About St. Augustine · Lebanon, Kentucky
St. Augustine Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Lebanon, Kentucky, founded in 1815 by the pioneering Belgian missionary Father Charles Nerinckx and serving today almost 1,500 parishioners as the largest parish in Marion County and the deanery parish for central Kentucky. Belonging to the Archdiocese of Louisville, the parish is known for its devotion to the Eucharist, its long-running Catholic elementary school, and its 200-plus-year tradition of ministry and service to the poor. The current church building (1871) sits on South Spalding Avenue in the town laid out by Catholic founder Benedict Spalding, and the parish celebrated its bicentennial on the Feast of the Assumption in 2015.
- Established
- 1815
- Patron
- Saint Augustine
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel Whelan (Administrator); Very Rev. Scott J. Wimsett, V.F. serves as Presbyteral Moderator
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Augustine is the largest parish in Marion County and the deanery parish for central Kentucky, offering multiple Sunday Masses, daily liturgy, and the only Catholic elementary school remaining in the county. The parish is known for its strong Eucharistic devotion, an active ministry and outreach program especially to the poor, lifelong faith formation for all ages (CYA, youth ministry, OCIA/RCIA, adult Bible study), and a long, multigenerational identity — many families have been members for generations. Joining St. Augustine means becoming part of a community that has worshipped, taught, and served in Lebanon for over 200 years.
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays — 3:00 p.m.
- First Tuesdays — 7:30 a.m. to Noon
- Sundays — 10:45 a.m.
- Other times by request
Adoration times
- Saturdays — 3:00 p.m.
Overview & Identity
St. Augustine Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Lebanon, Kentucky, founded in 1815 by Father Charles Nerinckx and now serving almost 1,500 households as the largest parish in Marion County. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Louisville and identifies itself as a people of great faith and tradition with a loving devotion to the Eucharist, sustained by the Holy Spirit with Jesus as the model. The parish celebrated its bicentennial in 2015 — one of the oldest continuously operating parishes in the archdiocese.
- Founded 1815 on land donated by Benedict Spalding, founder of Lebanon
- Part of the Archdiocese of Louisville
- ~1,500 registered parishioners
- Deanery parish for central Kentucky
History
The parish was born in 1813 when town founder Benedict Spalding set aside four acres for a Catholic church; Father Charles Nerinckx began construction in 1815, and the first church (named St. Hubert) was usable in 1819 and finished in 1821. Father Robert A. Abell, the first resident pastor, built a second, larger church on the same site and consecrated it to Saint Augustine in 1837. The present church was built 1868–1871 under Father Ivo Schacht, with major post-Vatican II interior renovations 1978–1983, a parish center in 1992, and a sanctuary/facelift for the millennium. In 2015 the parish celebrated its bicentennial on the Feast of the Assumption with Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz and former pastor Bishop Charles C. Thompson of Evansville present.
- 1815 — Father Charles Nerinckx begins building
- 1837 — Second church consecrated, named St. Augustine
- 1868–1871 — Present church built under Father Ivo Schacht
- 1978–1983 — Post-Vatican II interior renovations
- 1992 — Parish center constructed
- 2000 — Millennium renovations (sanctuary floor, reconciliation room, bell tower louvers)
- 2015 — Bicentennial; bell tower restored; new carillon installed
Clergy & Parish Staff
According to the Archdiocese of Louisville's directory, the parish is currently administered by Rev. Daniel Whelan, with Very Rev. Scott J. Wimsett, V.F. as Presbyteral Moderator, Rev. Hillary Chumo, F.M.H. as Associate Pastor, and Rev. Terry L. Bradshaw in residence. The parish also has two permanent deacons, Joseph R. Dant and Dennis A. May. The parish's own website still lists Reverend Mark Hamilton as pastor with Fr. Jeff Gatlin as Associate Pastor, suggesting a transitional moment between pastors.
- Administrator — Rev. Daniel Whelan
- Presbyteral Moderator — Very Rev. Scott J. Wimsett, V.F.
- Associate Pastor — Rev. Hillary Chumo, F.M.H.
- In Residence — Rev. Terry L. Bradshaw
- Deacons — Joseph R. Dant, Dennis A. May
Lay Staff & Pastoral Administration
St. Augustine has a sizeable lay pastoral and administrative team that runs the parish, school, religious education and cemetery programs. The staff directory is published on the parish website with direct extension numbers.
