St. Michael’s Catholic Church historic marker dedication is 2 p.m. Sunday

Community News

Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 — In celebration of its 225th anniversary, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Fairfield will dedicate a historical marker at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017.

The new marker is being placed at the church’s cemetery, which was also the location where the church was founded in 1792. The site is west of Fairfield on KY 48, about 1-1/2 miles west of the existing church.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. On Sunday, Oct. 1st, the church will have a special 225th anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph K. Kurtz.

The text of the marker set for dedication at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17:

FRONT: “Begun in 1792, oldest parish in Nelson Co. and third west of the Alleghenies. Home parish of Catherine Spalding, founder of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN); Frances Gardner, fourth Superior of SCNs; Richard Miles, first Bishop in the state of Tenn.; Felix Newton Pitt, trailblazer in education; and Grace Newton Simpson, notable Catholic leader of the 19th Century.”

BACK:  “Stephen Badin, first priest ordained in the U.S., was a priest here. Guy Chabrat, first priest ordained in Kentucky, was first resident pastor. The first Catholic parish in Louisville was a mission of St. Michael’s. That parish is known today at the Cathedral of the Assumption. The church moved one mile east of this spot in 1831. The current church was built in 1883.”

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