About Saints Peter and Paul · Danville, Kentucky
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish serving Danville, Kentucky, and the surrounding Bluegrass region. Founded in 1807, it is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in central Kentucky and belongs to the Diocese of Lexington. The parish is located at 117 West Main Street in downtown Danville and offers weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a full range of sacraments, faith formation for children and adults, and outreach through the Knights of Columbus. Father Danny Schwendeman serves as pastor, supported by a staff including deacons, a music director, religious education coordinator, and OCIA coordinator.
- Established
- 1807
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Father Danny Schwendeman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington
Why belong here
Saints Peter and Paul offers a rare combination of historic Catholic roots (dating to 1807), a downtown Danville location, and a parish life that is unusually welcoming: a Sunday Mass is interpreted for the deaf, a weekly Mass is celebrated in Spanish, and faith formation is offered for everyone from preschool through high school, plus adult scripture study, men's and women's groups. With 403 households it is large enough to sustain active ministries (Knights of Columbus, Life Teen youth ministry, OCIA, music ministry, extraordinary ministers, altar servers, and a parish council) and small enough that newcomers are quickly known by name.
Mass times at Saints Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30–4:00 pm (in the confessional room in the narthex)
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm (per diocesan directory)
- or by appointment
About the Parish
Saints Peter and Paul is a historic Catholic parish in downtown Danville, Kentucky, serving Boyle County and surrounding communities. The parish's About page invites visitors to attend Mass at any of the posted times and to contact the office with questions. A 'List of priests from 1868–Present' is maintained on the parish website, documenting more than 150 years of pastoral succession.
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
- Phone: 859-236-2111
- Email: [email protected]
- Historical list of pastors kept from 1868 to the present
History of Saints Peter and Paul
The parish was founded in 1807, making it one of the earliest Catholic congregations in central Kentucky. In 1907–1908 the Louisville architectural firm D. X. Murphy & Bro. produced drawings for additions and alterations to the church (facade, front elevation, and cross-section), preserved today by The Filson Historical Society. The parish now belongs to the Bluegrass West Deanery of the Diocese of Lexington and is listed in the diocesan directory with 403 households.
- Founded 1807
- Additions/alterations designed by D. X. Murphy & Bro., Architects, Louisville, 1907–1908
- Bluegrass West Deanery, Diocese of Lexington
Parish Staff and Clergy
Father Danny Schwendeman serves as pastor. He is assisted by two active deacons (Dennis Chatham and Jeremy Watson), two retired deacons (Robert Lackney and Jere Noe), and a lay staff that includes a Business Manager, Administrative Assistant, Director of Religious Education & Family Ministry, Pastoral Associate & Director of Music Ministry, and an OCIA Coordinator.
- Pastor: Father Danny Schwendeman — [email protected] — ext. 105
- Business Manager: Cindy Underwood — [email protected] — ext. 104
- Administrative Assistant: Amanda Tucker — [email protected] / [email protected] — ext. 100
- Religious Education & Family Ministry: Stephanie Williams — [email protected] — ext. 106
- Pastoral Associate & Director of Music Ministry: Susan Lackney — [email protected] — ext. 103
- OCIA Coordinator: Deacon Jeremy Watson — [email protected]
- Deacon Dennis Chatham — [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program for preschool through 8th grade, with Confirmation preparation for older students. Classes for preschool–7th grade meet Wednesday evenings during the school year; 8th-grade and high-school classes meet Sunday evenings. The parish also publishes a Religious Education Registration form and a Sacramental Preparation Form.
- Preschool–7th Grade CCD: Wednesdays, 6:30–7:45 pm (mid-August through mid-May)
- 8th Grade & High School: Sundays, 6:30–8:00 pm (mid-August through mid-May)
- Sacrament of Confirmation preparation offered
- Registration required; see bulletin for updates
Adult Faith Formation
Adult faith formation is offered in several formats throughout the week, including a women's scripture/study group, a men's scripture gathering, and a Tuesday-evening adult formation group held in the Grotto on the lower level of the Catholic Center.
- Adult Faith Formation — Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Grotto (Lower Level of the Catholic Center)
- Women's Faith: Scripture & Study — Tuesdays, 10:30–11:30 am, Catholic Center room 201
- Men's Scripture Gathering — Fridays, 1:00 pm, Catholic Center room 201
- Periodic Gospel of Matthew Seminar
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults interested in the Catholic faith are welcomed through the OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), coordinated by Deacon Jeremy Watson. The process typically runs from late summer through the following spring, culminating in reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
- Open to anyone interested in the Catholic faith
- Runs roughly a year: late summer to the following spring
- Contact: Deacon Jeremy Watson — [email protected]
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Parishioners serve the liturgy and the wider community through a broad slate of ministries, from liturgical roles (altar servers, sacristans, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, greeters/ushers, linen caretakers, music ministry) to parish governance (Parish Council, Parish Life Committee) and outreach (Knights of Columbus Danville Council 6317). Youth ministry is carried out through the LifeTeen program.
- Music Ministry
- Parish Council
- Parish Life Committee
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Altar Servers
- Sacristans
- Greeters/Ushers
- Linen Caretakers
- Faith Formation Committee
- Youth Ministry (LifeTeen)
- Knights of Columbus — Danville Council 6317
- Virtus (Safe Environment)
Facilities, Campus & Stewardship
In addition to the historic church, the parish campus includes the Catholic Center, where many faith-formation and staff offices are located (room 201 and the Grotto on the lower level are used for adult formation). The parish has published a proposal for a Solar Project to be considered for the campus. Stewardship is supported through online giving, mailed donations, and a mail slot on the office door.
- Catholic Center (includes offices and meeting rooms, e.g., room 201)
- Grotto — lower level of the Catholic Center
- Proposed parish Solar Project (under community consideration)
- Donations accepted online, by mail, or via the office mail slot
Diocese of Lexington
Saints Peter and Paul is one of 59 parishes and missions in the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, which covers 50 counties of central and eastern Kentucky (16,423 square miles) and is led by Most Reverend John Stowe, OFM Conv, the third Bishop of Lexington, appointed by Pope Francis on March 12, 2015. The parish belongs to the Bluegrass West Deanery, which includes parishes in Boyle, Anderson, Franklin, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Mercer, Scott, and Woodford counties.
- Diocese of Lexington — Catholic Diocese of central/eastern Kentucky
- Bishop: Most Reverend John Stowe, OFM Conv (since 2015)
- Deanery: Bluegrass West — Dean Rev. Anthony McLaughlin
Visit, Contact & Newcomers
Newcomers are warmly invited to attend any Mass or contact the parish office for more information. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–4:00 pm, and can be reached by phone (859-236-2111) or email ([email protected]).
- Address: 117 W Main Street, Danville, KY 40422
- Phone: 859-236-2111
- Fax: 859-236-2922
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://ssppdanville.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Priests listed on parish website1868–present
The parish website's About page maintains a 'List of priests from 1868-Present' documenting the succession of pastors. Individual names prior to the current pastor are not enumerated on the publicly indexed pages reviewed.