About St. Martha · Louisville, Kentucky
St. Martha Catholic Parish is a Christ-centered community of disciples in the Hikes Point neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, belonging to the Archdiocese of Louisville. The parish was established in 1960 and serves approximately 3,100 parishioners from its campus on Klondike Lane, which also houses St. Martha Catholic School (Preschool through 8th grade). Known for its stewardship heritage, vibrant faith formation, and a strong school community, St. Martha welcomes all who wish to share the mission of Jesus Christ and works collaboratively with other area parishes in ministry and outreach.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- St. Martha
- Rector
- Rev. Seejo Thandiackal, C.M.I.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Martha is a mid-sized, family-friendly parish where a 1,200-family-strong community of faith and an attached Catholic school (Preschool through 8th grade) grow side-by-side. Daily Mass, a long-running Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration hour, RCIA and faith formation for all ages, plus an active school with athletics and clubs, give newcomers multiple easy ways to plug in. The parish's stewardship heritage, welcoming mix of long-time families and newer arrivals, and collaboration with other Hikes Point parishes make it an ideal home for Catholics seeking both traditional worship and active community life.
Mass times at St. Martha
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesdays 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturdays 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 1:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Our History
St. Martha Parish was established in June 1960 by Archbishop John A. Floersh when he appointed Rev. James J. Dalton as founding pastor, in response to the post-war migration of Catholic families from Louisville's West End to the Hikes Point area. The Archdiocese purchased seventeen acres on Klondike Lane, and the men of the parish helped build the rectory, garage, and walk. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Thanksgiving Day 1961 with 424 families on the roster; the church and school were formally blessed by the Bishop on March 4, 1962.
- Founded: June 1960
- First Mass: Thanksgiving Day 1961
- Blessing of church and school: March 4, 1962
- Convent for sisters built: 1965
- First Parish Council formed: 1968
- Two major school additions: 1977
- Church interior renovated and Bethany Center dedicated: May 1985
- Became a stewardship parish: 1990
- First permanent deacons; Fr. John Deatrick arrives as pastor; kindergarten added: 1993
- Sister William Carrico Hall expanded school: 2000
- Athletic facilities, church and school updated: 2005
- School moved to tuition-based model: 2006
- 50th Anniversary; Fr. Mark Hamilton begins as pastor: 2011
- Latest church renovation begun: 2015
- Archbishop Kurtz blesses new organ and Stations of the Cross: 2017
- Fr. Seejo Thandiackal, C.M.I., begins as administrator: June 2018
- Fr. Seejo installed as pastor: Spring 2019
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
St. Martha is currently led by Pastor Rev. Seejo Thandiackal, C.M.I., a member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate who began as parish administrator in June 2018 and was installed as pastor in the spring of 2019. He is assisted by Permanent Deacons Daniel G. Bisig and Michael A. Schmitt, and Pastoral Associate Deacon Derrick Barnes. The wider parish and school staff includes Joan Huber (Parish Catechetical Leader and Youth Minister), Kristina Morgan (Director of Music), Angela Ward (Finance and Human Resources), Betty Hopkins (Bookkeeper), Mary Evelyn Thomas (Office Support Coordinator), and Tammy Fletcher (Administrative Assistant).
- Pastor: Rev. Seejo Thandiackal, C.M.I.
- Permanent Deacons: Daniel G. Bisig, Michael A. Schmitt
- Pastoral Associate: Deacon Derrick Barnes
- Parish Catechetical Leader / Youth Minister: Joan Huber ([email protected], 502-491-8535 ext. 126)
- Director of Music: Kristina Morgan
- Finance and Human Resources: Angela Ward
- Bookkeeper: Betty Hopkins
- Office Support Coordinator: Mary Evelyn Thomas
- Administrative Assistant: Tammy Fletcher
- School Principal: Suzanne Barnett
Our Mission
St. Martha describes itself as a community of approximately 1,200 families growing and forming since 1961. The parish mission statement commits the community to offering worship experiences that enrich members' lives, providing an integrated religious education and lifelong formation program (including an excellent elementary school), embracing the true spirit of stewardship through the generous giving of Time, Talent, and Treasure, operating a sound fiscal program, developing sensitive and socially aware outreach, offering diverse activities for all ages, and displaying gratitude for and a sense of ownership of parish facilities.
- Christ-centered community of approximately 1,200 families
- Worship, formation, stewardship, outreach, and community life as core pillars
- Approximately 3,100 parishioners (per archdiocese profile)
Joining the Parish
St. Martha welcomes new parishioners through a straightforward registration process. At least one adult in the family must be Catholic, and mixed-faith marriages, single Catholic parent households, and Catholics who have not yet received all their sacraments are all welcome. Those who have been baptized Catholic and wish to receive First Holy Communion or Confirmation, or non-Catholics seeking to know more, are directed to the RCIA process. Couples whose marriage was not celebrated in the Catholic Church are encouraged to contact Fr. Seejo to begin the validation process.
