Revised History

Overview: Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish initially grew out of St. Paul’s Parish in downtown Lexington (a part of the Diocese of Covington). Bishop Ackerman established the new parish because of the growing Catholic population in Lexington. Initial expectations were that it would reach 500 families. Masses were held at the then new Lexington Catholic High School on Clays Mill Road. In 1962, Mass was moved to the new building near the corner of Clays Mill Road and Hill N’ Dale Drive. Several expansions were made on the building, when in 1995; a new church building was begun on the corner of the lot (seating 800). In 2005, the old building was demolished, being replaced by the new Education Life Center (accommodating 600 students). On October 1, 1995, our current (2014) church was dedicated. As with many parishes, we experienced some stressful times in our history. Policies, such as VIRTUS, were put in place to help insure healing and that these would not re-occur. In 2008, a Sunday Mass, in Spanish, was added, adding 800 Hispanic families to the parish. In 2014, two thousand families were registered in the Parish.

1962: The original plans called for the construction of a church, a school for grades 1-8, a rectory, and a convent on the eleven acres of land. The first building built was a dual purpose structure, built in the shape of a modified cross. The classrooms formed the arms of the cross. A kitchen, and utility room were at the end of the large room which would serve as a parish hall (“The Church”) and lunchroom. The church area was in the center.  An initial clear window stood at the north end of the room.     

     People came into Church in an unusual fashion, facing the congregation instead of the altar.  Parish events took place in this space. A convent to house the Sisters of Notre Dame (who were to teach in the school) was built above one section of the classrooms. There was a third cluster with a school office extending off the main entrance hall. This building was completed and dedicated April 15, 1962. It had a distinguishing feature in that all the classrooms in the building opened to the outside. 

     The Altar table was raised above the chapel and and Multi-Purpose room floor and consisted of a single slab of marble, provided by Martina Brothers of Lexington. As Vatican II had directed that the priest face the people during Mass. It was difficult to see the priest behind the Tabernacle, so a hole was cut in the Altar top and a new Tabernacle was designed and recessed there.

     The heating and hot water system were located above the Chapel. This fed all the rooms and convent with heat and all the restrooms with hot water. Each of three clusters of classrooms had it's own restroom facilities.

  

1964: A 'Rosary Prayer Garden' was implemented near the classrooms of the school office wing.
 

  

 

1967: As the years passed, a new rectory/office was built at 601 Hill N’ Dale with space to house three priests. Additional sections were added to the school to meet the growing needs of the parish. Additions to the building included a fourth cluster with a library and three classrooms, and a lunchroom. Prior to this lunch was eaten in the multi-purpose room. 
     The young parish experienced the growth of the Lexington area. Again and again there was the desire expressed for building a church in which to give fitting worship to God. 

 

     The Multi-Purpose Room was renovated into a permanent church. The floor was carpeted and pews were installed replacing folding chairs. The Altar was moved to the to the opposite end of the room. In order to create space for the Altar, a partition was built 10 feet from the north end, with a raised platform. A newly installed stained glass window was designed by Van Rohen, owner of Finestra Stained Glass in Louisville, Ky. This was mounted outside the current clear window over the Altar. The artist stated the design represents “The Tree of Life”. The walls at either side of the window curved out to resemble an open book. People now entered the church facing the Altar. 
  1980: Father John Mueller, a priest from Covington, was appointed as Pastor for Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary.

     Parishioners Dom and Libby Dalesio generously donated a new large Crucifix to hang over the Altar, a new Tabernacle, processional cross, and small ornate Stations of the Cross.
 

     In 1980, another parish (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton) was formed, taking 200 families from our parish.

  1987: Fr. William Brown was appointed as the third pastor of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary in October 1987, replacing Fr. Mueller who retired and returned to his home in Covington. Fr. Brown served for only a few months before experiencing health problems and was replaced by Fr. Robert Nieberding. During this time Cross Roads, the Diocesan newspaper, described Mary Queen as “A LOVING, CARING, COMMUNITY”. During the remainder of 1987 and 1988, Father Bob observed the crowded conditions of our parish space. 

