Parish History
St. Boniface Parish was established in 1836 and is named for the 8th-century bishop known as the Apostle of Germany. (Learn more about the life of St. Boniface.) It is the oldest Catholic parish in the city of Louisville with its original title and the first church built for German Catholics. Father Joseph Stahlschmidt was the first pastor. Diocesan clergy staffed the parish until 1849 when Bishop Martin John Spalding asked the German-speaking Franciscan priests of Cincinnati, Ohio, to take responsibility for the parish because of the high influx of German Catholic immigrants. After 148 years, the Archdiocese of Louisville resumed responsibility for the parish in 1998.
The original church stood on the current site of the parking lot and school. The school opened in 1844 and in 1967 became Pope Paul VI School. This school closed in 1969. The present church building, built in the Gothic style, was dedicated in 1900. It replaced the Romanesque style church, which proved inadequate to meet the needs of the growing parish membership. As the neighborhood changed over the years, with the building of Clarksdale, the medical complex, and Liberty Green, the focus and mission of St. Boniface have changed. The parish is still grounded, however, in its urban mission to the poor and homeless, characterized by service and advocacy.
One of the ministries of the parish is Nativity Academy at St. Boniface, which replaced a former after-school program for neighborhood children. This school, founded by Father Timothy Hogan, is modeled after the National Nativity model, which seeks to educate urban youth. It is co-sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and the Xaverian Brothers.
The approximately 300 parishioners of St. Boniface Catholic Church welcome those who wish to worship with the community and be of service to others.
The original church stood on the current site of the parking lot and school. The school opened in 1844 and in 1967 became Pope Paul VI School. This school closed in 1969. The present church building, built in the Gothic style, was dedicated in 1900. It replaced the Romanesque style church, which proved inadequate to meet the needs of the growing parish membership. As the neighborhood changed over the years, with the building of Clarksdale, the medical complex, and Liberty Green, the focus and mission of St. Boniface have changed. The parish is still grounded, however, in its urban mission to the poor and homeless, characterized by service and advocacy.
One of the ministries of the parish is Nativity Academy at St. Boniface, which replaced a former after-school program for neighborhood children. This school, founded by Father Timothy Hogan, is modeled after the National Nativity model, which seeks to educate urban youth. It is co-sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and the Xaverian Brothers.
The approximately 300 parishioners of St. Boniface Catholic Church welcome those who wish to worship with the community and be of service to others.
2010 Renovation
From January to June 2010, Saint Boniface undertook a major renovation project. The project included removing and replacing deteriorated plaster from the walls and ceiling of the church, painting, applying gold leaf to the capitals, removing and replacing some light fixtures, and cleaning the statues.
During the course of the renovation, while scraping off white plaster in preparation for painting, workers for BJB Restoration discovered a number of oil paintings that had been painted over in 1969. These "hidden canvases" date from the parish's 75th anniversary in 1912. They consisted of twenty angel heads which were located at the top of the interior arches, larger angels on the wall behind the high altar, two large paintings of the Last Supper and Pentecost on the side walls of the sanctuary, and the four evangelists on the ceiling. While many of these paintings were damaged beyond repair, several of them have been restored and preserved thanks to generous benefactors. These pieces of our parish history are now framed and displayed inside the church.
During the course of the renovation, while scraping off white plaster in preparation for painting, workers for BJB Restoration discovered a number of oil paintings that had been painted over in 1969. These "hidden canvases" date from the parish's 75th anniversary in 1912. They consisted of twenty angel heads which were located at the top of the interior arches, larger angels on the wall behind the high altar, two large paintings of the Last Supper and Pentecost on the side walls of the sanctuary, and the four evangelists on the ceiling. While many of these paintings were damaged beyond repair, several of them have been restored and preserved thanks to generous benefactors. These pieces of our parish history are now framed and displayed inside the church.
Before renovation
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After renovation
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One of the rediscovered "hidden canvases"
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