About Saint John Paul II · Louisville, Kentucky
Saint John Paul II Parish is a Roman Catholic territorial parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky, located in the Hikes Point / Buechel / Bon Air area of the city. Established on November 29, 2015, it was formed by the merger of two neighboring parishes — St. Barnabas (founded 1953) and St. Pius X (founded 1956) — under a decree issued by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz. The parish serves roughly 3,100 parishioners, supports the regional John Paul II Academy (shared with St. Bartholomew), and offers daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA, youth ministry, religious education, an active social services outreach (Kid's Cafe, Mobile Food Pantry), and a variety of parish life groups. Its stated mission is 'to live as Jesus lived through humility and trust.'
- Established
- 2015
- Patron
- Saint John Paul II
- Rector
- Rev. M. Casey Sanders
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. John Paul II is a welcoming, mission-driven parish with a strong Catholic identity rooted in the Eucharist, daily Mass, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration, plus a vibrant social-services outreach through the Kid's Cafe and Mobile Food Pantry. Families appreciate the parish-supported regional John Paul II Academy, robust K-8 Religious Education, OCIA, youth and young adult ministry, and active men's, women's, and Bible study groups. Its merged heritage from St. Barnabas (1953) and St. Pius X (1956) gives it deep roots in the Hikes Point / Buechel / Bon Air neighborhoods of Louisville and a culture of collaboration that visitors frequently describe as warm and faithful.
Mass times at Saint John Paul II
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
- By appointment (Parish Office, 502-459-4251)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. (following 6 p.m. Mass)
- Friday 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
- First Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
About St. John Paul II Parish
Saint John Paul II Parish is a Roman Catholic territorial parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 2015 by the merger of two historic east-side parishes. The parish serves roughly 3,100 registered parishioners across the Hikes Point, Buechel, and Bon Air neighborhoods, and shares the regional John Paul II Academy with neighboring St. Bartholomew Parish. The parish mission — 'to live as Jesus lived through humility and trust' — is woven through its worship, formation, and outreach ministries.
History
The parish traces its roots to two congregations established in the early 1950s — St. Barnabas (1953) and St. Pius X (1956) — that served the rapidly growing Catholic population of east Louisville. After years of collaboration, especially through their joint regional school, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz decreed their merger on May 27, 2015; the new parish of St. John Paul II took canonical effect on November 29, 2015. Father William P. 'Bill' Burks, who had led St. Pius X and then both parishes as a cluster, became the founding pastor. A new rectory followed in 2020 and a new Parish Life Center in 2022.
- St. Barnabas Parish established 1953 (Hikes Point)
- St. Pius X Parish established 1956 (Buechel/Hikes Point)
- Merger discussions first explored 2005
- Decree of merger signed May 27, 2015 by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz
- St. John Paul II Parish canonically erected November 29, 2015
- Father William P. Burks named founding pastor
- New rectory built 2020
- Parish Life Center opened 2022
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently led by Parochial Administrator Rev. M. Casey Sanders, with Rev. Shayne R. Duvall serving as Presbyteral Moderator and Deacon Bruce J. Warren as Permanent Deacon. Rev. Saju M. Vadakumpadan, C.M.I., has been appointed the incoming pastor effective summer 2026. A dedicated lay staff supports worship, formation, business, advancement, and outreach.
- Rev. M. Casey Sanders — Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Shayne R. Duvall — Presbyteral Moderator
- Deacon Bruce J. Warren — Permanent Deacon
- Rev. Saju M. Vadakumpadan, C.M.I. — Pastor-elect (effective summer 2026)
- Yvonne Riggs — Administrative Assistant
- Julianna Charnigo — Director of Sacred Liturgy and Music
- Curt Meyers — Director of Discipleship Formation
- Dave Meece — Business Manager
- Sandy Moore — Bookkeeper
- Patricia Filley — Director of Social Services
- Bryan Cain — Director of Advancement & Renewal
- Sr. Ruth Ann Haunz, OSU — Administrator, Kid's Cafe & Mobile Food Pantry
- Jason Heuglin — Maintenance Technician
- Alicia Conliffe — Principal, John Paul II Academy
Spiritual Formation & Faith Development
Faith formation at St. John Paul II is rooted in the Eucharist and reaches across every age and stage. The parish offers a structured Religious Education program for K-8 students not enrolled in the Catholic school, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for inquirers and catechumens, and Confirmation preparation for 8th graders that combines Focus sessions, service, and a retreat. The parish's discipleship team also supports youth and young adult ministry, plus ongoing formation for adults through Bible study, men's and women's groups, and the parish mission statement — 'to live as Jesus lived through humility and trust.'
- Religious Education (K-8) — classes held at John Paul II Academy, week after Labor Day through May
- OCIA — year-round process for unbaptized adults, Christians seeking full communion, and unbaptized children age 7+
- Youth Ministry & Confirmation prep (8th grade Focus sessions, service, retreat)
- Young Adult Ministry
- Bible Study (multiple sessions offered)
- Men's faith group
- Women's faith group (WNC — monthly; weekly during Advent/Lent)
- Why Not Catholic? inquiry group
Parish School: John Paul II Academy
John Paul II Academy is the parish-supported regional Catholic school serving St. John Paul II and St. Bartholomew parishes. Formed in 2006 through the merger of St. Barnabas School, St. Pius X School, and St. Bartholomew School, the academy offers a faith-based Pre-K through 8th-grade education on the former St. Pius X campus at 3521 Goldsmith Lane. The principal is Alicia Conliffe, and the school reported an enrollment of 212 students at the time of the 2015 parish merger.
