Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Holy Cross Church in Loretto, Kentucky, marks a significant historical site as the first Catholic parish in the state. Father Richard Goodin, pastor of both Holy Cross and St. Francis of Assisi Church, noted the rarity of receiving visitors for Mass due to its remote location. “We’re not ‘on the way’ to anywhere,” he stated.

This year, Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre has designated Holy Cross, among five other sites, as a pilgrimage destination for the 2025 Jubilee Year, themed “Pilgrims of Hope.” The designation offers visitors the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence.

The parish's history dates back to 1785 when it was settled by Catholic pioneers from Maryland seeking religious freedom. Known as the site of the first Catholic church in Kentucky, a wooden structure was originally constructed in 1792, later replaced by a brick building in 1823, which stands today.

Father Goodin described the congregation as a small, stable community of about 125 families, saying, “It may look boring, old and quaint to the outside world, but its stability is calm, tranquil.”

Holy Cross hosts an annual church picnic and turkey supper, scheduled for June 14 and October 4 this year. Additional information about events and services can be found at sfahc.com.

Visitors exploring the site will find an arch inscribed with “Holy Cross Church 1792,” numerous historical grave markers, and a relic of the True Cross from Father Charles Nerinckx's tenure in the early 1800s.

Father Goodin selected the Latin phrase “Stat Crux Dum Volvitur Orbis” to highlight the church's enduring presence. “Holy Cross has been stable here, worshiping God as the world changes,” he said.

Pilgrims can reflect at a grotto depicting Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette, a feature within the church cemetery which is the resting place for pioneers and their descendants.

Other pilgrimage sites include the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Shrine of St. Martin of Tours in Louisville, and the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown, among others.

This article is the second in a series focused on designated pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee Year. Contributions were made by Tim Tomes, the Archdiocese of Louisville’s archivist.