About St. Martin De Porres · Louisville, Kentucky
Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church is a faith-filled, family-focused African American Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky, located in Louisville's West End at 3112 W. Broadway. Founded on September 27, 1990, from the merger of three West Louisville parishes — St. Benedict, Holy Cross, and St. Charles — the parish worships in the former Holy Cross church, a Gothic Revival–style building renovated in 1995 and decorated with stained glass and African art that reflects the parish's cultural heritage. The parish community embraces its mission as an Africentric worshipping family of roughly 1,300 parishioners, calling itself 'a beacon of hope' for West Louisville, and it works hand-in-hand with the adjoining Catholic Enrichment Center to serve neighbors of every age.
- Established
- 1990
- Patron
- Saint Martin de Porres
- Rector
- Rev. William M. Bowling
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
Saint Martin de Porres is a small but deeply rooted African American Catholic community that prides itself on welcoming all of God's people. The parish places great emphasis on outreach to families — particularly elders, males, and young adults — and develops holistic Africentric programs in partnership with the adjoining Catholic Enrichment Center. Members gather for a single Sunday Mass at 11:00 am, with the Rosary prayed before Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation offered afterward, and a livestream available on Facebook for those at home. Whether through the annual Lenten Fish Fry, faith formation, evangelization, social concerns, or the parish's long-standing lay leadership tradition, there are many ways to get involved in the life of this West Louisville parish.
Mass times at St. Martin De Porres
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday after the 11:00 am Mass
- By appointment
About the Parish
Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church describes itself as a faith-filled and family-focused African American Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Louisville, striving to become a beacon of hope for Louisville's West End. The parish welcomes all of God's people and is committed to providing the Good News, developing holistic Africentric programs and outreach to those with spiritual and human needs, and placing great emphasis on outreach to families — particularly elders, males, and young adults. Its core values center on God's presence from an Africentric perspective, the dignity of the extended family called to wholeness in Jesus Christ the Liberator, sharing the Good News with all people, and the commitment to holistic Africentric development and enrichment.
History
The parish was founded on September 27, 1990, after the faith communities of St. Benedict, Holy Cross, and St. Charles Parishes in West Louisville began meeting in early 1987 to explore how to strengthen their congregations, programs, ministries, and facilities. They selected the Holy Cross campus as the best site to serve all three communities, and chose the name St. Martin de Porres through prayer and discernment. Father William Medley was the first pastor, with Deacons Frederick Higgins and James R. Turner; the parish began with 220 households. In 1995 Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P., dedicated the renovated church to more than 600 people, and the strategic plan 'Vision 5 and Beyond' later guided an expansion of ministries and services.
- Founded September 27, 1990
- First pastor: Father William Medley
- Founding deacons: Frederick Higgins and James R. Turner
- 220 households at founding; ~1,300 parishioners today
- Church renovated and dedicated by Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P. in 1995
- Strategic plan: 'Vision 5 and Beyond'
Our Church Building
Saint Martin de Porres occupies the former Holy Cross Catholic Church, built in the Gothic Revival style with two square turrets on the facade. The building was renovated in 1995 to meet the needs of the community while honoring the beauty of the original structure. Stained glass throughout tells the story of Christ and the Saints, and the addition of African art reflects the parish's cultural heritage.
- Gothic Revival architecture
- Two square turrets on the facade
- Stained glass depicting Christ and the Saints
- African art incorporated throughout
- Renovated in 1995
Liturgy, Prayer, and Sacraments
The parish's Liturgy and Sacraments page outlines how to receive each sacrament at Saint Martin de Porres, including Baptism (contact the parish office), Confirmation (contact the parish office), Marriage (contact the Pastor or Deacon), Anointing of the Sick (contact the Pastor to make arrangements), and Reconciliation (Sunday after Mass or by appointment). Those discerning Holy Orders are directed to the Archdiocese of Louisville Vocation Office (502-636-0296) for priesthood or the Diaconate Office (502-636-0296) for the permanent diaconate.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Holy Orders (vocations referrals to the Archdiocese)
Parish Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. William M. Bowling together with Permanent Deacons Joseph J. 'Jim' Creely III and James R. Turner, and a Parish Leadership Team with chairs overseeing the major areas of parish life.
