About St. Elizabeth of Hungary · Clarkson, Kentucky
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the rural farming community of Clarkson, Kentucky, in the rolling countryside of Grayson County in western Kentucky. It is a 'duo-parish' cluster with nearby St. Paul Catholic Church in Leitchfield, with which it shares a priest, a single weekly bulletin, and a Parish Office. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Owensboro and offers Mass three times a week at its church on Clifty Avenue, alongside active CCD religious education, RCIA, Eucharistic Adoration, a homebound ministry to local nursing-home residents, parish picnics, Bible study and other parish life that reflects the close-knit character of small-town Catholic life in western Kentucky.
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. Suneesh Mathew
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth offers a warm, small-parish experience where every member matters: weekly Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM and a Wednesday evening Mass, plus weekly Eucharistic Adoration and a First Saturday morning Mass. The parish family actively tends to its older members through a homebound ministry that visits parishioners at the Springview Nursing Home about every three to four weeks, runs CCD religious education for children after Sunday Mass, welcomes newcomers through RCIA, and gathers for Bible study, parish picnics, and joint fellowship events with neighboring St. Paul Church in Leitchfield.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00–5:45 PM (or by appointment)
- 2nd and 4th Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration periodic days (parish bulletin listed Mon., Aug. 1 Noon–9:00 PM at St. Paul; Aug. 8, 11 AM–8:00 PM at St. Elizabeth)
- First Friday Mass 6:00 PM (per Diocese of Owensboro listing)
About St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a small Roman Catholic territorial parish in Clarkson, Kentucky, in the Diocese of Owensboro. The parish is clustered with St. Paul Catholic Church in Leitchfield as a 'Duo-Parish' that shares a pastor, a single weekly bulletin, and a Parish Office. Locals and visitors are welcomed to the church at 306 Clifty Ave. for Sunday Mass, Wednesday evening Mass, periodic Eucharistic Adoration, and a rich program of parish life that ranges from CCD and RCIA to homebound ministry, Bible study, parish picnics, and a growing Knights of Columbus 'Shop with a Knight' outreach.
History & Heritage
The Diocese of Owensboro lists St. Elizabeth of Hungary as an active parish; detailed founding records have not been published on the parish's official cluster website. The parish worships under the patronage of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a 13th-century Hungarian princess famed for her charity to the poor — her feast is celebrated on November 17, and the cluster holds a special Mass for the parish's patron each year.
- Patron: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Feast Day: November 17 (annual Mass celebrated at the parish)
- Dio-Parish cluster with St. Paul, Leitchfield (shared priest, bulletin, office)
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Elizabeth offers Mass on Sundays, Wednesdays, First Saturdays, and First Fridays. The parish is small, and Wednesday evening Mass is preceded by Confessions from 5:00–5:45 PM. Holy Days and Solemnities such as the Feast of the Assumption are marked with an extra 6:00 PM Mass at St. Elizabeth.
- Sunday — 10:30 AM
- Wednesday — 6:00 PM
- First Saturday — 10:00 AM
- First Friday — 6:00 PM (per Diocese of Owensboro listing)
- Holy Day additions (e.g., Immaculate Conception 6:00 PM; Assumption 6:00 PM)
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are available through the cluster parishes. Preparation requirements are published on the 'Sacraments & Worship' section of the cluster website, including baptism preparation for parents, a 9–12 month marriage preparation period, RCIA for adults, and the parish CCD program for First Communion and Confirmation preparation of children.
- Baptism — call the office to begin preparation ideally at least 6 months in advance; usually celebrated during regular Masses
- First Communion — through CCD
- Confirmation — through CCD / Bishop's visit
- Reconciliation — see Reconciliation section
- Marriage — contact at least 6 months before desired date; full prep usually 9–12 months
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
- Holy Orders & RCIA — by arrangement with the pastor
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The cluster provides religious education for children (CCD) at both churches after Sunday Mass, with St. Elizabeth scheduling CCD every other Sunday after the 10:30 AM Mass. RCIA is held Wednesday afternoons at St. Elizabeth for adults preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church. Children's Church is offered during the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass.
- CCD at St. Elizabeth — alternate Sundays after 10:30 AM Mass
- Children's Church during 10:30 AM Sunday Mass
- RCIA — Wednesdays at 4:30 PM at St. Elizabeth
- Bible Study — Wednesday evenings at 6:40 PM at St. Elizabeth (taught by the pastor; current series on the Pentateuch)
Parish Life, Fellowship & Outreach
Parish life at St. Elizabeth runs the gamut from weekly fellowship to once-a-year traditions. Highlights include the celebrated Annual Parish Picnic — a multi-generational fundraiser described by former pastor Fr. Steve Hohman as 'a homecoming for people who have moved away from the area, some even out of state' — as well as Women's Bunco nights at St. Elizabeth, the cluster's Men's Prayer Breakfast at St. Paul, and group events like the Bereavement Group and Bible Study.
