About St. Charles · Lebanon, Kentucky
Saint Charles Parish is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the rural Marion County community of St. Mary, near Lebanon, Kentucky, within the Archdiocese of Louisville. Established in 1786 by Catholic settlers from Maryland, it is the second-oldest parish west of the Allegheny Mountains and is the church where the first Sisters of Loretto made their vows. Today's congregation of roughly 272 registered households continues a farming-community tradition of lay catechesis and active parish leadership, served by a pastor, a permanent deacon, and a small religious-education and office staff.
- Established
- 1786
- Patron
- Saint Charles Borromeo (the church was named by Father Charles Nerinckx for his own patron saint)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Scott J. Wimsett, V.F.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
Saint Charles is one of the oldest parishes west of the Alleghenies, with deep roots in the farming communities of Marion County, and it remains a small, family-sized congregation where lay people take real responsibility for proclaiming the Word, distributing Holy Communion, and handing on the faith. Parishioners worship in a historic 1905 church set on a hill, supported by a permanent deacon, a coordinator of religious education, and parish council leadership. For Catholics in the Lebanon/St. Mary area — and for those who value the heritage of the Sisters of Loretto and the original Kentucky missions — it offers a grounded place to belong, serve, and grow.
Mass times at St. Charles
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- See bulletin
Adoration times
- See bulletin / contact parish
History of Saint Charles Parish
Founded in 1786 by Maryland Catholic settlers on the Hardin Creek, Saint Charles is the second-oldest parish west of the Allegheny Mountains. Father Stephen Badin first brought the sacraments to farmhouses including Henry Hagan's home. In 1806 Father Charles Nerinckx built the first log church and named it for his own patron saint; he later founded what became the Sisters of Loretto here. The second resident pastor, Father David A. DeParcq, erected the first brick church in 1832, which served until the present church was built in 1905. The parish marked its 225th anniversary in 2011 with Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz presiding.
- 1786 — Hardin Creek Settlement founded by Maryland Emigration League members
- Pre-1806 — Mass celebrated in the home of Henry Hagan; Father Stephen Badin ministers
- 1806 — Father Charles Nerinckx builds first log church, names it for his patron saint
- 1809 — 259 registered in the Holy Name Society
- 1816 — Sisters of Loretto open Calvary Academy; teach until 1900
- 1821 — Father William Byrne founds St. Mary College
- 1832 — Father David A. DeParcq builds first brick church
- 1905 — Present brick church erected
- 2011 — 225th anniversary celebration with Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz
Pastoral & Office Staff
Parish operations are supported by a small team of clergy and lay staff.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Scott J. Wimsett, V.F.
- Permanent Deacon: Stephen A. Age
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Lisa Sandusky
- Office Manager: Grace Browning
- Bookkeeper: Mary Jones
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Continuing the tradition of mothers and fathers teaching catechism before the religious sisters arrived, Saint Charles Parish runs an active religious-education program coordinated by Lisa Sandusky. The Archdiocese of Louisville describes today's parents and teachers at St. Charles as continuing the long parish tradition of forming children in the faith.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Lisa Sandusky
- Lay catechists and parent-led faith formation
- Heritage of parish-based catechesis dating to pre-Sisters era
Liturgical Life & Lay Ministries
The Archdiocese of Louisville notes that parishioners at St. Charles 'proclaim the Word during liturgy, distribute the consecrated bread and wine, and sing God's praises,' reflecting a strong lay involvement across lector, extraordinary minister, and music ministries. The Holy Name Society in this parish numbered 259 as early as 1809 — an early testament to lay men's leadership.
- Lectors and proclaimed-Word ministries
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Music ministry (cantors and choir)
- Holy Name Society (historical — 259 members in 1809)
Heritage of Religious Sisters
Two communities of teaching sisters shaped the parish's educational heritage: the Sisters of Loretto, who took their first vows at St. Charles Church and ran Calvary Academy here from 1816 to 1900, and the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, who also taught in the parish. The church sits 'just a field away from the original site of the first Sisters of Loretto community.'
- Sisters of Loretto — first vows made at St. Charles; Calvary Academy 1816–1900
- Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph — parish teachers
- Connection to St. Mary College (founded 1821 by Father Byrne)
Parish Grounds & Cemetery
The present church sits on a hill surrounded by a rambling parish cemetery in the Marion County countryside near Loretto, Kentucky. The parish grounds also hosted the 225th-anniversary luncheon in 2011.
- 1905 brick church on a hilltop setting
- Historic parish cemetery surrounding the church
- Located near Loretto, in the rural St. Mary community
Contact & Parish Information
The parish office is staffed during the week by Grace Browning (Office Manager) and Mary Jones (Bookkeeper), and can be reached by phone or email for registrations, sacramental needs, and parish business.
- Address: 675 Highway 327, Lebanon, KY 40033-9296
- Phone: (270) 692-4513
- Fax: (270) 692-6204
- Email: [email protected]
- Registered households: 272
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Stephen Badinpre-1806
First priest to minister to the settlement; celebrated Mass in settlers' homes including Henry Hagan's.
- Father Charles Nerinckx1805–1824
First resident pastor; built the log church in 1806 and founded what became the Sisters of Loretto.
- Father William Byrneearly 1800s
Stand-in for Father Nerinckx; originated St. Mary College in 1821.
- Father David A. DeParcqafter Nerinckx
Second resident pastor; built the first brick church in 1832.