About St. Andrew · Harrodsburg, Kentucky
St. Andrew Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, part of the Diocese of Lexington. The parish is rooted in Mercer County history dating to 1858 and currently serves a diverse, bilingual community with weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, daily weekday Masses, and a 24-hour Adoration Chapel. Under the pastoral care of Fr. Edwin Netlas and a team of three deacons, St. Andrew offers faith formation for all ages, youth ministry, sacramental preparation, natural family planning instruction, and outreach to seniors and young families. The parish's current building was designed by Taylor Architects to recall the spirit and façade of its historic predecessor in downtown Harrodsburg.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Edwin Netlas
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington
Why belong here
St. Andrew's is a welcoming, bilingual parish that has served Mercer County Catholics since 1858. Daily Mass is celebrated most weekdays, with weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, and a 24-hour Adoration Chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for personal prayer most days of the week. The parish runs faith formation and OCIA (formerly RCIA), active youth ministry, a Knights of Columbus council (Andrew's Apostles #17234), and family-life ministries including a BOMA-USA Natural Family Planning instructor — making it a comfortable home for both long-established Catholic families and newcomers exploring the faith.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (also 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM as listed on parish / masstime aggregator)
- By appointment — call the office
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel: Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel: Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM (except during Mass)
- Adoration Chapel: Sunday 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (except during Mass)
- First Fridays: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Adoration in church
Parish Identity & Diocese
St. Andrew Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington, situated in Harrodsburg — the county seat of Mercer County, Kentucky. The parish was founded in 1858 (per GCatholic) and is named for St. Andrew the Apostle, whose feast day is celebrated on November 30. As a parish of the Diocese of Lexington it is led by a resident pastor, currently Fr. Edwin Netlas, and supported by three deacons and a lay administrative team.
- Patron: St. Andrew the Apostle
- Feast Day: November 30
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington
- Parish Office (Madison Tyler, Admin Asst): (859) 734-4270
- In Danger of Death line: (859) 613-6374
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Andrew offers Sunday Mass in both Spanish (8:30 AM) and English (11:00 AM), a Vigil Mass on Saturday afternoon, and daily Mass most weekdays. The parish also publishes a Monday Word and Communion Service when no priest is available. Mass is typically offered from Tuesday through Friday mornings and Monday afternoons in addition to the weekend schedule.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM (Spanish), 11:00 AM (English)
- Monday: 4:00 PM (Word & Communion Service)
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM
- Friday: 11:00 AM
About the Building
The current Saint Andrew Catholic Church was built as a deliberate echo of the parish's historic predecessor in downtown Harrodsburg, designed by Taylor Architects under principal Jerry Taylor. The main façade and bell tower reference the original grand arched window and towering steeple; columned arcades, a classroom wing, and a parish hall wing evoke a process of gradual growth. A 400-seat sanctuary can be expanded to seat 700, and site amenities include a walled meditation garden, central courtyard, pedestrian arcades, and ample expandable parking. The site sits on a hill overlooking the main entrance into town.
- Architect: Taylor Architects (principal Jerry Taylor)
- Sanctuary: 400 seats, expandable to 700
- Campus amenities: classrooms, parish hall, administrative offices, walled meditation garden, central courtyard, pedestrian arcades
- Parking: ample and expandable
Parish Staff & Directory
The parish is staffed by a pastor, three permanent deacons, and a four-person lay administrative team, with additional pastoral support from a youth minister, sacristan, and a BOMA-USA Natural Family Planning instructor. Email addresses use the @cdlex.org domain of the Diocese of Lexington, and the parish welcomes phone and email inquiries at the office.
