About St. Michael The Archangel · Oak Grove, Kentucky
St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Owensboro located at 448 State Line Road in Oak Grove, Kentucky, near the Fort Campbell army post and the Tennessee state line. Established in 1995 out of the needs of Catholics serving at Fort Campbell and in northern Clarksville, Tennessee, it has grown from a small group meeting in homes to serve roughly 300 families (around 900 members). The parish operates from a multi-purpose Parish Center built in 1997–98 and a dedicated cruciform church that Bishop William Medley consecrated on September 27, 2014.
- Established
- 1995
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel (patron of airborne and security forces, chosen because many founders served in those branches)
- Rector
- Father Julian Ibemere
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel is a young, family-oriented parish shaped by its proximity to Fort Campbell, where it welcomes active-duty, retired, and civilian Catholics from Oak Grove and northern Clarksville. The parish offers the full sacramental life — daily Mass, a 5 PM Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses plus a weekly Latin Mass, Friday adoration, First Friday Anointing of the Sick, and active preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, and Baptism — supported by a CCD religious-education program, a Knights of Columbus Fr. Emil Kapaun Council, a spiritual-life committee, the Blessed Mother Bookstore, music ministry, and parish socials. Its strong stewardship culture and Spirit-filled sense of mission make it an inviting place to belong.
Mass times at St. Michael The Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM (or by appointment with Father Julian)
- Before or after any Mass on request
- Communal Penance Services during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Friday 10:00–11:00 AM (immediately following 9:00 AM Mass)
- First Friday of the month: Adoration plus Anointing of the Sick
About St. Michael The Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Owensboro serving the Catholic military, retired-military, and civilian communities of Oak Grove, Kentucky, Fort Campbell, and northern Clarksville, Tennessee. Located at 448 State Line Road on the Kentucky–Tennessee state line, the parish was established in 1995 and traces its origin to a Steering Committee that first met on September 22, 1993. It currently numbers some 300 registered families and is led by Father Julian Ibemere, with Deacons Wayne Boudreaux, Tom Torson, Jack Cheasty, and Tony Carmona assisting.
- Patron: St. Michael the Archangel — patron of airborne and security forces
- Approximately 300 families / 900 members
- Office hours: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Part of the Diocese of Owensboro
History & the 2014 Church Dedication
From a kitchen-table Mass in Colonel Elder's home in 1993, the Catholic community in Oak Grove organized, raised funds, purchased land in 1997, and built a multi-purpose Parish Center dedicated September 27, 1998. After the Christmas 2007 remodel that brought pews into the worship area and the 2001 addition of an Education Wing, the parish at last realized its long-held dream of a church-proper in 2014. Bishop William Medley anointed the walls of the new cruciform church with chrism, sprinkled the people with holy water, and incensed the altar at the Sept. 27, 2014 dedication Mass — the culmination of about nine years of campaigning under Fr. David Willett's original vision and the labor of Frs. David Kennedy, John Thomas, and Carl McCarthy alongside dozens of lay volunteers.
- Sept. 22, 1993: First Steering Committee meeting
- July 1, 1995: Fr. Leonard Arcilesi assigned as founding pastor
- March 21, 1997: 8.33 acres on State Line Road purchased for $210,000
- Sept. 27, 1998: Parish Center dedicated (~$440,000)
- 2001: Education Wing dedicated to Sr. Joseph Angela Boone, OSU
- Christmas 2007: Pews installed in the worship area
- Sept. 27, 2014: Bishop William Medley dedicates the new cruciform church
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all the Sacraments of Initiation, Healing, and Vocation. Baptism is celebrated the third Sunday of each month (or at the Easter Vigil for older youth and adults) after a prep meeting with Father Julian and the deacons. First Reconciliation is celebrated during Advent, First Eucharist in May for children in 2nd grade or older, Confirmation by the Bishop for youth (and at the Easter Vigil or before Marriage for adults). The parish also prepares couples for Marriage (and processes Annulment needs), and welcomes those discerning Priesthood, Diaconate, or Religious Life.
- Baptism (3rd Sunday / Easter Vigil)
- First Reconciliation (Adent)
- First Eucharist (May, 2nd grade+
- Confirmation (Bishop; Easter Vigil for adults)
- Marriage & Annulment prep
- Holy Orders / Vocations discernment
- Anointing of the Sick (on request; First Fridays)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation is led by Director of Religious Education Emma Hockaday, who also oversees Youth and Social Concerns ministry. The parish CCD program — which prompted the 2001 Education Wing addition — offers classes for children preparing for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. RCIA-style preparation brings older youth and adults into full communion at the Easter Vigil.