- DRE / Coordinator of Family Ministries — Andrea Willett
- RCIA (OCIA) Coordinator / STA Religious Education — Gina Garrett
- Youth Minister — Ashley Hunt
- Liturgy Coordinator / Music Director — Janet George
- Wisdom Keepers (Bible Study) / Senior Citizens Coordinator — Kathy Shannon
- School Principal — Cindy Bland
- Business Manager — Mary Creed
- Administrative Assistant — Libby Mattingly
- Part-time Bookkeeper — Jodi Alford
- Cemetery Manager — Gerald Osborne
- Maintenance — David Cowherd
- Ministry Assistant — Kim Spalding
- Bookkeepers — Jerry Grider and Libby Raley
Sacraments
St. Augustine prepares parishioners for each of the seven sacraments. Baptism is celebrated six times a year; parents and godparents must attend two preparation classes. First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation require two years of preparation in the Catholic school or Parish Religious Education program, with Confirmation in 9th grade. Couples must contact a priest at least six months before marriage; they complete the FOCCUS instrument and attend the Foundations of Marriage program. Pastoral care of the sick and OCIA/RCIA formation are arranged through the Formation Office (270-692-9009).
- Baptism — 6x/year at weekend Masses; 2 prep classes required
- First Reconciliation / First Communion / Confirmation — 2-year programs
- Confirmation received in 9th grade
- Marriage — contact priest 6+ months ahead; FOCCUS + Foundations of Marriage
- Anointing/Pastoral Care for the Sick & Shut-ins — via Formation Office
- OCIA / RCIA — for adults and children entering the Catholic faith
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Lifelong formation is described by the parish as 'a major priority.' The parish runs a Parish Religious Education program (coordinated by Gina Garrett), a youth ministry, an OCIA/RCIA program, adult Bible study called Wisdom Keepers (led by long-time pastoral associate Kathy Shannon), a Vacation Bible School, and a sacramental-preparation track tied to the parish school.
- DRE / Coordinator of Family Ministries — Andrea Willett
- OCIA / RCIA Coordinator — Gina Garrett
- Youth Minister — Ashley Hunt
- Wisdom Keepers (adult Bible Study) — Kathy Shannon
- Vacation Bible School
- Sacramental preparation (First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation)
St. Augustine Grade School
St. Augustine School is the only Catholic elementary school still operating in Marion County. Catholic education on the parish campus began when the Sisters of Loretto opened a girls' school in 1864; a boys' school followed in 1883, and by 1923 both an elementary and secondary school served Lebanon. The high school closed in 1970, but the elementary school continues, with Mass for students each Thursday at 8:45 a.m.
- Sisters of Loretto began a girls' day school in 1864
- Boys' school opened 1883
- Elementary + secondary school serving Lebanon by 1923
- High school closed 1970
- Present grade school — only Catholic elementary school in Marion County
- School Mass Thursdays 8:45 a.m.
- Current Principal — Cindy Bland
Cemetery
The parish maintains a cemetery on its grounds. A Cemetery Manager (Gerald Osborne) is listed on the parish staff, with a dedicated extension (130) at the parish phone number.
- Cemetery Manager — Gerald Osborne
- Cemetery Office — (270) 692-3019 Ext. 130
Outreach & Stewardship
St. Augustine describes itself as a leader in ministry and service within its deanery, with a particularly strong commitment to charity toward the poor. The parish offers formation programs for all ages and frames its many ministries as visible signs of stewardship. The 2015 bicentennial also generated a rosary garden and other community-building projects.
- Programs and ministries especially for the poor
- Lifelong faith formation for all ages
- Senior citizens ministry
- Pastoral care for the sick and shut-ins
- Bicentennial rosary garden (Eagle Scout project)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Charles Nerinckx1815–1820
Pioneering Belgian missionary who began the original log church on four acres donated by founder Benedict Spalding; named the first church St. Hubert.
- Father David A. DeParcq1820–
Succeeded Nerinckx when he returned to Europe; established the first parish school (1833) staffed by the Sisters of Loretto.
- Father Robert A. Abell1836–
First resident pastor; built the second, larger church on the original site, consecrated and dedicated to Saint Augustine in 1837.
- Father Ivo Schacht1868–
Began construction of the present church, completed in 1871.
- Msgr. Gettelfingerretired 1968
Long-serving pastor honored by the Holy Father with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor; oversaw the building of the present grade school, dedicated near the end of 1962.
- Father Boehmicke
Succeeded Msgr. Gettelfinger.
- Father Ivo Cecil
Succeeded Father Boehmicke.
- Father Charles C. Thompson1996–2002
Later ordained Bishop of Evansville, Indiana (June 29, 2011); returned to participate in the 2015 bicentennial.
- Father Gerald L. Bell2002–June 2012
Retired in June 2012.
- Father William Bowling
Served as pastor during the run-up to the 2015 bicentennial.
- Father Mark Hamilton
Pastor at the time of the parish history compilation and listed on the current parish staff page.