About St. Agnes · Fort Wright, Kentucky
The Church of Saint Agnes is a Catholic parish in Fort Wright, Kentucky, in the Diocese of Covington. Originally founded in 1930 as Saint Agnes Chapel — an annex of Saint Mary Cathedral Parish serving Catholics in Park Hills — it grew into its own parish in 1954 under Monsignor Charles A. Towell. The parish operates Saint Agnes School (opened 1930), maintains a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and runs an extensive outreach program through its 'We Are His Hands' tithing fund and Saint Vincent de Paul chapter. Father Mark A. Keene has served as pastor since 1999.
- Established
- 1930
- Patron
- Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
- Rector
- Rev. Mark A. Keene
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington
Why belong here
Saint Agnes makes the Sunday Eucharist the center of parish life and surrounds it with a deep bench of formation, service, and devotional opportunities. Families can enroll children in Saint Agnes School or the parish CCD program (grades 1–8) and adults can grow in faith through OCIA. The parish runs a 'We Are His Hands' tithing fund that has given well over one million dollars to local outreach since 2003, supports an active Saint Vincent de Paul chapter, and offers Perpetual Adoration seven days a week in the Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel.
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel: every week from Sunday evening at 7:15 p.m. through Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
- Continuous Adoration in the chapel (24-hour Adoration during weekdays)
Our History
Saint Agnes began in 1930 as a chapel annex to Saint Mary Cathedral Parish in Covington, organized by Msgr. Gerhard Geisen on land partly donated by August Knochelman. The community worshipped in a 'Sears Church' until 1939, when Bishop Howard dedicated the present Italian Lombard-style church on Dixie Highway. Raised to parish status in 1954 by Bishop William Mulloy, Saint Agnes built a permanent school (1957), a convent (1960), and a new rectory (1956). After the Sisters of Notre Dame ended 65 years of school leadership in 1995, the parish converted the convent chapel to a Perpetual Adoration Chapel (1998), which Bishop Roger Foys dedicated as the Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel in 2014.
- First Mass: October 5, 1930 (in a Sears Roebuck kit building)
- Church dedicated February 5, 1939 by Bishop Howard
- Established as a parish August 9, 1954 by Bishop William Mulloy
- Saint Agnes School opened September 8, 1930 under the Sisters of Notre Dame
- 138 Sisters of Notre Dame served 1930–2014
- Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel dedicated October 5, 2014 by Bishop Roger Foys
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor (Rev. Mark A. Keene), a parochial vicar (Rev. John Opoku), and three deacons, with a full lay staff supporting faith formation, music, business, maintenance, and parish administration.
- Rev. Mark A. Keene — Pastor
- Rev. John Opoku — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Mr. Robert Stoeckle — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Gary Scott — Deacon and Pastoral Associate
- Rev. Mr. Adam Feinauer — Deacon
- Mrs. Anita Dunn — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Mrs. Anita Dunn — Coordinator of OCIA
- Mrs. Anita Dunn — Director of Music Ministries (listing per staff page)
- Ms. Regina Mason — Parish Business Manager
- Mr. Mark Nutter — Director of Maintenance
- Mr. Ron Lawson — Hall Manager
- Mr. Ken Oleynik — (staff)
- Mr. Rick Wolking — (staff)
- Mrs. Denise Graves — Bookkeeper
- Mrs. Beth Love — Administrative Assistant
Saint Agnes School
Founded the same day the chapel opened (September 8, 1930) and originally staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame, Saint Agnes School is the parish's largest ministry. The Sisters administered and taught in the school for 65 years, and the parish continues to financially support the school, including tuition assistance through the 'We Are His Hands' fund. The present school building was dedicated in 1957 on the original 1930 parcel near Old State Road and Dixie Highway.
- Opened September 8, 1930 with 26 pupils under the Sisters of Notre Dame
- Permanent school built 1955–1957, dedicated February 10, 1957
- Sisters of Notre Dame administered the school 1930–1995
- Parish provides tuition assistance for school families via the 'We Are His Hands' fund
Faith Formation and Religious Education (CCD)
Saint Agnes provides an evening religion program (CCD) for students in grades 1–8 who do not attend a Catholic school. The program is led by trained volunteer catechists and includes sacramental preparation alongside Christian doctrine at each grade level.
- Held Monday evenings, 6:30–7:30 p.m., in the school
- Coordinator: Anita Dunn, (859) 431-1802
- Sacramental preparation included at each grade level
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA (formerly RCIA) supports adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church — including the unbaptized, baptized Christians from other traditions, and baptized Catholics preparing for First Communion and Confirmation. The parish lists a Coordinator of OCIA on its staff.
Outreach and Charity
Outreach is central to the parish's identity. Since 2003, Saint Agnes has dedicated a percentage of its weekly offertory to outreach through the 'We Are His Hands' tithing fund, set at 10% since 2008 and totaling well over one million dollars. The parish Christian Service Committee (formed 1973) responds to immediate parish needs, the Bereavement Committee walks with families at the time of death, and the Saint Vincent de Paul chapter serves those in need beyond the parish.
- 'We Are His Hands' tithing fund — 10% of offertory since 2008
- Beneficiaries include Faith Community Pharmacy, Notre Dame Urban Education Center, St. Augustine City Heights Mission, Covington Catholic High School ($100,000), Notre Dame Academy ($100,000), and Thomas More College's Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel ($50,000)
- Christian Service Committee — annual November food collection and year-round financial assistance
- Bereavement Committee — funeral liturgy support
- Saint Vincent de Paul Chapter — meetings 2nd and 4th Mondays, 7:00 p.m., Parish Conference Room
Music Ministries
Music at Saint Agnes is led by a Director of Music Ministries and supports the parish's liturgical life across daily Masses, Sunday liturgies, weddings, and funerals.
Facilities and Getting Here
The parish campus sits at 1680 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright, KY 41011, on the corner of Sleepy Hollow Road and Dixie Highway, with easy access from I-71 (Kyles Lane, exit 189). The original 1939 Italian Lombard church, the 1957 school, and the 1956 rectory remain in active use, and the parish hall is available for rental.
- Address: 1680 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright, KY 41011
- Phone: (859) 431-1802
- From I-71 North or South: take Kyles Lane (exit 189) to Dixie Highway
- Hall rental available through the parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Charles A. Towell1954–1971
First pastor when Saint Agnes was established as a parish separate from Saint Mary Cathedral.
- Monsignor Edward Hickey1971–1982
- Monsignor John Murphy1982–1992
- Monsignor Donald Hellmann1992–1999
- Reverend Mark A. Keene1999–present
Current pastor.