- Director of Religious Education: Emma Hockaday (270) 874-7070
- Sunday-school style CCD classes
- Sacramental prep for Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation
- RCIA / Easter Vigil catechumenate
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Michael's is sustained by a deep bench of lay ministries and parish organizations. The Parish Council is chaired by David Tilley with June Cacal as Vice-Chair; the Funds Committee/Finance is led by Deacon Tom Torson. Spiritual Life is coordinated by Laura Tilley; Liturgy, Worship & Adoration by Janet Doyle; and the Blessed Mother Bookstore operates Sundays 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM under volunteer leadership.
- Parish Council (Chair David Tilley; Vice-Chair June Cacal)
- Funds Committee / Finance — Deacon Tom Torson
- Spiritual Life — Laura Tilley
- Liturgy / Worship & Adoration — Janet Doyle
- Bookkeeper — Dr. Elaine A. Tontoh
- Blessed Mother Bookstore (Sun 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Knights of Columbus
Two Knights of Columbus units call St. Michael's home and meet in the Parish Hall. The Father Emil J. Kapaun Council — who served as honor guard at the 2014 dedication — meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:45 PM. The Father Gerald Calhoun Assembly meets the 2nd Sunday of each month at 4:00 PM.
- Fr. Emil J. Kapaun Council — 3rd Monday, 6:45 PM (honor guard at 2014 dedication)
- Fr. Gerald Calhoun Assembly — 2nd Sunday, 4:00 PM
Music Ministry
Music for parish liturgies is directed by Dr. David N. Goldblatt, who also serves on the Austin Peay State University faculty. The music program supports both the Ordinary Form English Masses and the weekly Traditional Latin Mass.
- Music Director: Dr. David N. Goldblatt ([email protected])
- Supports English and Latin Masses
Traditional Latin Mass
Reported in 2015 by The Leaf-Chronicle as one of about 500 U.S. parishes offering at least one weekly Latin Mass, St. Michael the Archangel celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass every Sunday at 2:30 PM. Attendance has ranged up to 60 with an average around 25, drawing many young families with small children.
- Sunday 2:30 PM Traditional Latin Mass
- One of ~500 U.S. parishes with a weekly Latin Mass
Parish Staff & Directory
The parish is led by Father Julian Ibemere (Pastor; [email protected]) and supported by Deacons Wayne Boudreaux, Tom Torson, Jack Cheasty, and Tony Carmona. Office staff include Bookkeeper Dr. Elaine A. Tontoh and Secretary/Youth/Social Concerns Emma Hockaday. Pastoral Council leadership is David Tilley (Chair) with June Cacal (Vice-Chair).
- Pastor: Fr. Julian Ibemere — [email protected]
- Deacons: Wayne Boudreaux, Tom Torson, Jack Cheasty, Tony Carmona
- Bookkeeper: Dr. Elaine A. Tontoh
- Secretary / Youth / Social Concerns: Emma Hockaday
- Parish Council Chair: David Tilley — (931) 237-5013
Architecture & Sacred Art
The 2014 cruciform church on the State Line Road campus is the centerpiece of a building campaign supervised by Clark Construction that took roughly four years of contractor work and nine years of parish fundraising. Its most striking artistic element is a large custom stained-glass window — 8 feet wide and 18 feet tall — part of an ongoing series designed for the sanctuary. The altar walls bear the chrism applied by Bishop Medley at the 2014 dedication, marking the building as a sacred space set apart for liturgical worship.
- Cruciform plan, dedicated September 27, 2014
- 8'×18' custom stained-glass window
- Ritually anointed walls and altar
- Adjacent Parish Center (1998) with Education Wing (2001)
News & Bulletin Highlights
The parish publishes weekly bulletins (e.g., the November 3, 2024 and September 22, 2024 issues) with Mass intentions, ministry schedules, stewardship notes and event announcements such as the Parish Picnic, Penance Services, and First Friday Anointing of the Sick. Bulletin deadline is Wednesday; submissions are emailed to [email protected].
- Weekly parish bulletin in print and online
- Bulletin deadline: Wednesdays
- Periodic parish picnics and potluck dinners
- Diocese of Owensboro Western Kentucky Catholic feature (Nov 2014)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Leonard "Len" Arcilesi1995–
Founding pastor, assigned by Bishop John J. McRaith on July 1, 1995; led land purchase (1997) and built original Parish Center dedicated Sept. 27, 1998; oversaw 2001 Education Wing addition.
- Fr. David Willett
First articulated the idea for a separate, dedicated church building during his tenure.
- Fr. David Kennedy
Led the parish through the long-awaited construction and Sept. 27, 2014 dedication of the new cruciform church; quoted at dedication thanking contractors and congregation.
- Fr. John Thomas
Served as one of the pastors who carried the church-building project forward between founding and 2014.
- Fr. Carl McCarthy
Listed by the parish among the priests who helped realize the new church building.
- Fr. Julian Ibemerepresent pastor (per 2024 bulletins and diocese listing)
Current pastor; pastorate ongoing from Latin-rite Sunday 5 PM Vigil and daily Masses through Anointing of the Sick and Marriage preparation.