Shepherdsville, Bullitt Co.
Established 1911
Registrations: 392
PARISH OFFICE
187 S. Plum St., Shepherdsville, Ky. 40165-6051
Phones: (502) 543-5918
FAX: (502) 543-6615
E-mail: parishcenter@staloysiuschurchshep.com
Web site: staloysiuschurchshep.com
CLERGY
Pastor: Rev. Brian A. Kenney
Permanent Deacon: Phillip L. Noltemeyer
MASS SCHEDULE
Sundays — Sat vigil: 5 p.m.; Sun: 11 a.m.
Holy Days — See bulletin or call parish office
Daily — Wed, Fri: 8:15 a.m.
SAINT ALOYSIUS SCHOOL
197 S. Plum St., Shepherdsville, Ky. 40165
Phone: (502) 543-6721
FAX: (502) 531-9575
Kathy Kiefer, Principal
E-mail: dray@stafalcons.com
Web site: www.stafalcons.com
HISTORY
Mass was celebrated in Shepherdsville during the early 1900s in a private home belonging to Mrs. John Buckman, at a skating-rink and in a judge’s chambers at the county courthouse before the construction of the first St. Aloysius Church in 1912.
Established to serve Bullitt County Catholics in an anti-Catholic area that allegedly was the state seat of the Ku Klux Klan, St. Aloysius allowed the devout to attend Mass regularly instead of once a month. The first pastor, Father Eugene Bertello, a stocky man of vitality and enthusiasm, spoke broken English when he delivered simple, strong, wholesome sermons. He became widely known, riding his horse Keno through sleet, snow and rain on pastoral visits. He was regarded as an unsung martyr of the church when he died in a train accident in 1917 after returning from a call to anoint the sick.
The parish became the center of the Bullitt County missions after fire destroyed St. Eugene at Bardstown Junction. With increased attendance, Mass was celebrated more frequently. Religious education classes began, taught by the same parishioner who formed the ladies altar society. Soon, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville took charge of the classes and established a summer school. Annual picnics raised funds to expand the church.
After a larger church was dedicated in 1950, construction of a convent began in 1953 and a school opened in the previous church in 1954. Staffed by the Ursuline Sisters, the school expanded to include a high school, which opened in 1957 and graduated its first class of eight in 1960, but closed in 1966. The elementary school is the only remaining Catholic school in Bullitt County. A preschool class was added in 2005.
Also in 2005, a renovation of the church interior uncovered beautiful features of the original 1950 structure. With over 1,100 parishioners, St. Aloysius Parish continues to serve the community through its elementary school, outreach efforts and participation in civic activities.