About St. Mark · Richmond, Kentucky
St. Mark Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Richmond, Kentucky, in the Diocese of Lexington. Tracing its roots to the first Mass said in Richmond around 1809 by Father Stephen T. Badin, the community has worshipped on West Main Street for more than 150 years, with the present stone church dedicated by Bishop Maes in 1908. Today the parish — under the leadership of Father Tom Farrell — runs St. Mark Catholic School, a Spanish-speaking Hispanic Ministry, the EKU Newman Center, and a full slate of faith-formation, outreach, and worship ministries for Madison County families.
- Established
- 1809
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Tom Farrell
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington
Why belong here
St. Mark has been a Catholic presence in Madison County for almost 150 years and offers a complete Catholic life in one place: weekday and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, a K-8 Catholic school, an active Hispanic Ministry, the EKU Newman Center, RCIA and faith formation for all ages, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, and Saturday confessions. The parish describes itself as 'a Holy Roman Catholic Church in union with the Holy Father and Diocesan Bishop,' and welcomes returning Catholics, newcomers, and inquirers alike. Whether you are looking for a school, a Spanish-speaking Mass community, or a college-town Newman Center, you can find a home at St. Mark.
Mass times at St. Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday, immediately after Mass until 5:00 p.m.
Welcome and Parish Identity
Father Tom Farrell, the current pastor, extends a personal welcome to returning Catholics, newcomers to Madison County, and those with an emerging interest in the Catholic faith. The parish's 'About Us' statement is direct: 'We are a Holy Roman Catholic Church in union with the Holy Father and Diocesan Bishop.' Members are invited to become 'an active and committed member of our parish community' and to call on the parish office for help during any time of transition.
- Pastor: Fr. Tom Farrell
- Affiliation: Diocese of Lexington
- Slogan: 'a community of faith for almost 150 years'
History of St. Mark Parish
Catholic life in Richmond began around 1809 when Father Stephen T. Badin said Mass in the pioneer township. The community worshipped in circuit-rider mission stations and a house on North Second Street before purchasing the West Main Street lot in 1865. A frame church was dedicated in 1867, Father Michael Callaghan became the first resident pastor in 1874, and the frame church burned on All Souls' Day 1906. Bishop Maes dedicated the present stone church on December 13, 1908, calling it 'a substantial monument to the faith and sacrifice of the Catholics of Richmond that will stand for generations to come.' The parish became part of the new Diocese of Lexington in 1988.
- 1809 — first Mass said by Fr. Stephen T. Badin
- 1853 — Richmond mission placed under the Diocese of Covington
- 1860 — lot purchased on North Second Street
- 1867 — frame church dedicated by Bishop George A. Carroll
- 1906 — original frame church burns
- 1908 — stone church dedicated by Bishop Maes
- 1966 — St. Mark Catholic School dedicated Nov. 5
- 1988 — joins the newly-formed Diocese of Lexington
- 1998 — new church dedicated Aug. 30; school expansion (gym, classrooms, kitchen)
Pastor and Parish Leadership
Fr. Tom Farrell was named pastor in 2016 and continues today. He is supported by Fr. Enrique Montoya (Parochial Vicar / Hispanic Ministry), Deacon Jim Bennett, the parish office staff, and St. Mark Catholic School principal Cathy Cornett.
- Fr. Tom Farrell — Pastor (ext. 1851, [email protected])
- Fr. Enrique Montoya — ext. 1851 (Hispanic Ministry)
- Deacon Jim Bennett — 859-623-7675 ([email protected])
- Alanna Sininger — Director of Youth & Collegiate Ministries (ext. 1855, [email protected])
- Cathy Cornett — St. Mark Catholic School Principal (ext. 1860)
- Tony Fritz — ext. 1852 (facilities/maintenance)
- Michelle Burgmaier — Regional Accountant (ext. 1852)
Hispanic Ministry
The Hispanic Ministry at St. Mark was established in February 1999. It began with one Spanish Mass a month followed by a community dinner, then grew to Masses on the 3rd and 4th Sundays, and during the summer of 2007 the parish moved to weekly Spanish Masses with a community dinner on the 4th Sunday. Fr. Enrique Montoya currently celebrates the 4:00 p.m. Spanish Mass, with special celebrations including Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 (Mañanitas early-morning devotion and evening Mass).
