About St. Peter the Apostle · Louisville, Kentucky
St. Peter the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in the southwest Louisville, Kentucky communities of Pleasure Ridge Park and Valley Station, part of the Archdiocese of Louisville. It was officially established on April 8, 2008, as the first five-church merger in the Archdiocese of Louisville, uniting the former parishes of St. Clement, Our Lady Help of Christians, Our Lady of Consolation, St. Polycarp, and St. Timothy. Today the parish worships at a 1,200-seat church on Johnsontown Road that was dedicated in 2011, with roughly 1,600 parishioners and a bilingual English/Spanish liturgical life led by its pastor and a Hispanic Ministry priest.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Saju M. Vadakumpadan, C.M.I.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Peter the Apostle is a bilingual Catholic community serving Pleasure Ridge Park and Valley Station that grew out of the union of five long-standing southwest Louisville parishes, so newcomers join a congregation with deep local roots and a story of real sacrifice and togetherness. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a Hispanic Ministry priest and dedicated coordinator, and the parish runs RCIA, parish religious education K-8, Vacation Bible School, youth ministry, scripture study, sacramental prep teams, and a Knights of Columbus council, so there is a clear path for every age and stage of faith. The four stated parish goals — generate parish unity, live our faith joyfully, nourish our faith continually, and proclaim our faith through action — give newcomers a simple, honest picture of what the community is about.
Mass times at St. Peter the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Mondays 1:00–2:00 p.m.
- Fridays 3:00–5:00 p.m.
- Fridays 7:00–8:00 p.m. (Spanish)
- Saturdays 3:30–4:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration (per the parish's published schedule — see bulletin or contact the parish office for current hours)
Parish History — The Five-Church Merger
St. Peter the Apostle was officially established on April 8, 2008, when Archbishop Joseph Kurtz proclaimed the merger of five southwest Louisville parishes: St. Clement (1957), Our Lady Help of Christians (1957), Our Lady of Consolation (1959), St. Polycarp (1960), and St. Timothy (1963). After a year-long study in 2005–2006 and a year of merger planning through a Pastoral Core Merger Team formed in June 2007, the name St. Peter the Apostle was chosen and Fr. Ron Domhoff was named first pastor. At merger, about 1,750 registered families worshipped at the former Our Lady of Consolation (Deering Road) and St. Polycarp (Columbine Drive) sites, and a new church was soon built on the former St. Clement property.
- St. Clement Parish founded 1957; first pastor Fr. Henry Stuecker.
- Our Lady Help of Christians founded September 1957; founding pastor Fr. Lawrence Boone.
- Our Lady of Consolation founded 1959; served by Conventual Franciscans, founding pastor Fr. George Schroeder, OFM.Conv.
- St. Polycarp Parish founded July 1960; founding pastor Fr. AJ Schwabenton.
- St. Timothy Parish founded July 1963; founding pastor Fr. Hubert Hagan.
- Merger proposal submitted August 2006; Pastoral Core Merger Team formed June 2007.
- Archbishop Joseph Kurtz proclaimed the new parish April 8, 2008; Fr. Ron Domhoff named first pastor.
Building the New Church (2009–2011)
Within three years of the merger the regional Saint Andrew Academy became the parish school. A groundbreaking ceremony on the former St. Clement property on Johnsontown Road launched construction of a new, approximately 1,200-seat worship space. The new church was dedicated on December 2, 2011, with Archbishop Joseph Kurtz presiding. According to the project's architects, the master plan and design were shaped by town hall meetings with the five merging communities, with elements drawn from each of the original parishes to honor their shared heritage.
- New church built on the former St. Clement site at 5431 Johnsontown Road.
- Capacity approximately 1,200 seats.
- Dedication: December 2, 2011, by Archbishop Joseph Kurtz.
- Architect: JRA Architects (master plan and design).
Mission, Vision, and Parish Goals
The parish mission statement reads: "St. Peter the Apostle Parish, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, is committed to announcing the Good News of Jesus Christ and thus forming its members into a community of disciples who make God's love known." The four stated parish goals are to generate parish unity, live our faith joyfully, nourish our faith continually, and proclaim our faith through action.
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, a priest dedicated to Hispanic Ministry, a permanent deacon, and a lay staff that includes a Director of Worship and Music, Faith Formation and Hispanic Ministry Coordinator, business manager, bookkeeper, and parish secretaries. Pastoral Council leadership and parish committees help guide the life of the parish.
- Pastor: Rev. Saju M. Vadakumpadan, C.M.I.
- Hispanic Ministry / Associate Pastor: Rev. Francisco J. Hernández Mendéz
- Permanent Deacon: Gregory L. Klinglesmith
- Director of Worship and Music: Laura Meyer
- Faith Formation and Hispanic Ministry Coordinator: Maria Castaneda
- Business Manager: Dave Abell
- Bookkeeper: Harriet Hicks
- Parish Secretary: Beverly Colyer
- Administrative Assistant: Jennifer Broda
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish operates a full lifelong-formation program with classes, sacramental prep, retreats, and scripture study for all ages, coordinated through the Faith Formation Center on the parish grounds.
- Parish Religious Education Program (PREP), grades K-8 — Sunday mornings 9:30–11:00 a.m.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), adapted for children — sessions on Wednesday evenings.
- Sacramental Preparation Teams for Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Marriage.
- Faith Formation Committee guiding parish-wide formation efforts.
- Vacation Bible School — late June or early July, inter-generational, Scripture-based.
- Scripture Study Groups — Monday 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday 1:30 p.m.
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Maria Castaneda.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
High-school youth ministry meets Sunday evenings in the Youth Room off the Gathering Space and runs the annual JOURNEY weekend retreat. The Faith Formation Office (documented at stpeterformation.weebly.com) lists a Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation, a Youth Minister, and a Notre Dame ECHO Apprentice supporting youth and family faith programming.
- Youth Group (grades 9-12), Sunday evenings.
- JOURNEY annual high-school retreat.
- Faith Formation staff supporting youth and family programs.
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry is a central part of parish life, supported by a dedicated priest, a coordinator on staff, and a Spanish-language Sunday Mass, Spanish-language Reconciliation, and ongoing outreach. The coordinator, Maria Castaneda, is listed on staff as Faith Formation and Hispanic Ministry Coordinator.
- Priest: Rev. Francisco J. Hernández Mendéz.
- Coordinator: Maria Castaneda.
- Spanish Sunday Mass at 11:00 a.m.
- Spanish Confession Friday 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion, Reconciliation, and Marriage through dedicated Sacramental Preparation Teams. RCIA prepares adults and children of catechetical age (7+) for full communion with the Catholic Church, including those baptized in another Christian tradition.
- Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage preparation.
- RCIA for adults and adapted for children.
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office.
Saint Andrew Academy (Parish School)
Saint Andrew Academy is the parish school of St. Peter the Apostle, originally the regional school for the five merging parishes and adopted as the parish school within three years of the 2008 merger. It is located at 7724 Columbine Drive in Louisville and is also the site of the parish's Thursday 8:00 a.m. Mass when school is in session.
- Parish school since approximately 2011.
- Address: 7724 Columbine Drive, Louisville, KY 40258.
- Thursday 8:00 a.m. Mass held at the school during the academic year.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ron Domhoff2008–
Named first pastor of St. Peter the Apostle when Archbishop Joseph Kurtz officially established the merged parish on April 8, 2008.