- Annual Parish Picnic — major fundraiser and homecoming
- Women's Bunco nights — St. Elizabeth parish hall
- Men's Prayer Breakfast — St. Paul, Saturdays
- Bereavement Group meetings — St. Paul Hall
- Parish Picnic / Car Show / Parish Mission (cluster events)
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of the cluster parishes. The cluster's Knights of Columbus council runs 'Shop with a Knight,' a Christmas assistance program for local children, and has organized Bingo nights in support of parish and community programs. The cluster's Homebound Ministry visits two elderly St. Elizabeth parishioners at the Springview Nursing Home about every three to four weeks, and a monthly senior-meal delivery ministry cooks and delivers dinners to local elderly on the third Thursday of each month. Pastors have organized Jamaica mission trips (in non-pandemic years) and a substitute domestic mission with the Glenmary Missionaries in eastern Tennessee.
- Knights of Columbus — 'Shop with a Knight' Christmas program; Bingo nights (paused/reopened); Family Dinner and Social events
- Homebound Ministry — visits to Springview Nursing Home (about every 3–4 weeks)
- Monthly Senior Meals — cook and deliver on the third Thursday of each month
- Jail Ministry — men's and women's jails (periodic)
- Mission trips — Jamaica (pre-COVID); Glenmary Missionaries trip to eastern Tennessee (2021 substitute)
Parish Leadership & Staff
St. Elizabeth and St. Paul share one pastor under the duo-parish arrangement. The pastor at the time of the most recent Diocese of Owensboro listing is Rev. Suneesh Mathew; Fr. Steve Hohman served the cluster earlier (he is cited throughout bulletins from 2020–2022). The cluster Office Assistant serving St. Elizabeth is Glenda Killingbeck; Amy (Darst) DePoyster serves as Secretary/Receptionist for St. Paul.
- Pastor — Rev. Suneesh Mathew (Diocese of Owensboro listing)
- Former Pastor — Rev. Steve Hohman (referenced 2020–2022)
- Office Assistant (St. Elizabeth) — Glenda Killingbeck
- Secretary/Receptionist (St. Paul) — Amy (Darst) DePoyster
Parish Council (St. Elizabeth)
The St. Elizabeth Parish Council oversees worship, faith formation, youth/CCD, outreach and grounds for the parish. Members are elected/appointed across functional areas to lead parish life.
- Chair — Mary Ellen Wygant
- Liturgy/Worship — Julie Cox
- Liturgy/Faith — Richard Darst
- Youth/CCD — Mike Foster
- Youth — Trensia Skaggs
- Outreach — Amanda Roberts
- Outreach/Service — Tim Lampton
- Art/Environment — Wes Dixon
- Building/Grounds — Dannie Harris
- Social — Randall Drake, Adam Williams
- Secretary — Lindsey Smith, Jimmy Tilford
Bulletin & Communications
Because St. Elizabeth and St. Paul share a pastor and Parish Office, they publish a single weekly bulletin titled 'Churches of St. Paul & St. Elizabeth.' The bulletin carries parish-wide announcements, the pastor's weekly column, the Saint Elizabeth/St. Paul Mass schedules, the Parish Council rosters, prayer lists, and a 'Schedule of Services for the Week.' Past bulletins are archived at saintpaulchurchgrayson.com under 'Bulletins.'
- Combined parish bulletin: 'Churches of St. Paul & St. Elizabeth'
- Bulletins archived at saintpaulchurchgrayson.com/bulletins-3/
- Cluster website: http://saintpaulchurchgrayson.com/
- Secondary landing page: https://stelizabethclarkson.church/
Cemeteries
The cluster maintains several parish cemeteries, including St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Clarkson. Contact information for cemetery needs is published on the 'Sacraments & Worship → Cemetery Contacts' menu of the cluster website.
- St. Elizabeth Cemetery — Clarkson
- Sister cemeteries: St. Paul Cemetery, St. Mary Cemetery, St. Francis Cemetery (per cluster site menu)
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Elizabeth at its Clifty Avenue address in Clarkson or by mail at PO Box 273, Clarkson, KY 42726. The Office Assistant for St. Elizabeth is available Wednesdays from 12:00–6:00 PM. The Pastor's email is published on the Diocese of Owensboro parish page.
- Address — 306 Clifty Ave., Clarkson, KY 42726
- Mailing — PO Box 273, Clarkson, KY 42726
- Parish phone — (270) 242-4414
- Cluster rectory — (270) 242-7436
- Email — [email protected]
- Pastoral email — [email protected]
- Office hours — Wednesday 12:00–6:00 PM
- North of Main Street / Hwy 62
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Steve Hohmanreferenced as pastor in parish bulletins 2020–2022
Wrote the weekly pastor's column; led Bible study on the Pentateuch; organized CCD, Jamaica mission trips, Men's Prayer Breakfast and Women's Bunco.
- Rev. Suneesh Mathewcurrent (listed on Diocese of Owensboro parish page)
Diocesan contact email [email protected].