About St. Michael · Paintsville, Kentucky
St. Michael Catholic Church is a small parish in Paintsville, Kentucky, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, belonging to the Diocese of Lexington. The parish was dedicated on June 29, 1941, when its founding pastor, Fr. Charles Donovan, moved the Catholic mission center from the coal-mining town of Van Lear to the Johnson County seat of Paintsville. Today the parish is served by Fr. Michael Flanagan and Permanent Deacon Paul David Brown, and it remains closely tied to Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Christian School (founded 1945), the Mountain Outlet thrift store, an annual Christmas Program serving over 200 needy families, and a homebound communion ministry. With Mass offered Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and at midday Tuesday through Friday, St. Michael is a faithful, modest mountain parish that carries on more than a century of Catholic missionary work in the Big Sandy Valley.
- Established
- 1941
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Flanagan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lexington
Why belong here
St. Michael is a small but deeply rooted Appalachian Catholic parish that has served Johnson County for more than 80 years. Visitors and parishioners find a tight-knit community centered on the Eucharist, a remarkable Christmas Program that partners with parishes in Minnesota to assist over 200 local families each December, a homebound communion ministry led by the deacon and priest, and the Mountain Outlet thrift store on Main Street that helps fund Catholic education. With Our Lady of the Mountains School as part of the parish family, St. Michael is a place where families can worship, serve, and educate their children all together.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
- Sunday 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM
- Other times by appointment
About St. Michael Catholic Church
St. Michael Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Lexington serving Paintsville, Kentucky and the surrounding Appalachian communities of Johnson County. It is pastored by Fr. Michael Flanagan and served by Permanent Deacon Paul David Brown. The parish grew directly out of the Big Sandy Mission Territory and today runs alongside Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Christian School, the Mountain Outlet thrift store, a homebound ministry, and an outreach program that works with visiting volunteer groups.
- Diocese of Lexington
- Pastor: Fr. Michael Flanagan
- Permanent Deacon: Paul David Brown
- Address: 720 Washington Avenue, Paintsville, KY 41240
- Phone: (606) 789-4455
- Email: [email protected]
Parish History
Catholic missionary work in the Big Sandy Valley traces back to the 1880s. The Consolidation Coal Company opened mines near Van Lear in 1910, and Holy Family Ashland sent priests to serve the miners. Fr. Sokol became the first resident pastor in 1911 at St. Casmir in Van Lear. In the early 1940s Fr. Charles Donovan moved the mission center to Paintsville and built the new church, St. Michael, which Bishop Howard dedicated on June 29, 1941. The parish grew steadily, and in 1945 the region's first Catholic school — Our Lady of the Mountains Academy — opened under Fr. Joseph Wimmers.
- 1910–1911: Van Lear mining town built; Holy Family Ashland sends priests; Fr. Sokol is first resident pastor at St. Casmir.
- 1913: Bishop Maes celebrates the first Confirmation class at St. Casmir.
- 1941 (June 29): Bishop Howard dedicates the new St. Michael church in Paintsville, founded by Fr. Charles Donovan.
- 1945: Our Lady of the Mountains Academy opens — the first Catholic school in the Big Sandy area.
- 1968–1981: Fr. David Shockey builds the present St. Michael church and a mission church at Hode, Martin County.
- 1981: Fr. Frank Osburg arrives and later acquires the property for St. Jude Parish in Louisa.
- 1997–2021: Fr. Terence Hoppenjans ('Fr. Hop') builds the parish hall, adds the Early Learning Center, and welcomes Sr. Nancy Edwards.
- 2008: Paul David Brown is ordained a Permanent Deacon and assigned to his home parish.
- 2021: Fr. Michael Flanagan is named pastor upon Fr. Hop's retirement.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a permanent deacon, parish and finance councils, and volunteer ministries. Deacon Paul David Brown and his wife Cathy work across marriage preparation, homebound visits, facilities, and parish councils.
- Fr. Michael Flanagan — Pastor (appointed 2021)
- Deacon Paul David Brown — Permanent Deacon (ordained 2008)
- Cathy Brown — works alongside Deacon Paul David in marriage prep and other ministries
- Parish Council
- Finance Council
Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Christian School
Our Lady of the Mountains School (OLM) has been a part of Catholic life in Johnson County since 1945 and is now formally a ministry of St. Michael Parish. The school occupies the historic John C. C. Mayo mansion, purchased by Bishop William T. Mulloy from E. J. Evans in 1945; the Sisters of Divine Providence from Melbourne, Kentucky opened the school that same October. Today OLM offers a Pre-School through 6th Grade program plus an Early Learning Center for children ages 1, 2, and 3, and remains the only Catholic school in the Big Sandy region.
- Mission: to provide a diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic community with an exceptional Catholic education in a family-centered, loving, and disciplined environment.