- Founded February 1999
- Weekly Spanish Mass Sunday at 4:00 p.m. — Fr. Enrique Montoya
- Community dinner on the 4th Sunday of the month
- Our Lady of Guadalupe — December 12 (Mañanitas and evening Mass)
- Contacts: Jim Bennett 859-623-7675; Fr. Enrique Montoya 859-623-2989
Becoming Catholic — RCIA / RCIC
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the parish's process for adults and children age seven and older who wish to join or complete their initiation into the Catholic Church. Classes meet Sunday mornings immediately following the 8:30 a.m. Mass, beginning in late August and concluding in spring. Volunteers are needed as sponsors, discussion leaders during the Lenten dismissals, and hospitality/food team members.
- For: unbaptized adults, baptized Christians entering full communion, and baptized Catholics completing initiation
- Classes: Sunday mornings after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, late August through spring
- RCIC — Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (ages 8+), same schedule
- Contact: Tricia Davis, (859) 248-2495
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Mark has deep roots: for years before 1948, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth came to Richmond on Saturdays to conduct catechism classes, and in September 1948 the Sisters of Our Lady of Victory (Victory-Noll, Huntington, Indiana) opened a Catechetical Center. Today, parish faith formation spans RCIA, RCIC, the Catholic school, the Hispanic Ministry, and youth and collegiate ministries led by Alanna Sininger.
- Pre-1948 — Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Saturday catechism classes
- 1948 — Sisters of Our Lady of Victory open Catechetical Center
- 1966 — St. Mark Catholic School dedicated
- Today — RCIA, RCIC, school, youth & collegiate ministries
St. Mark Catholic School
St. Mark Catholic School was dedicated November 5, 1966, after three parishioners — Colonel Phil Brady, Karl Kuhn, and William Manz — approached Monsignor Poole and Bishop Richard Ackerman of Covington for permission to build a Catholic school. The school's expansion in 1998 added middle-school classrooms, a new kitchen, and a gym.
- Dedicated November 5, 1966
- Principal: Cathy Cornett (ext. 1860, [email protected])
- 1998 expansion added middle-school classrooms, kitchen, and gym
EKU Newman Center — St. Stephen the Martyr
Catholic student life at Eastern Kentucky University began in 1936 when freshman Virginia Perraut won President Donovan's permission to found a Catholic Club. After decades of meeting in the Old University Building and worshiping at St. Mark, Father Ronald Kettler was named the first full-time Newman chaplain in 1970. Bishop Ackerman allocated funds for the current facility, dedicated in September 1977, and the Newman Center was established as the parish of St. Stephen the Martyr in memory of former student Stephen Potocsnak.
- 1936 — EKU Catholic Club founded by Virginia Perraut
- 1970 — Father Ronald Kettler named first full-time chaplain
- 1976 — Construction begun on current facility
- 1977 — Facility dedicated September 1977; named in memory of Stephen Potocsnak
- Sunday Mass at 5:00 p.m. when EKU is in session
Parish Office and Contact
Parish office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–12:30). The general phone number is (859) 623-2989. Online giving and a link to watch the online Mass via Chrome or Edge are available on the parish website.
- Parish Office: (859) 623-2989
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed 12:00–12:30)
- Online giving: through the parish website
- Online Mass link available via the homepage (Chrome/Edge)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Stephen T. Badinc. 1809
Said the first Mass in Richmond; pioneering circuit-rider era
- Father Michael Callaghan1874-
First resident pastor; also superior of missionaries in the area
- Fathers Francis J. Donnelly, John J. McQuinley, Edward Healy, Joseph Merschmann
Successor resident pastors after Callaghan
- Father William Punch
Saw the frame church burn on All Souls' Day, 1906
- Father Thomas D. Cooney
Succeeded Father Punch; career cut short by untimely death
- Father John F. O'Dwyer1910-
Built pastoral residence; founded Holy Name Society, Altar Society, sodalities
- Monsignor Poole
Pastor during the early 1960s who helped launch the Catholic school effort
- Father John McGuire1960s
Poole's assistant; instrumental in acquiring land for the Newman Center
- Father Ronald Kettler1970
First full-time chaplain at the EKU Newman Center
- Father Greg Schuler1990-
Appointed by Bishop Williams to serve both St. Mark and St. Stephen Newman Center parishes
- Deacon Dick Jackson1988-1990+
St. Mark's first permanent deacon; later named administrator of St. Mark
- Sister Clara Fehringer, O.S.U.1990-
Administrator of the Newman Center under shared-pastor arrangement
- Father Ken Waibel1994-1998
Combined St. Mark and St. Stephen under one parish named St. Mark Parish
- Father Patrick Stewart1998-2004
Oversaw dedication of the new church, August 30, 1998
- Father James Sichko2004-2016
Named pastor July 2004
- Father Tom Farrell2016-present
Current pastor