All Saints Feast Day Celebration

Today is All Saints feast day. Since the feast day falls on a Monday this year it is not a holy day of obligation. However, to celebrate the 180th anniversary of our parish, Father Scott will be with us this evening at 6:30 PM to celebrate Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. A potluck dessert party will follow Mass in the parish hall. 



Here's a short history of All Saints Church from the "Faith and Missions Parish Histories" book that commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Louisville:


All Saints the only Catholic church in Spencer County, was built in Taylorsville in 1830 under leadership of Father James Elliott, it's first pastor. It's predecessor, Saint Benedict, had been built in 1815, five miles away in Little Mount by Father Charles Nerinckx. The cemetery in Little Mount is still maintained by the parish. Located on a hillside, All Saints has stood above many floods  in Taylorsville, and the parish has witnessed the burning of the nearby courthouse, keeping a Civil War musket ball embedded in it's bell tower as a souvenir.


Despite it's small size as a minority community in a Baptist county, All Saints has nurtured at least six vocations to the priesthood, including Father Bill Bowling, pastor of Annunciation Church in Shelbyville. There has also been numerous vocations to various orders of women religious. The parish has a long history of ecumenical activities. Since 1986, it has had a covenant relationship with Taylorsville United Methodist Church and the First Christian Church of Taylorsville (Disciples of Christ). Among the many interfaith activities, the three churches have a joint Vacation Bible School each year, joint Advent and Lent services, and during the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity the churches participate in a Pulpit Exchange where minister's preach at each other's Sunday services.

Throughout it's history, All Saints has alternated between having a resident pastor and being served by priests traveling from Fairfield, Shelbyville, Mount Washington and as far away as Samuels in Nelson County. The relationship with Saint Michael Church in Fairfield has been particularly important since parishioners attended the school that was in Fairfield  for many years. All Saints has developed new ties with Saint Francis Xavier sharing a pastor since 2005.


From it's original ten families, All Saints has grown to serve more than 500 parishioners, but it has grown gradually enough to maintain a rural atmosphere where most people know one another. The parish offers comprehensive faith formation for all ages and a service oriented youth ministry while embracing the challenges of its third century.