Daniel B Durbin

A History of St. John the Evangelist Parish Sunfish, KY Daniel B Durbin

St. John the Evangelist Parish history begins as a small Catholic settlement on the banks of Sunfish Creek in Edmonson County, Kentucky. The pioneer settlers came from Madison County, Kentucky in 1825. Their cabins were built in close proximity for defense against marauding Indians. The settlement became known as Sunfish Station. Priests were scarce on the Kentucky frontier. The visits of a circuit-riding pioneer priests were infrequent, with Mass being offered in someone's home. It was not uncommon for a Catholic to go months between these visits. When the Rev. Father Degauquier took charge of the station at Sunfish there were only 14 to receive Communion. The first visit, in 1828, by Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget recorded 83 to receive Communion. Sunfish Station grew in number through the years but did not attract a resident pastor until the 1940's, when the Glenmary Home Missioners assumed responsibility for the parish. Till then it was a "Mission" parish served by the pastors of St. Augustine at Clarkson, Holy Spirit at Bowling Green and St. Joseph at Leitchfield. Follow the timeline of the pioneer priests, the visiting pastors and the resident pastors that served the parish through the years... the pioneer settlers, the parishioners... the Church, the School and the Sisters who taught there.