- Fr. Edwin Netlas — Pastor — (859) 613-6374 — [email protected]
- Jennifer Fister — Business Manager — (859) 734-4270 — [email protected]
- Madison Tyler — Administrative Assistant — (859) 734-4270 — [email protected]
- Bettina Merritt — Bookkeeper — (859) 734-4270 — [email protected]
- Dr. Brian Wentz — Deacon — (859) 734-4270 — [email protected]
- Bruce Browning — Deacon — (859) 734-4270 — [email protected]
- Richard Abbey — Deacon — (859) 734-4270 — [email protected]
- Chris Davis — Youth Minister — [email protected]
- JoAnn Martin — Sacristan — (859) 734-4270
- Torey Burns — Natural Family Planning Instructor (BOMA) — (502) 604-1399 — [email protected]
History & Pastor Succession
Saint Andrew traces its roots to 1858 in Mercer County, Kentucky. In 1919 the parish was entrusted to the Benedictines of Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama, and served for decades by OSB monks, including Fr. William L. Gabe (1907–1919), Fr. Osmund Wiesneth OSB (1919–1922), Fr. Sebastian Siemer OSB (1922–1934), and Fr. Clarence Meyer OSB (1932–1942) — the first resident pastor since 1919, who also served Catholic military personnel and German POWs at Darnell General Hospital during World War II. The longest-serving pastor of the modern era is Fr. Joseph N. Muench (1994–2006). Fr. Al DeGiacomo was installed as pastor on August 16, 2015 by Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv.; the current pastor is Fr. Edwin Netlas.
- Founded: 1858
- 1919: Parish entrusted to the Benedictines of Saint Bernard Abbey (Cullman, AL)
- 1941–c.1945: Fr. Clarence Meyer, OSB celebrates weekly Sunday Mass at Darnell General Hospital
- 2015: Fr. Al DeGiacomo installed as pastor by Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv.
- First son of the parish ordained a priest: Joseph Michael Krimm, SVD (Papua New Guinea)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Andrew is offered for children and adults, including sacramental preparation and the OCIA process (formerly RCIA) for those seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Adult inquiry and formation sessions are held on Sunday mornings, and youth programming is supported by a dedicated youth minister. The parish also hosts a BOMA-USA Natural Family Planning instructor for engaged and married couples.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Sundays 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
- Youth Group — Wednesdays 6 PM
- Youth Minister: Chris Davis ([email protected])
- BOMA Natural Family Planning: Torey Burns — (502) 604-1399
Volunteer & Community Life
Beyond Mass and faith formation, St. Andrew Catholic Church is home to parish social and outreach ministries supported by the Knights of Columbus, the parish staff, and volunteer parishioners. Outreach programs serve seniors and young families, and the parish maintains a sacramental emergency line for those in danger of death.
- Knights of Columbus — Andrew's Apostles Council #17234
- Outreach to seniors
- Outreach to young families
- Sacramental emergency line: (859) 613-6374 (In Danger of Death)
Visit, Location & Contact
Saint Andrew Catholic Church is located on a hill overlooking the main entrance to Harrodsburg, at 1125 Danville Road (U.S. 127 South), with the bypass entrance at the intersection of By-Pass 127 South and U.S. 127. The campus offers parking, a central courtyard, and a peaceful walled meditation garden. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday and can be reached by phone, email, or in person to schedule sacraments, request records, or learn about joining the parish.
- Address: 1125 Danville Road, Harrodsburg, KY 40330
- Phone: (859) 734-4270
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.harrodsburgcatholic.com/
- Located on U.S. 127 South / Danville Road, at the Bypass 127 intersection
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William L. Gabe1907–1919
Second pastor of Saint Andrew's; longest-serving pastor to that point at 12 years and 2 months; celebrated 174 baptisms and 20 weddings; left the priesthood in October 1919.
- Fr. Osmund Wiesneth, OSB1919–1922
Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul in Danville with Saint Andrew as a mission; sent by Abbot Bernard Menges, OSB of Saint Bernard Abbey.
- Fr. Sebastian Siemer, OSB1922–1934
Pastored Saints Peter and Paul and the Mercer County missions; died suddenly in Danville on April 16, 1936, the Friday in the Octave of Easter, at age 60.
- Fr. Clarence Meyer, OSB1932–1942
Appointed associate (1932) then first resident pastor since 1919 (1934); took up residence at Saint Nicholas in Rose Hill before moving to Saint Andrew rectory; celebrated weekly Mass for Catholic personnel and German POWs at Darnell Military Hospital during WWII.
- Fr. Joseph N. Muench1994–2006
Born 1955; served a few days more than twelve years (June 15, 1994 to June 30, 2006), the second longest-serving pastor in parish history to that point.
- Fr. Noel F. Zamora2009–2010
Served as parochial vicar under Fr. Al DeGiacomo at the UK Newman Center; compiled extensive parish history.
- Fr. Al DeGiacomo2015–
Assumed post of Pastor on August 6, 2015; installed by Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. during the 11:00 AM Mass on August 16, 2015; also oversaw mission of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Perryville.