About Our Lady of the Hills · Finley, Kentucky
Our Lady of the Hills is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Finley, Taylor County, Kentucky, in the rolling knobs of south-central Kentucky. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Louisville and shares a clustered pastor with neighboring Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Campbellsville and Our Lady of Fatima. With roughly 330 members and around 104 registered households, it is a tight-knit, family-oriented congregation whose life revolves around weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and a deep sense of multi-generational Catholic identity in the Muldraugh Hill country.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Hills (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Sheejan P. George, C.M.I. (Administrator, with Rev. Saju M. Vadakumpadan, C.M.I. as Presbyteral Moderator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Hills is a small, family-oriented Catholic community where generations of families have worshipped together for more than a century. The parish offers Saturday evening and Tuesday daily Mass, weekly opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation, and a strong program of lay ministries — from lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Knights of Columbus, a Young Catholic Adult Group, Scripture Study, RCIA, Religious Education for children, and a choir. For Catholics in the Finley and rural Taylor County area who want a parish where they can know their fellow parishioners and put faith into action through service to the homebound, the food pantry, and the homeless, Our Lady of the Hills offers a warm, rooted spiritual home.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Hills
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30–3:45 p.m.
- First Wednesdays during Eucharistic Adoration (4:45–5:15 p.m.)
Adoration times
- Second Saturdays 3:15–4:15 p.m.
- First Wednesdays 4:45–5:15 p.m. (followed by Benediction at 5:15 p.m. and Mass at 5:30 p.m.)
Welcome to Our Lady of the Hills
Our Lady of the Hills is a small, family-oriented Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Finley, Taylor County, Kentucky, part of the Archdiocese of Louisville. The parish shares a clustered pastor with neighboring Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Campbellsville and Our Lady of Fatima. With about 330 members in 104 registered households, the parish is a tight-knit community where generations of families have worshipped together for more than a century.
- Roman Catholic parish
- Finley, Taylor County, Kentucky
- Archdiocese of Louisville
- Clustered with Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Our Lady of Fatima
- Approximately 330 members
Parish History
The parish traces its roots to the 1874 mission Church of St. Matthew, attended from St. Francis Xavier in Raywick and St. Mary's College. When the Muldraugh Hill road was completed around 1900, the congregation moved to Finley; in 1908 Bishop William George McCloskey formally established the parish as Our Lady of the Hills and appointed Fr. John J. Neafsey as its first pastor. The present church was built by parishioners in 1948 under Fr. Louis P. Bossung, and over the following decades the building was improved with bricking (1986), a steeple (1990), stained-glass windows and altar tile (1995), and a new back high altar and remodeled sanctuary (2005).
- 1874 – Church of St. Matthew built as a mission
- c. 1900 – Congregation relocates to Finley when the Muldraugh Hill road opens
- 1907 – Lumber from old church used to build rectory and enlarge cottage-church
- 1908 – Parish formally established as Our Lady of the Hills by Bishop McCloskey; Fr. John J. Neafsey named first pastor
- c. 1948 – Current church built on the far side of the cemetery under Fr. Louis P. Bossung
- 1950 – Land deeded for a parish school
- 1954 – Two Dominican sisters arrive to staff the school; Fr. Henry Stuecker builds a convent behind the church
- 1964 – Sisters depart; school property sold; convent converted to rectory
- 1970 – Martin Hall funded by bequest of Mrs. Sara B. Martin and the Richard Moore family farm
- 1986 – Exterior bricking and renovations
- 1990 – Steeple added
- 1995 – Interior painting, altar tile, stained-glass windows
- 2005 – New back high altar and sanctuary remodeling
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by priests of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.). The Administrator is Rev. Sheejan P. George, C.M.I., with Rev. Saju M. Vadakumpadan, C.M.I. serving as Presbyteral Moderator. Permanent Deacon James D. "Jimmy" Richerson assists with parish ministry. The parish office is staffed by Secretary Libby Barlow, with Mike Newcomb as bookkeeper.
