About St. Theresa of Avila · Payneville, Kentucky
St. Theresa of Avila is a Roman Catholic parish in Rhodelia (Payneville), Meade County, Kentucky, in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest Catholic church in Meade County, with roots stretching back to missionary Masses said in pioneer log homes (called 'church stations') from 1805 onward. The parish is served today by Rev. George S. Illikkal, C.M.I., who has administered St. Theresa of Avila together with neighboring St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi in Payneville since June 22, 2016. About 500 parishioners share much common history and, like their ancestors, a strong sense of ownership for their parish.
- Established
- 1818
- Patron
- St. Theresa of Avila (Spanish Carmelite mystic, 1515–1582, Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Rev. George S. Illikkal, C.M.I. (Administrator of St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, Payneville, and St. Theresa of Avila, Rhodelia, since June 22, 2016)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Theresa of Avila is the oldest Catholic church in Meade County and, after more than 200 years, still draws about 500 parishioners who share deep roots in the parish and a strong sense of ownership of it. Families benefit from a Catholic school tradition stretching back to the 1866 St. Theresa Academy, an active Religious Education program for PreK through 12, a youth ministry, and a Children's Church program during Sunday Mass. Worship is supported by a Director of Music, a Director of Religious Education, a Youth Ministry Coordinator, and a Permanent Deacon — and the parish shares its pastoral care with neighboring St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi in Payneville, making it a close-knit, family-style community of faith.
Mass times at St. Theresa of Avila
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:15–5:45 p.m. (July thru December)
About St. Theresa of Avila
St. Theresa of Avila is a Roman Catholic parish founded in 1818 within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, located in Rhodelia in rural Meade County, Kentucky. About 500 parishioners today share much common history and, like their ancestors, a strong sense of ownership for their parish. Together with neighboring St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi in Payneville, the parish works to 'create a place of caring and peace where all are welcome and all can depend on us for assistance in their need.'
- Founded in 1818
- Oldest Catholic church in Meade County
- Approximately 500 parishioners
- About 135 registered households (per Archdiocese of Louisville profile)
- Part of a joint pastoral partnership with St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, Payneville
History of the Parish
Catholic settlers began arriving in Meade and Breckinridge Counties in the late 1700s. Missionary priests residing in Marion and Nelson Counties traveled to their log homes — 'church stations' — and the first recorded visit was in 1805. By 1810 Rev. Charles Nerinckx had reported the need for yearly visits, and several settlers offered land. In 1818 St. Theresa was established as a log church on the banks of the Ohio River in Breckinridge County; in 1826 the congregation built a second log church on what is now the 'old cemetery,' marked today by a large wooden cross. In 1830 Father Charles Ignatius Coomes was assigned to the missions in Meade and Hardin Counties and, finding St. Theresa's the largest, made it his headquarters and became its first resident pastor. The present brick church was begun in 1855, directed by architect William Kelly (architect of the Cathedral of the Assumption), in use by summer 1857, and formally dedicated June 16, 1861 by Bishop Martin John Spalding. The parish added a parish hall, the present rectory, and a new school in the twentieth century, and remains an anchor of Catholic life in Meade County.
- 1805 — first recorded missionary visit to 'church stations'
- 1818 — St. Theresa of Avila established as a log church on the Ohio River
- 1824 — Father Elisha J. Durbin began keeping baptismal records locally
- 1826 — second log church built on the present 'old cemetery' site
- 1827 — Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget's visit recorded many sacraments
- 1830 — Father Charles I. Coomes became first resident pastor
- 1855 — construction began on the present brick church under architect William Kelly
- 1857 — present church in use by summer
- 1861 June 16 — formal dedication by Bishop Martin John Spalding
- 1866 — St. Theresa Academy opened (Sisters of Loretto, then Sisters of Charity of Nazareth from 1870)
- 1872 — Father Raoux started the new parish of St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi in Payneville
- 1896 — large stained-glass window over the main altar secured under Father Raoux
- Late 1920s — windows lowered, stained glass installed, new bell tower built under Father Odendahl
- 1937 — Father Felix Johnson established the 'new cemetery,' Parish Hall, present rectory, and a new school
- 1950s — Meade County Board of Education took over the school
- 1993 — St. Theresa school closed after more than 125 years of Catholic education
- 2018 — parish celebrated 200 years of faith
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Faith formation at St. Theresa of Avila reaches children from PreK through grade 12. The Religious Education program meets on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. at St. Mary Parish Hall, and Children's Church is offered during both Sunday Masses throughout the school year, with children sent forth after the Opening Collect and returning during the preparation of the gifts. The Saint Mary and Saint Theresa Youth Group meets monthly on the 2nd Sunday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the St. Mary Youth Center, with extra events that include prayer, discipleship, leadership, service, and fellowship.
