About St. Charles Borromeo · Livermore, Kentucky
St. Charles Borromeo is a small Roman Catholic parish in Livermore, Kentucky, in McLean County, serving the local rural farming community as a member of the Diocese of Owensboro. The parish shares pastoral care with nearby St. Sebastian Church in Calhoun, together forming the 'Catholic Churches of McLean County' cluster, and offers Sunday and Wednesday Masses, a Sunday rosary, monthly parish potluck brunch, and a Knights of Columbus council. The congregation gathers around the Holy Eucharist in a tight-knit western Kentucky community whose Catholic roots stretch back to the early 1900s.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan
- Rector
- Fr. Chrispin Oneko
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo is a small, family-sized Catholic parish where nearly everyone knows each other by name, and where Mass, the Rosary, a monthly potluck brunch, and the Knights of Columbus council keep a tight-knit farming community rooted in the Eucharist and in service to one another. Members gather for Sunday and Wednesday Masses in a church whose Catholic presence in Livermore dates back more than a century, and the parish partners with neighboring St. Sebastian in Calhoun for shared pastoral care, faith formation, and outreach. It is a place to belong, to be known, and to grow in faith together.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 pm – 6:15 pm (after the 5:30 pm Mass)
About St. Charles Borromeo Parish
St. Charles Borromeo is a small Roman Catholic parish in Livermore, McLean County, Kentucky, within the Diocese of Owensboro. The parish shares pastoral care with neighboring St. Sebastian in Calhoun, together forming the 'Catholic Churches of McLean County' cluster, with a shared office and a shared pastor. The parish mission statement reads: 'We the people of the Catholic Churches of McLean County come together as a loving parish family—reaching out as one, with open hearts, minds and souls to share our love for God and the Holy Eucharist.' Visitors are warmly welcomed, and the parish invites anyone to come in for a visit, greet the community, and share in the love of Jesus Christ and neighbor.
- Part of the Diocese of Owensboro
- Clustered with St. Sebastian, Calhoun — 'Catholic Churches of McLean County'
- Shared pastor: Fr. Chrispin Oneko
- Shared office: 180 Hwy 136 West, Calhoun, KY 42327 (Mon–Thu, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm)
History of St. Charles Catholic Church
Catholic life in Livermore stretches back to the late 1800s, when visiting priests said Mass in the Field House hotel and the Union Church on the city square. After 1902, Mass was celebrated in the home of Nellie Corrigan Quigg. In 1905 Karl Joseph Meyer arrived from Troy, Indiana, to start a chair manufacturing business, and with permission from the Bishop of Louisville he set aside a room in his home for Mass. In 1915 a former Presbyterian frame church at Fifth and Hill Streets was purchased and remodeled; the parish was named in honor of St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, and dedicated on June 21, 1917 (the Feast of St. Aloysius) by Rev. Aloysius G. Meyering, with Bishop Denis O'Donoghue of Louisville overseeing. The little church was heated by a coal-burning pot-bellied stove, and the men and women of the parish cared for it themselves. In 1916, Karl Meyer purchased the Livermore Academy and gave it to the parish; a parochial school opened under the Ursuline Sisters in early 1919, ran until 1925, and the building later burned. The current St. Charles Borromeo Church was dedicated on October 20, 1947, after a WWII-delayed building project begun in 1941 under Father Victor Boarmen. The parish was a mission of Brown's Valley (from 1917), then Central City (from 1935), and finally of St. Sebastian in Calhoun (from 1971).
- Late 1800s — visiting priests say Mass in the Field House hotel and at the Union Church on the square
- After 1902 — Mass celebrated at the home of Nellie Corrigan Quigg
- 1905 — Karl Joseph Meyer arrives from Troy, Indiana; Mass said in a room of his home
- 1915 — former Presbyterian frame church at Fifth and Hill purchased and remodeled; named for St. Charles Borromeo
- 1917 (June 21, Feast of St. Aloysius) — church dedicated by Rev. A. G. Meyering
- 1917 — becomes a mission of Brown's Valley
- 1917 — St. Charles Cemetery established
- 1919–1925 — St. Charles Parochial School under the Ursuline Sisters
- 1935 — becomes a mission of Central City
- 1941 — Father Victor Boarmen and parishioners begin planning a new church; delayed by WWII
- 1946–1972 — children attend St. Joseph School, Central City
- 1947 (October 20) — the present St. Charles Borromeo Church is dedicated
- 1971 — becomes a mission of St. Sebastian, Calhoun
- 2013 — cemetery road blacktopped through a fundraiser by John and Dr. Marsha Logsdon
- 2015 — two identifying signs erected at the cemetery
St. Charles Cemetery
St. Charles Cemetery was established in 1917, the same year as the dedication of the original church. It sits adjacent to Oak Hill Cemetery on the south side of the intersection of Highway 431 and Highway 136, on land purchased by Karl J. Meyer, Louis E. Charlet, and Nellie Carrigan Quigg. In 2013, a fundraiser led by John and Dr. Marsha Logsdon funded blacktopping the cemetery road, and in 2015 two signs were erected to identify the cemetery.