- Programs: Early Learning Center (ages 1, 2, 3), Pre-School, and K–6.
- Campus: 405 Third Street, Paintsville, KY 41240 (the historic Mayo mansion).
- Phone: (606) 789-3661
- Email: [email protected]
- Owned by the Diocese of Lexington and operated and maintained by St. Michael Parish.
- Originally a Diocesan school run by the Sisters of Divine Providence.
Mountain Outlet Thrift Store
The Mountain Outlet is St. Michael's thrift store on Main Street in downtown Paintsville. It sells clothing, some furniture, and other household items at very low prices, and 100% of the proceeds go to support Our Lady of the Mountains School and other St. Michael ministries. Donations of clothing, furniture, and home items are always welcome.
- Address: 425 Main Street, Paintsville
- Phone: (606) 789-9192
- Proceeds: 100% to OLM School and parish ministries
- Donations of clothing, furniture, and household items appreciated
Christmas Program
Each December — typically the second week — St. Michael gathers gifts and food and distributes them to families in need across the region. The program has been running for over 40 years and partners with numerous parishes, individuals, and groups in Minnesota, plus local Kentucky churches. Together they assist more than 200 families annually, making the Christmas Program one of the most visible outreach efforts in the parish's ministry calendar.
- Running for more than 40 years
- Partners with Minnesota parishes and other KY churches
- Assists over 200 families each year
- Distribution typically in the second week of December
Outreach & Homebound Ministry
Though a small parish with limited resources, St. Michael reaches out where it can. The Outreach Ministry helps with utility, food, and housing needs, and the parish hosts volunteer groups (youth groups, adult groups, and others) who come into the area to assist with home repairs and other projects for the poor. The Homebound Ministry, rooted in Joshua 1:9, sends the priest, deacon, or special ministers to visit parishioners who cannot attend Mass, bringing Holy Communion and fellowship.
- Outreach: utility, food, and housing assistance
- Coordinates visiting youth and adult volunteer groups
- Homebound visits with Holy Communion
- Add yourself to the homebound list by calling the parish office
Sacraments & Devotions
St. Michael celebrates the sacraments in keeping with the Diocese of Lexington and offers Reconciliation before every weekend Mass. Marriage preparation is coordinated through Deacon Paul David Brown and Cathy Brown. Families preparing for Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation are invited to contact the parish office for class schedules and registration.
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:45–5:15 PM, Sunday 8:45–9:15 AM, or by appointment
- Marriage Preparation — contact the parish / Deacon Paul David Brown
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — contact the parish office
- Holy Day schedules — contact the parish
Visit & Contact
St. Michael invites visitors and newcomers to celebrate Mass with them. The parish office can be reached by phone during regular hours, and the parish can also be found on Facebook for news, events, and the Christmas Program.
- Address: 720 Washington Avenue, Paintsville, KY 41240
- Phone: (606) 789-4455
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stmichaelcatholicchurch.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/PaintsvilleCatholic
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Sokol1911–1918
First resident pastor of the predecessor mission at the Church of St. Casmir, Van Lear.
- Fr. Joseph Benuatto1918–1926
Pastored the Van Lear / St. Casmir mission.
- Fr. George Metzler1926–1938
- Fr. Charles Donovan1939–1942
Moved the Catholic center from St. Casmir in Van Lear to Paintsville and built the new church, naming it St. Michael. Bishop Howard dedicated the new center on June 29, 1941.
- Fr. Joseph Wimmers1942–1957
Established the first Catholic school in the Big Sandy area; Our Lady of the Mountains Academy opened in 1945.
- Fr. Robert Wittfrom June 1950
Assisted Fr. Wimmers.
- Fr. John Riley1957–1963
- Fr. John McGuire1960–1961
Assistant pastor under Fr. Riley.
- Fr. Joseph Dunn1963–1968
- Fr. Poole1965–1968
Associate under Fr. Dunn.
- Fr. David Shockey1968–1981
Built the new St. Michael church and the mission church at Hode in Martin County.
- Fr. Frank Osburg1981–1992
Obtained the property for St. Jude Parish in Louisa; brought Our Lady of the Mountains School formally under St. Michael's Parish.
- Fr. Beiting
Succeeded Fr. Osburg; oversaw major renovations to the school and parish.
- Fr. Daneabout 1 year
Pastoral Minister in seminary at St. Michael's, then Associate to Fr. Beiting, then pastor for about a year.
- Fr. Fedders5 years
Stabilized the school and reduced parish debt.
- Fr. Terence ("Fr. Hop") Hoppenjans1997–2021
Built the new parish hall; expanded the school with a young-child Learning Center; worked alongside Sr. Nancy Edwards and (from 2008) Deacon Paul David Brown.
- Fr. Michael Flanagan2021–present
Current pastor; succeeded Fr. Hop upon his retirement.