St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church sits in the Saint Matthews area of Louisville, Kentucky, as a parish of roughly 2,532 registered parishioners in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Worship, formation, and outreach are organized around a healthy mix of senior and young adult families, with the parish describing itself as a community in which the spiritual development of parishioners and social outreach to the wider Louisville community are pursued through more than 40 working committees.
Mass Times and the Weekly Rhythm
The parish gathers for Mass four times on the weekend and once each weekday. Saturday Mass is celebrated at 4:00 p.m.; Sunday Masses are offered at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; and Mass is also celebrated each weekday at 12:00 noon Monday through Friday.
Mass is offered in English, the everyday liturgical language of the parish. Parish materials appear in both English and French in many places, reflecting a heritage that is acknowledged in the parish's own identity, but the regular Sunday and weekday schedule is built around the English liturgy.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated every Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in the church, an hour before the Saturday vigil Mass. The sacrament is also available individually upon request. Twice a year, during Advent and during Lent, the parish gathers for communal Penance Services, offering an additional setting for the celebration of the sacrament alongside the weekly Saturday schedule.
Baptism, Matrimony, and the RCIA
Baptism is celebrated on specific dates through the year, with the Parish Resource Center coordinating preparation and scheduling.
Couples preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony are asked to contact the Parish Resource Center at least six months in advance of the proposed wedding date, and at least one of the two must be a registered parishioner for one year before the wedding is scheduled.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is offered as a process through which adults are fully initiated into the Catholic faith. Those interested are invited to call the Parish Resource Center at 502-458-2500 for more information about joining the journey of inquiry and formation.
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is served by Father Don Hill, Pastor, and Deacon Todd Auffrey. Elizabeth Auffrey serves as Director of Lifelong Formation and Education, coordinating faith formation across the life of the parish. Nick Cummins is the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, and the parish staff also includes a Director of Parish Resources, a Parish Administrative Assistant, a Parish Bookkeeper, and a Parish Plant Manager who oversees the physical plant.
The Child Enrichment Center
The Child Enrichment Center is a year-round presence on the parish campus, directed by Dawn Blair and reachable at 502-458-4611. As a ministry of the parish, the center serves families in the parish and surrounding neighborhoods with early childhood care and learning, woven into the rhythm of parish life.
Reaching Youth Through Evangelization
St. Raphael's Youth Ministry is described as a deliberate effort to "reach youth through evangelization, form them through catechesis and inspire them through service, thereby empowering them to serve others in their parish, community, and world." The work is aimed at young people in grades 7 through 12, and it is built around several ongoing pieces.
Youth in 7th and 8th grade gather for formation sessions on Thursday evenings. High school youth meet for formation on most Sundays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Every participant must have a signed permission slip and a current medical release form.
The program also offers afternoon prayer sessions; themed evening gatherings and community-building events; service projects with the church community and the greater Louisville area; mentoring programs that help create prayer leaders for parish Masses; regular newsletters and e-mail prayer reflections; and invitations to broader church events such as Archdiocesan retreats and National Youth Conferences.
Dress for youth events is taken seriously: shorts must be no more than two inches above the knee, sleeveless shirts are not allowed, and clothing must not carry inappropriate references. The parish explains the policy plainly: if the program does not reinforce proper dress, young people will only learn from their peers and from the surrounding culture.
Adults Walking with the Youth
Adults who want to collaborate with the Youth Ministry Program are invited to contact Nick Cummins. The ministry is actively forming a team of adults to pray with the young people, help with formation sessions, plan events, and assist in the life of the program. All adult volunteers must have a current background check through the parish secretary and must complete safe-environment training through the Archdiocese of Louisville.
The parish speaks openly about parents in particular. It acknowledges that many parents today are very busy and that youth do not always get time with them. Helping with the youth ministry program is offered as a positive way to spend time with one's own children in a setting that builds faith and friendship at the same time.
Parish Membership and Office Hours
Anyone wishing to join the parish is invited to call the Parish Resource Center. Adults 18 years of age and older are required to register separately from their parents. The bulletin deadline is Monday at 10:00 a.m., with submissions taken in writing and including the submitter's name and phone number.
The Parish Resource Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
More Than 40 Committees
Parish life at St. Raphael is shaped by more than 40 committees dedicated to spiritual development and social outreach. The list is broad, including the work of faith formation, sacramental preparation, the parish school, youth ministry, the Child Enrichment Center, and a network of parish groups and activities that serve the wider community. The bulletin and newsletter carry ongoing notices of committee meetings and events.
The Parish School
The parish maintains its own school as part of its ministry to families and children in the area.
Safe Environment
St. Raphael participates in the Archdiocese of Louisville's safe-environment program. Safe-environment training is part of the parish's ongoing commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults. All adult volunteers working with youth are required to complete this training and to have a current background check on file.
Prayer in the Parish's Voice
Beyond its sacramental and formation work, the parish maintains a steady rhythm of prayer and reflection. A regular feature is "Pause for Prayer," short meditations tied to the day of the week, and "Night Prayer," evening reflections often shaped by the liturgical season or by a particular feast. These reflections, written under the byline Robert Picard, range across topics such as the Transfiguration, the Presentation, the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, the autumn equinox, the Assumption, the Lenten journey, and moments of national remembrance. Some appear in English and some in French, continuing the bilingual character of the parish's published materials.
Faith in the Wider Church
St. Raphael is a parish of the Archdiocese of Louisville.
Visiting and Getting Involved
Visitors are welcomed to come, worship, and see whether St. Raphael is the community for them. The Parish Resource Center can be reached at 502-458-2500 for information about registration, sacraments, RCIA, becoming an adult volunteer with the youth ministry, or any other questions about parish life. The Child Enrichment Center can be reached directly at 502-458-4611 for inquiries about its early childhood program.
Weekend Mass times are Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with daily noon Mass Monday through Friday. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. and by appointment, with communal Penance Services in Advent and Lent.
St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church stands as a Louisville parish where the sacraments are at the center of the week, where youth are intentionally accompanied from 7th grade through high school, and where more than 40 committees give shape to the call to spiritual growth and service to the wider community.