About Saint Francis Xavier Church · Falmouth, Kentucky
Saint Francis Xavier Parish is a small Catholic parish located in the Licking River valley in Falmouth, Kentucky, the seat of Pendleton County in the Diocese of Covington. Named after St. Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit missionary, the parish carries out its mission in the spirit of 'making disciples of all nations.' With a brick church dating back to 1880 and a faith community that has endured floods and change for more than 170 years, the parish today offers weekend and weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, religious education, and sacramental preparation under the pastoral care of Fr. Britton Hennessey.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- Saint Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Fr. Britton Hennessey
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington
Why belong here
Saint Francis Xavier is a welcoming small-town parish where visitors are invited into the parish family. The parish offers weekend and weekday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, regular Reconciliation times, religious education for children and adults, and sacramental preparation for Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funerals. It is a community rooted in more than 170 years of Catholic life in Pendleton County, committed to showing the face of Christ and making disciples in the Licking River valley.
Mass times at Saint Francis Xavier Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- Saturday: 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
About Saint Francis Xavier Parish
Nestled in the Licking River valley in the town of Falmouth, St. Francis Xavier parish continues to carry out the mission given by Christ Jesus to 'make disciples of all nations' in the charism of its patron. The parish seeks to show the face of Christ in all that it does and welcomes visitors to its parish family. It is part of the Diocese of Covington and serves the Catholics of Pendleton County, Kentucky.
- Location: 202 W. 2nd Street, Falmouth, KY 41040
- Phone: (859) 654-8241
- Parish office email: [email protected]
- Pastor: Fr. Britton Hennessey
History of the Parish
St. Francis Xavier Parish traces its beginnings to a group of Catholics visited by missionary priests as early as 1851. An original church structure was dedicated on November 4, 1860, and under one of its early pastors the brick structure still in use was dedicated on September 12, 1880. The church has had several renovations through the years — some planned and some unplanned due to floods.
- 1851 — Earliest missionary priest visits to local Catholics
- November 4, 1860 — Original church structure dedicated
- September 12, 1880 — Current brick church dedicated
- 1937 — Great Flood damages parish church, school, and rectory
- 1997 — Second major flood again damages parish structures
- Parish faith has 'never wavered' through these challenges
Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Britton Hennessey as Pastor, with Kay Mudd serving as Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) and Maggie Wilson as Secretary. The parish office can be reached at (859) 654-8241.
- Fr. Britton Hennessey — Pastor ([email protected])
- Kay Mudd — Coordinator of Religious Education / CRE ([email protected])
- Maggie Wilson — Secretary ([email protected])
Sacramental Life
The parish celebrates and prepares parishioners for all the major sacraments of the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the parish office, with advance notice required for Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism — contact the rectory three months before the birth of the child; first-time parents attend a one-time instructional session
- Reconciliation — weekly schedule plus by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick / Viaticum — for those facing serious illness or surgery; arrange by calling the parish
- Holy Orders — men discerning a vocation to the priesthood may contact Fr. Britton
- Matrimony — couples must notify the parish 9–12 months in advance per Diocese of Covington guidelines
- Funerals — typically arranged through the funeral home, which coordinates with the parish
Religious Education
Faith formation for children and adults is coordinated by Kay Mudd, the parish's Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE). Parents are encouraged to begin Baptism preparation early, and first-time parents are required to attend a one-time instructional session designed to deepen their appreciation of the sacrament and equip them to pass on the Catholic faith.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Kay Mudd ([email protected])
- Baptismal instruction for first-time parents
- Ongoing faith formation programs
Diocese of Covington
Saint Francis Xavier Parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, which serves Northern Kentucky. The parish follows the diocesan guidelines for marriage preparation, requiring couples to contact the parish 9–12 months in advance of a hoped-for wedding date.
- Diocese: Diocese of Covington
- Marriage preparation follows Diocesan guidelines and Catholic Church universal law
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish welcomes visitors and can be reached by phone, email, or in person at the parish office on West Second Street in Falmouth. From Highway 27, travelers take Woodson Lane; after crossing the railroad tracks the road becomes Park Street, then turn right onto Second Street and continue three blocks — the church is on the left.
- Address: 202 W. 2nd Street, Falmouth, KY 41040
- Phone: (859) 654-8241
- Office email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- CRE email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/sfxfalmouth/