St. John The Evangelist Parish at 503 Fifth Street, Carrollton, KY 41008 US - Home
Welcome to Our Website
This is our home on the Internet. Here you will find the latest news and information about the church. Please take a moment to visit the online Calendar for upcoming events and our News page for featured articles. Visitors are invited to sign up for our online mailing list for special news and announcements. We hope you enjoy your visit and encourage you to check back often for updates!
Come to the Altar of the Lord
Mass Schedule for the Week
Come Visit Us
Addresses for Both Locations and Phone Numbers
Our Pastor, Fr. Kavungal Davy CMI
Check out our Parish Activities (like the Pig Roast and Stewardship Saturday) by clicking on the red News icon, top left!
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Sr. Paula Gohs Celebrates Diamond Jubilee
On Saturday evening after Mass, May 11, 2013, Sr. Paula Gohs, CDP celebrated with family, friends, parishoners and several of her CDP community, 50 years of her Profession. In August of 1963, Sr. Paula took her final vows as a Sister of Divine Providence. In the past 50 years Sr. Paula has served in many places and in many functions. She has been a teacher, a DRE, an Hispanic liason, a bilingual Pastoral Associate, just to name a few. She has been serving at St. John the Evangelist in Carrollton and Transfiguration in Perry Park for the past twelve years. Here in our community she has many hats. She is the DRE, the Bilingual Pastoral Associate, a lector, a substitute CCD teacher, leader of the Hispanic RCIA, a founding member of the St. Vincent DePaul Conference at St. John, and a tireless worker for any and all members of our Parish Community.
Our celebration of her Jubilee at St. John began with a lovely tribute from Fr. Davy at the Saturday evening Mass followed by a dinner in the Parish Center. A program followed with music by Sarah Hawkins, honors bestowed on Sr. Paula by her family and her CDP sisters and by the community at large. She was honored with a gift from the Parish and a standing ovation by the community for her tireless service.
Congratulations Sr. Paula.
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Easter Vigil Celebration 2013
The holiest night of the year. The night where everything begins anew. We light the fire and bring light into the Church and into our lives. We bless the water and make it Holy. We welcome new Catholics, shining with the light of the Sacraments. A night filled with Holy Scripture, a night filled with promises, a night filled with wonderful music; the night when Our Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead to save us all. Alleluia, alleluia!
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Good Friday Outdoor Way of the Cross
The stations of the Cross are always a very moving and emotional experience. The outdoor reenactment of the Way of the Cross is incredibily powerful. For many years now our Hispanic Community has performed this live Way of the Cross through the city of Carrollton. We watch as Jesus is condemned to die by Pontus Pilate on the steps of the Carroll County Courthouse. We watch as Jesus is scouraged, whipped, beaten, stripped of his clothes and a crown of thorns is placed on his head. We watch as Jesus is handed the heavy cross to carry through the streets of Carrollton. We watch as Jesus falls, not once but three times on his journey to Calvary. We watch as he meets the Holy Women, His Mother, Simon the Cyrene, and Veronica on his painful walk to his death. We watch as his clothes are taken and his hands and feet are nailed to the Cross. We watch as he is lifted upright and hangs from the wooden cross. We watch as Jesus dies on that Cross. We watch as he is finally taken down and placed in the arms of His Mother. We watch as he is carried to the tomb. We watch and we wait for His Resurrection from the Dead. It is impossible not to feel the pain He and his friends and followers are suffering that most tragic day. But we are hopeful that this is not the end and we will see Him again!
Thanks to our Hispanic brothers and sisters for this most wonderful depiction of the Suffering and Death of Our Lord.
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Holy Thursday Seder Meal/Washing of the Feet
It is our annual tradition at St. John the Evangelist to host a Seder Meal Celebration on Holy Thursday of Holy Week. This year Nancy Jo Grobmyer and a dedicated group of planners, grocery orderers, cooks, kitchen help, peelers, dicers, slicers, mixers, bakers, table setters, decorators and many others gathered to prepare and serve this wonderful meal. Several legs of lamb were prepared and roasted. A fruit medley called haroses was lovingly created. Celery (greens) with salt water was on the tables along with wine and matzo bread. All these foods symbolize something the Hebrews could have eaten as they prepared to leave Israel and enter the desert in search of their Promised Land. Fr. Davy and Sr. Teddy Nolan lit the ceremonial candles to begin the memorial meal. A script is read telling how the events of that Holy Night might have unfolded. The narrator (Jeff Salverson) sets the stage for the Passover Celebration. Then a child (Erin Salverson) asks the essential questions of the Passover script, "Why is this night different from all others? and Why do we eat bitter herbs?" Our Priest carefully answers these most important questions describing the events of this ancient tradition. As we eat our matzo bread, dip our celery into the salt water, sip our wine in unison we do our best to honor this most ancient tradition.