- New Member Registration Form available on the parish website
- RCIA inquiries: Joan Huber, 502-491-8535 ext. 126, [email protected]
- Marriage validation inquiries: Fr. Seejo, 502-491-8535 ext. 127, [email protected]
St. Martha Catholic School
St. Martha Catholic School has been part of the parish since 1961, when it opened with three religious sisters, three lay teachers, and about 200 students. Today the school serves Preschool (ages 3 and 4) through Grade 8, with academic teams, extracurricular clubs, and a winning sports program, plus a certified after-school and summer day care program. The school is led by Principal Suzanne Barnett and supported by an active PTO that recently funded a $150,000 playground for students through 8th grade. The C.O.R.E. (Central Office of Reimagined Education), opened in 2020, houses the STEM lab and library outfitted with the latest technology.
- Grades served: Preschool (3 & 4 year olds) through 8th grade
- Principal: Suzanne Barnett, Ed.S.
- Enrollment contact: Taffie Duckworth, 502-495-6107
- Website: https://stmartharocks.com/
- After-school and summer care programs
- Sister William Carrico Hall (2000): three classrooms and an art room
- C.O.R.E. STEM lab and library (2020)
- $150,000 PTO-funded playground
Faith Formation and Sacraments
Religious formation for adults and children has been a hallmark of St. Martha since the late 1960s. The parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those seeking to become Catholic or complete their Sacraments of Initiation, evening religious education for children, and adult learning opportunities under the direction of dedicated DREs, RCIA teams, and volunteers. The Parish Catechetical Leader and Youth Minister, Joan Huber, coordinates faith formation across all ages. The parish prepares children and teens for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and offers Baptism preparation and marriage preparation (including validation of marriages for couples married outside the Church).
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Children's religious education and sacramental preparation
- Youth Ministry (grades 7–12)
- Adult faith formation and learning opportunities
- Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage preparation
- Contact: Joan Huber, [email protected], 502-491-8535 ext. 126
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Martha is led by Director of Music Kristina Morgan, working alongside cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists to enrich the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule. The parish's 2015–2017 church renovation culminated in the blessing of a new organ by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz in 2017, providing a renewed foundation for the music ministry and the parish's liturgical life.
- Director of Music: Kristina Morgan
- New organ blessed by Archbishop Kurtz (2017)
- Cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists support the parish's liturgical life
Parish Life, Outreach, and Stewardship
St. Martha became a stewardship parish in 1990, formally committing to the giving of Time, Talent, and Treasure. Parish life is supported by the Parish Council, Finance Council, Stewardship Committee, and a wide range of lay ministries, including lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, hospitality ministers, and outreach programs. The parish works collaboratively with other Hikes Point parishes to serve the broader community, and Bethany Center (dedicated 1985) provides space for parish activities, meetings, and community events.
- Stewardship Parish since 1990
- Parish Council, Finance Council, Stewardship Committee
- Bethany Center community building (dedicated 1985)
- Outreach and social concern ministries
- Collaboration with other Hikes Point parishes
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James J. Dalton1960 (founding) –
First pastor, appointed by Archbishop John A. Floersh. Led construction of the church, school, rectory, garage, and walk; first Mass celebrated on Thanksgiving 1961 with 424 families.
- Rev. Robert Osborne
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Francis Smith
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. John Lehmenkuler
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. John Sohan
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Clarence Nord
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Robert Gray
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. John Birk
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Kenneth Kamber
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Michael Rankin
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. John Deatrick1993 – 2004 (11 years)
Joined as pastor in 1993; oversaw addition of kindergarten, new classrooms with science/computer lab, church and office updates, and the 2000 Sister William Carrico Hall. Retired in 2004.
- Rev. Robert Huber
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Terry Bradshaw
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Harry Gelthaus
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Anthony Chandler
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Peyton Badgett
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Scott Wimsett
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Fred Hendrickson
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Don Springman2004 – 2011 (approx.)
Became pastor after Fr. Deatrick's retirement in 2004; led the parish until 2011.
- Rev. Wayne Murphy
Served at St. Martha (per parish history list of priests who served at the parish).
- Rev. Mark Hamilton, S.T.D.2011 – 2018
Became pastor in 2011; led the parish through its 50th anniversary and the major 2015 church renovation; the new organ and Stations of the Cross were blessed by Archbishop Kurtz in 2017.
- Rev. Seejo Thandiackal, C.M.I.2018 – present
Began as parish administrator in June 2018; installed as pastor in Spring 2019. Member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.).