About St. James · Louisville, Kentucky
St. James is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, clustered with nearby St. Brigid Parish since 1994 and now sharing pastoral staff and outreach programs while each retains its own identity. The parish was established in 1906 and serves the faithful of the 40204 ZIP code from its landmark church on Edenside Avenue, a century-old orange-brick building with a 122-foot bell tower and a 2,200-pound bronze bell that is itself a Highlands icon. St. James also operates a parish school (Preschool-8) and is part of the Archdiocese of Louisville.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- St. James
- Rector
- Rev. Gary T. Padgett
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. James is a warmly welcoming Highlands parish where newcomers and visitors are struck by the unique beauty of the historic church and by the friendliness of the people. The parish offers the full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation, weddings, baptisms, RCIA — alongside a parish school (Preschool–8), an early childhood program, and active youth and young-adult ministries. It also lives out a serious mission of charity through partnerships with St. Vincent de Paul, Highlands Community Ministries, Dare to Care, and Habitat for Humanity, sharing these outreach efforts with sister parish St. Brigid.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 6:30–6:45 p.m. (before the 7:00 p.m. Mass)
- Anytime by appointment: (502) 645-8863
Parish History
Founded in 1906 as the Highlands grew, St. James opened its first Mass on September 7 of that year under founding pastor Fr. E. Earle Willett, who would lead the parish for 48 years. A parish school staffed by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph opened just ten days after the first Mass, and within a decade the original frame church and school were already too small. The present church, designed by James J. Gaffney, opened on December 21, 1913; a new school was dedicated in 1924 and the rectory in early 1929.
- 1901 – Bishop William G. McCloskey authorizes a new Highlands parish
- 1906 – First Mass on September 7; Fr. E. Earle Willett named first pastor
- 1913 – Current Gaffney-designed church opens December 21
- 1924 – New parish school dedicated
- 1929 – Rectory completed
- 1980 – Louisville Landmarks Commission nominates campus for National Register
- 1982 – Church, rectory, and school listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 1994 – Under Fr. Donald R. Goetz, St. James clusters with St. Brigid
- 2006 – Interior renovation restores the church
- 2012 – Fr. Anthony Olges becomes cluster pastor
- 2014 – Fr. Gary Padgett welcomed as current pastor
Architecture & Historic Buildings
Louisville architect James J. Gaffney designed the church, the rectory, and (in collaboration on the campus) the school. The 1913 church is a Highlands landmark, immediately recognizable for its orange glazed-brick exterior, red clay Spanish-tiled roof, 122-foot bell tower, and 80-foot dome. The Gaffney-designed rectory followed in 1928–29 in a style intentionally complementary to the church.
- Architect: James J. Gaffney
- Orange glazed brick exterior
- Red clay Spanish-tiled roof
- 122-foot bell tower
- 80-foot dome
- 2,200-pound bronze-cast bell
- National Register of Historic Places (added March 1, 1982)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms are normally celebrated during a weekend Mass or by appointment through Fr. Gary. First Communion and Confirmation preparation take place through the interparish Family Faith Formation Program. Reconciliation is offered weekly and by appointment, weddings are coordinated through Wedding Director Elizabeth Lichtsteiner, and adults seeking initiation join the OCIA (RCIA) process.
- Baptism
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony
- Holy Orders
- OCIA / RCIA
Parish School & Faith Formation
St. James School has been educating Highlands children in a Catholic, Christ-centered environment since the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph opened the original school ten days after the first Mass in 1906. Today the school serves Preschool through Grade 8 under principal Gregory Boehmer, with an early childhood development program added in 1996; both the school and early childhood program operate at capacity. Religious education for parish children not enrolled in the school is provided through the Interparish Family Faith Formation Program in cooperation with St. Brigid, St. Agnes, Holy Family, and the Pax Christi cluster.
- St. James School (Preschool–8) — Principal: Gregory Boehmer
- Early Childhood Development Program (since 1996)
- Interparish Family Faith Formation Program (K–8) — meets monthly at St. Agnes
- RCIA / OCIA — A.G.I.F.T. discussions Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 p.m. at the St. Brigid Goetz Center
- Highlands Young Adult Catholics (ages 18–40) — 2nd & 4th Thursdays at the Goetz Center
Music & Liturgy
Music and liturgical ministry at St. James is led by Director of Music & Organist Philip Hines, who supports the parish's Sunday and weekday Masses, weddings, funerals, and other celebrations. The Worship Committee coordinates the many lay liturgical roles that make these celebrations possible.
