While seminarians at St. Meinrad School of Theology study the theological virtues of faith, hope and love, three young men from the school found these virtues invigorated at Portland’s Community Catholic Center, where they volunteered for the last several months.

“I had the opportunity of seeing each virtue lived out with the people here,” said Benedictine Brother Mukasa Theodore, a monk from St. Leo Abbey in Florida who is in formation for the priesthood.

“The families, you see their whole attitude is one of hope,” he said. “Of course, love you see in Sister Barbara (Bir, director of the center) and Bridget (Burianek, assistant director) and in how we relate to each other as community.

“And in Father John Burke, I see faith,” he said of the pastor at St. Cecilia Church, where the center is located.

Community Catholic Center was formed in 2003 after the last Catholic school in West Louisville, Community Catholic School, closed. It serves 29 families, whose children attend DeSales High School and Presentation, Mercy, St. Nicholas and Notre Dame academies in Louisville and St. Anthony of Padua and St. Mary’s schools in New Albany. The center provides transportation, scholarships and support services — such as tutoring — for these students and their families. 

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — The 49.2-acre plot of ground that will become home to a new, larger St. James parish and school was dedicated May 4 by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz.

Before a crowd of more than 300, the archbishop blessed the ground that will eventually hold a new middle school, elementary school and church.

“We take confidence that it is with the Lords’ grace that this house will be built,“ the archbishop said at the blessing.

No one knows exactly when construction will begin at the new St. James location, according to Father J. Richard Sullivan, who will head the parish until next month when he becomes pastor of St. Michael Church in Jefferson County. Father Charles Walker will become pastor of St. James Church in June.

“That’s one of the reasons we thought this would be a good time for me to move,” said Father Sullivan, who has served as St. James’ pastor since 1997.