About St. Elizabeth · Ravenna, Kentucky
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Catholics and the people of Estill County in the Appalachian hill country of east-central Kentucky. Founded in 1932, the parish sits at the top of Fifth Street in Ravenna, Kentucky, and is part of the Diocese of Lexington's Mountain East Deanery. Though modest in size — the parish counts roughly 41 households — it is an active worship community with weekly Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, a Holy Hour, a parish food bank, Hispanic outreach, and a published Laudato Si' environmental action plan. The parish is currently served by Fr. Enrique Montoya, O.F.M., Conv., a Conventual Franciscan priest who also ministers to Hispanic Catholics in the surrounding counties of Richmond, Winchester, and Mt. Sterling.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Fr. Enrique Montoya, O.F.M., Conv. (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington (Mountain East Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a small but warm rural parish where every face is known. Parishioners gather around a single Sunday Mass and weekday Masses, share a Holy Hour on Wednesdays, run an emergency food bank that serves Estill County, and come together for seasonal celebrations like the bilingual Posada and the Feast of St. Francis blessing of animals. With active Bible study, youth ministry and RCIA classes, a parish herb/garden club, county clean-up days, and a published Laudato Si' action plan, the parish offers the kind of hands-on, family-sized Catholic community that many larger parishes cannot.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 15 minutes prior to Sunday Mass (per parish website)
- Half-hour before Mass, upon request (per Diocese of Lexington directory)
Adoration times
- Holy Hour — Wednesday 6:00 PM
About St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church has been serving Catholics and the people of Estill County, Kentucky since 1932. The parish describes itself as small but spirited: 'Our parish is small, but our hearts and people are larger than life.' It is located at 322 Fifth Street, at the very top of the street, in Ravenna, Kentucky, and is part of the Diocese of Lexington's Mountain East Deanery. Despite having roughly 41 households, the parish runs weekly Mass, a Holy Hour, a food bank, a Laudato Si' environmental action plan, Bible study, youth ministry, RCIA, and a bilingual Hispanic ministry that serves multiple surrounding counties.
- Founded January 1932
- Diocese of Lexington — Mountain East Deanery
- Address: 322 Fifth Street, Ravenna, KY 40472
- Phone: (606) 723-8216
- Approximately 41 registered households
History of St. Elizabeth Church
The parish's history page on its own website tells a compact origin story. When Ravenna became a railroad center, a three-acre plot on a picturesque knoll was donated by Mrs. Sawyer for the building of a Roman Catholic Church. For many years, Catholics in the area had sought a suitable place for worship. Through a generous bequest from Miss Katherine Veronica Schmidt of Richmond, Kentucky, it became possible for Father Oscar Poole to build a church. The resulting brick structure, of plain Italian style with a small campanile, accommodating about 150 worshipers, was completed in January 1932. Nearly a century later, the parish still gathers Catholics from across Estill County and beyond.
- Land donated by Mrs. Sawyer
- Construction funded by bequest of Miss Katherine Veronica Schmidt of Richmond, KY
- Built by Fr. Oscar Poole
- Completed January 1932
- Italian-style brick church with small campanile, capacity ~150
Our Pastor and Clergy
The parish is currently served by Fr. Enrique Montoya, O.F.M., Conv., as Parochial Administrator. Born in Mexico, the third of seven children, he was ordained in 2006 after seminary formation in Mexico and Italy. His pastoral assignments have included several in Mexico, followed by the Diocese of Austin and now the Diocese of Lexington. St. Elizabeth parish welcomed him in February of 2023. In addition to administering St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Ravenna, Fr. Montoya ministers to Hispanic Catholics in Richmond, Winchester, and Mt. Sterling, celebrating Masses and sacraments in Spanish.
- Fr. Enrique Montoya, O.F.M., Conv. — Parochial Administrator since February 2023
- Fr. Albert Fritsch, S.J. — Pastor (retired)
- Sr. Theresa Kehres, O.S.F. — Pastoral Associate (former)
- Brother John — assists with seasonal Franciscan services such as Care for Creation
Hispanic Ministry and the Posada
Although Ravenna has few Hispanic residents, the Diocese of Lexington has entrusted Fr. Enrique Montoya with the pastoral care of Hispanic parishioners across Richmond, Winchester, and Mt. Sterling. He brings these Latino Catholics together at St. Elizabeth, most notably for the annual Posada celebration. The celebration begins in the church with the Rosary alternating in English and Spanish, followed by bilingual Christmas carols. Afterwards the community moves to the Parish Center for a shared Mexican meal — a vivid expression of the parish's Franciscan, bicultural, and family spirit.
