About St. Stephen Martyr · Louisville, Kentucky
St. Stephen Martyr is a Roman Catholic parish in the central Louisville, Kentucky neighborhood of Audubon, founded in 1948 and today home to more than 2,500 registered parishioners. The parish is served by the Archdiocese of Louisville and is part of a faith community anchored by its own parish school, a children's day care/preschool, an Activity Center, and a wide range of liturgical and outreach ministries. Its mission statement, refreshed by the Parish Council in September 2024, describes the parish as "a Catholic Community of Faith dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ," serving God and neighbor through liturgy, ministry, education, and stewardship.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Stephen (the first Christian martyr)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas E. Gentile (Administrator pro tempore, appointed late 2024, succeeding Rev. Peter Bucalo)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Stephen Martyr offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life in central Louisville: daily and weekend Mass, weekday Eucharistic adoration and confession on Mondays, an on-site parish school (K–8) and preschool/daycare, a robust Faith Formation program including a collaborative Inter-Parish Family Faith Formation with five neighboring parishes, RCIA, youth ministry, Bible studies, and adult ministry. Parishioners can serve in established groups such as the Knights of Columbus, Altar Society, choir, lectors, ushers, altar servers, Respect Life, and St. Vincent de Paul (502-635-4414), and the parish's own Mission House and Activity Center make hospitality, fellowship, and outreach to the local poor and needy a daily part of parish life.
Mass times at St. Stephen Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Sunday 7:45–8:15 AM and 9:45–10:15 AM
- Monday after 6:00 PM Mass (Adoration and Confession until 7:30 PM)
Adoration times
- Monday after 6:00 PM Mass until 7:30 PM (combined with confession)
Parish Overview
St. Stephen Martyr is a Roman Catholic parish in the Audubon neighborhood of central Louisville, Kentucky, established in 1948 and part of the Archdiocese of Louisville. With more than 2,500 registered parishioners, the parish runs its own K–8 school and on-site preschool/daycare, supports a wide range of liturgical and outreach ministries, and gathers for Mass in a semicircular, theater-style church dedicated in 1982. Its September 2024 mission statement describes a community "dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ" through liturgy, ministry, education, and stewardship.
- Established 1948
- Archdiocese of Louisville
- 2,500+ parishioners
- 757 registered families (Archdiocese count)
- On-site parish school and preschool/daycare
History of the Parish
St. Stephen Martyr was carved out of three existing Audubon-area parishes in 1948, with about 350 founding families contributing to a special building fund even before the first Mass was celebrated. After the original L-shaped church and school were dedicated in 1950 by Archbishop Floersh, the parish grew rapidly through the 1950s and 1960s, with the school peaking at more than 700 students under Dominican and lay teachers. Vatican II ushered in expanded lay participation, a parish council, a school board, and a religious-education program for public-school children. The current church was built and dedicated in 1982, the old church and gymnasium were renovated into a junior-high wing and a new Activity Center in 2000, and in November 2023 the parish marked its 75th anniversary with Archbishop Shelton Fabre presiding at Mass.
- Founded November 1948 from St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Our Mother of Sorrows, and Holy Family parishes
- Cornerstone laid October 23, 1949 by Father John Lyons
- First Mass celebrated by Father Clemens Weiker on June 11, 1950
- Original church/school dedicated December 26, 1950 by Archbishop Floersh
- Eight classrooms added in 1954; school peaked at 700+ students in the 1960s
- First lay principal Mrs. Evelyn Kalbhin hired 1970
- April 3, 1974 tornado damaged the property
- New church groundbreaking November 8, 1981; dedicated December 19, 1982 by Archbishop McDonough
- 2000 capital campaign raised $2.1 million for junior-high wing and Activity Center
- 75th anniversary celebrated November 2023 with Archbishop Shelton Fabre
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently administered by Father Thomas E. Gentile following the November 2024 reassignment of Father Peter Bucalo, who served as the seventh pastor from June 2021 and led the 75th anniversary celebrations. Two permanent deacons — Steve DaPonte (ordained 2006) and Ken Roberts, Jr., along with senior deacon Syl Nitzken (ordained 1993) — assist with liturgy and parish life, and Father Patrick J. Dolan is listed as Senior Associate on the Archdiocese of Louisville directory. Day-to-day operations are supported by a Business Manager, bookkeeper, parish secretary, music director, and school principal.
