Annunciation

Shelbyville, Shelby Co.
Established 1860
Registration: 855

Address

Church of the Annunciation
105 Main Street
Shelbyville, KY 40065-1021

Parish Information

Phone: (502) 633-1547
Email: office@annunciationky.org
Website: http://www.annunciationky.org

Clergy

Pastor: Rev. Jean González Romero
Permanent Deacons: Robert J. Hart, Brendan “Butch” Kinsella, John P. Strain and Frank Villalobos

Pastoral Staff

Director of Religious Education: Lynette Kessinger
Music Director: Wilson Wilder
Business Manager: Emilia Agrinsoni
Bookkeeper: Mark Elmore

Mass Schedule

Sundays — Sat evening: 4 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m., Noon (Spanish)
Holy Days — See bulletin
Daily — Mon-Wed, Fri: Noon

Reconciliation

Saturdays — 3 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration

Mondays —3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tuesdays — 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesdays — 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursdays — 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Third Thursday Evening Holy Hour and Benediction at 7:00 p.m.)
Fridays — 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
First Friday — 10:45 a.m.
First Saturday — 8:00 p.m. (Spanish)

History

The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Shelbyville was consecrated by the Most Reverend Bishop Martin John Spalding on the Feast of the Holy Angels, October 2, 1860.

For five years previous in 1855, the Catholics of Shelbyville were served as a mission by Father John Bekkers, a native of Holland, who came to Kentucky at the invitation of Bishop Spalding. Mass was held in the homes of local Catholics. Father Bekkers made his first trip from the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville to Shelbyville. He visited every three or four months to encourage the Catholics in Shelbyville to establish a church of their own. Mrs. Jane Campbell donated property for the building in 1859. Both Catholics and non-Catholics made financial donations. At first, the building consisted of only wall frames and rough floors. Through a series of additions, the chapel took on the present form. Father Michael D. Lawler was the first pastor. Two years after the dedication of the church (1862), a rectory was built.

During the pastorate of Fr. Cushing (1864-95), the bell tower was added, and during Fr. Riley’s tenure (1905-1918), the rectory was expanded. In 1967, Rev. Joseph Lyon built the education building, and in 1975 Fr. Chester Bowling had a new rectory built. In 1998, at the request of Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly O.P., Fr. C. Joseph Batcheldor addressed the need for a new church. Construction, with room for 400 attendances and a gathering space, was begun, and the church was consecrated by Archbishop Kelly on February 6, 2000.

The Hispanic faith community is an integral part of Annunciation parish. Shelby County has seen a steady growth in the Hispanic presence going back as far as 1972. In 1997, the Centro Latino was established to provide emergency assistance, counseling and help with health, education, and legal needs in the community. Annunciation Parish, now with almost 1,500 parishioners, has responded with vibrant ministries to the needs of all our new parishioners.

Under Fr. T. Michael Tobin, our new parish center was finished in 2020. It will provide the environment to facilitate the parish potential of unity among its members, and it will help to keep the parish vibrant and centered for the Body of Christ, our faith community. Under Fr. David G. Sánchez projects to improve the facilities were planned and started.

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