St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church celebrates 175 years

August 15, 2021 | 12:09 am

Updated August 15, 2021 | 12:07 am

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St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church is celebrating its 175th anniversary this week. The church traces its humble beginnings back to the early 1820s as a mission of St. Lawrence Church in Knottsville when Father John C. Wathen would celebrate Mass at various homes in the Whitesville area. 

In 1845, Richard W. Barrett donated a little over an acre to build a 30×46-foot log church with an attached sacristy; the church embraced the name of St. Mary of the Woods at that time. The church has evolved from just over 100 parishioners at its conception to nearly 900 families today. 

“The vision of our ancestors has sparked a flame of faith whose torch has been handed on to us who run the course of history,” said current church pastor Fr. Brian Roby. “Our challenge is to run well, with the flame of faith alive in our hearts, and to pass along that burning desire to attain an everlasting place in God’s kingdom.”

Rapid growth forced the parish to construct a second structure in 1862, and it eventually moved to the heart of Whitesville. A third church — this one made of brick — was dedicated in 1884 and lasted until the late 1970s when a growing congregation incited the construction of the present church. 

The first parochial school was established in 1879 and operated out of the old church building until 1890, when it closed. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth moved to town and reopened the school in 1901, eventually establishing a convent and school in the newly constructed O’Sullivan Hall. 

Catholic education remains a constant at St. Mary of the Woods, boasting around 300 students at St. Mary of the Woods Grade School and over 100 students at Trinity High School. The present high school was constructed in 1954 and the grade school in 1964. 

“We are grateful to the many dedicated benefactors, supporters, faculty, and staff that allow our schools to thrive,” Roby said. “We also must pay thanksgiving to the parishes of St. William and St. Lawrence of Knottsville and St. Mary of the Woods in Whitesville for their continued spiritual and financial support.”

The Sisters of Nazareth withdrew from the high school in 1968; St. Mary’s High School consolidated with St. William and St. Lawrence of Knottsville to form Trinity High School that year. A booster club was formed in 1970, and the “Barn” was raised in 1971 as the school’s first gymnasium.

Many of the buildings on the church campus were constructed with bricks made from a kiln the parishioners operated. The same could be said about many buildings in surrounding areas that date back to the late 1800s. 

Horse stables made way for parish offices. New playgrounds replaced old ones. Historical treasures were replaced with state-of-the-art facilities to meet a growing congregation and to “keep up with the times.” But one thing has remained constant — a strong sense of community.

“The stewardship in this community is impeccable,” Roby said. “Many dedicated parishioners and organizations have offered approaches and tools for the growth of segments of the parish. This is all by allowing the word of God to confront how we live and share our time, talent, and treasure in all aspects of our life.”

The St. Mary of the Woods Horn Community Center was finished in 2018, which replaced the “Barn” as the home site for Trinity and St. Mary sporting events. The facility features a fitness center, two playing courts, an auxiliary space with batting cages, and a lobby dedicated to the school’s rich history in athletics. The facility also played a pivotal role in recent months, where it hosted Mass to satisfy restrictions established from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

The church celebrated the milestone with a cookout and jamboree on Saturday evening and celebration mass presided by Bishop William Medley was planned for today, followed by dinner. The church implemented several COVID-19 protocols to remain compliant with guidelines set forth by the CDC, the governor’s office, and the Diocese of Owensboro. 

“Our prayer is that our efforts, however small and meager, may in some way bring others closer to our loving God,” Roby said. 

August 15, 2021 | 12:09 am

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