St. Lawrence

About St. Lawrence Catholic Church

St. Lawrence Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish at 120 N Gatewood Street in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, in the Diocese of Lexington. The parish traces its roots back to the 1870s and now offers daily and weekend Masses, Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, a Spanish-language Sunday Mass, and a full slate of faith-formation, outreach, and fellowship ministries. As the parish describes its mission, members are called 'as Catholic disciples of Jesus Christ and His Church' to respond in faith, celebrate the Sacraments, deepen their faith through lifelong formation, serve those in need, and invite others into the fullness of the Catholic faith.

Our History

Catholic life in Lawrenceburg dates to the 1870s when the congregation was served from Ss. Peter and Paul in Danville. A lot on Main Street was bought in 1873 but never built on; in 1894 the parish acquired the lot on North Gatewood Street (from the Anderson County School Board) and remodeled a school building into a church. By 1921 that building was gone, and for roughly the next quarter-century the small flock was ministered to from St. Leo in Versailles and then from St. Andrew in Harrodsburg. In 1949 a contract was signed to build a new church on the original Lawrenceburg site, and the resulting building — named St. Lawrence — was dedicated by Archbishop John Floersh on June 4, 1952. The parish transitioned into the new Diocese of Lexington in March 1988. Fr. Charles McDonald became the parish's first resident priest in 1993; under his leadership the present sanctuary was built (begun November 1995, dedicated August 25, 1996).

• 1873 – first Catholic lot purchased on Main Street, Lawrenceburg
• 1894 – land on current site acquired; school building remodeled into a church; cornerstone from 1873 foundation made into a holy water font
• 1949 – contract signed for a new church on the same site
• March 11, 1952 – first Mass celebrated in the new St. Lawrence Church
• June 4, 1952 – formal dedication by Archbishop John Floersh
• 1975 – Gabriel Hall completed adjacent to the church
• March 1988 – parish moved from the Louisville Diocese into the newly created Diocese of Lexington
• November 1995 – construction begins on the present sanctuary
• August 25, 1996 – sanctuary dedicated
• June 30, 2024 – Fr. Steve Roberts installed as pastor by Bishop John Stowe

Parish Staff and Clergy

St. Lawrence is pastored by Fr. Steve Roberts, MD, STL, who became the parish's pastor on February 1, 2024 and was installed by Bishop John Stowe on June 30, 2024. He is assisted by Deacon Frank Villalobos, who joined St. Lawrence in November 2023, and Deacon Chris Cecil, ordained June 4, 2016. Day-to-day operations are handled by Office Manager/Bookkeeper Anna Courtney and Administrative Assistant Rita Redden. The parish office is located at 120 N Gatewood Street, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342.

• Pastor: Fr. Steve Roberts
• Deacon: Deacon Frank Villalobos
• Deacon: Deacon Chris Cecil
• Office Manager / Bookkeeper: Anna Courtney
• Administrative Assistant: Rita Redden
• Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (closed Friday and Holy Days of Obligation)
• Phone: 502-839-6381 (Fax 502-859-2419)
• Email: [email protected]

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith formation at St. Lawrence runs from early childhood through adult life. CCD provides religious education for children in PreK through 8th grade; a Youth Group serves students in grades 6 through 12; and a Young Adult ministry gathers parishioners aged 18 to 39. The parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, directed by Deacon Frank Villalobos, walks those seeking full reception into the Catholic Church through the formation process.

• CCD – PreK through 8th grade
• Youth Group – grades 6–12 (Mike Armstrong)
• Young Adult ministry – ages 18–39
• OCIA – Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (Deacon Frank Villalobos)
• Bible Study – Marcia Roark
• Faith Formation lead – Robin Basham

Liturgical Ministries

Liturgical life at St. Lawrence is supported by a broad team of lay ministers coordinated through the Liturgy Committee by Deacon Frank Villalobos. Parishioners serve as altar servers, Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, greeters, and sacristans, and the Altar Society cares for the linens, vessels, and sanctuary appointments.

• Liturgy Committee – Deacon Frank Villalobos
• Altar Society – Cathy Figlestahler & Robin Basham
• Altar Servers – Deacon Frank Villalobos
• Eucharistic Ministers – Deacon Frank Villalobos
• Lectors – Sue Litkenhus
• Greeters – Denis King
• Sacristans – Robin Basham

Parish Outreach and Charity

Service to those in need is central to St. Lawrence's identity. The Open Hands Food Pantry distributes food to neighbors facing hardship; Anderson United and a Transportation ministry help coordinate local community efforts and rides; and a Sick & Homebound Ministry brings Communion and pastoral visits to parishioners who cannot get to church. Martha's Ministry supports families around times of need, and an Outreach committee coordinates the parish's wider charitable work.

• Open Hands Food Pantry (Andrea Dull)
• Outreach (Jim Martin and Andrea Dull)
• Anderson United (Jeff Wedding)
• Transportation (Jeff Wedding)
• Sick & Homebound Ministry (Joy Bozorgzad)
• Martha's Ministry (Sue Litkenhus)
• Bereavement (Sue Litkenhus)
• Funeral Coordinator (Pat Miller)

Knights of Columbus, Hispanic Committee and Fellowship

The Knights of Columbus Council at St. Lawrence, together with the Hispanic Committee, Women's Ministry, Welcome Committee, Social Hour, Prayer Team, and Bereavement ministry, give the parish a strong social fabric. The Hispanic Committee — coordinated by Maria Gonzalez — supports the parish's Spanish-speaking members and works with the Sunday evening Spanish Mass; the Women's Ministry, led by Vanna Armstrong and Diana Nichols, fosters community among the women of the parish; and the Knights support parish and broader community initiatives.

• Knights of Columbus (Johnny Benningfield)
• Hispanic Committee (Maria Gonzalez)
• Women's Ministry (Vanna Armstrong & Diana Nichols)
• Welcome Committee (Christine Buntain)
• Social Hour (Maria Gonzalez & Christine Buntain)
• Prayer Team (Betty Butler)

Sacraments at St. Lawrence

The parish celebrates all the usual sacraments. Parents are asked to attend a baptismal preparation session before a child's Baptism. Couples planning to be married at St. Lawrence must contact the parish office, a deacon, or the priest at least six months ahead of their wedding date. The Anointing of the Sick, Communion calls, and pastoral visits to the sick, homebound, or hospitalized can be arranged through the parish office at any time.

• Baptism (with required parent instructional session)
• Marriage (contact at least 6 months in advance)
• Anointing of the Sick (available anytime)
• Communion calls and visits to the sick, homebound, and hospitalized
• OCIA for adults seeking to become Catholic
• Funeral coordination (Pat Miller)

Diocese of Lexington

St. Lawrence is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Lexington, the Roman Catholic diocese covering central and eastern Kentucky. The parish was placed in the newly created Diocese of Lexington in March 1988 after previously belonging to the Archdiocese of Louisville. The parish office email ([email protected]) and frequent references to Bishop Stowe on the parish website reflect the parish's ongoing diocesan ties.

• Diocese of Lexington
• St. Lawrence transferred from the Louisville Diocese to the new Diocese of Lexington in March 1988
• Bishop John Stowe is the ordinary who has overseen recent pastor installations, including Fr. Jeff Estacio (2017) and Fr. Steve Roberts (2024)