Saint Romuald Parish was established in1810. According to the Record, the offical publication of the Archdiocese of Louisville, the first Catholic, Leonard Wheatley, settled in Breckinridge County in the year 1791. By the year 1812 the number of Catholics in the county had grown so that a church building was deemed necessary. Under the guidance of the legendary Fr. Charles Nerinckx, the first Catholic Church in Breckinridge County was built. It was a simple log cabin structure and was located near the eastern part of the present. For several years the church remained without a roof, and so became known as the "Fair Weather Church" since Mass could be celebrated only when the weather permitted. The Church was named Saint Romoldus for the Cathedral in Mechelen, Belgium, but was later changed to Saint Romuald. Father Nerinckx had come from Belguim. In 1814, Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget made his first visit to the county. In 1841, under the direction of Father Joh Wathen, a new and much larger Church was erected and dedicated the same year by Bishop Flaget. This Church was called "The Little Red Brick Church" as was located near the front of the present cemetery. In 1897, with Father William Gabe as pastor, the foundation for the third and present church edifice was laid. Two years later the super structure was completed. The church was blessed by Father Michael Bouchet, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Louisville on October 17, 1900. The church was consecrated on August 27, 1903 by Bishop Denis O'Donaghue. In 1911, Saint Romuald Church celebrated its centennial. In 1937, St. Romuald became a part of the Diocese of Owensboro. In 1962, under the guidance of Father Cletus Bihn, the church was completely remodeled with its seating capacity nearly doubled. The church was consecrated on February 17, 1963 by Bishop Henry J. Soenneker of the Diocese of Owensboro. Saint Romuald's 175th anniversary was celebrated on October 5, 1980, with a Mass, dinner and a festival for all former and present members. Bishop McRaith blessed the monument erected in memory of Father William Powell who died in 1840 and was buried in the cemetery, but whose grave had never been marked. In 1985, under the guidance of Father J. Patrick Reynolds, members of the parish remodeled the Church sanctuary and renovated the Church. The pews and woodwork were refinished, the stations restored and new carpet laid. The Pieta statue and an altar from the old church were located and brought back to Saint Romuald. Other notable dates are November 8, 1987, when a new much larger pipe organ was dedicated and blessed by Bishop McRaith and April 21, 1990 when the stained glass window dipicting the life of Saint Romuald was also blessed by Bishop McRaith. This year, 2011, we are celebrating our 200th anniversary as a parish. |