- Rev. Sheejan P. George, C.M.I. — Administrator
- Rev. Saju M. Vadakumpadan, C.M.I. — Presbyteral Moderator
- Deacon James D. "Jimmy" Richerson — Permanent Deacon
- Libby Barlow — Parish Secretary
- Mike Newcomb — Bookkeeper
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Our Lady of the Hills spans children and adults. Catechists and co-teachers serve grades 1–8 in the Religious Education program, and parents are encouraged to volunteer. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) welcomes those seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith and to enter into full communion with the Church. Adult Scripture Study and Faith Formation classes meet on Monday evenings during Lent and Advent at 6:30 p.m. in the church hall.
- Religious Education for grades 1–8 (catechists and co-teachers)
- RCIA — preparation for adults entering the Catholic Church
- Monday-evening Scripture Study / Adult Faith Formation during Lent and Advent at 6:30 p.m.
Parish Ministries and Groups
The parish offers a wide range of liturgical, social, and outreach ministries, inviting parishioners to share their time and talent. Liturgical ministries include lectors, altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, sacristans, gift bearers, and the Music Ministry / Choir (rehearsals Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Choir Loft). Parish life ministries include the Knights of Columbus (second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.), a Young Catholic Adult Group for ages 18–35 (third Thursday at 7:00 p.m.), Men's and Women's groups, Arts & Environment, and Funeral Luncheons. Outreach includes the Soup Kitchen (monthly hot meals for the homeless), volunteering at the Crisis Pregnancy Center, helping at local food pantries, and visiting the sick and homebound as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
- Liturgical: Lector, Altar Server, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Usher, Sacristan, Gift Bearer
- Music Ministry / Choir — rehearsals Tuesday 7:00 p.m.
- Knights of Columbus — meets second Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
- Young Catholic Adult Group (ages 18–35) — third Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
- Men's Group and Women's Group
- Arts & Environment (church decoration)
- Funeral Luncheons
- Soup Kitchen (monthly)
- Crisis Pregnancy Center volunteering and food pantry assistance
- Visits to the homebound and sick
Parish Facilities
Our Lady of the Hills worships in the present church building, constructed by parishioners in 1948 across the cemetery from the original 1900s site. The grounds also include Martin Hall (the parish hall, built 1970) and the former Dominican convent that now serves as the parish rectory.
- Present church building — built 1948 by parishioners under Fr. Louis P. Bossung
- Steeple added 1990; stained-glass windows and altar tile installed 1995; back high altar built 2005
- Martin Hall — parish hall, funded 1970
- Former convent — now the parish rectory
Getting Involved and Parish Life
Parish leadership describes the heart of the parish as the Eucharist, with the parish family as the body that gives it life. In addition to Mass, Reconciliation, and Adoration, parishioners are invited to take part in ministries, faith formation, social gatherings, and outreach. The weekly bulletin and parish calendar are the best ways to stay up to date on events, and anyone with an idea for a new ministry is encouraged to contact the parish office.
- Read the weekly bulletin and check the parish calendar for events
- Join a liturgical, social, or outreach ministry
- Contact the parish office at 270-465-4282 to volunteer or propose a new ministry
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John J. Neafsey1908–
First pastor of Our Lady of the Hills, appointed when Bishop McCloskey established the parish.
- Fr. Louis P. Bossungby 1948
Led parishioners in building the present church on the far side of the cemetery using donated logs, labor, and money.
- Fr. Henry Stuecker1950s
Built the convent behind the church for the two Dominican sisters who came to staff the new school in 1954.
- Msgr. Felix N. Pittmid-20th century
Served as pastor of Our Lady of the Hills and its surrounding missions during his long ministry in the Archdiocese of Louisville.
- Fr. James T. Muddserved before retirement in 2007
Ordained in 1964; later served as a senior associate at St. Gabriel after retirement in 2007.