3rd Grade Community Research ReportSt. Francis DeSales Catholic Church

ByKatie Caruthers

St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church

I decided to write my community report on St. Francis De Sales parish. I picked it because of all the beautiful art and history in it. It helps a lot of people in our community. It also is an important part in my life. I hope people enjoy reading and seeing pictures about my community church St. Francis DeSales in Paducah, KY.

There is a lot of unique history in the church. It’s located in

the historical downtown Paducah district. (Letter C)

In1848, the land was bought for $225. It is the only church

in Paducah still on its original property.

At the first church the people had to walk through a cow pasture to get to church. Our church now is the third

church. It did not get harmed during the Civil War. .

Post Card from 1930’s

It didn’t have very much damage during the 1937 flood because of its special high construction. It is built like a movie theater. The back of

the church is higher than the front.

During the flood some of the wood under the floor got damaged and caused the terrazzo marble stone floor to

crack.

We can still see the crack today. It is our

souvenir from the 1937 flood.

For over 100 years people recognize the church landmark

for it’s twin copper bell towers.

St. Francis DeSales parish has many different beautiful

pieces of artwork. It’s like an art museum.

The biggest painting is a mural called The Ascension

painted in 1936 by an Italian artist named Leo Mirabile.

Ten years later he came back and also painted the portraits

of the 10 Saints on either side of the high wall.

There’s a beautiful marble baptismal fount where people

get baptized.

There also is a marble alter with a bone chip of St. Pius X.

The church has beautiful stain glass windows.

My brother Pat and I counted 52 stain glass windows in the church but I am not sure

exactly how many there are.

There are 14 concrete Stations of the Cross inside the church…

and copper-iron Stations of the Cross outside the church.

Here’s some of the churches statues; the Crucifixion,

the statues of Mary,

the statues of St. Francis,

the statue of St. Joseph and Jesus, and many more.

St. Francis De Sales helps in our community many ways. They raise money for St. Mary’s school system. They make sure St. Nicholas poor people hospital has enough money to be open. They raise money for St. Vincent De Paul food pantry and thrift store. Those are some ways St. Francis helps in our community.

St. Nicholas Family Free Clinic

St. Francis De Sales is important to me in many different ways. It’s important to me because it has so much history.

Renovation of Historical paint under the white paint behind presiders chair.

It’s important to me because I was baptized there and have so many fun memories. I also have great memories from

when I had first communion.

I try to learn good leadership by Alter Serving, Cross Bearing, and singing in the choir. I get go to Faith Formation to learn more about how Jesus lived his life. I hope people enjoyed my report and learned some stuff because I certainly did!

I try to learn good leadership by Alter Serving, Cross Bearing, and singing in the choir. I get go to

Faith Formation to learn more about how Jesus lived his life. I hope people enjoyed my report and

learned some stuff because I certainly did!

The End!

Sources of Information:

www.stfrancisdesalespaducah.orgwww.cowcard.comInfo Booklet on St. Francis de Sales ParishSt. Francis de Sales in Paducah HistoryFather Brian RobyPhoto’s taken by Katie Caruthers