     During the first year after becoming pastor, Fr. Bob noticed what had been identified back in 1983. There was substantial growth in this part of Lexington and not enough room to meet our needs. Sunday Masses, especially the evening Mass on Saturday and the Masses at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. were usually too crowded for a good worship atmosphere. Many people again found it necessary to stand in the “wells” of the church or to find a place in the day chapel / cry room. There were other space needs for our CCD programs, school, parish offices, and parish meetings. The city planners, already in the late seventies, had identified that the next great development would be in the Harrodsburg Road area. Prior to this, they had called the development around the Hartland area and they were right on. Time was to prove them right again. The area south and south-east of the parish was ripe for development.

     As the year progressed, our worship space needs became a primary concern. The church proper would seat 450 people, the "Cry Room" (Day Chapel) would hold another 50 and along the sides, maybe another 25. The overflow after that would occupy the space to the rear of the church on either side which became referred to as the “wells”. When these would be filled, people would stand outside in the lobby. People in the wells, the lobby and even some in the cry room had no visible sight of the Altar. The crowded conditions, which were experienced at both the 8:45 A.M. and the 10:30 A.M. Masses, were not conducive to good worship.

     While the need for worship space was the major need, it was not the only one. Because of the fine quality of our Education/Formation programs, CCD, Pre-school, Nursery, space for rooms was at a premium. There just were not enough rooms for the classes. While we did try different ways of meeting these needs it was very evident that we needed more space. Another need that was becoming increasingly evident was the need for more school space. There was a need for more classrooms including a science lab, an art room, additional classrooms, and a computer lab.

     With the growing number of parishioners and the increasing programs, our parish staff continued to grow. It became necessary to find a place for the staff to do their work. There was a need for office space. At one time, the CCD Coordinator, Pre-School Director, and Youth Counselor all shared one office. The Youth Counselor was using what later became the health room. Besides these needs, there was expressed the need to separate the parish office from the priest’s dwelling. Since the parish was constantly growing, with one or more of these meetings taking place daily, there was an expressed need for more meeting room space. The library and various grade classrooms were the only place for meetings. After reflecting on these needs, praying over them, and discussing them with members of the Parish Council, the Pastor and the Parish Council established an Ad Hoc Committee for Growth Concerns for 1989.

     Early in the 1990’s, a house on Clays Mill was purchased for the Sisters, where they moved, and the old Convent became office and meeting space. Pre-planning for another expansion project began. It was our "Twenty Year Plan." This plan was set to meet the growing needs of worship, a school, CDD, office and meeting space. Our parish census had grown to 1,800 families. 
 

     At this time, the architect selection committee completed their work and the firm of Sherman, Carter, Barnhart was selected. Fr. Vosko put together a program, a master plan for our parish for the next fifteen to twenty years. In April, Fr. Vosko met with the Core Committee and the architect who was charged with the responsibility to put into schematics the Master Plan. At this time the architect selection committee took on a new role. It became the architect liaison committee. At the end of September, the Master Plan was in schematic form. On November 6^th about 500 parishioners gathered in the church for the presentation of the “master plan”. The estimated cost of the first phase (site and new church) was $4,100,000. The remaining cost would be $3,200,000 (1991 figures). The fund raising campaign (“Expanding Our Horizons”) began in December. Once the church was completed, the plan was to work on the new school.

     During 1994, another new parish of Pax Christi was formed, taking about 200 families from the then present 1,400 families. Currently about 2,000 families in Lexington call Mary, Queen their home parish.

     After much prayer, hard work, and fund-raising, construction of a new church to seat 800 began in early October, 1994. This had been a dream from the beginning, a new Church in the field on the corner lot of Clays Mill and Hill N’ Dale Roads. It, indeed, became our field of dreams!The stained glass window, crucifix over the Altar, as well as refurbished Stations of the Cross from the original place of worship were moved and installed into the new church to help foster the continuity of our parish community.

 

     At 3:00 P.M. Bishop Williams joined this group and the Dedication began with a prayer of thanks for all His blessings. The Bishop, priests, and laity went in procession to the entrance of the new building. The Bishop was presented with a set of plans, our Parish mission statement and key to the Church. Fr. Bob opened the Church for all to enter. The people, the Altar, and the Church were sprinkled and the Liturgy of the Word followed. Before the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Rite of Dedication took place. The Rite consisted of the Prayer of Dedication, the blessing of the Altar, and the lighting of the Church. After Communion the Blessed Sacrament was brought to the Tabernacle in the Eucharistic Chapel for the Rite of Inauguration of the Tabernacle. A meal followed on the Church grounds.

  

     Once the new church was completed, it became evident that the present school was not sufficient for the continuing needs of education for our youngsters.  The school had been expanded as far as was practical.  The decision was made that a totally new physical plant for the school was needed. 