- Religious Education — PreK through 12; Wednesdays 6:00 pm at St. Mary Parish Hall; contact Teri Stull (270-945-4947, [email protected])
- Children's Church — during both Sunday Masses during the school year
- Youth Ministry — Saint Mary and Saint Theresa Youth Group; 2nd Sunday of each month, 5:00–6:30 pm at St. Mary Youth Center; Coordinator: Brittney Vessels
Music and Liturgy
Music and liturgical coordination at St. Theresa of Avila is led by Tammy Cashman, who serves as Director of Music and Funeral Coordinator. The parish also coordinates liturgical roles through its pastoral team, including the Permanent Deacon Greg Beavin and his wife Shirley, who assist in liturgical and pastoral ministry.
- Tammy Cashman — Director of Music / Funeral Coordinator
- Deacon Greg Beavin — assists in liturgical celebrations
- Children's Church liturgy during the school year
St. Theresa Academy — Catholic Education Heritage
Following the Civil War, St. Theresa Academy opened in 1866 as a boarding and day school. The Sisters of Loretto were the first teachers; in 1870 the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth took over the school, and the 'Sisters' Farm' was purchased to support their mission. In the 1950s the Meade County Board of Education took over the school, but the Sisters of Charity continued teaching there until the school closed in 1993 — by which time St. Theresa had educated children in Meade County for more than 125 years. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth remember the school and its legacy as 'gone but not forgotten.'
- 1866 — St. Theresa Academy opened as a boarding and day school
- 1870 — Sisters of Charity of Nazareth took over teaching; 'Sisters' Farm' purchased
- 1950s — Meade County Board of Education assumed operation
- 1993 — School closed after more than 125 years of Catholic education
St. Theresa Family Life Center and Parish Facilities
On October 15, 2023 — the feast of St. Theresa of Avila — Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre visited the historic parish, celebrated Mass, prayed at the grave of Venerable Father Augustus Tolton's grandmother, and blessed the new St. Theresa Family Life Center located next door to the church. The parish also maintains a Parish Hall and a 'new cemetery' established in 1937 on land donated by the Sisters of Charity, alongside the historic 'old cemetery' marked by the wooden cross of the 1826 log church.
- St. Theresa Family Life Center — blessed October 15, 2023, next to the church
- Parish Hall
- 'Old cemetery' — site of the 1826 log church, marked by a large wooden cross
- 'New cemetery' — established 1937 on land donated by the Sisters of Charity
- Present rectory — built under Father Felix Johnson (1937–)
Contact, Office Hours, and Parish Registration
The parish office is located at 9245 Rhodelia Road, Payneville, KY 40157, and is staffed by Office Manager Kathy Shacklett. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Office phone is (270) 496-4362, fax (270) 496-4416, and email [email protected]. A printable St. Theresa Parish Registration Form is available on the parish website for new parishioners to print, fill out, and return to the office.
- Address — 9245 Rhodelia Rd, Payneville, KY 40157
- Phone — (270) 496-4362
- Fax — (270) 496-4416
- Email — [email protected]
- Office Hours — Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Pastor email — [email protected]
- Pastor phone — (502) 718-7106
- St. Theresa Parish Registration Form available on the website
Heritage and Notable Facts
St. Theresa of Avila's history touches several broader Catholic stories. Venerable Father Augustus Tolton — the first recognized African-American Catholic priest in the United States — has family roots at the parish: his grandmother is buried in the parish cemetery, and on October 15, 2023, Archbishop Fabre prayed at her grave during his pastoral visit. Parish records document more than 222 known enslaved members who were baptized and buried at St. Theresa, and the parish has worked to honor that part of its history. The parish also marked 200 years of faith in 2018 with the archbishop celebrating Mass at 10:30 a.m.
- More than 222 known enslaved members documented in parish baptismal and burial records
- Venerable Father Augustus Tolton's grandmother is buried in the parish cemetery
- Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre's pastoral visit, October 15, 2023 (feast of St. Theresa of Avila)
- Bicentennial celebrated in October 2018
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Nerinckx (missionary, visiting)pre-1818
Missionary priest who reported to the Bishop in Baltimore on the growing Catholic settlements and helped establish the parish.
- Rev. Elisha J. Durbin1824–
Began keeping St. Theresa's baptismal records locally in 1824.
- Rev. Charles Ignatius Coomesfrom 1830
First resident pastor of the parish; headquartered here as the largest mission in Meade and Hardin counties.
- Father Raouxaround 1896
From France; started the new parish of St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi in Payneville off of St. Theresa in 1872, built the 'old rectory' at St. Theresa, and secured the large stained-glass window over the main altar in 1896.
- Father Odendahllate 1920s
From Germany; oversaw lowering the windows, replacing clear-glass with stained glass, and building the new bell tower.
- Father Felix Johnsonfrom 1937
Established the 'new cemetery' on land donated by the Sisters of Charity, built the Parish Hall, the present rectory, and a new school.
- Rev. George S. Illikkal, C.M.I.since June 22, 2016
Current Administrator of St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, Payneville, and St. Theresa of Avila, Rhodelia.