About Saint Cecilia · Independence, Kentucky
St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Covington serving Independence, Kentucky — the county seat of Kenton County and one of the fastest-growing cities in the Commonwealth. Founded in 1880 as a mission of St. Paul Parish in Florence, St. Cecilia grew into the largest Catholic parish in Independence with more than 625 registered families. Worship is centered on daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a thriving K–8 Catholic school on campus. The parish is best known in Northern Kentucky for its annual Labor Day festival — the largest church festival in the region — featuring a famous chicken dinner, a free concert series, and a Corvette raffle.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. Cecilia (patron saint of music)
- Rector
- Rev. Harry A. Settle, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington, Kentucky
Why belong here
St. Cecilia is the largest Catholic parish in Independence with over 625 registered families, but members consistently describe it as feeling like a family rather than a crowd. The parish combines the richness of daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, a strong school and religious-education program, and an active calendar of ministries — Knights of Columbus, men's prayer groups, OCIA, and a monthly trivia night — alongside a beloved Labor Day festival that draws thousands. Whether you are a multi-generation local or a recent transplant to Kenton County, there are clear, easy ways to plug in, and the parish explicitly welcomes newcomers into the life of the Church.
Mass times at Saint Cecilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
- Tuesday: 6:00 – 7:00 PM (until Benediction at 6:30 PM)
- Sunday: 30 minutes before each Mass (before the 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM Masses)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration (Exposition): Tuesday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, with Benediction
Welcome to St. Cecilia — Faith Feels Like Family
St. Cecilia's own welcome message frames the parish as a faith-filled, family-centered, and full-of-life community where "you're never just a face in the pew." Pastor Father Harry Settle invites visitors to grow in faith and service for Jesus Christ through worship, catechesis, devotion to the Sacraments, and volunteerism — all in accord with the Holy Father and the teachings of the Magisterium. The parish is rooted in Independence, the county seat of Kenton County, and serves both multi-generation local families and newer residents.
- Diocese of Covington parish serving Independence, KY
- Over 625 registered families
- Pastor: Rev. Harry A. Settle, Jr. (installed January 27, 2021)
- Tagline: "Faith-filled. Family-centered. Full of life."
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish staff combines clergy, a business manager, parish secretary, director of religious education, director of sacred music, and a school principal — all working together to support the liturgical, educational, and administrative life of the community.
- Rev. Harry A. Settle, Jr. — Pastor
- David Bene — Business Manager
- Kristin Kite — Parish Secretary
- Abigail Haidle — Director of Religious Education
- Celia Deters — Director of Sacred Music
- Jeanetta Kathman — Principal (St. Cecilia Catholic School)
Our History (1880 – Today)
St. Cecilia's history stretches from a frame mission church in 1880 to today's modern campus — and every generation of growth has left its mark on the property.
Mission Church Years (1880–1919)
From 1880 to 1919, St. Cecilia was served from St. Paul Parish in Florence. The original frame church near today's Swindler and Currin Funeral Home was dedicated in 1880 under Rev. Edward Burke. Successor pastors of St. Paul continued to travel to Independence, and in 1911 the land that would become the current campus was acquired (originally intended as a cemetery).
- 1880 — original frame church built and dedicated under Rev. Edward Burke
- 1911 — current campus land purchased (originally for a cemetery)
- March 23, 1919 — original church destroyed by fire after evening Lenten devotions
Parish Becomes Independent and Builds Out (1919–1960s)
Three weeks after the 1919 fire, Bishop Brossart appointed Rev. Henry J. Heringhaus as the first resident pastor. The cornerstone of the new brick "1919 Church" was laid July 27, 1919, and the building was dedicated November 30, 1919. The first rectory followed in 1921 and the original St. Cecilia School opened in 1923 with Sisters of Divine Providence from St. Anne's Convent in Melbourne teaching. Monsignor Joseph A. Lubrecht later oversaw the building of a modern rectory.
- 1919 — Rev. Henry J. Heringhaus becomes first resident pastor
- 1921 — first rectory built
- 1923 — original parish school opens
- 1950 — current rectory built
- 1953 — new school building constructed (old section of today's school)
Modern Expansion and Today's Campus (1966 – Present)
By 1966 the congregation had outgrown the 1919 church, which was doubled in size. Growth was so strong that two daughter parishes — St. Patrick in Taylor Mill and St. Barbara in Erlanger — were created to handle overflow. Groundbreaking for the current main church was held in 1990 with Bishop William Hughes; the building was dedicated in 1997 under Bishop Robert Muench. A Parish Life Center with a long-awaited gymnasium was formally dedicated on February 23, 2020, and Father Harry Settle was installed as the parish's 13th full-time pastor on January 27, 2021.
