About St. William of Vercelli · Marion, Kentucky
St. William of Vercelli Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the Catholic community of Marion, Kentucky, and surrounding Crittenden County. It belongs to the Diocese of Owensboro and is pastored as part of a tri-parish cluster with St. Francis Borgia in Sturgis and St. Ambrose in Morganfield, sharing one priest across the three rural communities. Worship is celebrated in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Latin Rite), with a regular Sunday Mass and a Thursday midday Mass at the parish church on South Main Street. The parish's patron—St. William of Vercelli, the 12th-century Italian hermit who founded the Congregation of Monte Vergine—is a notably uncommon patron for a western Kentucky parish, reflecting the missionary origins of Catholicism in this stretch of the Ohio River valley.
- Patron
- St. William of Vercelli (William of Montevergine)
- Rector
- Rev. Jojy Joseph
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. William of Vercelli offers the small-parish warmth of rural Catholic life in Crittenden County, with a committed Sunday and Thursday Mass schedule, a parish hall for community gatherings, and an active social-outreach arm through its tri-parish St. Vincent de Paul conference serving Union, Crittenden, and Webster counties. As one of three linked parishes sharing a pastor, it gives worshippers a meaningful way to live their faith in a tight-knit community where neighbors truly know one another.
Mass times at St. William of Vercelli
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. William of Vercelli Parish
St. William of Vercelli is a Roman-Latin rite Catholic parish in Marion, Kentucky, the county seat of Crittenden County. It is one of three parishes in a rural tri-parish cluster that together cover Crittenden, Union, and Webster counties. The parish's name honors a relatively uncommon saint in the American Catholic landscape—the 12th-century Italian hermit who founded the Congregation of Monte Vergine in southern Italy.
- Patron: St. William of Vercelli (William of Montevergine), 1085–1142
- Feast day: June 25
- Diocese: Owensboro
- Mass offered Sunday at 11:00 AM and Thursday at 12:00 PM
History of the Parish
Catholic life in Marion began in private homes—parishioners gathered for Mass in a family basement until the current church on South Main Street could be built. From those modest domestic roots the parish grew into the visible, established community it is today. Over the past decade the parish has been pastored as part of a Tri-Parish cluster with St. Francis Borgia (Sturgis) and St. Ambrose (Morganfield), and in 2023 the three communities jointly launched a tri-parish St. Vincent de Paul conference to extend Catholic charitable service across their three counties.
- Early Masses held in a parishioner's basement before the church building was constructed
- Part of the St. William / St. Francis Borgia / St. Ambrose Tri-Parish cluster
- Tri-Parish St. Vincent de Paul conference established under Fr. John Okoro's guidance
Tri-Parish Cluster
St. William of Vercelli shares its pastor with St. Francis Borgia Parish in Sturgis and St. Ambrose Parish in Morganfield (Henshaw). Weekly bulletins and combined Mass/service schedules for all three are published on the St. Francis Borgia parish website (stfrancisborgiasturgis.org/bulletins) and on St. Ambrose's Facebook page, allowing worshippers across the cluster to coordinate attendance and ministries.
- St. Francis Borgia Parish, Sturgis
- St. Ambrose Parish, Morganfield (Henshaw)
- Shared bulletins online; weekly bulletins from St. Francis Borgia's website
Mass and Worship Schedule
The Diocese of Owensboro listing for St. William of Vercelli publishes a regular weekly schedule of two Masses at the parish church. Visitors and parishioners are always welcome; those planning a visit are encouraged to confirm times with the parish office, especially around holy days or during Tri-Parish rotations.
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM
- Thursday Mass: 12:00 PM
- Rite: Roman-Latin (Ordinary Form)
- Contact: (270) 965-2477
St. Vincent de Paul & Outreach
The most visible lay-led outreach of St. William of Vercelli is its participation in the tri-parish Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference that serves Union, Crittenden, and Webster counties. Founded with seed funds from the SVDP Diocesan Council, a United Way of the Ohio Valley grant, and parishioner donations totaling more than $10,000, the conference helps neighbors in need—including direct aid for housing deposits, food, and other urgent needs—and runs a Lenten Food Drive that fills the 'Neighbors Need' pantry.
- Tri-parish SVDP conference (23rd in the Diocese of Owensboro)
- Founding president: Rebecca Woodall (St. William parishioner)
- Coverage: Union, Crittenden, and Webster counties
- Annual Lenten Food Drive supporting the 'Neighbors Need' pantry
- Funding partners: SVDP Diocesan Council, United Way of the Ohio Valley, parish donations
Clergy and Staff
St. William of Vercelli is currently served by pastor Rev. Jojy Joseph, who is the parish's contact for all sacramental inquiries. Because the parish belongs to a Tri-Parish cluster, the pastor also ministers at the linked parishes in Sturgis and Morganfield. Parishioners needing to speak with a priest are encouraged to call the parish office during business hours.
- Pastor: Rev. Jojy Joseph
- Office contact: [email protected]
- Phone: (270) 965-2477
Visitor Information
The parish church is located on South Main Street in Marion, between Shady Lane (to the north) and Cruce Lane (to the south), making it easy to find on any map of the town. Visitors are warmly welcomed; new parishioners and travelers can contact the office to confirm current Mass times, holy day schedules, and the availability of confession.
- Address: 860 S Main St., Marion, KY 42064
- Between Shady Ln and Cruce Ln on Main Street
- Office email: [email protected]
- Phone: (270) 965-2477
How to Get Involved
Parishioners and newcomers can become part of St. William's life in several practical ways: joining the tri-parish St. Vincent de Paul conference (a key ministry serving the three-county region), supporting the annual Lenten Food Drive for the 'Neighbors Need' pantry, attending either the Sunday or Thursday weekday Mass, and following the parish's Facebook page (StWilliamMarion) for current announcements and combined cluster bulletins.
- Join the tri-parish St. Vincent de Paul conference
- Contribute to the Lenten Food Drive
- Attend Sunday 11:00 AM or Thursday 12:00 PM Mass
- Follow the parish on Facebook: facebook.com/StWilliamMarion
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Okoroat least 2018 – circa 2023
Ordained September 9, 1995. Pastor of the Tri-Parish cluster of St. William of Vercelli (Marion), St. Francis Borgia (Sturgis), and St. Ambrose (Morganfield/Henshaw). Under his guidance the three parishes launched their tri-parish St. Vincent de Paul conference.