Louisville
Established 2008
Registrations: 1315
PARISH OFFICE
6500 St. Bernadette Avenue, Prospect, Ky. 40059-6543
Phone: (502) 425-2210
FAX: (502) 425-0941
Web Site: www.saintbernadettelouisville.org
CLERGY
Pastor: Rev. Terry L. Bradshaw
Permanent Deacons: Patrick D. Harris, Dan E. Parker
MASS SCHEDULE
Sundays — Sat vigil: 5 p.m.; Sun: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.
Holy Days — See bulletin
Daily — Mon–Fri: 8:15 a.m.; Tue: 7 p.m.
SAINT MARY ACADEMY
11311 St. Mary Lane, Prospect, Ky. 40059-6544
Phone: (502) 315-2555
FAX: (502) 326-3655
Principal: Julie Tobbe
Email: julie.tobbe@saintmaryacademy.com
Web site: www.saintmaryacademy.com
HISTORY
During the 1950s the Westport Road district became one of Louisville’s fastest growing areas, needing churches and schools. Mother of Good Counsel Parish was established on January 5, 1959, by Archbishop John A. Floersh out of St. Margaret Mary and St. Albert the Great Parishes. The first few parishioners worshipped in a private home; as the numbers grew, Mass was celebrated in the Plantation Swim Club’s ballroom. Ground was broken in 1960 for a church/school to seat 700 for worship and have ten classrooms. Monsignor Joseph L. Wheatley was the first pastor.
When enough classrooms were completed, 180 students were enrolled under the tutelage of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph; Mass was celebrated in a classroom. Dedication of the complex took place on September 10, 1961. During the building of a rectory and a convent, the sisters moved into the rented home that had served as a rectory, and Monsignor Wheatley and his assistant moved into an empty classroom. In 1965 an annex was built, adding classrooms and a library for the growing school of 540 students.
The parish developed with an altar society, parents’ guild, scouts, school board, parish council, liturgical ministers and “Over 55 Club.” With 987 families by 1980, the church was renovated with pews arranged in a fan shape. Ecumenical activities began in 1984; all committees were grouped under six headings: administration, worship, formation, social ministries, parish life and stewardship. In 2008, Mother of Good Counsel merged with Transfiguration of Our Lord to form Saint Bernadette.
The nearly 2,800 parishioners strive to live by their mission statement: “We have come to recognize clearly the fact that we have been chosen—in God’s own special way and for God’s own special purpose—to enter into a land of promise, which God has already prepared and provided for us. For this reason, we acknowledge and celebrate together God’s many blessings in our lives. For this reason, we take seriously the opportunities for spiritual growth and development that lie before us.”