- Rev. Thomas E. Gentile – Administrator pro tempore (appointed November 2024)
- Rev. Patrick J. Dolan – Senior Associate
- Deacon Steve DaPonte – Senior Deacon (ordained 2006)
- Deacon Ken Roberts, Jr.
- Deacon Syl Nitzken – Senior Deacon (ordained 1993)
- Rev. Peter Bucalo – Pastor emeritus (June 2021 – November 2024)
- Brent Coomes – Business Manager
- Mary Ann Daunhauer – Bookkeeper
- Mary Lotz – Secretary
- Stuart Wicke – Director of Music
- Stephanie Longshore – School Principal (Archdiocese listing); Bridget Britt (school directory)
- Kristin Horlander – Preschool Director
- Elizabeth Thaler – Director of Faith Formation (Archdiocese listing)
Mass and Sacraments
St. Stephen Martyr celebrates Mass daily and offers the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Confession is heard Saturday afternoons and before each Sunday Mass, with additional time on Monday evenings. Holy Day Masses are celebrated at 8:15 AM and 6:00 PM. Couples are asked to contact the priest at least six months in advance of marriage, and families preparing children for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation do so through the parish's collaborative Faith Formation program.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM
- Weekday Mass: Monday 6:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:15 AM (Wednesday is a School Mass)
- Holy Days: 8:15 AM and 6:00 PM
- Confession: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM; Sunday 7:45–8:15 AM and 9:45–10:15 AM; Monday after 6:00 PM Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Stephen Martyr is structured around the collaborative Inter-Parish Family Faith Formation (IFFF) program, shared with Holy Family, St. Brigid, St. James, St. Agnes, and Pax Christi parishes. Designed for children in grades K–8 who do not attend Catholic school, the program is family-based: weekly lessons are completed at home, and a monthly large-group gathering for children and parents is hosted at St. Stephen Martyr with prayer, a shared meal, lesson review, parent enrichment, and seasonal/liturgical activities. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation is included.
- Inter-Parish Family Faith Formation (K–8), hosted monthly at St. Stephen Martyr
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Youth Ministry
- Adult Ministry (parishioners gather to learn about faith, Catholic teaching, and group prayer)
- Bible Studies
St. Stephen Martyr School and Preschool
The parish school, opened with the parish in 1950, was for many decades staffed by the Dominican Sisters from St. Catherine, Springfield, Kentucky, and reached a peak enrollment of more than 700 students in the 1960s. Today the school welcomes around 15 families from five neighboring parishes at parish-rate tuition, has a School Advisory Council and active Parent Teacher Organization, and fields an athletics program. A preschool (3- and 4-year-old programs) and extended day care share the parish campus and operate out of the Activity Center built in 2000.
- K–8 parish school (since 1950)
- Dominican Sisters staffed the school from 1950 to 1970
- First lay principal Mrs. Evelyn Kalbhin (1970)
- School telephone: (502) 635-7141
- Preschool / Day Care: (502) 635-3505, Director Kristin Horlander
- Principal: Bridget Britt (school directory) / Stephanie Longshore (Archdiocese listing)
- Athletics, School Advisory Council, and Parent Teacher Organization
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Parishioners serve the liturgy as lectors, ushers, altar servers, sacristans, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and in the music ministry. The adult choir, directed by Music Director Stuart Wicke, rehearses seasonally (for example, beginning in October for Advent and Christmas) and sings at eight Masses through the holiday season, while a 21-voice school choir accompanies the Wednesday School Masses across six grades. Volunteers are always welcome and "never required" to participate, in the parish's words.
