About St. Boniface · Williamsburg, Kentucky
St. Boniface Catholic Church is a small mission parish of the Diocese of Lexington, physically situated in a uniquely borderland location: the church sits on the Kentucky side of the Kentucky–Tennessee state line in Jellico (a community that straddles both states), while its mailing address falls in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Founded in 1886, it is one of the oldest Catholic congregations in what is now the Diocese of Lexington. The original 1886 church was destroyed by an arson fire in 1993, and the present church opened in 1996, preserving the original crucifix which still bears the blackening from the flames. Today St. Boniface is served as a mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Williamsburg, with weekly Saturday Vigil Mass drawing a tight-knit community of roughly two dozen families — surprisingly, the majority of whom live just across the line in Tennessee.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Boniface (the Apostle of Germany)
- Rector
- Rev. Mariya Doss, MSSCC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington
Why belong here
St. Boniface is a small, faithful Catholic community tucked into one of the most distinctive spots in Appalachian Catholicism — literally on the Kentucky–Tennessee state line — where Mass is celebrated weekly and neighbors know each other by name. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed at the Saturday Vigil Mass, and the parish comes alive each All Saints' Day when the little church is filled to overflowing with visitors from both sides of the border. For Catholics in the Jellico/Williamsburg area looking for a close-knit mission with deep roots (founded 1886) and a pastor shared with the parent parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Williamsburg, St. Boniface offers an authentic, traditional Catholic presence in eastern Kentucky.
Mass times at St. Boniface
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
History of St. Boniface Catholic Church
St. Boniface was established in 1886 as one of the early Catholic foundations in the Appalachian highlands of eastern Kentucky. For generations the parish has served a small but devoted community straddling the Kentucky–Tennessee border. Its defining modern event was the 1993 arson fire that destroyed the original 1886 church; the present church rose in 1996 and deliberately kept the original crucifix as a reminder of that loss and survival.
- Founded 1886 — among the oldest Catholic structures in the Diocese of Lexington.
- Original 1886 church destroyed by arson fire, 1993.
- New church opened, 1996.
- Original crucifix preserved in the rebuilt church, still showing blackening from the fire.
- Part of a wave of eastern Kentucky/Tennessee church arsons in the early 1990s.
Parish Identity and Diocese
St. Boniface is classified as a mission (not a standalone parish) within the Diocese of Lexington, the Roman Catholic diocese covering central and eastern Kentucky. It is canonically attached to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Williamsburg, KY, and the same pastor serves both communities. The parish is in Whitley County and falls within the Mountain West Deanery of the diocese.
- Diocese: Diocese of Lexington
- Type: Mission
- Parent parish: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Williamsburg, KY
- Deanery: Mountain West
- County: Whitley
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
St. Boniface is pastored by priests of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Christ and of the Poor (MSSCC) and, previously, by priests of the Herald of Good News (HGN). The current pastor is Rev. Mariya Doss, MSSCC, who is also listed in the 2025 diocesan directory as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and as Outreach Coordinator.
- Rev. Mariya Doss, MSSCC — current pastor (per 2025 Diocese of Lexington directory)
- Rev. M. Mariasalethu Jesuraj, HGN — pastor at time of 2017 East Tennessee Catholic profile
- Rev. John E. List — administered the mission in 1987–1990 alongside Sacred Heart, Corbin and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Williamsburg
A Parish on the State Line
St. Boniface sits in one of the most unusual geographic settings of any Catholic church in Kentucky: the Tennessee state line runs directly behind the building. As parishioner Joe McMullen told East Tennessee Catholic, the majority of members actually live in Tennessee and walk over the line for Mass. The adjacent Catholic cemetery also straddles the border, reinforcing the parish's identity as a faith community that serves two states at once.
- Church sits on the Kentucky side of the KY–TN border in Jellico.
- Tennessee state line runs six feet behind the organ.
- Adjacent Catholic cemetery also sits on the state line.
- Majority of parishioners live in Tennessee and cross into Kentucky for Mass.
Music and Parish Life
Music ministry has long been a quiet backbone of parish life at St. Boniface. Pianist Linda Vore is a longtime fixture, and parishioners note that the church's small size contributes to a warm, intimate feel where everyone knows one another.
- Pianist Linda Vore — longtime music minister
- Small, close-knit congregation of roughly 25 families (as of 2017)
Visiting and Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the weekly Saturday Vigil Mass. For mail and pastoral contact, the parish uses the address of its parent church in Williamsburg; the priest resides there. Phone calls route through the parish office number shared with Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
- Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM
- Confession 30 minutes before Mass
- Mailing address: 76 W. Sycamore, Williamsburg, KY 40769
- Phone: (606) 549-2156
Cemetery
A Catholic cemetery sits adjacent to St. Boniface Church and shares the same unusual geography — it straddles the Kentucky–Tennessee state line just behind the sanctuary.
- Catholic cemetery directly behind the church
- Cemetery crosses the Kentucky–Tennessee state line
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John E. List1987–1990
Administrator of the missions of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Williamsburg, and St. Boniface, Jellico, while serving as associate at Sacred Heart, Corbin.
- Rev. Jesuraj Mariasalethu (Herald of Good News)c. 2017
Pastor when the parish was profiled by East Tennessee Catholic; described as serving about 25 families.
- Rev. Mariya Doss, MSSCCpresent
Current pastor per the 2025 Diocese of Lexington directory; also listed as Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Williamsburg, and Outreach Coordinator.