About St. Bernard · Liberty, Kentucky
St. Bernard of Clairvaux is a small Catholic parish in the rural community of Clementsville, Casey County, Kentucky — one of the oldest Catholic congregations in the Commonwealth, established in 1802 when seven Catholic families from Maryland settled along Casey Creek. A mission of the Archdiocese of Louisville, the parish still gathers about 250 parishioners, many descended from those founding families, around a church that was rebuilt in 1950 after fire destroyed its 1892 predecessor. Clementsville is affectionately known as 'the Catholic part of Casey County,' and the parish remains the social and spiritual center of the community, hosting an annual summer picnic, the area's longest-running variety and talent show, and a beloved Lenten fish fry.
- Established
- 1802
- Patron
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jinto Thomas, C.M.I., V.F. (presbyteral moderator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Bernard of Clairvaux is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Kentucky, founded in 1802 by seven families who built their church, their school, and their community in the rugged Casey Creek valley — and many current parishioners are descendants of those very founders. The parish keeps that pioneer faith alive through a strong Catholic heritage, an active religious education program, an annual summer picnic, the area's longest-running variety and talent show, and a beloved Lenten fish fry. With daily Mass Monday through Thursday, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, Saturday confessions, and a close-knit rural congregation of about 250, St. Bernard offers a warm, traditional parish home where young people, returning Catholics, and visitors are genuinely welcomed.
Mass times at St. Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m.
History of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
St. Bernard Parish traces its origins to 1802, when seven Catholic families from Maryland — then living in Washington County, Kentucky — migrated to the Casey Creek region of what is now Casey County. Mass was first celebrated in their homes, with the circuit-riding missionary Father Stephen Badin riding in from distant stations to serve them. After a brief Trappist presence on Casey Creek (1807–1808), Father Charles Nerinckx helped the now thirteen families purchase over 400 acres of land — still known locally as the Chapel Farm — and erect a small log church which he christened Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1810.
- 1802: Seven Catholic families from Maryland settle along Casey Creek; Father Stephen Badin serves as circuit-rider.
- 1807–1808: Trappist monks briefly build a monastery on Casey Creek.
- 1810: Father Charles Nerinckx helps families purchase 400+ acres ('Chapel Farm') and build first log church, christened St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
- 1820s: Two schools opened on the Chapel Farm — Mt. Olivet (Lorettine nuns, girls) and a Brothers of the Missions school for boys; both closed before 1830.
- 1860: Father Hutchins (boyhood friend of Abraham Lincoln) builds second log church, St. John Chrysostom, four miles away.
- 1881: First log church torn down; St. John Chrysostom renamed St. Bernard of Clairvaux; first parish picnic held to buy a bell.
- 1892: Larger third church dedicated under Father Gabe.
- 1897: St. Bernard becomes a full-fledged parish; Father John Imhof is first resident pastor.
- 1900: Father Imhof dies and is buried at St. Bernard at his request.
- 1907: Parish school built under Father Alphonsus O'Shea for 640+ parishioners.
- 1911–1971: Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph staff the school.
- January 1949: The 1892 church burns down.
- April 2, 1950 (Palm Sunday): First Mass in the present (fourth) church, built by Father Blandford.
- 1965: High school closes due to declining enrollment.
- 1971: Elementary school closes (end of Ursuline teaching presence).
- 1987: Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Liberty built as a mission of St. Bernard.
Parish Staff and Contact
The parish is currently served by Very Rev. Jinto Thomas, C.M.I., V.F., as presbyteral moderator, supported by a Director of Religious Education and a Bookkeeper/Secretary. The parish office can be reached by phone at (606) 787-7570 or by email at [email protected]. The mailing/rectory address is 5075 KY 551, Liberty, KY 42539-8688, located in the rural community of Clementsville, Casey County, Kentucky.
- Presbyteral Moderator: Very Rev. Jinto Thomas, C.M.I., V.F.
