About St. Brigid · Vine Grove, Kentucky
St. Brigid Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Louisville serving the small city of Vine Grove in Hardin County, Kentucky. The parish describes itself as a Catholic community 'committed to living our faith through prayer and worship of God' that embraces the mission of 'proclaiming the Good News by welcoming all people.' Established in 1908 from a mission of nearby St. Patrick in Stithton, St. Brigid has grown into a close-knit community of more than 900 weekend Mass attendees, with a weekly schedule of two Sunday Masses, weekday Masses on Monday and Thursday, and a regular program of faith formation, Bible study, devotions, and outreach.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Brigid of Ireland
- Rector
- Rev. Jeffrey D. Gatlin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Brigid is a welcoming, close-knit Catholic community in Vine Grove that offers two Sunday Masses, weekday Masses on Monday and Thursday, Sunday religious education, and a full slate of adult formation — Bible study groups, novenas and other devotions, and the Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) program. The parish is also a place where fellowship matters: a monthly Donut Sunday meet-and-greet, the Young at Heart potluck, a parish raffle, spaghetti supper and cake auction keep neighbors connected. Outreach is a point of pride, with Christmas baskets for the needy, a Giving Tree for elderly neighbors and shut-ins, ongoing support for the Crossway Pregnancy Center, and generosity toward disaster relief and other local needs.
Mass times at St. Brigid
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 2:30–3:30 p.m. (prior to 4:00 p.m. Mass)
Parish Identity and Welcome
St. Brigid Catholic Church presents itself as a Catholic community committed to living its faith through prayer and worship of God, embracing the mission of proclaiming the Good News by welcoming all people. The parish serves Vine Grove and the surrounding area of Hardin County, Kentucky, and is administered as part of the Archdiocese of Louisville. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the parish can be reached at (270) 877-2461 or [email protected].
History of St. Brigid Parish
St. Brigid Parish was established in 1907 as a mission of St. Patrick in Stithton, in response to the need for a church in the small rural town of Vine Grove. A building was purchased in 1908 from the Northern Methodist congregation and the fledgling parish met there two Sundays a month. Growth came quickly when the federal government acquired Stithton, displacing St. Patrick's parishioners and pastor. In 1918, St. Brigid was raised to parish status with Father Rudolph C. Ruff as the first resident pastor.
The 1929 Church and Growth of the Parish
Under Father Guido L. Mensa, the parish continued to grow and, in 1929, he built the present St. Brigid Church that the community still worships in. The church has since been expanded and modernized twice to accommodate the worship of more than 900 parishioners each weekend.
Parish School (1938–2004)
St. Brigid operated a parish school from 1938 until 2004. For many of those years, teaching support was provided by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph.
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by Rev. Jeffrey D. Gatlin as pastor. Permanent Deacon Michael A. Ryan also serves as Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education. Supporting the pastor are a secretary (Sue Hardesty), bookkeeper (Pam Yates), youth minister (Lori Law) and director of music (Gina Ryan).
- Pastor: Rev. Jeffrey D. Gatlin
- Permanent Deacon / Pastoral Associate / DRE: Deacon Michael A. Ryan
- Youth Minister: Lori Law
- Director of Music: Gina Ryan
- Secretary: Sue Hardesty
- Bookkeeper: Pam Yates
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious Education for parish children meets on Sundays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Brigid (with a parallel program at St. John the Baptist on Sundays 9:30–10:45 a.m.). Adult formation is supported through Bible study groups, novenas and other devotions, and the Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) program.
- Sunday Religious Education: 10:00–11:30 a.m. at St. Brigid
- GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) program
- Bible study groups
- Novenas and other devotions
Parish Life and Fellowship
St. Brigid is a place where community matters. The parish gathers for a Donut Sunday meet-and-greet on the second Sunday of the month after the 9:00 a.m. Mass, and Young at Heart — a potluck with cards and fellowship — on the first Wednesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. The parish gym is open for walking Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., and pickle ball is played Mondays and Thursdays starting at 9:30 a.m. in the St. Brigid CCC.
- Donut Sunday — 2nd Sunday after 9:00 a.m. Mass
- Young at Heart — 1st Wednesday, 11:00 a.m., potluck and cards
- Pickle Ball — Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.
- Gym walking — Mon/Wed/Fri, 8:00–10:00 a.m.
Outreach and Charity
Outreach is central to parish life at St. Brigid. The community always exceeds its goal for the annual appeal for the Archdiocese of Louisville. Each Christmas the parish donates baskets for the needy and fills a Giving Tree for elderly neighbors and shut-ins. Parishioners also give generously of money and goods to the Crossway Pregnancy Center, to natural disaster relief efforts, and to numerous other civic needs in the area.
- Archdiocese Annual Appeal
- Christmas baskets for the needy
- Christmas Giving Tree for elderly and shut-ins
- Crossway Pregnancy Center support
- Natural disaster relief
- Other local civic needs
Annual Fundraisers and Events
For decades the parish was known for its annual church picnic, held every year from 1929 until 2004. The picnic has since been replaced by a parish raffle, a spaghetti supper and a cake auction — community-building events that continue the tradition of gathering together.
- Parish raffle
- Spaghetti supper
- Cake auction
Online Giving
Parishioners can give online through the parish's WeShare giving portal.
- Online giving via stbrigidvg.churchgiving.com
Visit and Contact
St. Brigid Catholic Church is located at 314 E. Main Street in Vine Grove, Kentucky (ZIP 40175-1448). The parish office can be reached by phone at (270) 877-2461, by fax at (270) 877-2523, or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Address: 314 E. Main Street, Vine Grove, KY 40175-1448
- Phone: (270) 877-2461
- Fax: (270) 877-2523
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Website: http://www.stbrigidvg.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Rudolph C. Ruff1918–
First resident pastor; previously pastor of St. Patrick, Stithton, which was displaced when the federal government acquired the community.
- Rev. Guido L. Mensa
Built the present St. Brigid Church in 1929.
- Rev. Daniel Lincoln
Former pastor; recognized by the Archdiocese of Louisville for reaching an anniversary milestone.
- Rev. Jeffrey D. Gatlin
Current pastor (per Archdiocese of Louisville directory).