- Spanish Masses and sacraments in Richmond, Winchester, and Mt. Sterling
- Bilingual Rosary and Christmas carols during Posada
- Shared Mexican meal in the Parish Center after the Posada service
Food Bank and Outreach
St. Elizabeth of Hungary maintains an emergency Food Bank to assist neighbors in Estill County, especially during periods of food insecurity. Outreach is coordinated by Tammy Noe, who can be reached through the church office at (606) 723-8216 to arrange donations of non-perishable food or to request assistance. The parish also directs donors to online giving for its outreach programs, and points visitors to other Estill County food banks such as the Estill County Food Bank on Main Street in Ravenna (across from the park between Fifth and Sixth Streets, in the building marked 'Youth Center') and the Ravenna Church of God on 210 Third Street.
- Outreach Coordinator: Tammy Noe — (606) 723-8216
- Estill County Food Bank on Main: 9:00 AM to noon, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
- Ravenna Church of God, 210 Third St.: 10:00 AM to noon, Thursdays and Fridays
- Online 'Outreach' giving option via the parish website
Laudato Si' and Care for Creation
At the request of Bishop John Stowe, O.F.M., Conv., of the Diocese of Lexington, St. Elizabeth prepared and published a formal Laudato Si' Action Plan dated September 8, 2024. The plan is coordinated by Fr. Enrique Montoya and Rosemary Capo, with a Parish Action Team that includes Chris Foster, Mario Alexander, the Stickney family, Caleb Stickney, Zach Lee, Barb Dixon, Ann Miller, and others. The parish commits itself to 'continually working towards a sustainable society' that preserves natural resources and helps those most in need.
- Solar power / Laudato Si' Action Plan (Sept. 8, 2024)
- Electric vehicle charging station installation grant (Evolve KY / Mountain Association)
- Arbor Day tree give-away with the Estill County Conservation District
- County Clean-up Day with the local Solid Waste Coordinator
- LED light give-away to the poor at the monthly basement sale
- Animal blessings on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
- Monthly Herb / Garden Club meetings
- Environmental tips in the weekly bulletin
- Incorporation of ecological themes into Bible Study, Youth Ministry, and RCIA
Faith Formation: Bible Study, Youth Ministry, and RCIA
The parish runs a Bible Study Group that meets after Sunday Mass and aims to weave environmental themes into scripture discussion, in keeping with its Laudato Si' plan. Youth Ministry classes and RCIA preparation classes likewise incorporate these themes. RCIA is offered for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church through Baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation. Together these programs form the core of ongoing faith formation for a small but engaged congregation.
- Bible Study Group — after Sunday Mass
- Youth Ministry classes
- RCIA preparation classes
- Ecological themes woven into all three
Parish Facilities and Grounds
The parish campus centers on the 1932 brick church on a three-acre knoll at the top of Fifth Street, alongside a Parish Center (church hall) used for shared meals, meetings, and seasonal celebrations like the Posada. The grounds have hosted outdoor ministries including the parish's Care for Creation service and the Feast of St. Francis animal blessing.
- Historic 1932 brick church with small campanile
- Parish Center / church hall for fellowship and meals
- Three-acre site on a knoll at the top of Fifth Street
Plan Your Visit
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Elizabeth of Hungary. The most regular gathering point is Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM, with confessions heard fifteen minutes before. Weekday Masses and a Wednesday Holy Hour offer additional opportunities for prayer. The parish office can be reached at (606) 723-8216 for the latest information on Mass times, confession, sacramental needs, the food bank, or outreach donations.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM (Confessions 15 minutes prior)
- Weekday Mass: 6:00 PM
- Holy Hour: Wednesday 6:00 PM
- Office: (606) 723-8216
- Address: 322 Fifth Street, Ravenna, KY 40472
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Oscar Poolec. 1931–1932
Built the church, which was completed in January 1932 using a bequest from Miss Katherine Veronica Schmidt of Richmond, Kentucky.
- Fr. Albert Fritsch, S.J.
Jesuit pastor who preceded the current administrator; subsequently retired.
- Fr. Enrique Montoya, O.F.M., Conv.February 2023–present
Conventual Franciscan from Mexico; also ministers to Hispanic Catholics in Richmond, Winchester, and Mt. Sterling.