- Rev. William M. Bowling — Pastor (also pastor of Holy Name Parish; ordained May 24, 1997, at St. Meinrad Seminary)
- Deacon Joseph J. 'Jim' Creely III — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon James R. Turner — Permanent Deacon (previously Pastoral Administrator of Saint Martin de Porres and Saint Augustine)
- Arlandria Spalding — Parish Leadership Team Chair
- Adriene Taylor-Mitchell — PLT Secretary; Lifelong Formation & Education Co-Chair; Parish Office Coordinator
- Yvette Stith — Administration Chair
- Pam Coleman — Finance Chair
- Tony Mathis — Social Concerns Chair
- Kenya Turner — Worship Chair
- M. Annette Turner — Evangelization Chair
- Rita Johnson — Service Chair
- Audrey Penman — Family Life Chair
- Patricia Bolds — Interim Music Coordinator
- Cathy Summers — Bookkeeper
Ministries and Parish Life
The Parish Leadership Team organizes ministry around Evangelization, Service, Family Life, Lifelong Formation & Education, Administration, Finance, Social Concerns, and Worship. The parish is particularly proactive in reaching out to the community — especially to young men at risk — and partners with the adjacent Catholic Enrichment Center for educational and social programs.
- Evangelization
- Service
- Family Life
- Lifelong Formation & Education
- Administration
- Finance
- Social Concerns
- Worship
- Outreach to young men at risk
- Partnership with the Catholic Enrichment Center
Annual Lenten Fish Fry
Each Lent, the parish Fish Fry Committee hosts the Team Church Summer Fish Fry Fundraiser in Thea Bowman Hall (the basement of the former Holy Cross School / Catholic Enrichment Center building), running from the Friday after Ash Wednesday until the Friday before Holy Week, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm. The committee welcomes volunteers and donations of water, canned sodas, bread, and homemade desserts.
- Lenten Fish Fry Fundraiser
- Thea Bowman Hall, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
- From the Friday after Ash Wednesday through the Friday before Holy Week
Catholic Enrichment Center
The former Holy Cross School on the parish campus houses the Catholic Enrichment Center (CEC), an archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministry initiative offering academic, cultural, and life-skills programs for senior citizens, children, and families in West Louisville. The three-floor building includes Thea Bowman Hall in the basement, program space on the first floor, and the St. Jude Life Skills Unit on the second floor, which features a teaching kitchen (paired with Dare to Care food pantry items), a living room, music room, and conference rooms. Programming has included computer classes for youth and seniors, dance classes, spring break camp, Camp Africa summer camp, tutoring, budgeting/financing workshops, and intergenerational events.
- Archdiocese of Louisville Office of Multicultural Ministry initiative
- Located in the former Holy Cross School next to St. Martin de Porres Church (3146 W. Broadway)
- Thea Bowman Hall (basement) and St. Jude Life Skills Unit (second floor)
- Programs for seniors, children, and families — including Camp Africa and computer classes
- Funded through the Office of Multicultural Ministry budget
Online Resources and Community Help
The parish website lists online and community resources for parishioners, including LouieConnect (an app and website with local resources in English and Spanish), West Louisville Community Ministries (rent and utility assistance), Dare to Care food distribution, Family Community Clinic for uninsured medical care, JCPS school-lunch pickup locations, and the Metro March for Meals program for seniors. The site also lists televised and livestreamed Mass options, including the parish's own Sunday Mass livestream on Facebook and the Archdiocese of Louisville's televised Mass of the Air.
- LouieConnect app and website
- West Louisville Community Ministries
- Dare to Care food assistance
- Family Community Clinic (uninsured medical care)
- Metro March for Meals (senior meal distribution)
- Archdiocese televised Mass of the Air
- Spiritual Communion resources
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Medley1990–
First pastor of St. Martin de Porres; served alongside founding Deacons Frederick Higgins and James R. Turner.
- Deacon James R. Turner
Also previously served as Pastoral Administrator of Saint Martin de Porres and Saint Augustine Catholic Churches in Louisville's West End.
- Rev. William M. BowlingJune 2022–present
A Louisville native, studied at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology; ordained May 24, 1997. Also serves as pastor of Holy Name Parish.