About Sacred Heart · Russellville, Kentucky
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Russellville, Kentucky, located in the southwest part of the state in Logan County. It belongs to the Diocese of Owensboro and serves as a spiritual home for English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics in the area. The parish ministers through a Parochial Vicar in addition to its Pastor, an active Knights of Columbus council, a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, Catholic Christian Formation classes, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Ken Mikulcik
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a stable, bilingual Catholic home in Russellville, with daily weekday Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday vigil, and two Sunday Masses (one in Spanish at noon). Parishioners grow in faith through Catholic Christian Formation, gather for weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and put their faith into action via an active Knights of Columbus council and a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference. Long-time parishioner families worship in a simple, beloved brick-and-stone church that has served Logan County Catholics since 1873.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM (or by request)
- Sunday: 9:15 AM – 9:40 AM (or by request)
Adoration times
- Friday: 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM (First Fridays)
- Friday: 11:35 AM – 12:30 PM (following the 11 AM Mass on non-First Fridays)
Parish Identity & Location
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is the Catholic parish of Russellville, Kentucky, the county seat of Logan County in southwestern Kentucky. The parish falls within the Diocese of Owensboro, the diocese erected on December 8, 1937 to serve the western 32 counties of the Commonwealth. Its mailing address is 296 West 6th Street, Russellville, KY 42276.
- Parish name: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
- Address: 296 W 6th Street, Russellville, KY 42276
- Diocese: Owensboro
- Deanery: Western (within the Diocese of Owensboro)
Three Centuries of Parish History
Sacred Heart Parish dates its Catholic mission roots to about 1830, when Father Elisha J. Durbin was sent to care for scattered Catholics across what is now western Kentucky. The first church in Russellville — a frame building at Fifth and Winter Streets — was dedicated on April 27, 1873 under the patronage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After several pastorates, the longest being Father Jules M. Dreville's nearly twenty-year ministry beginning in 1907, Bishop Francis R. Cotton assigned Father John Hallahan as the first diocesan pastor when the Diocese of Owensboro was erected in 1937.
Glenmary Era and the 1963 Church
In the mid-1940s the diocese turned pastoral care of the parish to the Home Missioners of America (the Glenmarys). Father Benedict Wolfe was the first Glenmary pastor, and the Glenmary Sisters opened a parochial school in 1947. In the early 1960s, Father Ryan launched a building program that produced the present rectory (1962) and the current brick-and-stone church and school, blessed and dedicated by Bishop Soenneker on September 1, 1963 with 92 students and about 400 members in the pews.
- Glenmary Sisters opened the school in 1947
- Present rectory purchased in 1962
- Present church and school constructed beginning January 1963
- Dedication: September 1, 1963 by Bishop Soenneker
- 1963 congregation: about 400 members; 92 students
Religious Communities Serving Sacred Heart
Since its mission era, Sacred Heart has been served in turn by diocesan priests, the Glenmary Home Missioners and Glenmary Sisters, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph (from 1965 until recalled after the 1972 school term), the Benedictine Fathers of St. Meinrad (entrusted with the parish in July 1976), the Fathers of Mercy based at South Union (from 1999), and the Heralds of Good News (from 2002 onward).
- Glenmary Home Missioners (mid-1940s onward)
- Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph (1965–1972, school)
- Benedictine Fathers of St. Meinrad (from July 1976)
- Fathers of Mercy at South Union (from 1999)
- Heralds of Good News (from 2002 onward)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by a pastor with the assistance of a parochial vicar, an administrative assistant, and volunteer leaders for Catholic Christian Formation and the Knights of Columbus. Father Ken Mikulcik serves as Pastor and Father Albert Bremer as Parochial Vicar; LeAnn Graves is the administrative assistant who staffs the parish office.
- Rev. Ken Mikulcik — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Albert Bremer — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- LeAnn Graves — Administrative Assistant (270-726-6963)
Faith Formation, Knights of Columbus & Outreach
Parish life centers on three long-standing pillars of ministry: Catholic Christian Formation for ongoing religious education, the Knights of Columbus fraternal and service organization, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for corporal works of mercy. The parish office can connect families with each of these programs.
- Catholic Christian Formation — Coordinator Melanie Abney (270-725-7486)
- Knights of Columbus — contact Mark Skipworth (270-604-9132)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — conference at the parish (270-726-6963, then press 1 to leave a message)
- Youth ministry — encouraged by past pastor Father Jojy Joseph and continuing today
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish through a single main phone line with menu options. The Rectory line is reached by pressing 3; the Parish Office and Parish Center by pressing 2; and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul voice mailbox by pressing 1. The shared parish email is [email protected]. Office hours are limited; callers are encouraged to leave a message.
- Rectory & Parish Office: (270) 726-6963
- Parish Center: (270) 726-8881
- Fax: (270) 726-2232
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday & Thursday 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- Pastor: [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Elisha J. Durbinc. 1830
First priest assigned to care for Catholics of this area, whose mission territory became the Diocese of Owensboro.
- Father Joseph DeVries1859
Sent to take charge of the southern Kentucky missions, including Logan County.
- Father Henry Mertins1872
Purchased the lot at Fifth and Winter Streets and began building the first church; it was dedicated April 27, 1873.
- Father William Dunn Pike1894
First resident pastor of Russellville; also oversaw missions at Hopkinsville, Guthrie, Howell, Kelly, Rockfield, Auburn and St. Mary's in Franklin.
- Father Jules M. Dreville1907–c. 1927
Longest pastorate in parish history, about 20 years; oversaw some 40 families.
- Father John Hallahan1937–
First pastor assigned to Sacred Heart by Bishop Francis R. Cotton after the Diocese of Owensboro was erected.
- Father Benedict Wolfe1940s
First Glenmary Home Missioner pastor.
- Father Ryanearly 1960s
Began the building program that produced the present rectory, church and school, dedicated September 1, 1963.
- Father Thomas O'Connor
Pastored under the Benedictine Fathers of St. Meinrad (entrusted 1976); accomplishments included organizing the Knights of Columbus council at Sacred Heart.
- Father Glenn Jarman1999–
First Fathers of Mercy pastor, appointed by Bishop McRaith; enhanced the church interior.
- Father Masi2002–
Pastored Sacred Heart as a member of the Heralds of Good News after the diocese took over pastoral care.
- Father Peter Stryker
Pastored Sacred Heart as a member of the Heralds of Good News.
- Father Jojy JosephJune 2012–
Heralds of Good News pastor who encouraged youth-ministry growth and helped stabilize the parish finances.