About Saint Catherine of Siena · Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Saint Catherine of Siena is a Roman Catholic parish in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, within the Diocese of Covington. Established in 1930 as the second parish in the city, it is served today by Father Stephen M. Bankemper and Deacon Barry J. Henry, with a school that has educated generations of students since 1949. The parish gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and maintains weekly Eucharistic Adoration. Worship takes place in a striking 1960s church whose St. Meinrad sandstone façade, Blenko stained glass and fan-shaped sanctuary create an intimate liturgical space.
- Established
- 1930
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Siena (Doctor of the Church, patron of Italy and Europe)
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen M. Bankemper (Fr. Stef Bankemper)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Siena is a family-sized Catholic parish tucked into the hills of Fort Thomas where neighbors still know one another by name. Worship takes place in a striking mid-century church built of St. Meinrad sandstone with Blenko stained glass, and the parish offers weekday and Sunday Mass, regular Tuesday and Saturday confessions, and Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration from morning until evening. Faith formation runs from a parish school (K–8) to sacramental prep and a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, while active councils and committees — Liturgy & Spiritual Life, Rosary Prayer Group, Pro Life, Finance and the Parish Pastoral Council — give parishioners real ways to serve. Joining St. Catherine means becoming part of a community that has been growing in the Fort Thomas hills since 1930.
Mass times at Saint Catherine of Siena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (or 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM per other sources) / or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 6:45 PM
Parish History
Founded August 15, 1930 by Bishop Francis W. Howard of Covington as the second parish in Fort Thomas, St. Catherine of Siena grew from a sixty-family chapel to a thriving parish with its own school. The original frame church served for thirty-two years before the current St. Meinrad sandstone church, begun in 1962 under Bishop Richard H. Ackerman, opened on Christmas Day 1963. Reverend John J. McCrystal was the founding pastor and led the parish for twenty-three years.
- 1930 — Parish established; first Mass October 26 (Feast of Christ the King)
- 1931 — Frame church dedicated by Bishop Howard
- 1949 — Parish school opened with Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
- 1962 — Ground broken for new church (April 1)
- 1963 — Parish moves into basement (July 19); upper church opens Christmas Day
Clergy & Staff
St. Catherine of Siena is pastored by Rev. Stephen M. Bankemper and assisted by Deacon Barry J. Henry. Parish staff and lay leadership include the Business Manager Dennis Hicks, CRE (Coordinator of Religious Education) John David Kimes, Administrative Assistant Teresa Shaefer, Principal Mike Jacks, and Parish Council Chairperson Nathan Myers.
- Rev. Stephen M. Bankemper — Pastor
- Deacon Barry J. Henry
- Mike Jacks — Principal (school)
- Dennis Hicks — Business Manager
- John David Kimes — Coordinator of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Teresa Shaefer — Administrative Assistant
- Nathan Myers — Parish Council Chairperson
Parish Councils & Organizations
Parishioners serve through three primary advisory councils — the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Council, and the Board of Total Catholic Education — which meet at least quarterly as a Combined Committee. Members serve three-year terms beginning in July and may be nominated by themselves or fellow parishioners.
- Parish Pastoral Council — consultative body to the pastor, up to 9 members
- Finance Council — advises on parish finances; consent required for unbudgeted expenditures over $5,000
- Board of Total Catholic Education — oversees school and religious education programs
- Combined Committees — quarterly joint meetings of all advisory councils
Liturgy & Spiritual Life
The Liturgy & Spiritual Life Committee fosters fuller participation in the liturgical life of the parish. Devotional opportunities include the parish's weekly Rosary Prayer Group, which meets Tuesdays at 7 PM in the church to imitate Mary and the disciples gathered in the Upper Room.
- Liturgy & Spiritual Life Committee
- Rosary Prayer Group — Tuesdays at 7 PM in the church
- Annual Feast Day Celebration of St. Catherine of Siena (April 29) — Mass and parish breakfast/social
Pro Life Ministry
The Pro Life Committee coordinates diocesan pro-life activities at the parish level: informing parishioners about the sanctity of life, supporting pregnant women through agencies such as Madonna House and Care Net Pregnancy Center, and encouraging pro-life legislation. Meetings are held periodically throughout the year.
- Coordinates parish pro-life activities
- Supports Madonna House and Care Net Pregnancy Center
- Contact: Carol Desmond
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for parish children is coordinated by John David Kimes and supported by the Board of Total Catholic Education, which oversees both the school and parish religious-education programs. The parish also hosts a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium for Level I (ages 3–6). Sacramental preparation is offered through the parish school.
- Religious Education (parish-based)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Level I atrium (ages 3–6)
- Sacramental preparation (parish school)
- Board of Total Catholic Education — chaired by Michael Schuh ([email protected])
St. Catherine of Siena School (K–8)
Founded in 1949 and a tradition of Catholic education in Fort Thomas for more than seven decades, St. Catherine of Siena School offers a faith-based education for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8. The mission is to embrace the Gospel message of Jesus Christ while helping each student reach his or her potential spiritually, physically, and academically. Curriculum combines faith with traditional academic subjects — Humanities, Computers, Art and Religion — and students attend weekly Masses and participate in the liturgy.
- A tradition of excellence since 1949
- Full-day kindergarten; Grades K–8
- 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio
- 1:1 Chromebooks; SmartBoards in all classrooms
- Sacramental preparation integrated
- K–5 humanities (singing, music, dance, drama)
- No-cut athletic teams at all grade levels
- Extracurriculars: sports, Quick Recall, Governors Cup, class plays, annual Jr. High theater production
- Principal: Mike Jacks ([email protected])
- Address: 23 Rossford Ave., Fort Thomas, KY 41075-1298 — (859) 572-2680
Feast Day Celebration
Each year around April 29 — the Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church — the parish celebrates its patroness with a special Mass (often the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass) followed by a pancake breakfast in McCrystal Hall, complete with sausage, bacon, fruit, coffee and juice, games for the children, and facts about the saint. The parish provides the main fare and asks attendees to bring a side or dessert to share.
- 10:00 AM Mass followed by pancake breakfast in McCrystal Hall
- Free-will offering taken to help cover costs
- Held in honor of St. Catherine of Siena, patron of Italy and Europe, Doctor of the Church
Visit & Contact
St. Catherine of Siena welcomes visitors and parishioners at 1803 North Fort Thomas Avenue in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. The parish is handicap accessible, and ample free parking is available adjacent to the church and McCrystal Hall (the parish center beneath the church). The parish office can be reached by phone or email for inquiries about Mass intentions, sacraments, registration, school enrollment, or getting involved.
- Address: 1803 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, KY 41075-1170
- Phone: (859) 441-1352
- Email: [email protected]
- Rectory: 10 Wesley Hills Dr., Fort Thomas, KY 41075-1213
- Website: www.stcatherineofsiena.org (also reachable via www.stcky.org)
- Handicap Access: Yes
- Free on-site parking
- Nearby parishes: St. Thomas (Fort Thomas), Sacred Heart / Divine Mercy (Bellevue), St. Bernard (Dayton), St. Stephen (Cincinnati)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend John J. McCrystal1930–c. 1953
Organizer and first pastor of St. Catherine of Siena, formerly pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Warsaw. Served the parish through its first twenty-three years, overseeing the building of the frame church (1931) and the early planning of the school.