About St. Michael · Sebree, Kentucky
St. Michael Catholic Church is a small, bilingual parish in Sebree, Kentucky, within the Diocese of Owensboro, where roughly 300 faithful gather as a diverse, close-knit community — about half of whom are first- or second-generation immigrants, primarily from Guatemala and other parts of Latin America. The parish was organized in 1976 and dedicated on November 20, 1977, growing from humble beginnings in a union hall above the Sebree Deposit bank into a parish that today celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, and Akateco every day of the week. Under the pastoral care of Fr. Carmelo Jiménez and a team of three deacons, St. Michael's is known for its warm welcome, its open church doors 24 hours a day, and its annual bilingual procession and Mass near the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Carmelo Jiménez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers something rare: a small, multigenerational Catholic family where newcomers are genuinely welcomed and longtime members still worship alongside the families who founded the parish nearly fifty years ago. The church is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so anyone can stop in for quiet prayer or Eucharistic Adoration (Thursdays at 6:30 PM). With daily Mass in English and Spanish (plus Akateco on Saturdays), bilingual faith formation for children and adults, an active youth group that travels to retreats and the NCYC conference in Indiana, and an ARISE small-group renewal each fall, St. Michael's is a place where the Gospel is lived out in two languages and across generations.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM
- Saturday 6:30–7:15 PM
- Sunday 9:00–9:45 AM and after the 10:00 AM English Mass
- By appointment during the week
- Parish-wide reconciliation services during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:30 PM (Adoración)
History of St. Michael Catholic Church
St. Michael's was organized in 1976 by Fr. Carl Glahn and the Catholic families of Webster County, Kentucky, who at first gathered for Mass in a union hall above the Sebree Deposit bank. The church was formally dedicated on November 20, 1977, and a rectory was added to the property fourteen years later in 1991. In 1998 a powerful lightning strike caused severe damage and led to a complete renovation of the worship space. Today the parish is home to about 300 members, half of whom are first- or second-generation immigrants.
- 1976 — Parish organized by Fr. Carl Glahn; first Masses in a union hall above the Sebree Deposit bank
- November 20, 1977 — Church dedicated
- 1991 — Rectory added to parish property
- 1998 — Lightning strike leads to complete renovation of the worship space
- Today — ~300 parishioners; about half are first- or second-generation immigrants
Mission Statement
St. Michael's Catholic Church describes itself as 'a people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, brought together by God through the Gospel and the teachings of the Church.' Its stated mission is 'Making Disciples of Christ' through prayer and frequent celebration of the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), sharing and teaching the faith, continual conversion, providing children with a strong Catholic upbringing, comforting those in need, stewardship of time, talent and treasure, being the living presence of Christ in the world, and empowering one another to share the Gospel in word and action.
Patron Saint — St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael, as Scripture and tradition hold, is the protector and leader of the army of God against the forces of evil. Each year on the Sunday nearest his feast day (September 29, the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels), the entire parish family gathers for a procession, bilingual Mass and celebration in his honor, asking for his intercession as the community continues to grow in unity.
- Patron: St. Michael the Archangel
- Feast Day: September 29
- Annual celebration: bilingual procession and Mass on the Sunday nearest the feast
Parish Team
St. Michael's is served by a bilingual team of clergy, deacons, and staff who together care for the spiritual and administrative life of the parish.
- Fr. Carmelo Jiménez — Pastor (270-881-7737, [email protected])
- April Dickens — Secretary / Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Deacon Baltazar Rafael — ministering especially to the Guatemalan community (270-748-0527)
- Deacon Richard Beaven
- Deacon John Prough
- Gracia Alvey — Ministro de Música (Music Minister for the 5:00 PM Saturday and 10:00 AM Sunday liturgias)
Parish Council
The Parish Council works with the pastor in the governance and mission of St. Michael's, representing the diverse cultures and backgrounds of the community.
- Connie Caldwell
- Jim Hurtte
- Devin Gibson
- Jenny Glenn
- Randy Thompson
- Mila Mendoza
- Kattia Angulo
Parish Ministries
St. Michael's runs a full slate of formation and community ministries for every age and stage of faith — all rooted in the parish's bilingual identity.
- Children's Religious Education — Grades K–6, Wednesdays 5:30–7:15 PM, with hands-on activities and sacramental preparation
- Adult Faith Formation — seasonal 6-week classes (1–2 hours per session) on Scripture and Catholic teaching
- Youth Group — middle and high school students, Thursdays 3:30–5 PM, with local retreats and trips to NCYC in Indiana
- ARISE — parish-wide small-group renewal: 6 weeks of 90-minute sessions in parishioner homes beginning each October, led by a trained facilitator
- Hispanic Ministry — serving the Spanish-speaking majority of the parish
- Liturgical / Music Ministry — directed by Gracia Alvey
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, with formation programs tailored to children, youth, and adults seeking initiation or wanting to grow deeper in faith.
- Baptism — for children under 7 with a short preparation session; older children go through faith formation or RCIA
- Reconciliation — weekly schedule plus Advent/Lent parish services
- First Communion — celebrated with 2nd graders or through RCIA for adults
- Confirmation — for 7th and 8th graders as an opportunity to grow closer to Jesus
- Marriage — initial meeting with the pastor, scheduled at least 6 months in advance; annulment support available
- Anointing of the Sick — for serious illness or pre-surgery; call the parish center
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, sessions September through May
Contact & Location
St. Michael's is located at 57 Watkins Road in Sebree, Kentucky, in the heart of Webster County. The parish mailing address is PO Box 705, Sebree, KY 42455-0705. The parish office can be reached at 270-835-2584 or [email protected], and Fr. Carmelo directly at 270-881-7737 or [email protected]. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Owensboro.
- Address: 57 Watkins Rd., Sebree, KY 42455
- Mailing: PO Box 705, Sebree, KY 42455-0705
- Parish phone: 270-835-2584
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://smsebree.org
- Diocese: Diocese of Owensboro
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Carl Glahn1976–
Organized the Catholic families of Webster County in 1976 and led the parish at its founding; first Masses were held in a union hall above the Sebree Deposit bank.