Diocese of Lexington at 1310 West Main Street, Lexington, KY 40508-2048 US - First Parish in Territory

Pilgrims have been welcomed since the late 1700s at the Bluegrass West designated pilgrimage site in White Sulphur. “The History of the Diocese of Covington” identifies St. Francis de Sales as the first parish in the territory. Originally the church was dedicated as for the Diocese of Baltimore and has been a part of the dioceses of Baltimore, Louisville, Covington and, finally, when it was established in 1988, Lexington. As its first resident pastor, the history says, St. Francis had Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin, the first priest ordained in the United States. As early as 1794, St. Francis became the mission headquarters for the entire state of Kentucky Since those earliest days of the parish, there is an ongoing tradition of pilgrims returning to the roots of Catholicism in central and eastern Kentucky. When a dispute arose concerning one hundred and eighty-seven acres, originally deeded in the name of Bishop Benedict J. Flaget, the existence of the parish, then known as St. Pius, was threatened. However, the Jubilee Year of 1825 had a great influence on the Scott County parish, according to “The History of the Diocese of Covington”: “The Jubilee exercises led by Bishop Flaget…in 1826 made a deep impression on the congregation…The spiritual renovation evidenced was regarded as a gratifying token of a restored peace in the congregation.” The farm remains property of the Lexington diocese and is tended by Joe and Pauline Bartley. In the early part of the 20th Century, it was the practice of then-Bishop Francis Howard to hold observance of the Feast of Corpus Christi on the grounds of the parish at White Sulphur, whose name Bishop Howard changed back to St. Francis de Sales. Similar observances have also been held in more recent year, according Pauline Bartley. Members of the parish were honored to hear that St. Francis de Sales had been designated as a diocesan pilgrimage site and are anxious to share both their history and spirit with pilgrims, she said. Families from parishes in Frankfort and Lexington have made pilgrimages to St. Francis de Sales during the current jubilee year. Take I-64, to St. Francis de Sales. Take the Midway exit and turn right. Continue to bear right to the end of the road, and turn right onto Highway 460. Church is less than a half-mile on the left. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday; liturgy is conducted in Spanish at 9:30 Sunday morning.

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