About St. Paul · Princeton, Kentucky
St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving Princeton, Kentucky, in Caldwell County, and is part of the Diocese of Owensboro. Founded in 1874, it is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in western Kentucky and now operates as a clustered duo-parish with St. Mark in nearby Eddyville, sharing a pastor and a weekly bulletin. Current pastor Rev. Brad Whistle (a former pastor, Fr. Jojy Joseph Olickal, served from 2017 until the transition) cares for about 65 registered families. The parish offers Mass three times a week — Wednesday evening, Friday morning, and Sunday morning — along with Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays and a robust Knights of Columbus presence.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Brad Whistle
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. Paul is a small, close-knit Catholic family of roughly 65 households in Caldwell County that has served Catholics in Princeton for 150 years. Weekly Mass is offered three times (Wednesday evening, Friday morning, Sunday morning), Holy Hours of Eucharistic Adoration are held on First Fridays, the rosary is prayed before each Mass, and the parish hosts seasonal Penance Services. Worship is supported by a roster of weekend liturgical ministers and the parish is active in the Knights of Columbus — all the hallmarks of a faithful community where members know one another and pitch in.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment / available before Mass — contact the parish office at (270) 365-6786
- Advent Penance Service held annually (e.g. Sunday, December 15, 2024, 2:00–3:00 PM)
Adoration times
- First Friday Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (the 9:00 AM daily Mass is canceled on that Friday)
- Adoration is also celebrated on First Tuesdays when there is a daily Mass; adoration is canceled whenever the daily Mass is canceled
Parish History
Catholicism came to Princeton via circuit-riding priests from Fancy Farm, Hopkinsville, Paducah, and Henshaw. Fr. E.J. Durbin, a mule-riding priest, was assigned to the area in 1873. Bishop McCloskey of Louisville bought two adjoining lots in 1871 and 1873; the original frame church was built in 1874 at Washington and Harrison Streets — the lot later taken for the U.S. Post Office. A Gothic-style brick church replaced it in 1935 under Fr. John Vance, and the present church on Old Eddyville Road was dedicated April 20, 1974, after Bishop Henry J. Soenneker approved its construction on a 12-acre parcel.
- 1874 — Original frame church built (Washington & Harrison Streets)
- 1904 — Fr. Odendah adds electricity and remodels
- 1935 — Gothic brick church built by Fr. John Vance (seats 200); old frame church sold for $1 and moved
- 1947 — Two-apartment house purchased for $1 and converted to a parochial school
- 1963 — Fr. Thomas Clark named first resident pastor
- 1972 — Building fund drive for the present church on Old Eddyville Road
- April 20, 1974 — Current church blessed and dedicated
- May 5, 2024 — 150th anniversary celebrated with Bishop William F. Medley confirming 13 young adults
Faith & Sacraments
St. Paul offers Holy Mass three times each week, the Sacrament of Reconciliation by appointment and at seasonal Penance Services, and Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays. Anointing of the Sick and other pastoral needs are arranged by calling the rectory.
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM (Rosary at 9:30 AM)
- Wednesday Mass: 6:30 PM (Rosary at 6:00 PM)
- Friday Mass: 9:00 AM (Rosary at 8:30 AM)
- First Friday Holy Hour of Adoration: 8:00–9:00 AM
- Advent Penance Service with visiting priests
Buildings & Renovations
A major 2019 renovation project — funded by the bequest of lifelong parishioner James R. (Jim Bob) Kevil — added a narthex vestibule with kitchenette and restrooms, refreshed the sanctuary with new altar, ambo, altar chairs, tile, ceiling paint, crucifix and Stations of the Cross, and updated the mother's chapel and confessional. The Center (former parish school) had its dining area modernized with a new kitchen, restrooms, lighting, paint, and carpet.
Parish School (Historical)
Fr. George Boehmicke established St. Paul School, which was taught by Ursuline Sisters from Maple Mount for grades 1 through 8. In 1947, the parish purchased a two-apartment house for one dollar to serve as the school. The school building later became 'The Center,' used today as a parish hall and dining space, and was renovated in 2019.
- St. Paul School founded under Fr. George Boehmicke
- Staffed by Ursuline Sisters from Maple Mount
- Served grades 1–8
- 1947 — Two-apartment house bought for $1 and converted to school use
- 2019 — 'The Center' kitchen, restrooms, and dining area renovated
Mission Churches
After Fr. Thomas Clark became the first resident pastor in 1963, St. Paul grew into an independent parish with two mission posts — the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville and Outwood State Hospital and School at Dawson Springs. Over time, eight mission churches were attached to St. Paul, and today several are independent parishes including the daughter community of St. Mark in Eddyville, with which St. Paul now shares a pastor as a duo-parish cluster.
- St. Joseph and St. Stephen near Canton
- St. William in Marion
- Resurrection in Dawson Springs
- St. Mark in Eddyville (now sister parish in a duo-parish cluster)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by pastor Rev. Brad Whistle, who also serves as pastor of the cluster partner St. Mark in Eddyville. Permanent Deacon Paul Bachi assists, including weekend Mass when available. Fr. Brad sees parishioners at St. Paul by appointment — contact the rectory at (270) 365-6786.
- Rev. Brad Whistle — Pastor
- Deacon Paul Bachi — Permanent Deacon
Ministers & Lay Leadership
St. Paul maintains a quarterly weekend ministers schedule covering Eucharistic Ministers (three are scheduled each weekend when Deacon Paul is absent), lectors and other liturgical roles. Three Eucharistic Ministers are needed each weekend the deacon is absent. The parish calendar also lists Knights of Columbus events.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors / Readers
- Knights of Columbus
- Coordinator: Kathy Talley (scheduling & bulletin notices)
Duo-Parish Cluster with St. Mark, Eddyville
St. Paul and St. Mark in Eddyville operate as a duo-parish cluster, sharing Father Brad Whistle as pastor and publishing one combined weekly bulletin and shared calendar. Many events (Adoration, First Sunday Breakfast, Advent Penance Service) are scheduled back and forth between the two churches. St. Paul is the historic mother parish of the St. Mark community.
- Shared pastor: Rev. Brad Whistle
- Joint website: stmarkeddyville.weconnect.com
- Combined bulletin and shared parish calendar
- St. Mark contact for the cluster
Visit & Contact
The church is located at 813 South Jefferson Street, Princeton, KY. From Princeton Main Street, drive south on Jefferson Street (KY-293) for about one mile — the church will be on the left. Office hours with Father Brad are by appointment only; call the rectory at (270) 365-6786 or email [email protected].
- Address: 813 S Jefferson St., Princeton, KY 42445-2371
- Phone: (270) 365-6786
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmarkeddyville.weconnect.com
- Office Hours: By appointment only
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. E.J. Durbin1873–
First priest assigned to the Princeton area; a circuit-riding priest on muleback serving Catholics across Livingston, Crittenden, Caldwell, Trigg and Lyon Counties.
- Fr. Odendah1904
Pastor of St. Ambrose in Henshaw; remodeled the 1874 frame church and added electricity.
- Fr. John Vance1935
Built the Gothic-style brick church (200 seats) after the federal government purchased the original lot for the post office.
- Fr. George Boehmicke
Established St. Paul School, which was staffed by Ursuline Sisters from Maple Mount for grades 1–8.
- Fr. Thomas Clark1963–
First resident pastor of St. Paul; under his tenure the parish became independent with attached mission churches.
- Rev. Jojy Joseph Olickal2017–
Originally a member of the Heralds of Good News missionary order from India; incardinated into the Diocese of Owensboro.
- Rev. Brad Whistle
Current pastor; serves the parish as part of a duo-parish cluster with St. Mark, Eddyville.