After our delicious meal we celebrate the Holy Mass of the Last Supper. Our tradition includes the Washing of the Feet. This year Fr. Davy washed the feet of twelve parishoners from St. John and the Transfiguration of Our Lord Mission in Perry Park.
A very satisfying and spiritually fulfilling celebration for all who attended these Holy Week events.
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The History of St. John the Evangelist Book Published
Dr. John M. Smith has recently published a comprehensive book of our Church history. It covers the years 1853-2013 with a wonderful account of our Parish history in words and pictures. The book was formally released on March 3, 2013. Dr. John spent several years gathering pictures and formal accounts of the significant events in the 160 years since our Church was founded.
The book was formally dedicated at a reception where Dr. John M. Smith was presented with the key to the city of Carrollton by Mayor Gene McMurray. Dr. Smith then gave an interesting account of how he came to gather all the material necessary to write this book and showed pictures in chronological order of our Parish events.
Dr. John M. Smith is a former member of St. John the Evangelist as he was born and raised in Carrollton, Kentucky by his parents, Paul and Mary Katherine Smith. He graduated from St. John Catholic School in 1968. He moved away to attend College and Medical School. He practiced medicine for years until his retirement several years ago. At that time he decided to finish the Church History project he had started a few years earlier.
In a quote from the book Dr. Smith says: " The pews in that church are well worn by my ancestors and perhaps yours as well. I think it is special and it pleases me to go to the same place and perhaps even sit in the same pew and worship the Lord in the same manner as my parents, grandparents and great grandparents.
A parish is a living breathing group of people and it gets something from all its members which allows it to assume a character and personality. Old parishes like old people take on a certain dignity with their maturity, and as such stand as an example for others to follow."
The result of his research and dedication is a wonderful verbal and pictorial Story of our Church that both he and we love. Thank you Dr. John Smith!
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration
In 1531, in a village near Mexico City, Mary appeared to a man named Juan Diego and asked him to help her spread the message of Christ to his people. Since then, every December 12th our Hispanic Community celebrates this visitation. For forty days they meet to pray the rosary in preparation for this memorable day. The church is decorated, a beautiful memorial is built in which to place her image, dances are practiced, traditional costumes are sewn, and everyone waits in anticipation.
On the eve of that most special day a procession begins the celebration. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is lovingly placed followed by the Hispanic Community with dancing and singing. The procession ends with Our Lady being placed in her place of honor at the front of the Church. A festive dinner celebration follows in the parish center followed by music and dancing. Then the congregation returns to the church for a mass and for testimonials. Many beautiful flowers are brought forward and placed at the foot of Our Lady. The celebration continues past midnight when all testimonials are completed.
A most special and holy night!
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Women Religious Appreciation Day
Many parishioners had the privilege of receiving their catholic education through the life, example and faith sharing of these holy women. Though we don’t have our school in existence, many still have the sweet memories of the presence of Sisters. The convent where the Notre Dame sisters lived is now being used as the parish office.
Ten daughters from our parish entered the religious life (6 SND, 2 CDP and 2 SCN) leaving their beloved families and professing publicly, evangelical counsels (vows) of Chastity, Obedience and Poverty. The parish honored twelve women religious who are daughters of the parish or have served in the parish. Fr. Kavungal Davy, CMI celebrated Mass. A continental breakfast after the Mass in the parish hall gave everyone a chance to meet and greet Sr Francis Dirr, Sr. Patricia Kenney, Sr. Karlanne Noehring, Sr. Julaine Middendorf, Sr. Caroline Hemmerle, Sr. Tereze Deye, Lynette Shelton, Sr. Margaret Droege, Sr. Joan Terese Niklas, Sr. Carol Baglan, Sr. Teddy Nolan and Sr. Paula Gohs.
