About St. Francis of Assisi · Louisville, Kentucky
The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1960 Bardstown Road in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. Established in 1886 under Bishop William G. McCloskey to serve the German Catholic farmers settling Louisville's eastern section, the parish is today a diverse, urban community of approximately 2,300 households whose ministries support the parish school, serve the neighborhood, and aid the needy. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Louisville and is currently led by Very Rev. Jonathan M. Erdman, V.F., as pastor.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jonathan M. Erdman, V.F.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi has served the Highlands since 1886 as a close-knit Catholic community rooted in worship, service, and a parish school that generations of families have attended. Today it welcomes a diverse mix of young professionals, young families, longtime residents, and newcomers from Asia, Europe, and South America. Members can participate in a wide range of worship ministries (choir, lectors, eucharistic ministers, altar servers), weekly adoration and Reconciliation, faith formation for children and adults, and outreach through groups like Highland Community Ministries — all on a single, walkable Bardstown Road campus anchored by the historic sandstone church.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 4:15 p.m. (also for the Ordinariate)
- Friday 4:15 p.m. (also for the Ordinariate)
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 p.m.
- By appointment (call the rectory)
Adoration times
- Thursday 4:15 p.m. (Adoration and Vespers)
Parish History
Bishop William G. McCloskey of Louisville appointed Rev. Bernard Westermann in 1885 to found the parish for the German Catholic farmers of the Highlands. A frame church was dedicated on July 4, 1886, with about forty-five founding families, and a small frame school opened in 1887 staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. The parish grew steadily through the early 20th century, and under Rev. Theodore Reverman (pastor from 1921) a new school building that doubled as a temporary church was dedicated on July 4, 1925. The cornerstone of the present English Gothic church was laid on July 4, 1950, by Monsignor Edward Link, and the current building was dedicated in 1952. Major sanctuary renovations and the parish statue arrived in 1986 for the centennial.
- 1885: Father Bernard Westermann appointed to found the parish
- July 4, 1886: First frame church dedicated (about 45 families)
- 1887: First school opens, staffed by Sisters of Mercy
- 1911: Ursuline Sisters of Louisville take over the school at request of Rev. Henry Rothheut
- 1921: Rev. Theodore Reverman becomes pastor
- July 4, 1925: New school building / temporary church dedicated
- 1936: 650 families, 533 students
- July 4, 1950: Cornerstone of current church laid under Monsignor Edward Link
- 1952: Current English Gothic church dedicated
- 1986: Sanctuary renovated and bronze St. Francis statue installed for centennial
Architecture and Buildings
The current church was designed by Louisville architects Walter Wagner and Joseph Potts in a modified English Gothic style and is the only church in Louisville built of sandstone from St. Meinrad Archabbey's quarry in southern Indiana. Italian mosaics and marble finish the interior, including a large sanctuary mosaic of St. Francis comforted by angels, a stained-glass entrance window showing scenes from his life, and nave windows depicting the liturgical year. The Parish Offices and Rectory were built in 1928; the rectory served as the priests' residence into the 1990s and is now the main parish office and meeting space. The current school building, completed in 1926, was the largest structure on the grounds and even housed the church for 26 years.
- Architects: Walter Wagner and Joseph Potts (current church)
- Construction: Sandstone from St. Meinrad Archabbey quarry, southern Indiana
- Interior: Italian mosaics and marble
- Rectory built 1928; now parish offices
- School building completed 1926; largest structure on campus
- 1986 bronze statue of St. Francis preaching to the animals by Charlotte Price
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Jonathan M. Erdman, V.F., as pastor, with Very Rev. Anthony L. Chandler, KCHS, serving as parochial administrator pro tempore of St. Francis of Assisi Parochial School. Two permanent deacons — Darryl J. Diemer and Craig S. Roberts — assist with parish ministry.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Jonathan M. Erdman, V.F.
