About St. Thomas More · Louisville, Kentucky
St. Thomas More Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the South End of Louisville, Kentucky, within the Archdiocese of Louisville. Founded in February 1944 during World War II by Archbishop John A. Floersh as a carve-out from Holy Name Parish, it has long served the South End's Catholic community and today operates jointly with neighboring Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish as 'Southend Catholic.' The parish is known for its striking mid-century-modern worship space, completed in 1965, which was designed 'in the round' by internationally recognized liturgical artists, and for its commitment to inter-parish cooperation, Catholic education, and care for the poor.
- Established
- 1944
- Patron
- St. Thomas More
- Rector
- Rev. Troy D. Overton
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Thomas More is a welcoming Catholic community in Louisville's South End that combines a rich 80-year history with vibrant present-day ministry. As part of 'Southend Catholic,' it shares resources and programming with neighboring Our Lady of Mount Carmel — offering strong faith formation for children and adults, a busy Music Ministry, Scripture & Faith Sharing, GriefShare support, a St. Vincent de Paul chapter, Respect Life, Project Hope, and active outreach through South Louisville Community Ministries. Members worship in a striking 1965 'in-the-round' church with Gabriel Loire stained glass and an Ade Bethune crucifix, and gather in a modern parish life center with a gymnasium used for both parish and community events.
Mass times at St. Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 p.m. (at St. Thomas More) or by appointment through the parish office
Parish History
St. Thomas More was founded in February 1944 when Archbishop John A. Floersh carved the parish out of Holy Name Parish to serve the growing Catholic population in Louisville's South End during World War II. Father John P. Hannon was the first pastor. The parish school opened in September 1944 staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. After the war, the neighborhood expanded rapidly and four daughter parishes — SS. Simon and Jude, St. John Vianney, St. Jerome, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel — were established from St. Thomas More.
- Established February 1944
- First pastor: Rev. John P. Hannon
- St. Thomas More School opened September 1944 (Sisters of Charity of Nazareth)
- Second church (current worship space) completed January 1965
- Parish school closed in 2004 in favor of regional St. Nicholas Academy
- New parish life center with gymnasium built for shared parish and community use
Architecture & Art: The 1965 Church
The current St. Thomas More church was completed in January 1965 and was one of the first modern worship spaces built in response to the Second Vatican Council's call for liturgical renewal. Built 'in the round' of natural stone and wood with little ornamentation, it was both praised as 'a fine example of modern church architecture' and criticized for being 'a big barn.' Two internationally recognized artists contributed: the French stained-glass master Gabriel Loire of the Loire Studio in Chartres, famed for his dalle de verre technique, designed the windows; and Ade Bethune, the Belgian-American liturgical designer closely tied to Vatican II church architecture, created the crucifix.
- Round plan, natural stone and wood, minimal ornamentation
- Stained-glass windows by Gabriel Loire (Loire Studio, Chartres)
- Crucifix by Ade Bethune
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Thomas More is served by a pastor and three permanent deacons, supported by a parish secretary/manager and a director of religious education who coordinate the parish's faith-formation and sacramental-preparation work.
- Pastor: Rev. Troy D. Overton
- Deacon John M. Fellonneau
- Deacon Craig T. Lish
- Deacon Michael A. Tolbert
- Secretary and Parish Manager: Benida Crask ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Julie Stieren ([email protected] / 366-1463 ext. 102)
- Liturgy Music Coordinator: Chip Lucas
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children not enrolled in a Catholic school is provided through the parish's Religious Education / CCD Program serving grades K–8, with sacramental preparation (First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation) as an integral part of the program. Younger children are also invited to the Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass, and a one-week Vacation Bible School is held each summer toward the latter part of June.
