About St Benedict · Covington, Kentucky
St. Benedict Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky, serving the Austinburg and Wallace Woods neighborhoods of Covington since 1885. Founded as a worship community for German-speaking Catholics, the parish today offers daily and weekend Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and is led by Fr. Lawrence A. Schaeper with Deacon Phillip J. Racine assisting. The current church building, designed by the prominent Cincinnati firm Samuel Hannaford & Sons and dedicated in 1908, anchors the parish campus at 338 East 17th Street and remains an active, traditional parish in the heart of Covington.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. Benedict of Nursia
- Rector
- Rev. Lawrence A. Schaeper
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington
Why belong here
St. Benedict is a long-established neighborhood parish that combines the traditions of Catholic devotional life — daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and the Benedictine motto of "ora et labora" (prayer and work) — with active lay service through its Parish Council and Finance Council. Families find a stable place in the Austinburg and Wallace Woods community of Covington, with the pastor and deacon personally known to parishioners and a parish office that keeps regular weekday hours.
Mass times at St Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before weekend Masses (approximately 4:00 pm Saturday and 9:30 am Sunday), and by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 am to 3:30 pm (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History & Heritage
St. Benedict was founded in 1885 by German-speaking Catholics in the Austinburg section of Covington, splitting from the nearby St. Joseph Parish. The cornerstone of the original combination church-and-school on Sixteenth Street was laid in October 1884 and the building was dedicated by Bishop Camillus Maes on July 5, 1885, with about ninety families. In May 1891 the parish was permanently entrusted to the Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The present church on East 17th Street, designed by Samuel Hannaford & Sons, was dedicated December 20, 1908. A new school (1922) and a new convent (1927) completed the parish plant; the school merged with Bishop Howard School in 1988 to become Holy Family School. The Benedictine motto 'ora et labora' (prayer and work) has shaped parish life from the beginning.
- 1883: Movement to found a new parish organized by Christopher Rice and others
- 1885 (July 5): Bishop Maes dedicates the original St. Benedict Church
- 1889: Rev. Theodore Schmitt, O.S.B., becomes first resident pastor
- 1891: Parish entrusted to Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent Archabbey
- 1907: Cornerstone laid for current church (Sept. 22)
- 1908 (Dec. 20): Bishop Maes dedicates the new church
- 1922: New two-story, ten-classroom school with auditorium
- 1927: Pipe organ installed; new convent completed
- 1932: Three bells installed in the tower
- 1960s: Sanctuary renovated with new altar, lighting, pews, and window repairs
- 1986: Pipe organ renovated
- 1988: School merges with Bishop Howard School to form Holy Family School
Architecture & Building
The present St. Benedict Church on East 17th Street is the work of the Cincinnati firm Samuel Hannaford & Sons, architects of Cincinnati Music Hall and many notable Roman Catholic churches in the region. The cornerstone was laid September 22, 1907 and the church was solemnly dedicated on December 20, 1908 with seating for 750. The 1960s brought a major sanctuary renovation — a new altar, new lighting, new pews, and window repairs — that shaped much of the present worship space. The tower holds three bells (installed 1932), and the interior features a pipe organ first installed in 1927 and renovated in 1986.
- Architect: Samuel Hannaford & Sons
- Cornerstone laid: September 22, 1907
- Dedicated: December 20, 1908 by Bishop Camillus Maes
- Seating capacity: 750
- 1960s sanctuary renovation: new altar, lighting, pews, window repairs
- Three bells installed in tower (1932)
- Pipe organ added 1927, renovated 1986
Patron — St. Benedict of Nursia
The parish takes its name from St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480 – c. 547), the father of Western monasticism and author of the Rule of St. Benedict. Around him gathered thousands of Benedictine men and women religious across the centuries. The parish embraces his vision of monastic life — prayer and work — as its defining motto and charism.
- Patron: St. Benedict of Nursia
- Feast day: July 11
- Parish motto: 'ora et labora' (prayer and work)
- Charism: 'We are to worship God, to practice true Christian charity, study, and work. PRAYER, STUDY, WORK.'
Clergy & Staff
St. Benedict is served by a pastor and a deacon. The pastor also serves as chaplain at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Edgewood and chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council #1764. Parish administrative work is handled by the parish secretary in the parish office.
- Rev. Lawrence A. Schaeper — Pastor (ordained May 30, 2009)
- Deacon Phillip J. Racine — Mobile (859) 206-7412; [email protected]
- Clare Voll — Administrative Assistant / Parish Secretary
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 am – 3:00 pm (office closed Friday)
Parish Organizations & Councils
Lay leadership at St. Benedict is organized through two councils that assist the pastor in running the parish. Members of both councils are appointed by the pastor.
- Parish Council — assists the pastor with administration and policy-making for the parish
- Finance Council — meets quarterly to assist the pastor in administering parish finances and provides an end-of-year financial report
Diocese & Pilgrimage
St. Benedict is one of 50+ parishes in the Diocese of Covington, which was erected by Pope Pius IX on July 29, 1853 and is currently led by the 11th Bishop, Bishop John Iffert (appointed July 13, 2021; installed September 3, 2021). The parish is one of five historic Covington churches featured on the Diocese of Covington's annual Lenten Pilgrimage walking route, a 4.3-mile loop connecting St. Benedict with the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, St. Augustine, St. John the Evangelist, and Mother of God parishes.
- Diocese: Diocese of Covington
- Diocesan offices: Cathedral Square, 1125 Madison Ave., Covington, KY 41011
- Current Bishop: Most Rev. John Iffert (11th Bishop, since 2021)
- St. Benedict is a stop on the annual Diocese of Covington Lenten Pilgrimage