2003: On October 3, 2003 Bishop Ronald Gainer and parish representatives broke ground for building our new Education Life Center that would become more than just a school.  It would be home for our young people and a center for continuing Christian education for all ages.

2005: During the summer of 2005, the new Education Life Center rose to completion on the ground behind the old church/school, which was demolished, except for the cafeteria and gymnasium.  In August of 2005, students returned to school in the new Education Life Center and a much needed new parking lot was built on the site of our old school.  It was dedicated on September 25^th. Enrollment continued to increase.

 

     The new church and Education Life Center of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary stands as a testimonial to the faith of the men and women, boys and girls of the parish. This includes all who have gone before, those who will come, and especially those who presently are the Church of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary.

2009: The Liturgy Committee purchased and placed large vigil offering candles in front of the statutes of The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph on each of the inside walls of the church. These had been requested by some parishioners since the new church was built.

2014: 2000 families were registered in the Parish. The Mortgage on the new priest’s house was fully paid, with help from a generous private donation, in May 2014; and the mortgage was formally burned at an Open House for the entire Parish, in June. In September, a second Mass in Spanish was added at 9:30am on Sunday in addition to the 1pm Mass.

Those who have been assigned to Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary are:
1960-1980 – Rev. Leonard B. Nienaber, Pastor
1961-1962 – Rev. Jack McGuire, Associate Pastor
1962          – Rev. James McHugh, Associate Pastor
1962-1965 – Rev. Irwin Wolke, Associate Pastor
1964          – Rev. Ray Broering, Associate Pastor
1965-1967 – Rev. Roger Kriege, Associate Pastor
1967-1970 – Rev. William Bush, Associate Pastor
1970-1973 – Rev. Tom Lubbers, Associate Pastor
1973-1974 – Rev. John Cahill, Associate Pastor
1974-1978 – Rev. John B. Modica, Associate Pastor
1980-1987 – Rev. John Mueller, Pastor
1979-1983 – Rev. Gerry Reinersman, Associate Pastor
1983-1989 – Rev. Pat Stewart, Associate
1987/07/01-08/23, Rev. William Brown, Pastor
1987/10/23-08/2002, Rev. Robert Nieberding, Pastor
1989-1992 – Rev. Richard Edelen, Associate Pastor
1990-2001 – Jeremiah Noe, Deacon
1990-June 1991 – Dennis O'Neill, Deacon
1991-2000 – Rev. Lou Schmidt, in residence
1992-1994 – Rev. Richard Wilson, Associate Pastor
1994-1996 – Rev. John Moriarty. Associate Pastor
1996-1999 – Rev. Mark Dreves, Associate Pastor
1999          – Jim Paris, Deacon
1999-2001 – Rev. Linh Nguyen, Associate Pastor
2001-2002 – Rev. Patrick Fitzsimons, Associate Pastor
2002-8/20 to 7/1/2006 – Rev. Dan Noll, Priest Moderator
2002-8/20 to 6/30/2006 – William Greenwell, Pastoral Director
2002-8/20 to 6/30/2005 – Rev. John Moriarty, Sacramental Minister
2003-7/2006 – William Greenwell, Deacon
2003-7/1 to 6/30/2006, Rev. Danny Schwendeman, Sacramental Minister
2004            – James Horine, Deacon
2005-7/1 to 6/30/2006, Rev. Jacob (Kurian) Oravanamthadthil, Sacramental Minister
2006-7/1 to 4/16/2010 – Rev. Joseph Muench, Pastor
2006-2007 – Rev. Stephen Roberts, Parochial Vicar
2007-2009 – Rev. Noel Zamora, Associate Pastor
2008-2013 – Rev. Eulices Godinez, Parochial Vicar
2008         – Bill Rood, Deacon
2008         – Bob Kotzbauer, Deacon
2009-2010 – Rev. Nicholas Pagano, Parochial Vicar
2009-7/15 to 6/30/2010 – Rev. Robert Nieberding, Administrator (pro tempore)
2011/07/01 – Rev. Dan Noll, Pastor
2011-6/2013 – Rev Jeffrey Estacio, Parochial Vicar
2012 – Joe Daugherty, Deacon
2013 – 6/30/2014 – Rev. Arockiadas Arokiasamy, Parochial Vicar
2014 – Rev. Miguel Alvizures, Parochial Vicar