St. Francis Xavier
Raywick, Marion Co.
Established 1837
Registrations: 255

RECTORY
108 Main St. Raywick, Ky. 40060
Phone: (270) 692-2245
FAX: (270) 692-1138
E-Mail: raywickchurch@kyol.net
Web site: http://sfxavier-raywick.com/

MAP/DRIVING DIRECTIONS

CLERGY
Administrator: Rev. James W. Graf
Permanent Deacon: Joseph Edward "Eddie" Hutchins

MASS SCHEDULE
Sundays — Sat. eve.: 5 p.m.1st & 3rd Sat.; Sun.: 8:45 a.m.
Holy Days — See bulletin
Daily — T, Th: 9 a.m.
Reconciliation: 1st & 3rd Sat.: 4 p.m.

HISTORY
Out of the Indian hunting grounds of the Rolling Fork River and the forests of southwestern Marion County, English colonists from Baltimore carved the settlement of Raywick in the late 1700s. By 1837, Father L.N. Petit, S.J., had built the first church, which subsequently was destroyed by fire, but quickly replaced by the present structure in 1887. Jesuits served the parish until 1846, when diocesan priests assumed responsibility.

Shaping the faith of the young of the area were the Sisters of Loretto who served from the late 1880s and the 1890s, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in the early 1900s and the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph from 1940 to 1979. Thirteen young women from the parish joined them in religious life.

Through the 170-year history of the Raywick faith community, two native sons have been ordained to the priesthood, and forty-one priests have served in the parish, notably three most recent: Fathers Robert Brown (19571966), Thomas Caldwell (1966-1983) and Clarence Schwartz (1983-1998).

St. Francis Xavier has worked closely with the Raywick community of Park. In turn, both have shared resources with the fire department. For five years an ecumenical, multi-parish “Sew-cialization” club of quilters and prayer blanket seamstresses have revitalized the parish. RCIA, Confirmation, and seasonal Penance and parish retreats are shared among local parishes.

In recent years, St. Francis Xavier has moved from a “single priest leader” model to a full complement of part-time lay leadership. Today, with its pastor serving two parishes, St. Francis Xavier has about 725 parishioners, and it shares a sacramental administrator with neighboring parishes.