The slide presentation by Dr. John Smith was an excellent walk through the history of the parish. The Sisters enjoyed a look at the old convent and the classrooms. The celebration capped off the morning with brunch in the rectory.
Please click on more to enjoy the photo album of the celebration at St. John
(Photos courtesy of Tim Hendrick Photography)
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Sr. Teddy Nolan, 2012 Volunteer of the Year
Sr. Theodore Nolan, CDP was named the 2012 Volunteer of the Year on November 12, 2012 at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. As we gathered for a delicious dinner together, Fr. Davy talked of how the volunteers at St. John and Transfiguartion, that number well over 100, help our Churches to be effective and efficient and a true community. Sr. Teddy Nolan, a Sister of Divine Providence, has lived in Carrollton for the past 12 years and through her ministries contributes each and every day to that community. Her ministries have included visiting the sick and homebound, sacristan, lector, extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, collection counting team, chief cook for parish celebrations, housekeeping advisor, aluminum can collector and exemplary emmissary for the Catholic Church to the community of Carrollton. Everyone who meets Sr. Teddy loves and remembers her. She is a woman of faith who lives her faith each and everyday.
When Sr. Teddy "retired" from the Head Housekeeper position at St. Anne Convent she wanted to try something different. So she moved to Carrollton and began her wonderful ministry of visiting the sick and homebound. Every week she visits the sick, those confined to nursing homes, those in the hospital, or their own homes to bring cheer and a listening ear and a great sense of humor. She is particularly treasured by those parishoners and their families, but no less treasured by every other parishoner at St. John and Transfiguration. Rain or shine, whether she was feeling great or having aches and pains, she has attended mass at Transfiguration with Fr. Davy. A true testament to her faith, determination and commitment to the people at our Mission Church at Perry Park.
She was honored at our Volunteer Dinner with a lovely plaque, a gift of an airline ticket to a destination of her choice and many stories, thank you's and testimonies from members of our Parish as we chanted "We love you, Sr. Teddy!" No truer words can be spoken by our Parish and our Community.
Congratulations, Sr. Teddy!!
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Confirmation 2012
Red flowers surrounded the tabernacle of Our Lord on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, as Monsignor Michael Due (standing in for Most Rev. Bishop Roger Foys) annointed eighteen young people with the oil of Chrism and Confirmed them as Soldiers of Christ. They were scrubbed, and smiling and ready to receive this sacrament of the Holy Spirit.
Supervised by Rev. Kavungal Davy, CMI, Sr. Paula Gohs, CDP and prepared by Steve Glauber, the 7th and 8th grade CCD and Confirmation teacher, all faces were turned to their future as they are guided by the Holy Spirit. The parents and families of these fine young people watched as their children accepted the responsibilities of becoming full members of the Catholic faith.
A lovely reception was held in the Parish Center following the Eucharistic and Confirmation celebration.
(Photos courtesy of Tim Hendrick Photography)
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First Communion, May 6, 2012
On a beautiful, clear and sunny morning, twenty four excited boys and girls processed solemnly to the front of St. John Church in anticipation of their first communion with our Lord Jesus Christ. Dressed in their First Communion best, the girls with their beautiful, chaste, white dresses and veils and the boys in their best suits and ties, tried their best to be still and listen to the Word of the Lord while eagerly awaiting the taste of the Lord on their lips. Guided by Sr. Paula Gohs, CDP and prepared by Troy and Kathy Bickers, they knew what a glorious and miraculous experience they were about to participate in.
The Church was filled to capacity as well, as the congregation watched and waited as well, for the big event. After the consecration the children approached the altar, and together with their families received the body of Christ for the very first time from Fr. Davy, CMI. Their glowing smiles after their First Communion was all anyone needed to see. What a special day for all.
(Photos courtesy of Tim Hendrick Photography)
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Here Come the Saints, Here Come the Saints!
In November of each year, as we honor the Saints and the Souls of the Dead, we have a special visit from the Saints of old. The preschool class, taught by Rosada Harr and Patsy Brown, learn about the lives and sacrifices of speciific saints. Then the children dressup in the fashion of their particular Saint and tell the congregation, on a bright Sunday morning at Mass, about their Saint. Each child has a part to play when the Saints come marching in. They ended their presentation singing "Jesus Loves Me" to the admiring congregation. Bravo to you preschool class of 2011-2012!
