About St. Julian · Middlesboro, Kentucky
Saint Julian Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Middlesboro, Kentucky, in the southeast corner of the state near Cumberland Gap. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Lexington and is staffed by the Missionaries of the Sacred and Precious Blood (MSSCC). It traces its origin to 1890, when the first Mass was celebrated in a frame church built on land donated by the English 'American Association Limited' syndicate that founded Middlesboro. Today the parish hosts daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a Catholic school tradition dating to 1947, and ministries spanning faith formation, music, prayer, and outreach.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- Saint Julian (the Hospitaller)
- Rector
- Rev. Yohanes Akoit, MSSCC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington
Why belong here
St. Julian is a small but mission-minded parish where weekly Mass six days a week is supported by a robust schedule of Eucharistic Adoration — including a nine-hour First Friday vigil and a Wednesday Adoration Hour — and a long tradition of confession before Saturday Vigil Mass. The parish welcomes families with children's faith formation, Vacation Bible School, RCIA, a parish school, and a parish library, and it offers something for every age through choirs, Knights of Columbus, prayer groups, rosary, Divine Mercy, Stations of the Cross, and outreach ministries like the community meal and funeral assistance.
Mass times at St. Julian
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:15 PM to 5:45 PM
- Wednesday 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM (during Adoration)
- By appointment — call the parish office at (606) 248-2068
Adoration times
- Wednesday Adoration Hour: 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
- Nine-Hour Eucharistic Adoration on the first Friday of each month
Parish History
Saint Julian Parish dates to 1890, when the first Mass was said in a frame church on a lot donated by the English 'American Association Limited' syndicate that founded Middlesboro at Cumberland Gap. Reverend Theophilus Nyssen was the first resident pastor; his successor Father Patrick M. Jones built the present brick church in 1892. The collapse of the English Syndicate in 1895 crippled the booming frontier town, shrinking both Middlesboro's population and the parish, which survived on the irregular visits of diocesan priests until Bishop Maes entrusted southern Kentucky to the Benedictine Fathers of Cullman, Alabama in 1899. From that point the parish was continuously under Benedictine care through most of the twentieth century.
- 1889 – Frame church erected on syndicate-donated lot
- May 1890 – First Mass said by Rev. Francis T. Marron of Knoxville
- 1891–1892 – First resident pastor Rev. Theophilus Nyssen
- 1892 – Present brick church built by Rev. Patrick M. Jones
- 1895 – English Syndicate collapse; town shrinks from ~10,000 to ~4,000
- 1899 – Benedictine Fathers of Cullman, Alabama, take charge
- 1934–1939 – Father Fidelis Meierl, O.S.B., renovates interior and builds parish hall
- October 11, 1942 – Golden Jubilee observed under Father Joseph Stangl, O.S.B.
- Autumn 1947 – Sisters of Divine Providence open the parish school (50 children)
Patron Saint
The parish is named for Saint Julian the Hospitaller, traditionally venerated as the patron saint of travelers, innkeepers, and ferrymen. His feast day is observed in the Roman Calendar on February 12.
- Patron: Saint Julian (the Hospitaller)
- Feast day: February 12
Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Father Yohanes Akoit, MSSCC, a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred and Precious Blood, who was assigned as pastor in 2025. Day-to-day operations are coordinated by Business Office Manager Elizabeth Evans. Both can be reached through the parish office at (606) 248-2068.
- Pastor: Rev. Yohanes Akoit, MSSCC (2025–Present)
- Business Office Manager: Elizabeth Evans
- Parish phone: (606) 248-2068
Faith Formation
Religious education and sacramental preparation for every stage of life are central to the parish's ministry. The parish runs a parish school (since 1947), Vacation Bible School, and programs for children, youth, young adults, and adults preparing to enter the Church.
- Children's Religious Education
- Adult Religious Education / Bible Study
- Young Adult Religious Education
- RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- RCIY – Rite of Christian Initiation of Youth
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Vacation Bible School
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to share their gifts through the Music Ministry, which encompasses both choral and instrumental ensembles supporting the parish's Sunday and weekday liturgies.