- Parochial Administrator pro tempore of the School: Very Rev. Anthony L. Chandler, KCHS
- Permanent Deacon: Darryl J. Diemer
- Permanent Deacon: Craig S. Roberts
Parish Staff and Office
Pastoral and operational staff support liturgy, religious education, music, school administration, and parish communications.
- Parish Secretary and Director of Communications: Debra Renauer
- Director of Religious Education: JoAnn Jones
- Music Director: Patrick Valentino
- School Principal: Steve Frommeyer
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Fri 8:30 a.m.–noon
- Phone: (502) 456-6394; Fax: (502) 456-9462; Email: [email protected]
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares children and adults for the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, with parent meetings, workshops, and celebrations throughout the year. Reconciliation is celebrated in the fall of the 2nd-grade year, First Eucharist in the spring of 2nd grade, and Confirmation in 5th grade.
- Baptism (infants/children under 7): celebrated on scheduled weekends
- First Reconciliation: fall of 2nd grade
- First Holy Communion: spring of 2nd grade
- Confirmation: 5th grade (parish) / spring of middle school (school)
- Contact: JoAnn Jones, Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
Worship and Music Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as altar servers (grades 5+ and adults), lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, ministers of hospitality (ushers/welcome), and arts and environment volunteers. The music program is led by Music Director Patrick Valentino and includes the Schola of St. Clare (adults) and the St. Francis Treble Choir (students in grades 4–8).
- Altar Servers
- Arts and Environment
- Church Cleaners
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Ministers of Hospitality
- Sacristans
- Schola of St. Clare (adult choir)
- St. Francis Treble Choir (grades 4–8)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Director of Religious Education (JoAnn Jones) coordinates formation for parish children who do not attend the parish school, including Sunday classes that culminate in the celebration of the sacraments. Kids in Christ is a monthly school-age gathering in the church — featuring adoration of the Holy Eucharist, veneration of saint relics, rosaries, litanies, Stations of the Cross, and time with Father Erdman.
- Religious Education Program for non-school parishioners
- Sacramental prep: Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- Kids in Christ (monthly gathering after school, with Fr. Erdman)
- Adult Spirituality Center (on Alfresco Place): prayer groups, Bible studies, meetings
St. Francis of Assisi School
The parish school has served the Highlands since 1886, first taught by the Sisters of Mercy and, from 1911, by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. The current school building, completed in 1926, was renovated over the decades and continues to house an intentionally small enrollment of about 265 students, allowing for individualized, nine-year Catholic education. The school community gathers weekly for student-led Mass on Wednesdays and takes part in special liturgies including the Opening School Mass, Community Stations of the Cross, and the May Procession.
- Founded 1886; Sisters of Mercy until 1911, then Ursuline Sisters of Louisville
- Current school building completed 1926
- Maximum enrollment ~265; nine-year curriculum
- Mission: forming young people as instruments of peace and love
- Principal: Steve Frommeyer
- Weekly Wednesday student Mass; Opening School Mass; Stations of the Cross; May Procession
- School website: https://www.sfalouisville.org/
Outreach and Service
St. Francis carries on the parish's longstanding tradition of ecumenical and charitable outreach begun in the 1960s through organizations like Highland Community Ministries. Parish ministries continue to aid the needy, support the school, and serve the wider Highlands neighborhood as the parish has grown from a German farming community into a diverse urban neighborhood parish.
- Highland Community Ministries (ecumenical outreach)
- Parish aid to the needy
- Support of St. Francis of Assisi School
- Hospitality and welcome ministries for new and long-time parishioners
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard Westermann1885–
Young German priest appointed by Bishop McCloskey to found the parish; oversaw 1886 construction and dedication of the first frame church.
- Rev. Henry Rothheut
In 1911, at his request, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville began staffing the school.
- Rev. Theodore Reverman1921–
Appointed pastor in 1921; planned and dedicated the new school/temporary-church building on July 4, 1925.
- Monsignor Edward Link
Pastor under whom the cornerstone of the current English Gothic church was laid on July 4, 1950, with the church dedicated in 1952.