About St. John the Baptist · Fordsville, Kentucky
St. John the Baptist Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the rural community of Fordsville in Ohio County, western Kentucky. It is part of the Diocese of Owensboro and is currently pastored by Fr. Brian Roby, who also serves nearby St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Whitesville. With only about 25 registered families (population ~40), the parish offers Sunday Mass, a Thursday evening Mass with Adoration and Confession, and is a quiet, family-centered faith community in the heart of the Kentucky countryside.
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Brian Roby
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is the kind of small, warm parish where everyone knows each other by name — a true rural Catholic community in the rolling hills of Ohio County. With weekly Sunday Mass, a Thursday evening Mass preceded by Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a St. Vincent de Paul charitable outreach, the parish offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in an intimate, family-friendly setting. Visiting parishioners will find a faithful congregation devoted to the Eucharist, stewardship, and decades-long parish traditions rooted in the Diocese of Owensboro.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 PM (before the 6:00 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00 PM (immediately preceding the 6:00 PM Mass)
About St. John the Baptist Parish
St. John the Baptist Parish is a small Roman Catholic community located on Smith Street in Fordsville, Ohio County, Kentucky. As one of the smaller parishes of the Diocese of Owensboro, it serves about 25 registered families (population ~40) and offers the faithful a quiet, rural setting for worship. The parish is currently pastored by Fr. Brian Roby, who also serves St. Mary of the Woods in Whitesville, and gathers regularly for Sunday Mass and a Thursday evening Mass with Adoration and Confession.
- Diocese: Diocese of Owensboro
- County: Ohio County, Kentucky
- Registered families: ~25
- Pastoral grouping: with St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville
Parish Leadership
St. John the Baptist is led by Fr. Brian Roby, who was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Owensboro on May 25, 1996. Fr. Roby serves as pastor of this parish together with St. Mary of the Woods in Whitesville, a common diocesan arrangement that allows priests to minister to several small rural communities.
- Fr. Brian Roby — Pastor
- Ordained: May 25, 1996 (Diocese of Owensboro)
Ministries and Outreach
Despite its small size, St. John the Baptist Parish maintains active ministries that serve both parishioners and the wider community. The parish hosts a St. Vincent de Paul Society committee for charitable outreach, and historically has offered a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) religious education program for the faith formation of its young people.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — charitable outreach committee
- CCD / Religious Education program (historical)
Sacraments
Information about celebrating the sacraments at St. John the Baptist can be obtained by contacting the parish office. The weekly schedule includes the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Thursday evening Mass.
- Sacrament of Reconciliation — Thursday 5:00 PM
- Eucharist — Sunday 7:30 AM; Thursday 6:00 PM
- Contact the parish office for Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, First Communion, Confirmation, and other sacramental needs.
Contact the Parish
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. John the Baptist by mail, phone, or email. The parish mailing address is a P.O. Box in Fordsville, and the church is located on Smith Street.
- Street address: 66 Smith Street, Fordsville, KY 42343
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 127, Fordsville, KY 42343
- Phone: 270-276-3619
- Alternate phone: 270-233-4196
- Email: [email protected]
Notable People and Parish Honors
The parish's faithful have been honored in the wider diocese for their lifelong stewardship and service. Multiple parish couples have celebrated 50+ years of marriage recognized by the Diocese of Owensboro, and Ursuline Sister Marie Michael Hayden, OSU, was honored with the 2005 Sophia Award for her ministry at St. John the Baptist.
- 2005 Sophia Award — Sr. Marie Michael Hayden, OSU (Ursuline Sister serving the parish)
- Longtime families recognized for 50+ year wedding anniversaries (e.g., Jim & Dorothy Roberts, Lee & Connie Roberts).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Eric D. Riley
Listed as pastor in an earlier Owensboro Diocesan Directory.
- Rev. Gerald 'Jerry' Baker2013 – May 2016
Also pastor of St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville. Suspended in May 2016 following an allegation and later permanently removed from ministry in October 2018.
- Fr. Brian Roby
Current pastor; ordained May 25, 1996; also serves St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville.