Music
Faith formation and liturgical music are anchored by two named lay leaders: Diane Ronkainen serves as Formation Minister and Karen Barnes directs the parish's music ministry. The parish also identifies an asterisked role as a volunteer who cannot be routinely reached at the parish office — visitors with questions are directed to contact the parish office.
- Formation Minister: Diane Ronkainen*
- Music Director: Karen Barnes
Visit, Contact & Connect
Our Lady of Mercy welcomes visitors and parishioners at its parish office on Walters Avenue in Hodgenville. The parish maintains a Facebook page for ongoing news and bulletins.
- Address: 208 S. Walters Avenue, Hodgenville, KY 42748-1425
- Phone: (270) 358-3601 (call first before sending fax)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website (Archdiocese of Louisville): https://www.archlou.org/parishes/our-lady-of-mercy-parish/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourladyofmercycc/
Linked Parish — St. Ann, Howardstown
Our Lady of Mercy shares a pastor with St. Ann Church in Howardstown, a longstanding administrative partnership that began in 1997 and continues today.
- Parish partnership since 1997
- Currently sharing pastoral leadership with Our Lady of Mercy
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Robert Abellpre-1853
First residential pastor at St. Catherine of New Haven who assumed responsibility for the Hodgenville mission and purchased land in 1853 for the brick church.
- Father Francis DeMeulder1859–1865
Served the Hodgenville mission immediately before it attained parish status.
- Father John Reed1866–1869
First pastor after the mission attained parish status in 1866; his departure in 1869 returned the community to mission status.
- Fathers Nicholas Ryan and Anthony Vialauntil 1874
New Haven priests who served the Hodgenville mission again after Father Reed's departure.
- Father William McMackinfrom 1876
Arrived in 1876 and led the community back to parish status (which lasted until 1916); oversaw responsibility for St. Ann, Howardstown.
- Father Engelbert Schmittearly 20th c.
Transfer of residence to Howardstown shifted Our Lady of Mercy back to mission status under St. Ann.
- Father Pablo A. Hernandez
Listed as pastor in the Archdiocese of Louisville Parish Discernment Report (recent pastor prior to Father Kenney's appointment).
- Rev. Brian A. Kenneyuntil July 10, 2025
Born Feb. 18, 1972; ordained June 8, 2002; former associate pastor at St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral Bardstown, St. Margaret Mary, St. James (Elizabethtown), Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Thomas More; pastor of St. Aloysius (Shepherdsville), St. Benedict (Lebanon Junction) and Our Lady of Mercy; died unexpectedly at age 53.
- Deacon Joseph R. Dantfrom July 18, 2025
Appointed administrator pro-tempore of Our Lady of Mercy and St. Ann alongside his duties at St. Augustine (Lebanon) and Holy Name of Mary (Calvary).