- CCD / Religious Education Program (K–8)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (K–3, during 10 a.m. Mass)
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Vacation Bible School (annual, late June)
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults and children over 7
- Adult Enrichment — speakers, Scripture study, lifelong faith formation
- Scripture & Faith Sharing Group (Fridays 11 a.m., Parish Life Center Rm 1)
Music & Liturgy
The Music Ministry, shared with neighboring Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, aims to enable 'full, conscious, and active participation' of the assembly. Opportunities are open to all ages as cantors (primary song leaders), choir members, and instrumentalists (keyboard, organ, guitar, and other instruments). Liturgy Music Coordinator Chip Lucas leads the program.
- Cantors, choir, and instrumentalists of all ages
- Keyboard (piano and organ) and guitar most commonly used
- Open to musicians of all ages with proficiency on their instrument
- Liturgy Music Coordinator: Chip Lucas
Outreach, Charity & Social Ministry
St. Thomas More has long supported Catholic education and care for the poor in South Louisville. The parish pools resources with other South End churches through South Louisville Community Ministries, runs a Project Hope program for short-term emergency assistance, and supports an active St. Vincent de Paul chapter whose members help those in need of emergency aid.
- South Louisville Community Ministries (inter-parish outreach)
- Project Hope (short-term emergency assistance)
- St. Vincent de Paul Chapter (4–5 volunteer hours/month)
- Respect Life Committee (abortion, abuse, disability, euthanasia, death penalty)
- Grief Support — GriefShare 14-week program, shared with Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Prayer Chain
- Ministers of the Eucharist who bring Communion to the sick and shut-ins
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are prepared through a dedicated program for parents and through RCIA for older children and adults; Reconciliation preparation is coordinated at the 2nd-grade level; First Communion and Confirmation preparation are integrated into the Religious Education program. Couples should contact the pastor at least six months before a wedding to begin marriage preparation, which includes baptismal certificates, a pre-marriage investigation, and an approved diocesan marriage course.
- Baptism — contact DRE Julie Stieren
- Reconciliation (Penance) — Saturday 3:15 p.m. or by appointment
- Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage — contact pastor 6+ months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — by arrangement with the parish office
Southend Catholic & St. Nicholas Academy
St. Thomas More partners with neighboring Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish as 'Southend Catholic' (southendcatholic.com), sharing ministries such as Music Ministry and GriefShare. After the parish school closed in 2004, four sponsoring parishes — Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Thomas More, SS. Simon and Jude, and Most Blessed Sacrament — formed the regional St. Nicholas Academy. Effective July 1, 2024, St. Nicholas Academy reverted to being a parish school of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; St. Thomas More parishioners retain 'Covenant' status through the 2026–27 school year.
- Shared ministry with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish as 'Southend Catholic'
- St. Nicholas Academy: regional school since 2004
- Effective July 1, 2024, St. Nicholas Academy became a parish school of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- St. Thomas More retains 'Covenant' status for 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Parish Life & Facilities
Beyond Mass, the parish gathers for a wide range of fellowship and fundraising events, most notably the annual parish picnic held the second weekend of June and the Lenten Fish Fry, which are major fund-raisers and depend on many volunteer hands. The parish life center, which includes a gymnasium, is used both for parish events and shared community and public services.
- Annual parish picnic (2nd weekend of June)
- Lenten Fish Fry
- Parish Life Center with gymnasium
- Volunteer opportunities in organization, food prep, construction, electrical, set-up/tear-down, finance
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
St. Thomas More welcomes visitors and new parishioners to its weekend Masses at 6105 S. Third Street in the South End of Louisville. Those interested in joining a ministry, enrolling a child in Religious Education, scheduling a baptism or wedding, or asking for confidential referral assistance may contact the parish office during the week.
- Address: 6105 S. Third Street, Louisville, KY 40214-2702
- Phone: (502) 366-1463
- Email: [email protected]
- DRE: Julie Stieren — [email protected] / 366-1463 ext. 102
- Website: archlou.org/parishes/saint-thomas-more-parish/ and southendcatholic.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John P. Hannon1944 –
First pastor, appointed at the parish's founding in February 1944 while the original church was still under construction.