- Established 1917
- Adjacent to Oak Hill Cemetery, south side of Hwy 431 and Hwy 136
- Land purchased by Karl J. Meyer, Louis E. Charlet, and Nellie Carrigan Quigg
- Cemetery road blacktopped in 2013; identifying signs erected in 2015
Parish Fellowship — Monthly Potluck Brunch
On the second Sunday of each month, after Mass, the parish gathers for a parish potluck brunch — a simple, warm tradition that builds the 'loving parish family' the mission statement describes.
- Parish potluck brunch — second Sunday of each month, after Mass
Sacraments
The parish website sets out the diocesan guidelines for the sacraments. Parents preparing for Baptism meet with the pastor and, for a first child, attend a Baptism preparation class; at least one parent must be an active Catholic, and each child must have at least one Confirmed, practicing Catholic godparent aged 16 or older. For Marriage, couples must contact the priest at least six months before the desired wedding date and not make absolute plans for a specific date until after meeting the pastor; a marriage preparation course is required. Confirmation preparation follows Canon Law (Can. 889–890), and Reconciliation is regularly available on Wednesday evenings after Mass.
- Baptism — preparation class for first child; meeting with pastor; at least one practicing Catholic parent; Confirmed godparent aged 16+
- Confirmation — instruction and proper disposition per Canon Law; contact the Church Office
- Marriage — minimum six months' notice; no firm date until after meeting the pastor; marriage preparation course required
- Reconciliation — Wednesday 6:00–6:15 pm (after 5:30 pm Mass); also recommended for parents and godparents before Baptism
Ministries and Organizations
St. Charles lives out its mission through a small but committed set of ministries. The most visible lay organization is the joint St. Charles / St. Sebastian Knights of Columbus Council #15484, which meets on the third Monday of each month at St. Sebastian. Music ministry is led by Music Minister Tracie Feldpausch. The parish is also served by a Parish Council (chaired by Marc Burden) and a Finance Committee (chaired by Tony Searcy). Faith formation (CCD) is shared with St. Sebastian, a partnership that dates to 1972.
- Knights of Columbus — St. Charles / St. Sebastian Council #15484; meetings third Monday at St. Sebastian (Nov–Apr 6:00 pm; May–Oct 7:00 pm); contact Steve Anderson, 270-315-2906
- Music Ministry — Tracie Feldpausch, 270-314-0158
- Parish Council — Marc Burden
- Finance Committee — Tony Searcy
- Faith Formation / CCD — shared with St. Sebastian, Calhoun (since 1972)
- Parish potluck brunch — second Sunday each month, after Mass
Staff and Contacts
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Fr. Chrispin Oneko, who also serves St. Sebastian, Calhoun. He is supported by Secretary/Bookkeeper Kimberly Cooper, Music Minister Tracie Feldpausch, the Parish Council, and the Finance Committee. The shared parish office is at St. Sebastian, 180 Hwy 136 West, Calhoun, KY 42327 (Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm).
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Chrispin Oneko — [email protected] — cell 270-484-0532; office 270-273-3185
- Secretary/Bookkeeper: Kimberly Cooper — 270-499-8960
- Music Minister: Tracie Feldpausch — 270-314-0158
- Parish Office (shared, at St. Sebastian): 180 Hwy 136 West, Calhoun, KY 42327 — Mon–Thu, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. A. G. (Aloysius G.) Meyering1917 dedication
Celebrant of the Mass at the dedication of the original 1915/1917 St. Charles Church; described in the Louisville Catholic newspaper as 'the untiring man of God' who also served Brown's Valley and Central City.
- Rev. Joseph Volk
Pioneer Kentucky missionary; gave First Holy Communion to Lillian Quigg Coin in 1907 and was instrumental in establishing the Ursuline Sisters of Maple Mount, Kentucky.
- Rev. Fr. Victor Boarmen1941
Young pastor who, with parishioners, began planning a new church in 1941; construction was delayed by World War II and the new church was dedicated in 1947.
- Rev. Fr. Chrispin Onekopresent
Current pastor; shares pastoral care of the 'Catholic Churches of McLean County' cluster with St. Sebastian, Calhoun.