- Choir
- Instrumental Music
Prayer Groups and Devotions
A robust prayer life is woven through the parish schedule, with both communal devotions and small-group prayer meetings continuing the parish's Benedictine heritage.
- Divine Mercy prayer group
- Healing Prayer
- Intercessory Prayer
- Rosary (before Sat Vigil and Tuesday Mass)
- Stations of the Cross
Outreach and Community Life
St. Julian serves the wider Middlesboro community through the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry at the community meal, walking with families in funeral assistance, sending Eucharistic ministers to the homebound and hospitalized, and maintaining a parish library. The Knights of Columbus and parish picnic knit the parish together socially.
- Community Meal
- Funeral Assistance
- Eucharist brought to the Homebound and Hospitalized
- Knights of Columbus
- Parish Library
- Parish Picnic
- Welcome / Hospitality Team
What We Believe
The parish's 'What We Believe' page sets out the core doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church: belief in one God and the Holy Trinity; the authority of Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium; the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ; the seven sacraments; and the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, where bread and wine become His body and blood.
- Belief in one God and the Holy Trinity
- Authority of Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium
- One, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church
- Seven sacraments instituted by Christ
- Real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
Mission of the Parish
St. Julian reaches beyond its own four walls. According to the diocesan directory the parish maintains mission care for the Church of St. Anthony in Pineville, extending Catholic presence across Bell County.
- Mission: Church of St. Anthony, Pineville
Visit, Contact, and Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the rectory by phone at (606) 248-2068. The grounds offer a handicap-accessible ramp. The parish encourages newcomers to introduce themselves to the Welcome / Hospitality Team and to join newcomers' receptions held in September and March.
- Address: 118 East Chester Avenue, Middlesboro, KY 40965
- Phone: (606) 248-2068
- Handicap-accessible ramp on the grounds
- Newcomer receptions in September and March
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Theophilus Nyssen1891–1892
First resident pastor, appointed by Bishop Maes after the first Mass in May 1890.
- Rev. Patrick M. Jones1892–1894
Erected the present brick church in 1892 and negotiated the lot with the Town Company.
- Rev. Jerome Feys1894–1895
- Rev. B. Hoovenaers1895
- Rev. William Cassander1895–1897
Traveled in to care for the congregation during the lean post-Syndicate years.
- Rev. Wendeling Goehrig1897–1898
- Rev. Giles Schuelckers, O.S.B.1899–1902
First Benedictine assigned to Middlesboro.
- Rev. Alphonse Kling, O.S.B.1903–1907
- Rev. Augustine Palm, O.S.B.1907–1922
- Rev. William Geis, O.S.B.1922–1934
- Rev. Fidelis Meierl, O.S.B.1934–1939
Redecorated the interior; new windows, pews, heating; parish recreation hall built.
- Rev. Joseph Stangl, O.S.B.1939–1949
Directed the 1942 Golden Jubilee and opened the Sisters of Divine Providence parish school in 1947.
- Rev. Kevin Cronin, O.S.B.1949–1955
- Rev. Otto Hering1955–1960
- Rev. Eugene Wagner1960–1962
- Rev. James McHugh1960–1962
- Rev. Bela Folfody1962–1969
- Rev. Verne Hogan1969–1982
- Rev. Charles Rooks1982–1986
- Rev. Stephen Glalenstein1986–1994
- Rev. John Dane1994–1997
- Rev. Lee Trimbur1997–2001
- Rev. Jerome Stern2001–2004
- Rev. Patrick Fitzsimons2004–2007
- Rev. Amal2007–2010
- Rev. Thobias Sabriar2010–2016
- Rev. John Morairty2016–2019
- Rev. Kiran Varaparla2019–2021
- Rev. Miguel Alvizures2021
Interim Pastor.
- Rev. Jesuraj2022–2023
- Rev. Prashanth Lobo, MSSCC2023–2025
- Rev. Yohanes Akoit, MSSCC2025–Present
Current pastor.