- Choir (adult and school)
- Music Director Stuart Wicke
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Altar Servers
- Sacristans
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Parish Life and Outreach
St. Stephen Martyr maintains a wide range of parish-life and service organizations. The Knights of Columbus, Altar Society (rooted in the historic Women's Altar Sodality), Respect Life, and a local chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society (502-635-4414) carry out the parish's commitment to serving "the local community's poor and needy." A Stewardship Committee invites parishioners to share Time, Talent, and Treasure, and Parish and Finance councils guide the community's life. Long-running social organizations have historically included the Marteen Club, Girl Scouts, Saint Bernadette Society, MOSS Club, and PTA.
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Society (Women's Altar Sodality)
- Respect Life
- St. Vincent de Paul (502-635-4414)
- Parish Council (chair Rob Greenwell)
- Finance Council (Ray Brown)
- Stewardship Committee
- Service, Parish Life, Worship, and Formation/Education commissions
- Parish picnic, stewardship appeals, and door-to-door campaigns
Facilities and Campus
The parish campus at 2931 Pindell Avenue centers on the 1982 semicircular church, with the renovated original 1950 building (now a junior-high wing of the school), the Activity Center (built with the 2000 capital campaign), the parish school, and the preschool/daycare. In 2004 the parish purchased 3017 Greenup as the new rectory, and the former rectory was converted into the Ministry House. The Activity Center houses a children's day care center, gymnasium, parish offices, a meeting room, and a kitchen, and serves as the hub for parish socials, school athletics, and community events.
- 1982 semicircular, theater-style church
- Renovated 1950 church / gymnasium = junior-high wing
- Activity Center (2000): day care, gymnasium, offices, meeting room, kitchen
- Rectory: 3017 Greenup (purchased 2004)
- Ministry House: converted former rectory
- School auditorium and cafeteria; Cafeteria phone (502) 635-6895
Visiting, Contact, and Practical Information
Parish office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM. The parish office can be reached at (502) 635-5813, fax (502) 635-5888, with general inquiries handled by secretary Mary Lotz at [email protected]. The weekly bulletin is published with a Monday noon deadline and includes a full Mass schedule, confession times, and ministry news. The parish shares its bulletin online at ssmartyr.org/news/bulletin and is listed in the Archdiocese of Louisville directory.
- Parish Office: (502) 635-5813 / Fax (502) 635-5888
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
- Address: 2931 Pindell Avenue, Louisville, KY 40217-1752
- Website: ssmartyr.org
- Archdiocese directory listing: archlou.org/parishes/saint-stephen-martyr-parish/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Clemens Weiker1948–
Founding pastor; moved into Our Mother of Sorrows rectory on November 4, 1948; celebrated the parish's first Mass on June 11, 1950.
- Rev. Prindiville
Pastored during the late 1950s/early 1960s; oversaw the formation of the Marteen Club with the PTA.
- Rev. Roy Stileslate 1970s
Oversaw the decision to build the new church; parishioner Cletus Ratterman ordained deacon during his tenure.
- Rev. Jim Lichtefeld1988–July 2003
15 years of service; launched the after-school program, expanded preschool/daycare, oversaw the 1998 Activity Center project, and continued to preside at Monday Mass in retirement.
- Rev. J. Randall HubbardJuly 2003–2011
Hired the first Business Manager; began the 75th-anniversary era of expanded outreach and clustering.
- Rev. Harry GelthausJune 2011–June 2021
Sixth pastor; served ten years; led the parish during its 2012 cluster with Holy Family.
- Rev. Peter BucaloJune 2021–November 2024
Ordained May 30, 2015 (St. Meinrad Seminary); previously pastor of Mary Queen of Peace; led 75th anniversary celebrations in November 2023.
- Rev. Thomas E. GentileNovember 2024–
Appointed administrator pro tempore following Fr. Bucalo's reassignment to Our Lady of Mercy and St. Ann parishes.