About Saint Boniface Catholic Church · Jellico Creek, Kentucky
Saint Boniface Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic mission parish that sits right on the Kentucky–Tennessee state line, with the Tennessee border running directly behind the church and its adjacent Catholic cemetery. It is a mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and belongs to the Diocese of Lexington, where it is listed in the Mountain West Deanery. Despite serving only about 15–25 households, the parish is well known as a gathering point for Catholics on both sides of the line, and its little church fills to overflowing at least once a year for the All Saints' Day celebration.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- Saint Boniface (Boniface of Mainz, Apostle of the Germans)
- Rector
- Rev. Mariya Doss, MSSCC (served by the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington (Mountain West Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Boniface is one of the few Catholic parishes serving the Cumberland Plateau along the Kentucky–Tennessee line, and its convenient border location means it draws Catholics from both sides of the state line into one small, close-knit community. Even though the parish counts only about 15 households, it gathers for a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Wednesday evening Mass, Saturday confessions, and an All Saints' Day celebration that fills the church to overflowing. Visitors and seasonal residents who find themselves in the Jellico–Williamsburg area are warmly welcomed at this historic, mission-style parish.
Mass times at Saint Boniface Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45–5:00 PM
History of Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface Catholic Church was founded in 1886 to minister to Catholics along the Jellico Creek area where the Kentucky–Tennessee border meets the Cumberland Plateau. For more than a century it served as one of the few Catholic parishes in this remote corner of Appalachia, drawing worshippers from both Whitley County, Kentucky and Campbell County, Tennessee. In 1993 the original 1886 church was destroyed in an arson fire that was part of a series of church burnings across eastern Kentucky and Tennessee. The parish rebuilt on the same Catholic Avenue site and dedicated a new church in 1996, which continues to serve the mission community today.
- Parish founded in 1886.
- Original church destroyed by arson in 1993.
- Current church opened in 1996.
- Original crucifix from the 1886 church is still used in the new sanctuary (still shows blackening from the fire).
Parish Identity and Mission Status
St. Boniface is listed in the Diocese of Lexington directory as a mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Its location straddles the Kentucky–Tennessee state line: the physical church sits on Catholic Avenue in Jellico, Tennessee, while its mailing address and the residence of the pastor are across the line in Williamsburg, Kentucky. This border location makes the parish a natural gathering point for Catholics from both states.
- Mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Williamsburg, KY.
- Located on Catholic Avenue in Jellico (technically Jellico, TN) but considered a Kentucky parish.
- Pastor resides at 76 W. Sycamore, Williamsburg, KY 40769.
Clergy and Pastoral Care
Pastoral care for St. Boniface has historically been provided by priests of religious orders rather than diocesan clergy. The parish is currently served by the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (MSSCC), with Rev. Mariya Doss, MSSCC listed as pastor on the Diocese of Lexington parish finder. The 2023 diocesan directory named Rev. Prashanth Lobo, MSSCC as pastor, and a 2017 article in the East Tennessee Catholic reported that Father Jesuraj Mariasalethu, a Herald of Good News priest, was pastor at that time. Long-time parishioner Joe McMullen has been a member since 1988.
- Current pastor: Rev. Mariya Doss, MSSCC.
- Served by the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (MSSCC).
- Pastors on record include Rev. Prashanth Lobo, MSSCC (2023 directory) and Rev. Jesuraj Mariasalethu, Herald of Good News (2017).
Parish Community and Life
Although the diocesan directory counts only about 15 households, St. Boniface has a reputation well beyond its small size. The parish's signature celebration is the annual All Saints' Day Mass, which fills the little church to overflowing with visitors from across the region. The border location is a daily part of parish life — the back window of the sanctuary looks out across the state line into Tennessee, and most of the registered families actually live in Tennessee.
- Roughly 15 registered households.
- Annual All Saints' Day celebration draws visitors from across the region.
- Handicap access — no steps at the entrance.
- St. Boniface Cemetery adjoins the church on Catholic Avenue.
St. Boniface Cemetery
Adjacent to the church on Catholic Avenue is St. Boniface Cemetery, a Catholic cemetery under the care of the parish and listed in the Diocese of Lexington cemetery directory. The cemetery sits on the same border property as the church, with the Tennessee state line running just behind it.
- St. Boniface Cemetery, 95 Catholic Ave., Jellico (listed as 98 Catholic Ave. on some directories).
Visiting and Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Boniface through the contact details shared with the parent parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The mailing address for the mission is 76 W. Sycamore, Williamsburg, KY 40769, while the church building itself is on Catholic Avenue in Jellico. The parish office can be reached by phone at (606) 549-2156 or by email at [email protected].
- Mailing address: 76 W. Sycamore, Williamsburg, KY 40769.
- Phone: (606) 549-2156.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: http://williamsburg.cdlex.org/