- Director of Music & Organist: Philip Hines (St. James)
- Director of Music & Organist: Dr. Thomas Parr (St. Brigid)
- Worship Committee chair (St. James): Charlotte Miller Stengel
- Worship & Funeral Coordinator: Patsy Bourke
- Liturgical roles: sacristans, lectors, Ministers of Communion, Arts and Environment, gift bearers, ushers, altar servers
Outreach & Charity
St. James and its sister parish St. Brigid share a robust social outreach program that works through partner agencies to serve the wider Louisville community. Parishioners volunteer time, talent, and treasure to feed the hungry, support families in crisis, and build housing with other area churches.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — financial assistance; monthly dinner service to the homeless (4th Wednesday, 5:00–6:00 p.m.); Hearts for the Holidays Angel Tree at St. Brigid
- Highlands Community Ministries (HCM) — Dare to Care food pantry collections, back-to-school supplies drive, Christmas Angel Tree at St. James, annual fundraiser auction basket
- Dare to Care — food collections for HCM pantry
- Habitat for Humanity — partnership with other area churches
- Joint Pastoral and Finance Councils with St. Brigid
Clergy & Staff
St. James is led by a pastoral team shared with St. Brigid, supported by deacons, and staffed by parish professionals in worship, administration, finance, music, and school leadership.
- Rev. Gary T. Padgett — Pastor
- Rev. James Hackett — Senior Associate Pastor
- Rev. Muwonge Expedito — Visiting Associate Pastor
- Rev. John R. Burke — Retired, in Residence
- Rev. Paul W. Eve — In Residence
- Deacon William P. Tribbey, O.F.S. — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Louie Dugan — Retired Deacon
- Kristin Kupper — Parish Manager
- Adelaide Hess — Bookkeeper
- Kate Breen — Admin Assistant / Bulletin / Mass Intentions
- Martha Tribbey — Admin Assistant / Ministries
- Judy Forcht — Accountant / Payroll
- Philip Hines — Director of Music & Organist (St. James)
- Dr. Thomas Parr — Director of Music & Organist (St. Brigid)
- Patsy Bourke — Worship & Funeral Coordinator
- Elizabeth Lichtsteiner — Wedding Director / Goetz Center Rental / Sacramental Records
- Gregory Boehmer — School Principal
- Maude McCarthy — Pastoral Council contact
Cluster with St. Brigid
Since 1994 St. James has been clustered with neighboring St. Brigid Parish under a single pastor and shared staff. The two parishes operate independently and each retains its own identity, but they collaborate on the school, joint Pastoral and Finance Councils, sacramental preparation, and a wide range of outreach ministries. Both parishes use the shared website sbsjlou.org and the joint email [email protected].
- Cluster formed in 1994 under Rev. Donald R. Goetz
- Shared pastoral staff, business office, and outreach
- Joint Pastoral and Finance Councils
- Single shared website: sbsjlou.org
Visiting St. James
St. James is located at 1826 Edenside Avenue in the heart of the Highlands neighborhood (ZIP 40204). The parish notes that newcomers and visitors are struck by both the unique beauty of the historic church and the friendliness of the parish community — a photo tour of the church, prepared by parishioner Bob Van Bruggen, is offered on the parish website.
- Address: 1826 Edenside Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204-1522
- Phone: (502) 451-1420
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.sbsjlou.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJamesLouisville
- Photo tour of the church available on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. E. Earle Willett1906–1954 (approx., 48 years)
First pastor, appointed four days before the first Mass on September 7, 1906; walked the parish and visited families on their porches.
- Rev. Donald R. Goetz
Led St. James into the two-parish cluster with St. Brigid in 1994.
- Rev. Anthony Olges2012–2014
Pastor of the St. Brigid–St. James cluster; retired in June 2014.
- Rev. Gary T. Padgett2014–present
Welcomed as pastor of St. Brigid and St. James in June 2014.