Louisville
Established 1906
Registrations: 356
PARISH OFFICE
1826 Edenside Ave., Louisville, Ky. 40204-1522
Phone: (502) 451-1420, Ext. 10
FAX: (502) 451-1429
E-mail: stjameslou@stjameslou.org
CLERGY
Pastor: Rev. Donald R. Goetz, Ext. 21
Senior Associate: Rev. Joseph H. Voor, Ext. 18
Permanent Deacon: Louis B. Dugan
MASS SCHEDULE
Sundays — Sat vigil: 5 p.m.; Sun: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.
Holy Days — Holy Day: 8:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m.
Daily — Mon–Fri: 8:30 a.m.
SAINT JAMES SCHOOL
1818 Edenside Ave., Louisville, Ky. 40204-1522
Phone: (502) 454-0330, Ext. 11
FAX: (502) 454-0330
Principal: Tom Schmitt
E-mail: tschmitt1@stjamesbluejays.com
Web site: www.stjamesbluejays.com
HISTORY
Launched in 1901 to serve the growing number of Highland-area Catholics, St. James had a nebulous status for five years after the pastors of St. Brigid and St. Agnes parishes objected to the “dismemberment” of their parishes and appealed to Rome. With those objections withdrawn by 1906, Father E. Earle Willett was appointed the first pastor, just four days before the first Mass was offered on September 7. Father Willett, pastor for forty-eight years, developed the habit of traveling the parish on foot, visiting families on their front porches.
Ten days after the first Mass, a school, staffed by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, opened with thirty students. The parish quickly outgrew the church and school, and construction began for new church, dedicated in 1913, and a new school, dedicated in 1924. Today, committed lay teachers staff the school and an early childhood development program, established in 1996. Both operate at capacity enrollment.
The Louisville Landmarks Commission nominated the church, rectory, and school in 1980 for listing in the National Register of Historic Places Inventory. The parish clustered with St. Brigid in 1994.
The two parishes collaborate on outreach programs, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Highlands Community Ministries, and Habitat for Humanity. They share staff but operate independently, and neither parish has lost its identity. Children from both parishes attend St. James School. As part of the Highland Five, St. James collaborates with St. Brigid, St. Agnes, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Raphael parishes to serve the community. The joint Lenten Mission is a well-known annual event.
Now called St. James Community, the parish continues to be the religious and social center for its almost 800 parishioners.