From Left to Right: Fr. John Pozhathuparambil OFM Conv., Fr. Shaju Puthussery OFM Conv., and Fr. George Munjanattu OFM Conv. celebrate Holy Thursday Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church in Louisville, KY

For over 160 years, our friars have been ministering to and serving within the Louisville Diocese/Archdiocese. Our friars have served these parish communities in various roles, crafting models of shared leadership and multi-cultural ministry.

Some of the first Catholic parishes established in Louisville were entrusted to the pastoral care of our friars. This happened during a time that pre-dates Louisville as an Archdiocese and even the birth of the friar’s current province, the Province of Our Lady of Consolation. Our friars’ involvement with Louisville parishes dates back to at least the 1850s. St. Peter’s was placed in the care of the friars on December 31st, 1860. Soon afterward, St. Anthony of Padua, the first post-civil war parish formed in Louisville by 1866, was also placed in the care of the friars. Respectively, they staffed these parishes for 113 and 140 years.

Along with St. Anthony and St. Peter, our friars have had the privilege over the years to minister at St. Augustine, St. Martin de Porres, Our Lady of Consolation, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton, to name a few.

Today, our friars continue this tradition in Parish Ministry. Fr. Christian Moore, OFM Conv., continues to serve the People of God at Incarnation Catholic Church, where he has been pastor since 2003. Fr. Dismas Veeneman, OFM Conv. recently completed his time at St. Paul Catholic Church, where our friars have continuously led as pastor since 1910. That is over 100 years of continuous Parish ministry to the St. Paul community!

And now Fr. George Munjanattu OFM Conv. , along with the assistance of Fr. John Pozhathuparambil OFM Conv., have been serving these last years at Holy Family Catholic Church as sacramental ministers. Recently, Archbishop Kurtz requested that Fr. George become its pastor. Fr. George will assume the role of pastor come June 2021.

While it would be difficult to list all the parishes and friars who have served in such a brief article, it is clear; the friars have shown their commitment. For over 160 years, the Province of Our Lady of Consolation has sent hundreds of friars to serve the Catholic community in Louisville.

These parishes are where faith comes to life: community, liturgy, festival, the day-to-day life of discipleship, spiritual initiation and formation, the struggles and joys of the People of God, and most importantly, a mission: to go forth from the table of Word and Eucharist to heal our suffering world.