About St. Mary of the Woods · Whitesville, Kentucky
St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church is a Catholic parish located in Whitesville, Kentucky, part of the Diocese of Owensboro. Founded as a mission in the 1820s and named in 1845, it has grown from a 30-by-46-foot log church with roughly 100 parishioners to a parish of nearly 900 families that today operates St. Mary of the Woods School, Trinity High School, and the Horn Community Center. The current pastor is Fr. Brian J. Roby, who leads a thriving program of Masses (four on Sundays plus daily Masses), perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for all ages, OCIA, and a pastoral council. The parish celebrated its 175th anniversary in August 2021.
- Established
- 1845
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of St. Mary of the Woods)
- Rector
- Fr. Brian J. Roby
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Woods is the spiritual home of nearly 900 families in western Kentucky who worship in a parish with four Sunday Masses, daily Mass Monday through Saturday, and a perpetual adoration chapel — a rare gift in a small-town setting. It pairs that Catholic tradition with strong Catholic education through St. Mary of the Woods School and Trinity High School, faith formation for every age (Families of Faith PREP, youth ministry, OCIA, and Catholicism 101 adult formation), and roughly 100 ministries so members can share their time, talent, and treasure.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Woods
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- By appointment — contact Fr. Brian Roby at the Parish Office (270-233-4196)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (24 hours a day), coordinated by Overall Coordinator Majella Mills (270-929-7060) and quarterly division leaders: Sandy Merritt (Midnight–6 AM), Hope Brey (6 AM–Noon), Sharon Boorman (Noon–6 PM), and Dottie Pogue (6 PM–Midnight)
History of the Parish
The faith community that became St. Mary of the Woods grew out of pastoral visits by Fathers Elias Durbin and Charles Nerinckx in the early 1820s; Father Durbin baptized William Lanham on July 3, 1825, and Mass was celebrated in the home of Thomas Clark Hagan in the area known as Hagan's Station. In 1833 it became a mission of St. Lawrence Church in Knottsville, and in 1845 Richard W. Barrett donated land on which the first 30-by-46-foot log church was built and given the name Saint Mary of the Woods. The parish became independent in 1878 under Father Kyran W. King, who oversaw the brick church dedicated June 8, 1884 and the first parochial school (1879). Today the parish of nearly 900 families operates from its fourth church on that hilltop, runs St. Mary of the Woods School and Trinity High School, and celebrated its 175th anniversary with Bishop William F. Medley on August 15, 2021.
- Mission origins: early 1820s visits by Frs. Durbin and Nerinckx
- Named St. Mary of the Woods in 1845 with Richard W. Barrett's land donation
- Independent parish established 1878 under Fr. Kyran W. King
- Brick church dedicated June 8, 1884
- First parochial school opened 1879 with teacher John Kelly
- 175th anniversary Mass celebrated August 15, 2021
Pastoral Staff and Parish Council
The parish is led by Fr. Brian J. Roby with the assistance of Deacon Gayle Rhodes. A full lay staff handles parish administration, catechetical formation, stewardship, youth ministry, music, and maintenance. The Parish Council provides lay governance across spiritual life, finance, education, outreach, and social life.
- Pastor: Fr. Brian J. Roby
- Deacon: Dcn. Gayle Rhodes
- Administrative Assistant: Sara Schrecker
- Business Manager: Samantha McMichael
- Director of Catechetical Formation: Emily Gipson
- Director of Stewardship: Mattie Goetz
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry / Custodian: Amy Roach
- Director of Music: David Morris
- Director of Maintenance: Keith Morris
- Parish Council Chair: Jennifer Barnett
Faith Formation and Education
St. Mary of the Woods runs year-round formation for every age. Families of Faith (PREP) gathers once a month on Wednesday evenings from September to April, requiring parental attendance. Youth and Young Adults Ministry is coordinated by Amy Roach, while adults have Catholicism 101 — 'Forever Learning & Living the Faith' — hosted by Emily Gipson, plus FORMED online content available through the parish subscription. Those interested in joining the Church go through the Becoming Catholic / OCIA process.
