Holy Trinity Church
501 Cherrywood Road
Louisville, KY 40207

Media Advisory

Holy Trinity Parish Retraces Its 125-Year History

On Sunday, June 3, Holy Trinity Parish (501 Cherrywood Road) will commemorate its 125th anniversary with a “Retracing Our Steps” ceremony that will feature the four sites (two at what is now Trinity High School and two at its current location on Cherrywood Road) on which the parish church was located. Participants will gather at Cherrywood Road at 1:30 p.m. to be shuttled to Trinity High School for the opening ceremonies, which start at 2:00 p.m.

The group will parade back to Cherrywood Road for concluding ceremonies and an ice cream social. The restored St. Matthews fire truck that was used to fight a fire at the church in 1937 will be featured in the parade.

Holy Trinity Church, founded in 1882 as the first Catholic parish in the St. Matthews area, is holding several events to celebrate the anniversary. Please see the following list of activities and brief history of the parish.

Brief History of Holy Trinity Parish

In 1882 Bishop William G. McCloskey secured a plot on the Shelbyville Pike for Holy Trinity Parish, and the church, costing $7,500, was dedicated on December 17 of that year. Father Louis C. Ohle was appointed the first pastor. By 1885, a school run by the Ursuline sisters was established, and in 1898, a small schoolhouse was built.

By 1913, with 165 families in the parish, the parish purchased additional land and for $42,000, erected a new building serving as church, school and convent. This structure was dedicated on December 15, 1915. Through the years, a rectory, new convent and gym were built for the parish's growing population, and in 1936 the church/school complex was expanded with an addition to the rear of the building. A fire destroyed the church and school in 1937, and it was rebuilt in 1938.

In 1953, Holy Trinity donated its property on Shelbyville Road to the Archdiocese for the establishment of a Catholic high school for boys (Trinity High School) and a new church, convent, rectory and school were constructed on Cherrywood Road, the parish’s present location. The current triangular church, which seated 850, was built in 1969. The parish added a large gathering space in 1993, and a long-range plan in 2003 provided for further renovation and expansion.

The pastors that have served Holy Trinity Parish include:

Father Louis C. Ohle, 1882-1886
Father Andreas (Andrew) J. Thome, 1886-1888
Father Heinrich (Henry) Mertens, 1888-1898
Father Joseph Neeson, 1898-1913
Father John Bohlson, 1913-1925
Father John A. Lyons, 1925 (Temporary Administrator)
Father Bartholomew F. Besinger, 1925-1938
Father John F. Knue, 1938-1945
Msgr. Anthony Gerst, 1945-1951
Msgr. Charles C. Boldrick, 1951-1969
Father Stanley Schmidt, 1969-1976
Father Frank J. Eimer, 1976-1983
Father J. Kendrick Williams, 1983-1984
Father Herbert L. Lattis, 1984-1986
Father Gerald L. Bell, 1986-1996
Father Joseph M. Fowler, 1996-2002 
Father Charles C. Thompson, 2002 to present

The common thread running through the history of Holy Trinity is its continuous growth and diversity. In the course of its 125-year history, the parish has given birth to seven daughter parishes. Parish population has risen from 165 families to 1,245 families (4,339 parishioners) today. The parish offers more than 85 committees and organizations. Acknowledging its blessings of abundant time, talent and treasure, Holy Trinity Parish’s unique mission is to demonstrate how best to share its gifts with those within and beyond the parish community.

125th Anniversary — Upcoming Events

Retracing Our Steps, Sunday June 3, 2007, 1:30 p.m.
 
Experiencing the Sacred in Western Wonders Pilgrimage, June 11-22, including Arizona, California, Nevada, natural wonders (the Grand Canyon, Lake Tahoe), missions, wine tasting and more.

Grand Celebration, Saturday, September 8, 2007, with 5:00 p.m. Mass followed by dinner. Father Clyde F. Crews, archdiocesan historian, will be the guest speaker at dinner. Former pastors, associates and religious, as well as all parishioners and staff, will be invited.

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