- 1966 — 1919 church doubled in size
- Daughter parishes created: St. Patrick (Taylor Mill) and St. Barbara (Erlanger)
- 1980 — parish centennial
- 1990 — groundbreaking for current church (Bishop William Hughes)
- 1997 — current church dedicated (Bishop Robert Muench)
- Feb. 23, 2020 — Parish Life Center with gymnasium dedicated
- Jan. 27, 2021 — Fr. Harry Settle installed as 13th full-time pastor
Other Liturgical Services
Beyond the regular schedule, St. Cecilia offers devotions and special services for parishioners seeking prayer, healing, and Marian intercession.
- Healing Service — 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM
- Rosary — Thursdays after daily Mass
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Children preparing for Confirmation complete one full year of religious instruction — either through St. Cecilia Catholic School or the Parish School of Religion (PSR) — before being confirmed by the Bishop of Covington in January of their 8th-grade year. Adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church or complete their Sacraments of Initiation are welcomed into OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), a journey of faith, learning, and spiritual growth that typically culminates at the Easter Vigil. OCIA is open to the unbaptized, those baptized in another Christian tradition, and baptized Catholics who have not yet completed their Sacraments.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Confirmation preparation (8th grade, January)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults and catechumens
- Contact: Director of Religious Education, 859-363-4311
St. Cecilia Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th Grade)
St. Cecilia Catholic School shares the parish campus and is a major outreach of the parish, providing Catholic education from preschool through 8th grade. The school is recognized among the highest-performing schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ranks in the top 15% nationally. Campus amenities include a new gymnasium and an innovative STEAM lab. The Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) provides daycare for ages 2–5, preschool, and aftercare.
- Principal: Jeanetta Kathman
- School day: 7:20 AM – 2:15 PM
- Daycare (ages 2–5): 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Aftercare (K–8): 2:15 PM – 6:00 PM
- New gymnasium and STEAM lab
- School phone: 859-363-4314
- School info: [email protected]
Parish School Sports Program
St. Cecilia's sports committee organizes a robust youth athletics program for grades 1–8, anchored by a volunteer leadership team. The annual 6th Annual Golf Outing is scheduled for June 6, 2026, at Hickory Sticks Golf Club.
- Basketball (Nov–March, grades 1–8)
- Soccer (Aug–Sept, grades 1–8)
- Cross Country (Aug–Nov, grades 4–8)
- Boys Volleyball (Dec–Jan, grades 3–8)
- Girls Volleyball (Aug–Oct, grades 3–8)
- Archery (Oct–March, grades 4–8)
Fellowship, Ministries and Community Life
The parish is known for its warm, active community life. Active ministries include the Knights of Columbus and men's prayer groups, and the parish hosts monthly Trivia Nights and a year-round calendar of community events. The parish also operates Urlage Hall — a large rental hall on campus available for community gatherings, celebrations, meetings, and special events.
- Knights of Columbus
- Men's prayer groups
- Monthly Trivia Nights
- Urlage Hall rental for community events
The Annual St. Cecilia Labor Day Festival
What began on Labor Day 1919 as a simple parish chicken dinner — with both the chicken and the fixings donated by parishioners to raise funds for the new buildings — has grown into the largest church festival in Northern Kentucky. Today thousands come from across the region for the famous chicken dinner, a free concert series, and the excitement of raffling off a brand-new Corvette. The festival remains the heart of the parish's tradition and a true Northern Kentucky staple.
- Held annually on Labor Day
- Famous parish chicken dinner (tradition since 1919)
- Free concert series
- Corvette raffle
- Largest church festival in Northern Kentucky
Visit, Contact and Office Information
St. Cecilia Catholic Church is located on Madison Pike in Independence. The parish office is open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, with a brief closure from 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM each day for lunch. The parish mailing address is PO Box 186, Independence, KY 41051-0186.
- Address: 5313 Madison Pike, Independence, KY 41051
- Mailing: PO Box 186, Independence, KY 41051-0186
- Phone: 859-363-4311
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:30–1:00 PM daily)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward Burke1880–1890
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; oversaw dedication of the original 1880 frame church as first Mass-priest.
- Rev. William E. Gorey1890–1892
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; attended St. Cecilia mission.
- Rev. Benedict Kolb1892–1904
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; attended St. Cecilia mission.
- Rev. William Kathman1904–1911
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; attended St. Cecilia mission.
- Rev. Thomas J. McCaffrey1911–1913
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; purchased the land of the present campus.
- Rev. John F. O'Dwyer1913–1915
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; attended St. Cecilia mission.
- Rev. John Kroger1915–1917
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; attended St. Cecilia mission.
- Rev. J. M. Lelen1917–1918
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; attended St. Cecilia mission.
- Rev. Gerald Connolly1918–1919
Pastor of St. Paul, Florence; present when the 1880 church burned in March 1919.
- Rev. Henry J. Heringhaus1919–1932
First full-time resident pastor; built the 1919 Church, the first rectory (1921), and the original school (1923). Transferred to Sacred Heart, Bellevue.
- Monsignor Joseph A. Lubrecht1932–?
Built the modern parish rectory during his pastorate; the former rectory became the Sisters of Divine Providence residence.
- Rev. Harry A. Settle, Jr.2021–present
Installed January 27, 2021 as the 13th full-time pastor.