(Photos courtesy of Tim Hendrick)
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St. John Church Roof Installation
On September 7, 2010 our new roof started to become a reality. The roofing crew began setting up scaffolding, ladders, and safety nets. Then they ascended to the roof and began removing the 110 year old tiles that had so wonderfully protected our church building. In just days the tiles were removed and a wooden gridwork was laid to accomodate the new stone coated metal roofing material. With very little interference from the weather the crew has continued to intall the beautiful new roof. Father Davy and Sister Paula inspected the old roof and Father Davy climbed to the peak of the church while the gridwork was constructed. While not completely finished to date (10/17/10) the completion date draws nearer every day. Father Davy contributed these wonderful pictures of the process.
Our campaign to fund the new roof is continuing. To date we have raised over $74,000, we have a little over $9000 left to raise. We sponsored a corn hole tournament in September at Point Park in Carrollton. The CCD children are doing a piggy bank fundraiser and, of course, donations are always welcome. A very big thank you to all who have ready donated.
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Malayalam Holy Mass Celebrated at St. John
Friday, November 28, 2008 was a very memorable day at St. John the Evangelist. The first ever Malayalam Mass was said at St. John the Evangelist. Fr. Kavungal Davy, along with six other Indian Priests gathered together with friends from the area to participate in this wonderful Mass. The entire mass was said in the language of the southern part of the country of India, or the kerala region, from where Fr. Davy and his fellow priests of the Carmelites order come. It was a beautiful mass with traditional music provided by singers from Columbus, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky. After the mass a traditional Indian supper was prepared and served in the Parish Center. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all who attended. New friendships were forged and memories were made that will be cherished for many years to come.
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Father Kavungal Davy, CMI is installed as Pastor at St. John and Transfiguration Mission
On August 10, 2008 at 11:00 AM Fr. Kavungal Davy was installed as our Pastor by Rev. Bishop Roger J. Foys. The ceremony was marked by pagentry and symbolism. The Bishop presented Fr. Davy with the keys to the Church. He also reminded Fr. Davy of his responsibilities as Pastor. To teach, to lead, to Baptize, to hear Confessions, to proclaim the Gospel, to celebrate the Eucharist , to annoint the sick,and to be Counsel for the people of St. John and Transfiguration Pastoral Council and the Congregation.
Fr. Davy accepted these responsibilites humbly, gratefully and willingly. After the solemn but happy installation Fr. Davy was honored at a luncheon in the Parish Center. We salute you and welcome you Fr. Davy! (Photos courtesy of Tim Hendrick)
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20th Annual Pig Roast Celebration
On September 23, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm we gathered together at St John Parish to celebrate our 20th annual Pig Roast. Starting back in the fall of 1992, Fr. William Neuhaus and a hardy crew of cooks began what has become a yearly tradition at St. John. Some things remain the same, we roast a pig and make some bbq sauce and put it together in a bun and off we go. Back then everyone brought a dish to pass and it was an old fashioned pitch in or pot luck supper. Since then we have added Sr. Teddy's famous bean soup, cornbread, and this year green beans. It is still a pitch in, so we all bring either a casserole, salad, dessert or some other tasty treat to share.
This year we changed the schedule to eat earlier in the day and set out tables and chairs in the parking lot (years ago we ate outside) and added several musical groups as entertainment during the afternoon. There were games and an inflatable for the kids and for the adults, (cornhole), and a costume contest as well. Of course, there has always been hay rides and this year was no different.
Fr. Davy announced awards for the oldest (Dr. William Proulx) and the youngest (Eugene Wagers II)members there, and the couple married the longest (Matt and Gerry Gandolfo) as well. Awards were handed out to recipients by members of our parish who were celebrating their golden (John and Carolyn Glauber) and silver (Tim and Ruth Ann Hendrick and Jeff and Robin Fremin) wedding anniversaries this year, by Nancy Jo Grobmyer, who has been the organist for St. John Parish for 54 years, and, as we are celebrating the year of women religious, Srs. Teddy Nolan and Paula Gohs, CDPs.
Click on more below this article to view photos of the celebration.
We all have enjoyed our Pig Roast over the years and this year was no exception. It was a great time for all. Thank you Kevin and the Pig Roasting Team, Sr. Teddy and Mary K Smith for their bean soup, and to Tim and Ruth Ann Hendrick for organizing this event again...It was GREAT!! Here's to 20 more years!!
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