About St. Francis of Assisi · Loretto, Kentucky
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish located in the unincorporated community of St. Francis in Marion County, Kentucky, with a mailing address in nearby Loretto. Established in 1870, it is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the region — part of the so-called 'holy land' of central Kentucky settled by Catholic pioneers in the late 1700s. The parish is currently clustered with neighboring Holy Cross Church, sharing one pastor and a single parish office, and serves roughly 1,100 registered parishioners who regard the church as the spiritual and social focal point of their community.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Richard T. Goodin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the oldest parishes in central Kentucky's historic 'holy land,' with deep roots going back to 1854 and a formal founding in 1870. With about 1,100 registered families, it offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — daily and weekend Mass in a solid-brick church dedicated in 1900, weekly confession, Eucharistic adoration, and the sacraments — while remaining small enough that parishioners know one another and stay connected to their heritage. As one of two clustered parishes (with Holy Cross) sharing one pastor in Loretto, it is the spiritual and social heart of the community.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00–3:50 p.m. (also listed as 3:15–3:45 p.m.) at St. Francis of Assisi Church
- By appointment — see Father or call the parish office
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:00 p.m. (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
The Catholic story of the Loretto–St. Francis area stretches back to the early 1800s, when local Catholics had to walk or ride to neighboring towns for Mass. In 1854, Dutch Father Francis Wuyts began offering Mass in a settlement then called Chicago — the original name for St. Francis — and by 1859 a small frame church stood on a hill. The parish was formally established in 1870 under Father John Creary, the first resident pastor, who built the original rectory. The parish's first school, St. Clare Academy of Chicago, opened in 1880; the rectory in use today was built in the 1880s; and the present solid-brick church was dedicated on December 27, 1900, after years of parishioner labor.
- 1854 — Father Francis Wuyts begins offering Mass in 'Chicago' (original name for St. Francis)
- 1859 — First frame church completed on a hill
- 1870 — Parish formally established
- 1880 — St. Clare Academy of Chicago opens as first parochial school
- 1880s — Rectory (still in use) built
- 1887 — New brick church replaces frame building
- 1900 — Present solid-brick church dedicated December 27
Schools and Educational Heritage
Catholic education has been central to parish life since 1880. St. Clare Academy of Chicago opened as the parish's first parochial school and, after relocating to Loretto in 1958, continued until 1991. St. Francis High School in Loretto educated teens from 1951 to 1970, and the building now serves the parish as an activity center. When the original convent at St. Francis burned in 1959, a new convent was built the same year and now operates as the Loretto Senior Center.
- St. Clare Academy of Chicago (1880–1958 in St. Francis; continued in Loretto until 1991)
- St. Francis High School, Loretto (1951–1970) — now parish activity center
- Original convent burned 1959; rebuilt same year — now Loretto Senior Center
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, and Matrimony. The site's Sacramental menu references preparation for these rites; arrangements are typically made by contacting the parish office.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation
- Matrimony
Pastoral Staff and Parish Office
St. Francis of Assisi and Holy Cross are clustered parishes sharing one pastor and a single parish office in Loretto. The team currently includes the pastor, an office manager, and a bookkeeper. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a lunch break from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
- Pastor: Rev. Richard T. Goodin — [email protected]
- Office Manager: Carol Blanford — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Donna Essex — [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (lunch 12:00–1:00)
Clustered Parish: Holy Cross
Since 1995, St. Francis of Assisi has been clustered with Holy Cross Church under a single pastor. Holy Cross — known as the birthplace of Catholicism in Kentucky, established in 1785 by a 'league' of sixty Catholic families — celebrates its own weekend Mass (Sunday 8:00 a.m.) and weekday Masses (Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 a.m.), with Reconciliation on Sundays from 7:00–7:50 a.m. and Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. Both parishes operate out of the shared parish office in Loretto.
- Clustered with St. Francis since 1995
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 a.m. at Holy Cross
- Weekday Masses: Wednesday & Friday 9:00 a.m.
- Reconciliation: Sunday 7:00–7:50 a.m.
- Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 9:30 a.m.
Facilities and Community Buildings
Beyond the historic 1900 brick church, the parish campus reflects more than a century-and-a-half of community building. The 1880s rectory is still in use, and the former St. Francis High School (1951–1970) now functions as a parish activity center. The Loretto Senior Center, housed in the convent rebuilt after the 1959 fire, serves the wider Loretto community and continues the parish's tradition of caring for neighbors.
- Solid-brick church (dedicated December 27, 1900)
- Rectory (built 1880s, still in use)
- Parish activity center (former St. Francis High School)
- Loretto Senior Center (former convent, rebuilt 1959)
Contact and Visit
St. Francis of Assisi Church is located at 6785 Highway 52 in the community of St. Francis, Marion County, Kentucky. The parish mailing address is P.O. Box 74, Loretto, KY 40037-0074. The parish office is at 200 School Drive, Loretto, KY 40037 (physical office address: 3540 N. St. Francis Road, Loretto, KY 40037) and is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors and parishioners can reach the office by phone at (270) 865-2521 or by fax at (270) 865-2071, or by email at [email protected].
- Church: 6785 Highway 52, Loretto, KY 40037
- Mailing: P.O. Box 74, Loretto, KY 40037-0074
- Office: 200 School Drive, Loretto, KY 40037
- Phone: (270) 865-2521 | Fax: (270) 865-2071
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sfahc.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Wuyts1854–
Dutch priest who began offering Mass in the settlement originally called Chicago (St. Francis) and oversaw construction of the first frame church by 1859.
- Father John Creary
First resident pastor; built the rectory.