- Director of Religious Education: Cathy Murphy
- Bookkeeper and Secretary: Syrilla Wethington
- Parish Office Phone: (606) 787-7570
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 5075 KY 551, Liberty, KY 42539-8688
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education for the children and youth of St. Bernard Parish is coordinated by Cathy Murphy, Director of Religious Education. The parish continues to prioritize engaging young people and inviting inactive Catholics back to the practice of the faith — a continuation of the community's two-century tradition of passing the Catholic heritage down to the next generation in rural Casey County.
- Director of Religious Education: Cathy Murphy
- Mission: 'engage young people and invite inactive Catholics'
Community Life and Annual Events
St. Bernard remains the social center of Clementsville. The parish holds an annual summer picnic — a fundraising tradition begun in 1881 when the first picnic was held to purchase a bell for the church — as well as the area's longest-running variety and talent show, which promotes Catholicism in a positive way. During Lent, the parish hosts its annual Fish Fry Dinner on the six Fridays of the season, an eagerly awaited carry-out fundraiser.
- Annual Summer Parish Picnic (tradition since 1881)
- Annual Variety and Talent Show — area's longest-running
- Lenten Fish Fry Dinner — six Fridays during Lent
- Live-streamed Masses on Facebook during COVID-19
Sacred Heart — Mission Church in Liberty
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Liberty, Kentucky was constructed in 1987 as a mission of St. Bernard Parish and continues to be served by the same pastoral team, currently under the presbyteral moderatorship of Very Rev. Jinto Thomas, C.M.I., V.F.
- Established 1987 as a mission of St. Bernard
- Location: Liberty, Casey County, Kentucky
- Served together with St. Bernard by the current pastoral team
Parish Schools (Historical)
Catholic schooling has been part of St. Bernard from the 1820s, when Lorettine nuns and the Brothers of the Missions opened two schools on the Chapel Farm. A later parish school was built in 1907 under Father O'Shea and was taught for sixty years by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph (1911–1971). Declining enrollment forced the high school to close in 1965 and the elementary school in 1971.
- 1820s: Two schools on Chapel Farm — Mt. Olivet (Lorettine nuns) and a Brothers of the Missions school; both closed before 1830.
- 1907: Parish school built for 640+ parishioners under Father O'Shea.
- 1911–1971: Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph teach at St. Bernard.
- 1950: A larger school built alongside the new church under Father Blandford.
- 1965: Parish high school closes.
- 1971: Parish elementary school closes; Ursuline teaching presence ends.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Stephen Badin1802–c.1810
Circuit-riding missionary who first brought Mass and the sacraments to the seven founding families from Maryland.
- Fr. Charles Nerinckxc.1810
Helped the families purchase 400+ acres (the 'Chapel Farm') and erect the first small log church, christened St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
- Trappist Monks1807–1808
Briefly established a monastery on the banks of Casey Creek.
- Fr. Hutchinsc.1860
A boyhood friend of Abraham Lincoln; erected the second log church, St. John Chrysostom, four miles from the first.
- Fr. Gabec.1890–1892
Helped the families build the larger third church, dedicated in 1892.
- Fr. John Imhof1897–1900
First resident pastor of St. Bernard; died in 1900 and was buried at St. Bernard at his own request.
- Fr. Alphonsus O'Sheac.1907+
Built the parish school (1907, $3,500) for over 640 parishioners; welcomed the Ursuline Sisters in 1911.
- Fr. Blandfordc.1949–1950
Led construction of the present church and a larger school after the 1892 church burned in January 1949; first Mass in new church on Palm Sunday, April 2, 1950.
- Rev. George Otuma, A.J.June 21, 2017 – c.2023/2024
Member of the Apostles of Jesus; born in Arua, Uganda; ordained July 21, 2001; previously served at Holy Spirit in the Archdiocese of Louisville and at parishes in Sudan and Uganda.
- Very Rev. Jinto Thomas, C.M.I., V.F.c.2023 – present
C.M.I. (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate); born in Snehagiri, Kerala, India; ordained Dec. 28, 2011; served as administrator, then pastor, currently presbyteral moderator while serving as pastor of Emmanuel (Albany) and Holy Cross (Burkesville).