About Sts. Joseph & Paul · Owensboro, Kentucky
Sts. Joseph & Paul Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in Owensboro, Kentucky, formed in 1948 from the merger of two older congregations — St. Paul's (Irish-American, founded 1887) and St. Joseph's (German-American). The current church building is the former St. Paul Church at the corner of East 4th and Bolivar Streets, completed in 1889 and one of the oldest parish structures in the Diocese of Owensboro. Today it serves a bilingual English/Spanish community, celebrating Mass in Spanish on Saturday evenings and Sunday at noon, and offering weekday Spanish Holy Hour and devotions. The parish is led by Fr. Jean-Rene Kalombo (Pastor) and Fr. Mike Williams (Associate Pastor), along with two deacons and a small lay staff.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Joseph and St. Paul
- Rector
- Fr. Jean-Rene Kalombo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
Sts. Joseph & Paul offers one of the most pastorally diverse schedules in the Owensboro area — including a Saturday-evening and Sunday-noon Mass in Spanish, weekly Spanish Holy Hour, daily weekday Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday. The parish welcomes new members through an online family-registration form and offers RCIA for adults discerning the Catholic faith. With roots stretching back to 1887, a stunning historic church on the National Register of Historic Places, and a bilingual worshipping community led by two priests and two deacons, it is a long-standing anchor of Catholic life in downtown Owensboro.
Mass times at Sts. Joseph & Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 12:00 pm (Noon)
- Thursday 6:00 pm
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:00 am – 5:15 pm (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Thursday 7:00 – 8:00 pm (Spanish Holy Hour)
Parish History
Sts. Joseph & Paul traces its origin to 1887 when St. Paul's Parish was carved out of St. Stephen's to serve Owensboro's growing Irish-American Catholic community. The permanent church at Fourth and Bolivar Streets was dedicated January 13, 1889 by Bishop William George McCloskey of Louisville. Across the street, St. Joseph's Parish served the German-American community, and relations between the two congregations were often tense. On April 3, 1948, Bishop Francis R. Cotton — the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Owensboro — merged the two parishes. Rev. Peter Braun was named first pastor of Sts. Joseph & Paul Parish. A fire damaged St. Paul's on Christmas Eve 1984; the building was repaired and rededicated in 1986, and the merged parish's 100th anniversary was celebrated April 2, 1989 with Bishop John McRaith presiding. St. Joseph's was demolished in 1989/1990; its sixteen Emil Frei stained-glass windows survive at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Arts.
- St. Paul's first Mass: Passion Sunday, March 27, 1887
- St. Paul Church dedicated: January 13, 1889
- 1948 merger under Bishop Francis R. Cotton
- St. Paul's fire: Christmas Eve 1984
- 100th anniversary / rededication: April 2, 1989
- Roof replaced with copper and gold-leaf cross added: 2011
- 14 pastors from Fr. Gambon to Fr. Jean-Rene Kalombo
Architecture & Historic Building
The church that Sts. Joseph & Paul calls home is the former St. Paul Church, completed in 1889 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 1983 as the finest example of Gothic Revival architecture in Owensboro and a focal institution in the history of the German and Irish Catholic communities of Daviess County. Its tall spire was once the highest in the city. The interior, finished in 1900, featured graceful arches, frescoed ceilings in three shades of green (and blue with stars and gilt in the sanctuary), and orange-and-green walls touched with gold. A 15-foot-circumference bell was installed in the tower in 1890, and 1902 stained-glass windows by the Holland Company of Washington, designed by Louisville artist Alberts, still illuminate the worship space today. A large pipe organ made in Boston was installed at a cost of $2,500. The total cost of the original construction was $40,000 — over $1 million in modern terms.
- Gothic Revival style
- National Register of Historic Places (added September 1983)
- Stained glass by Holland Company, 1902
- Boston-made pipe organ
- Copper roof and 24-karat-gold steeple cross, 2011
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor, an associate pastor, two deacons, and a small lay staff.
- Pastor — Fr. Jean-Rene Kalombo ([email protected])
- Associate Pastor — Fr. Mike Williams ([email protected])
- Deacon — John Cecil ([email protected])
- Deacon — Chris Gutierrez ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper / Administrative Assistant — April Dickens
- Records — Debbie Luedke
- Director of Maintenance — Kelly Ward
- Minister of Music — Patty Brown
Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish welcomes adults who wish to become Catholic or learn more about the Catholic faith through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Those interested should contact the parish office.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
Becoming a Parishioner
New families can register by contacting the parish office at (270) 683-5641, by speaking with any parish staff member, or by filling out the online New Family Registration Form linked from the parish website. The office is located behind the rectory at 609 East 4th Street.
- Phone: (270) 683-5641
- Online New Family Registration Form available
- Office open Monday–Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed Noon–1:00 pm)
Contact & Visiting
Sts. Joseph & Paul Catholic Church is located at 609 East 4th Street, Owensboro, KY 42303, in the heart of downtown Owensboro on the historic block shared with the former St. Joseph's Parish. The parish office sits behind the rectory.
- Address: 609 East 4th Street, Owensboro, KY 42303
- Phone: (270) 683-5641
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed Noon–1:00 pm)
- Diocese: Diocese of Owensboro
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Thomas Francis Gambon1887–
First pastor of St. Paul's Parish
- Rev. Peter Braun (Monsignor)1948–
Named first pastor of the merged Sts. Joseph & Paul Parish by Bishop Francis R. Cotton
- Rev. Joseph McAleer1948–
Assistant pastor at the 1948 merger
- Rev. Thomas A. Murphy1948–
Assistant pastor at the 1948 merger
- Fr. Jean-Rene Kalombocurrent
14th pastor; current pastor per parish history page