Holy Cross Church

Attraction # 22 Category of Attraction: Historic Homes & Buildings The cradle of Catholicism in Kentucky~ Holy Cross was settled in the early 1780's by a group of Catholic families from Maryland, and it was near the site of the church that Father Whelan said the first Mass in Kentucky. The first Catholic Church west of the Allegheny Mountains was built here in 1792. The present Holy Cross Church was erected by Rev. Nerinckx in 1823, the last of ten churches he built in Kentucky. Location: 3560 Saint Francis Rd., Loretto 40037. County: Marion 270-865-2521 Area Information: www.lebanon-ky.com