- Regional Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school
- Founded 2006 (merger of St. Barnabas, St. Pius X, and St. Bartholomew schools)
- Located on the Goldsmith Lane campus
- Principal: Alicia Conliffe
- Sponsors: St. John Paul II Parish and St. Bartholomew Parish
Outreach & Social Services
The parish carries on the strong outreach legacy of its predecessor parishes, especially St. Barnabas, which built a culture of going beyond its walls to eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, and Guatemala. Today, the parish's Social Services Director Patricia Filley, together with Sr. Ruth Ann Haunz, O.S.U., coordinates the Kid's Cafe (through the Francis Center) and the Mobile Food Pantry, bringing food and support to neighbors in need across the Hikes Point and Buechel communities.
- Kid's Cafe — Francis Center (Sr. Ruth Ann Haunz, O.S.U., administrator)
- Mobile Food Pantry
- Mission trips — heritage from St. Barnabas (Guatemala, eastern Kentucky, West Virginia)
- Director of Social Services: Patricia Filley
Becoming Catholic & Joining the Parish
Anyone exploring Catholicism is invited to learn about the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, which forms inquirers in faith step by step and involves the whole parish in welcoming new members. Catholics new to the area or wishing to register can do so online through the parish website.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Adapted OCIA process for unbaptized children age 7+
- Online parish registration available
Getting Involved & Stewardship
As stewards of God's gifts, parishioners are invited to share time and talent through liturgical ministries (sacred music, lectors, Eucharistic ministers), formation (catechists, OCIA sponsors), outreach (food pantry, mission trips), and parish life (men's, women's, and Bible study groups). The parish's Director of Advancement & Renewal, Bryan Cain, supports parish-wide stewardship and renewal efforts.
- Liturgical ministries (Sacred Music, lectors, EMHCs)
- Catechists & OCIA team members
- Men's, Women's, and Bible study groups
- Outreach: Kid's Cafe, Mobile Food Pantry, mission trips
- Parish Life & Stewardship committees
Visit, Contact, and Office Information
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., closing for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. Visitors are warmly welcomed for any Mass, Eucharistic Adoration hour, or confession.
- Address: 3521 Goldsmith Lane, Louisville, KY 40220 (Parish Life Center: 3539 Goldsmith Lane)
- Phone: (502) 459-4251
- Fax: (502) 459-9815
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (closed for lunch noon–1 p.m.)
- Email: [email protected] (or staff emails by extension)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. M. Casey Sanderscurrent (Parochial Administrator)
Born in Louisville, raised in Leavenworth, Ind.; studied at University of Evansville and Theological College / Pontifical North American College in Rome; ordained May 27, 2017; canon lawyer (Catholic University); previously parochial vicar of St. James (Elizabethtown), Holy Trinity, and Holy Name; named pastor of St. Brigid and St. James (Highlands) effective summer 2026.
- Rev. Peter Q. Do2019–
Born in Saigon, Vietnam; studied at Mundelein Seminary; ordained June 8, 2002; previously pastor of St. Gregory (Samuels, KY) and of St. Ignatius and St. Bartholomew churches; also associate vocation director for the Archdiocese of Louisville. Appointed pastor of St. John Paul II effective June 19, 2019.
- Rev. William P. 'Bill' Burks2007–2019 (founding pastor of merged parish, 2015–2019)
Born in Louisville; studied at St. Meinrad Seminary, Indiana; ordained May 24, 1986. Pastor of St. Pius X from 2007; led both St. Pius X and St. Barnabas as a clustered parish before the 2015 merger; became founding pastor of St. John Paul II in 2015. Also previously served Incarnation, St. Barnabas, St. Margaret Mary, and St. Polycarp; chaplain at Holy Rosary Academy and Holy Cross High School. Reassigned as pastor of St. Lawrence, effective June 19, 2019.
- Rev. Paul Scaglioneuntil June 17, 2015 (St. Barnabas)
Pastor of St. Barnabas Parish until his retirement on June 17, 2015, just before the merger took effect.
- Rev. Charles Foltz1956– (founding pastor, St. Pius X)
Founding pastor of St. Pius X Parish in 1956 under Archbishop Floersh; chose the parish name honoring Pope St. Pius X; deeply Eucharistic; helped build the concrete church with the 'parish pioneers.'
- Rev. J. Donald Gallagher1953–1968 (founding pastor, St. Barnabas)
Born 1913, ordained May 18, 1940; appointed pastor of St. Barnabas by Archbishop Floersh in September 1953. Deceased 1968. Pioneered the parish tithing program in 1960; St. Barnabas was the 'mother church' for the area, generating parishes of St. Pius, St. Martha, and Ascension.
- Rev. Saju M. Vadakumpadan, C.M.I.effective summer 2026
Born in Kanjirappilly, India; studied at Christ University, Bangalore, and Dharmaram College (Carmelite Pontifical Major Seminary), Bangalore; ordained Dec. 29, 1992. Previously pastor in Grand Bahama and India; youth coordinator and educator in India. Currently pastor of St. Peter the Apostle; named incoming pastor of St. John Paul II effective summer 2026.