- Families of Faith (PREP): 6:00–7:15 PM Wednesdays, Sept.–April
- Mandatory parent attendance at each meeting
- Catholicism 101 adult formation series
- FORMED parish subscription for online faith formation
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Catholic Schools and Capital Campaign
Catholic education has been a hallmark of the parish since the first parochial school opened in 1879; today's St. Mary of the Woods School (grade school) and Trinity High School together educate well over 100 students under the same leadership umbrella. In February 2023, a feasibility study gave the parish the diocesan go-ahead for a $12 million capital campaign to build a new shared school facility for both schools.
- St. Mary of the Woods School (grade school)
- Trinity High School
- Principal: Emily Hernandez
- Assistant Principals: Jill Payne and Nathan West
- Director of Advancement & Admissions: Anna McDaniel
- Guidance Counselor: Heather Howard
- $12 Million capital campaign greenlit in February 2023 for a new school facility
Outreach, Community, and Parish Life
The parish oversees nearly 100 ministries today, spanning spiritual, charitable, and social outreach. The Horn Community Center (managed by Renee Boehman) and the Parish Hall (rental inquiries through Samantha McMichael) are hubs of parish and town life, including anniversary jamborees and 175th-anniversary celebrations that drew close to 800 people. WJOR Catholic radio — launched in 2014 by the Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery with hardware housed at St. Mary of the Woods — broadcasts the Faith throughout western Kentucky.
- Horn Community Center (manager: Renee Boehman)
- Parish Hall rentals via Samantha McMichael
- WJOR Catholic radio (Jesus Our Redeemer Radio)
- Parish ministries: Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, Altar Society, Catholic Family Movement, Cursillo, Army of Mary, Parish Renewal Weekends, Marriage Encounters, Teens Encounter Christ, Engaged Encounters, Block Rosaries, Renew, Scripture Study, and more
- Parish Council Outreach Liaison: Ryan Aud
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
Beyond the Mass and Confession schedule, the parish prepares children and adults for the sacraments of initiation. Children preparing for First Communion or Confirmation must have been in formal religious education both the year they receive the sacrament and the year before — either in Catholic school or in the Families of Faith program — and parents attend each monthly PREP meeting with their children.
- Eucharist (daily and Sunday Masses)
- Reconciliation: Saturday 1–3 PM and by appointment
- First Communion preparation for 1st and 2nd graders
- Confirmation preparation for 7th and 8th graders
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic for adults
- Marriage preparation, Anointing of the Sick by request through the Parish Office
Visiting and Contact Information
Parish Office hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday; the Scrip Office keeps separate hours Monday through Saturday. The Parish Hall is available to rent for parish and community events. The Diocese of Owensboro listing confirms the same address, phone, and Fr. Brian Roby's diocesan email.
- Address: 10534 Main Cross St., Whitesville, KY 42378
- Mailing: P.O. Box 1, Whitesville, KY 42378
- Phone: (270) 233-4196
- Fax: (270) 233-5557
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Scrip Office Hours: Mon.–Thu. 9 AM – 3 PM; Fri. 9 AM – 12 PM; Sat. 5 PM; Sun. 8 – 11 AM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Elias Durbinearly 1820s
Visited the area for sacramental ministry; baptized William Lanham on July 3, 1825.
- Fr. Charles Nerinckxearly 1820s
Visited the area for sacramental ministry.
- Fr. John C. Wathenfrom 1833
First pastor of nearby St. Lawrence; tended the Hagan's Station / Whitesville mission.
- Fr. Walter Coomes (with Frs. Linus Coomes and A.A. Aud)1841–1848
Oversaw construction of the 1845 log church and the naming of St. Mary of the Woods.
- Fr. Michael Coghlanby 1849
Pastored 163 parishioners; bishop Martin John Spalding administered Confirmation during his tenure.
- Fr. Charles Eggermont1872–1878
St. Mary became an independent parish during his tenure.
- Fr. Kyran W. Kingfrom 1878
First resident pastor; began the brick church dedicated June 8, 1884, and the first parochial school in 1879.
- Fr. John Sheridan1885–1887
- Fr. Lawrence Ford1887–1893
Completed the 1884 church's interior; established the mission of St. John the Baptist in Ohio County.
- Fr. Brian J. Roby2016–present
Returned to St. Mary of the Woods in 2016; leads the parish and the $12M capital campaign for a new school.