About Our Mother of Sorrows · Louisville, Kentucky
Our Mother of Sorrows is a Roman Catholic parish in Louisville, Kentucky, established on January 4, 1937 by Archbishop John A. Floersh in the St. Joseph neighborhood. The parish has been part of the Pax Christi Collaborative since 2012, joining with neighboring St. Elizabeth of Hungary (and formerly St. Thérèse of Lisieux) to share staff and ministry. Located at 760 Eastern Parkway near the University of Louisville, the parish serves roughly 208 registered families and is led by Very Rev. Philip L. Erickson, JCL, KHS. It is distinguished by a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel visible 24/7 through the parking-lot window of the church.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Philip L. Erickson, JCL, KHS
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
Our Mother of Sorrows is a small, mission-minded parish that combines historic Catholic tradition with a youthful, diverse community drawn from the University of Louisville and surrounding St. Joseph neighborhood. Membership gives parishioners a voice in a collaborative Catholic community that offers daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and Sunday liturgy, year-round OCIA (RCIA), child/youth/adult faith formation, care during Mass, and one of the most distinctive features in the Archdiocese: perpetual Eucharistic Adoration visible 24/7 through the Confessional window facing the parking lot. It is a place to grow in faith alongside other families and young adults striving to be 'a source of renewal in the heart of Louisville.'
Mass times at Our Mother of Sorrows
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays: 6:00–6:30 PM at St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- By appointment at Our Mother of Sorrows
Adoration times
- 24/7 Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at the Confessional window on the parking-lot side of Our Mother of Sorrows Church
About Our Mother of Sorrows Parish
Our Mother of Sorrows is a Roman Catholic parish in the St. Joseph neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, founded on January 4, 1937 by Archbishop John A. Floersh. The parish is part of the Pax Christi Collaborative alongside neighboring St. Elizabeth of Hungary (and, until July 26, 2025, St. Thérèse of Lisieux). With about 208 registered families, the parish serves a community enriched by the University of Louisville and Bellarmine University populations, and it gathers for daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, Sunday liturgy, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and OCIA (RCIA) for those seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Established: January 4, 1937
- Archdiocese of Louisville
- Approximately 208 registered families
- Part of the Pax Christi Collaborative (formed 2012)
Parish History
Our Mother of Sorrows was carved out primarily from within St. Elizabeth of Hungary's boundaries, with 475 families counted at the founding census. The 1937 Ohio River flood paralyzed the city and delayed the assignment of first pastor Father Edward Link; meanwhile, St. Elizabeth offered its church basement for worship. On April 5, 1937, ground was broken for a temporary church, dedicated later that year. The school building was finished in early 1938 and taught by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and later by lay teachers until the school closed in 2005. The cornerstone of the permanent church was blessed January 26, 1958, and the building was completed debt-free in December 1958. In 2012 the parish entered the Pax Christi Collaborative with St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
- 1937 — Parish established by Archbishop John A. Floersh; first pastor Fr. Edward Link delayed by the Ohio River flood
- 1937 — Temporary church dedicated
- Early 1938 — School building completed; taught by Ursuline Sisters of Louisville
- Jan 26, 1958 — Permanent church cornerstone blessed
- Dec 1958 — Permanent church completed, debt-free
- 2005 — Parish school closed
- 2012 — Pax Christi Collaborative formed with St. Elizabeth and St. Thérèse
- July 26, 2025 — St. Thérèse of Lisieux permanently closed
The School
Our Mother of Sorrows School opened with the parish in 1937–38, staffed by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and later by lay teachers. The school served the parish and surrounding St. Joseph neighborhood through grade 8 until it closed in 2005. (Some independent sources list closure as 2004.)
- Opened: early 1938
- Staffed originally by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville
- Closed: 2005 (some listings show 2004)
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
Our Mother of Sorrows is served by a collaborative pastoral team shared across the Pax Christi parishes. The pastor, Very Rev. Philip L. Erickson, JCL, KHS, is supported by a priest in residence, two permanent deacons, and a lay staff handling liturgy, business, bookkeeping, and parish communications.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Philip L. Erickson, JCL, KHS
- In Residence: Rev. Michael D. Ritter
- Permanent Deacons: W. Timothy Johnson and Timothy E. Stewart
- Business Manager: Lisa Baxter
- Liturgy Coordinator: Regina Herdt
- Bookkeeper: Elaine Hambleton
- Secretary: Clare Vize
Faith Formation & OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
The Pax Christi Collaborative provides child, youth, and adult faith formation. Adults interested in the Catholic faith are welcomed into the OCIA process (formerly RCIA), with meetings held on Sunday evenings. Parish staff are happy to assist anyone exploring the Catholic faith or moving toward full initiation.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — Sunday evenings
- Child and youth faith formation
- Adult faith formation
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish lives out its mission to 'serve the spiritual, moral, and physical needs of our community… to build God's kingdom on earth through diversity and outreach' through a variety of ministries. Beyond worship and formation, parishioners support the St. Anne's House Project and have collaborated with St. John Vianney Church and Catholic Charities' Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program on a well and pump house serving 200 garden plots for 800 Vietnamese refugees in South Louisville. The collaborative also runs a 'People of Pax Christi' feature (modeled on Humans of New York), live-streams Masses through volunteers, and provides child care and cry rooms during liturgy.
- St. Anne's House Project
- Vietnamese Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (well/pump house for garden plots)
- Live-stream Mass ministry (volunteer camera operators)
- Care during Mass and cry rooms
- Parish Growth / Parish Renewal conferences
- People of Pax Christi profiles
Pax Christi Collaborative
Since 2012, Our Mother of Sorrows has shared clergy and staff with neighboring parishes under the name 'Pax Christi' — Latin for 'Peace of Christ.' The collaborative originally comprised Our Mother of Sorrows, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux; St. Thérèse was permanently closed on July 26, 2025. The collaborative's stated mission is to be 'a source of renewal in the heart of Louisville: revitalizing our faith, reverencing our traditions, and reaching out to welcome new parishioners of all ages.'
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary — 1020 Burnett Avenue, Louisville (Sat Vigil/Sun 9 AM, Sun 7 PM)
- Our Mother of Sorrows — 760 Eastern Parkway, Louisville (Sat 4 PM Vigil, Sun 10:30 AM)
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux — permanently closed July 26, 2025
- Formed: 2012
The Community Around Us
The parish sits in the heart of Louisville along the I-65 corridor between the I-264 Watterson Expressway and Broadway, with the University of Louisville to the west and Bellarmine University to the east. In the past decade, the area has seen a significant renewal driven by young adults, including an 800-bed student housing complex serving U of L and a 200-unit upscale apartment complex. The parish describes itself as a 'pillar of faith and community' amid this neighborhood growth.
- St. Joseph neighborhood of Louisville
- Adjacent to University of Louisville
- Near Bellarmine University
- I-65 corridor between I-264 Watterson Expressway and Broadway
Visit, Register & Contact
Visitors and returning Catholics are warmly welcomed. Those who have been attending Masses or events are encouraged to register as official parishioners — described by the parish as 'a statement of faith and confidence in the life and work of our parish.' Registration forms are available online via the parish website or as paper copies at church entryways. The parish office is reachable by phone, email, or in person at 747 Harrison Avenue.
- Parish Office: 747 Harrison Avenue, Louisville, KY 40217-1931
- Phone: (502) 637-7600
- Fax: (502) 637-3794
- Email: [email protected]
- Registration: online form or paper copies at church entryways
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edward Link1937 (first pastor, delayed by 1937 Ohio River flood)
First pastor assigned to the newly established parish.