About St Paul · Florence, Kentucky
St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Covington, located on Dixie Highway in Florence, Kentucky. Founded in 1851 by Cornelius Ahern, who gathered local Catholics for Mass in his home with Father Butler of Covington, it is the oldest Catholic community in Boone County. Today the parish operates St. Paul Catholic School (founded 1925, a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence) and a robust faith-formation program. The parish describes its mission as 'Making and Strengthening Christians: As Disciples of Christ' and welcomes all to register, worship, and serve in its many ministries.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Jason Bertke
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington
Why belong here
St. Paul Parish offers an unusually complete Catholic life for a parish its size: weekend and daily Mass, Saturday reconciliation, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, K-8 religious education, Vacation Bible School, an active school, and dozens of lay ministries from choir to Knights of Columbus to Families for Life. Long-running groups such as the Boosters, the parish festival, the Young-at-Heart seniors, men's and women's retreats, and outreach to Bridgepoint Nursing Home and the Parish Kitchen give parishioners of every age and stage a concrete way to serve. As a parish that has welcomed immigrants since 1851 and continues to prize Catholic education, St. Paul combines deep roots in Northern Kentucky with a steady openness to new members.
Mass times at St Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 – 4:30 PM
- Friday 7:00 – 7:30 PM (during Lent, per 2018 weekly schedule)
Adoration times
- Weekdays 7:00 – 8:00 AM in the Church (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Holy Hour with Pastors: Thursday 6:00 – 6:45 PM in the Church
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Paul Parish, in the Diocese of Covington, describes its mission as 'Making and Strengthening Christians: As Disciples of Christ.' The parish staff seeks to shepherd parishioners to explore and understand their faith, providing a place — and opportunities — for diverse, engaged worship and faith formation from birth through death. Its most visible identity markers are the patron, St. Paul, and the school motto, 'Education Wrapped in Faith.'
- Diocese of Covington
- Mission: Making and Strengthening Christians
- Motto (school): Education Wrapped in Faith
History of St. Paul Parish
Founded in 1851 by Cornelius Ahern, who gathered local Catholics in his home with Father Butler of Covington, St. Paul grew from a 47-family community into the largest parish in Boone County. The first church was built on Shelby Street, and the parish moved to its current Dixie Highway location in 1904. Through rural-to-urban change and post-WWII growth, the parish peaked at over 1,700 families in the 1980s and continues to adapt as the surrounding neighborhood matures.
- 1851 — parish founded by Cornelius Ahern
- 1874 — Father Bent becomes first regular pastor
- 1904 — parish moves to current Dixie Highway site
- Peaked at 1,700+ families in the 1980s
St. Paul Catholic School
St. Paul Catholic School opened in 1925 as a two-classroom schoolhouse staffed by Benedictine sisters; that original building is still in use today. The school educates roughly 260 students in preschool through 8th grade and was recognized as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. It also served as the school for neighboring St. Timothy Parish (Union, KY) from 1988 until 2017. The school phone is 859-647-4070.
- Founded 1925 by Benedictine sisters
- 2014 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
- Preschool through 8th grade, ~260 students
- Phone: 859-647-4070
- Extended-day program through AlphaBEST
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Formation at St. Paul engages all ages, from preschool through adults, building a foundation in the faith and helping parishioners grow in their personal relationship with God. Primary Religious Education classes meet on Wednesdays from 7:00–8:15 PM for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade; Vacation Bible School runs in the summer (June 22–26 in 2026). RCIA welcomes adults into the Church, and catechist opportunities are open to parishioners throughout the year.
- Primary Religious Education (K–8): Wednesdays 7:00–8:15 PM
- Vacation Bible School (summer, ages preschool–5th)
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Adult faith formation programs
Liturgy, Music & Prayer Life
Music ministry at St. Paul includes a Children's Choir (ages 6 through high school), an 8 AM Music Ensemble, the Adult Choir, and the St. Paul Funeral Choir. The parish's ongoing prayer life also includes a communal Rosary after each weekday morning Mass, Evening Prayer (Vespers) Monday–Friday at 6:45 PM in the Chapel, a Monday-evening Rosary and Prayer Group, and a weekly Holy Hour with the Pastors on Thursdays at 6:00 PM. During Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed on Fridays at 7:30 PM.
- Children's Choir
- 8 AM Music Ensemble
- Adult Choir
- Funeral Choir
- Communal Rosary (weekdays 8:45 AM)
- Vespers (weeknights 6:45 PM)
- Holy Hour with Pastors (Thursday 6:00 PM)
- Stations of the Cross (Lent, Friday 7:30 PM)
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Paul's published Directory of Parish Life and Ministries lists dozens of ways to be involved. Liturgical roles include ushers, baptism coordinators, and choir members; formation roles include catechists, RCIA sponsors, and Marriage Prayer Partners. Parish life groups include the Boosters, the parish festival committee, the Knights of Columbus, the Young-at-Heart seniors, the Men's Golf League, Over-30 Men's Basketball, Coed 30+ Volleyball, and the PTO. Works of Mercy include baking for the Parish Kitchen, providing bereavement lunches, and assisting with Communion services at Bridgepoint Nursing Home.
- Knights of Columbus
- Boosters / PTO / Festival Committee
- Young at Heart (seniors)
- Men's Golf League; Coed 30+ Volleyball; Over 30 Men's Basketball
- Marriage Prayer Partners; Families for Life
- Parish Kitchen; Bereavement Lunch; Bridgepoint Nursing Home
- Men's & Women's Retreats (St. Anne Convent, Melbourne)
Outreach & Charity
Outreach at St. Paul flows through both parish-organized efforts and parishioner-led groups. The parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference meets Saturday mornings, parishioners bake for the Parish Kitchen, volunteers provide lunch after funerals as part of the Bereavement Ministry, and lay ministers bring Communion to residents at Bridgepoint Nursing Home each Monday at 2:00 PM. Families for Life promotes the Gospel of Life through events such as the January prayer service for the March for Life, the Baby Bottle Campaign for Care Net NKY, Crossing the Bridge for Life, and Pro-Life Month each October.
- St. Vincent de Paul conference
- Parish Kitchen
- Bereavement Lunch ministry
- Bridgepoint Nursing Home Communion Service (Mon 2:00 PM)
- Families for Life (March for Life, Baby Bottle Campaign, Crossing the Bridge for Life)
- Alcoholics Anonymous (Sundays 7 PM)
Clergy, Staff & Parish Directory
St. Paul is led by pastor Rev. Fr. Jason Bertke, with Rev. Mr. Nicholas J. Schwartz serving as deacon since his ordination in February 1999. The parish staff includes a Business Manager, Music Director, Communications Coordinator, Religious Formation Coordinator, Facilities Manager (Robert 'Trey' Winterman), Parish Secretary (Joanne Nesmith), and Parish Administrative Assistant (Julie Wahba). The office is open Tuesday–Thursday, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM. Parishioners can register online or by calling the rectory at 859-371-8051.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Jason Bertke
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Nicholas J. Schwartz (since 1999)
- Business Manager, Music Director, Communications Coordinator
- Facilities Manager: Robert (Trey) Winterman
- Parish Secretary: Joanne Nesmith; Admin Asst: Julie Wahba
- Office hours: Tues–Thurs 9:30 AM–2:30 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Bent1874–
First regular pastor; added a schoolroom with Miss Murphy as teacher.