About St. John Chrysostom · Eminence, Kentucky
St. John Chrysostom is a small Roman Catholic mission church located at 221 South Penn Avenue in Eminence, Kentucky, the seat of Henry County. The parish has provided spiritual leadership to Catholics in Henry County since 1873 and was formally erected as a parish on January 18, 2024, by decree of Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of the Archdiocese of Louisville after decades as a mission served by priests from neighboring towns. It now has almost 275 registered parishioners and is led by Rev. Jean González Romero, with three permanent deacons and a small staff.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. John Chrysostom
- Rector
- Rev. Jean González Romero
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. John Chrysostom is a close-knit Catholic family of faith that has served Henry County since 1873, offering Sunday and weekday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, RCIA for adults seeking to become Catholic, faith formation (CCD) for children on Sundays after Mass, and a 'Coffee & Conversations' fellowship group for adults. With about 275 parishioners, a dedicated Parish Hall built in 1988, and a parish-led Hug Quilt Ministry that handcrafts prayer quilts for those in need, the mission provides a welcoming spiritual home for anyone wishing to join a small, supportive Catholic community in Eminence.
Mass times at St. John Chrysostom
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st, 3rd, and 4th Sundays at 9:00 AM (per official website)
Our History
The Catholic presence in Henry County began in 1855 when Rev. John Bekkers traveled from the Cathedral in Louisville to say Mass in local homes. Archbishop Martin John Spalding granted permission to build a church in Eminence in 1860, and according to Archdiocesan historian Rev. John Lyons, Rev. Edwin Drury of Pewee Valley built St. John Chrysostom as one of three mission churches — with Mass first celebrated in the building in 1890 and the parish first appearing in the Catholic Directory in 1891. The organ and stained-glass windows of a former Catholic church at nearby Bedford were moved to Eminence to adorn the new mission.
- 1855: Rev. John Bekkers begins celebrating Mass in Henry County homes
- 1860: Archbishop Martin John Spalding authorizes a church in Eminence
- 1890: First documented Mass celebrated in the church building
- 1891: St. John Chrysostom first listed in the Catholic Directory
- 1892: Stations of the Cross erected
- 1908: New organ first used (December)
- 1958: About eight families in the parish
- 1988: Parish Hall built and dedicated by Archbishop Thomas Kelly on Nov. 27, 1988
- 1992: Full interior renovation; parish has grown to ~50 families
- 2005: Concrete ramp makes church handicap-accessible
- August 26, 2023: 150th anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre
- January 18, 2024: Formally erected as a parish by decree of Archbishop Fabre
Mission & Patron Saint
The parish describes itself as 'a Roman Catholic faith community, united in Christ,' whose mission is to proclaim the Gospel by supporting one another's faith through prayer and worship, offering outreach to those in need, and providing a place of Catholic worship to anyone wishing to join. It is named for St. John Chrysostom (c. 350–407), one of the three Byzantine Doctors of the Church and one of the greatest preachers of the early Church, known as 'Golden-Mouthed' for his oratory. He was Bishop of Constantinople, exiled for his reforms, and is honored with a feast day on September 13.
- Patron: St. John Chrysostom
- Feast Day: September 13
- Title: Bishop of Constantinople (397)
- Died in exile in Cappadocia, 407
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
St. John Chrysostom's Faith Formation program (CCD) meets on Sunday after Mass and helps prepare children to receive the sacraments. The parish also offers 'Coffee & Conversations,' an adult fellowship and faith-sharing gathering. A parish quote on the page reads: 'Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.' — St. John Chrysostom.
- CCD for children — Sunday after Mass
- Coffee & Conversations for adults
Becoming Catholic — RCIA
The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), the ancient process restored by the Second Vatican Council for initiating new members into the Catholic Church. The process includes the Pre-Catechumenate (Period of Inquiry), the Rite of Initiation, the Catechumenate (a period of study and formation), the Rite of Election, and Mystagogy after the Easter Vigil, when candidates receive the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. A team of parish sponsors guides and instructs inquiring adults.
- Pre-Catechumenate (Period of Inquiry)
- Rite of Initiation
- Catechumenate — study and formation
- Rite of Election — with the Bishop
- Mystagogy — reflection after Easter Vigil
- Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is provided on the parish website. Baptism requires registration in the parish and a class with Fr. González; Confirmation is conferred by the Archbishop with preparation offered August through Easter Vigil; Matrimony requires a minimum of six months of preparation before the wedding date. The parish also celebrates First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Anointing of the Sick through its pastoral care.
- Baptism — register with Fr. González; class required
- Confirmation — preparation August through Easter Vigil; received from the Archbishop
- Eucharist / First Communion
- Reconciliation — Sundays 1st, 3rd, and 4th at 9:00 AM
- Matrimony — minimum 6 months of preparation
- Anointing of the Sick (through pastoral care)
Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
St. John Chrysostom relies on parishioner volunteers to support worship and parish life. The parish website lists several liturgical ministries — Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Hospitality Ministers (greeters and ushers), Gift Bearers, and Altar Servers — along with the parish's signature outreach ministry, the Hug Quilt Ministry, and the Altar Society.
- Eucharistic Ministers — training classes required before scheduling
- Lectors — share Sunday readings from the ambo; resource workbooks provided
- Hospitality Ministers — greet at the door and take up the collection
- Gift Bearers — bring bread and wine to the altar
- Altar Servers — training provided for adults and youth
- Hug Quilt Ministry — handmade prayer quilts with prayers for healing
- Altar Society
- RCIA team sponsors
Hug Quilt Ministry
The Hug Quilt Ministry is one of St. John Chrysostom's most distinctive outreach programs. Parishioners hand-make quilts (also called Prayer Quilts) while praying for healing on behalf of the recipient, and the quilts are then given to those who are ill or in need of comfort. To request a Hug Quilt, parishioners are invited to contact the parish office.
- Handmade by parishioners
- Prayers for healing recited while the quilt is made
- Requests handled through the parish office
Parish Staff
The mission is served by a small pastoral team. Rev. Jean González Romero is the pastor; the parish is also assisted by three permanent deacons and a lay staff including a Director of Religious Education, a Director of Service and Worship, and a parish secretary.
- Pastor: Rev. Jean González Romero
- Permanent Deacons: Robert J. Hart, Brendan 'Butch' Kinsella, John P. Strain
- Director of Religious Education: Maria Rocio Hinojosa
- Director of Service and Worship: Darla Novosel
- Secretary: Pat Smith ([email protected])
Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is located at 221 S. Penn Avenue, Eminence, KY 40019 (mailing address: P.O. Box 364, Eminence, KY 40019-0364). Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The parish phone is (502) 518-0154 and the fax is (502) 633-1547. General inquiries can be directed to secretary Pat Smith at [email protected].
- Address: 221 S. Penn Avenue, Eminence, KY 40019
- Mailing: P.O. Box 364, Eminence, KY 40019-0364
- Phone: (502) 518-0154
- Fax: (502) 633-1547
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu — 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM