About St. John the Apostle · Brandenburg, Kentucky
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Louisville serving the Catholic faithful of Brandenburg, Kentucky, in Meade County. The community traces its origins to the early 1800s, when priests of the Diocese of Bardstown rode a mission circuit to scattered Catholic families, and was formally established in 1892 as St. George Catholic Church. Renamed in honor of St. John the Apostle through the generosity of John B. Kelly of Philadelphia — father of Princess Grace of Monaco — the parish is now led by Rev. Michael C. Martin and registers about 455 families who gather for daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of ministries.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Michael C. Martin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. John the Apostle is a small but remarkably active rural parish where the people really do know one another. With about 455 registered families, the parish offers daily Mass Tuesday through Friday at 11:00 a.m., a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, weekly Confession on Saturday afternoons, and two regular sessions of Eucharistic Adoration each week. Parishioners can join more than two dozen ministries — from Knights of Columbus, Jail Ministry, and the Food Bank, to the Music Ministry, Children's Church, Pickleball, Bible Study, and the annual Picnic & Harvest Festival — making it easy to put faith into action across every season of life.
Mass times at St. John the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
- After weekday Masses or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
About St. John the Apostle
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Louisville located at 515 Broadway in Brandenburg, Kentucky, the seat of Meade County. It registers about 455 families and is led today by Father Michael C. Martin, with Deacon J. Michael Jones assisting. The parish traces its roots to the early 1800s and the missionary circuits of the Diocese of Bardstown.
Parish History
Catholic life in Brandenburg began when priests from the Diocese of Bardstown rode the mission circuit to scattered families in Meade County. In 1824, Rev. Elisha J. Durbin began monthly visits; Rev. John Thomas O'Connor, resident pastor of St. Mary of Pazzi in Payneville, later erected a church on West Hill and dedicated it to St. George. That original St. George Catholic Church was formally dedicated on November 15, 1892.
- First baptism: Eleanor Hardesty Brown, September 17, 1899
- First marriage: Romanus Burch and Lela Craycroft, September 7, 1899
- First burial: Agnus Malin, March 11, 1901
- St. George Cemetery established 1902 on land donated by the Sebastian family along Hwy. 448
The Kelly Donation and the Name 'St. John the Apostle'
In a date and year not preserved in parish records, John B. Kelly of Philadelphia — father of Princess Grace of Monaco — made a large donation to the Catholics of Brandenburg. Augmented by a gift from the Catholic Church Extension Society, the funds enabled construction of a church on Old State Road. In gratitude, the parish was placed under the patronage of St. John the Apostle, Mr. Kelly's own patron saint.
The Lightning Strikes and Rebuilding
The first church was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1919; a replacement building suffered the same fate in 1920. For a time parishioners attended Mass in neighboring parishes or in private homes. By 1948–49 the church had been enlarged to double its original seating capacity.
Becoming a Parish and Building the Present Church
In 1950 Archbishop John Alexander Floersh purchased 19.6 acres on East Broadway / Hwy. 448, the site of today's parish. The Trinitarian Fathers assumed pastoral care of the mission in 1957. On August 18, 1960, the mission was elevated to parish status and Father Lambert Stack, S.T., was named the first pastor. The new church on Broadway was completed in 1980, with its first Mass celebrated on March 29, 1980, and formal blessing and dedication by Archbishop Thomas J. McDonough on September 4, 1980. A narthex was added to the main entrance in 2016.
The School Years
An elementary school opened in 1965 and was staffed by the Augustinian Sisters from Malta; the former Old State Road rectory served as both convent and school building. A new convent was built in 1982. After five decades of religious sisters, religious priests, and diocesan priests catechizing children who became the parents and grandparents of countless local families, the school closed in 2005.
Pastor Succession
The parish's pastoral leadership has moved from the Trinitarian Fathers (1957–1982) to diocesan priests, and since 2004 to a shared two-parish pastorate with St. Martin of Tours in Flaherty.
- Rev. Lambert Stack, S.T. – first pastor (1960)
- Rev. William J. Martin – first diocesan pastor (1982)
- Sr. Justina Heneghan, R.S.M. (Pastoral Administrator) with Rev. Jude Weisenbeck / Rev. Philip Erickson (Sacramental Moderator) – 1998
- Rev. Paul Beach – 2004
- Rev. Anthony Chandler – 2008–2011
- Rev. Kevin Bryan – 2011–2020 (resided at St. John's 2017–2020)
- Rev. Trumie (Pepper) C. Elliott – Administrator Ad-tempore, Jan–May 2021
- Rev. Toan Do – appointed May 14, 2021
- Rev. Michael C. Martin – current pastor
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. Michael C. Martin and served by Deacon J. Michael Jones. Lay staff coordinate the parish's liturgical, catechetical, and administrative life.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael C. Martin
- Permanent Deacon: J. Michael Jones
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Jennifer Shelton
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Regina Bennett
- Director of Music: Derek Crafton
- Secretary: Karen Lindsey
- Bookkeeper: Judy Yates
Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. John the Apostle spans children, youth, young adults, and adults. Programs include ongoing Religious Education for parish children, a Youth Ministry for 6th–12th graders, and a Young Adult Ministry with Bible study, basketball, and board games. Adult Faith Formation offers Bible studies, small-group discussions, seasonal retreats, and special presentations.
- Religious Education (coordinator: Regina Bennett)
- Catholic Youth Ministry, grades 6–12 (https://www.saintjohnyouth.org/)
- Young Adult Ministry (Bible Study, basketball, board games)
- Adult Faith Formation — Bible studies, small groups, retreats
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Music and liturgical service are central to parish life at St. John the Apostle. Derek Crafton serves as Director of Music.
- Music Ministry (Director: Derek Crafton)
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers)
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Greeters
- Children's Church
- Church Decorating / Church Environment Committee
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond the sanctuary, the parish offers many ways to build friendships and live out the Gospel in everyday life — from men's fellowship to pickleball to a quilting group.
- Men's Group
- Pickleball Ministry
- Sew N' Sews (sewing/quilting/crafting fellowship)
- Picnic & Harvest Festival (annual parish tradition)
- 500 Club ($10/month fundraiser with cash-prize drawings)
Outreach & Service
St. John's parishioners take the Gospel beyond the church walls to neighbors who are sick, incarcerated, hungry, or grieving.
- Homebound Ministry (visits to sick, elderly, and homebound parishioners)
- Jail Ministry (prayer and spiritual support for the incarcerated)
- Food Bank Ministry
- Bereavement Committee
- Prayer Chain & Card Ministry
Knights of Columbus
St. John the Apostle has a council of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization dedicated to faith, charity, unity, and patriotism, which serves both the parish and the wider Brandenburg community.
Cemetery & Facilities
The parish continues to care for St. John Cemetery — the historic St. George Cemetery established in 1902 on land donated by the Sebastian family along Hwy. 448 — through a dedicated Cemetery Committee. A separate Ground & Facilities Committee tends the parish buildings and grounds year-round.
Sacraments
Reconciliation (Confession) is offered Saturday afternoons from 3:15 to 3:45 PM with Fr. Martin, and is also available after weekday Masses or by appointment. Families seeking Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, or other sacraments are invited to contact the parish office.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM; after weekday Masses; by appointment
- Contact parish office for Baptism, Marriage, and other sacraments
Contact, Location & Office Hours
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church is located at 515 Broadway in Brandenburg, Kentucky 40108. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and closed on Friday. An after-hours line is available for urgent pastoral needs.
- Address: 515 Broadway, Brandenburg, KY 40108
- Phone: (270) 422-2196
- Fax: (270) 422-2471
- After Hours: 270-422-2996
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (closed Friday)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Lambert Stack, S.T. (Trinitarian)1960 – c.1982
First pastor when St. John the Apostle Mission was elevated to a parish on August 18, 1960.
- Rev. William J. Martin1982 – c.1998
First diocesan priest-pastor, succeeding the Trinitarian Fathers in 1982.
- Sr. Justina Heneghan, R.S.M. (Pastoral Administrator) with Rev. Jude Weisenbeck / Rev. Philip Erickson (Sacramental Moderator)1998 – c.2004
New parish leadership model with religious sister as pastoral administrator and priest as sacramental moderator.
- Rev. Paul Beach2004 – 2008
First pastor assigned jointly to St. John the Apostle and St. Martin of Tours in Flaherty.
- Rev. Anthony Chandler2008 – 2011
Continued the two-parish pastorate with St. Martin of Tours.
- Rev. Kevin Bryan2011 – 2020
Continued joint pastorate; resided at St. John the Apostle from 2017 to Dec. 31, 2020. Narthex added during this period.
- Rev. Trumie (Pepper) C. ElliottJan 1 – May 14, 2021
Administrator Ad-tempore.
- Rev. Toan Do2021 –
Appointed Pastor of St. John the Apostle on May 14, 2021.
- Rev. Michael C. MartinPresent
Current pastor.