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A House for the Lord

Click here to read the booklet about the sacred archetecture of our church.

© 2003 All Saints Parish – Walton KY. Last updated 2003.06.17

Parish History

From Fr. Paul Ryan’s “History of the Diocese of Covington” c.1954:

“The development of Catholicity in the present Walton-Verona area in Boone County centered around the rural community of Verona as a parish center. In 1951 the center of the parish was moved to Walton with the establishment of All Saints Parish.

“As early as 1854 Verona was attended as a station from the Cathedral (in Covington). In 1859 the Verona congregation was attended to by the Benedictine Fathers of St. Joseph’s Priory; in the 1860′s from St. Ann Parish in West Covington, and in the 1870′s again from the cathedral. In 1878, Reverend Joseph Quinn, a young assistant at the Cathedral, who had been attending to the mission at Verona, was appointed the first resident pastor.

“By 1886 there were about forty families served by the Verona mission. “

In 1891, Rev. Benedict Kolb, then pastor of the Verona mission, called St. Patrick’s, asked Bishop Maes of Covington to allow him to move from Verona to Walton and care for both missions. His reasons centered around the better railroad connections in Walton. Bishop Maes refused this request, and the people of Walton had to settle for a priest coming from St. Paul in Florence to celebrate Mass for them in the Section House on the L&N Railroad near Walton.

“In 1949, with the permission of Bishop Mulloy, Fr. Henry Busemeyer, newly appointed pastor of (St. Patrick’s) Verona, undertook the transfer of the parish center from Walton to Verona.”

When he arrived, the congregation at Walton was using a 24-foot by 34 foot building as their chapel. During his time as pastor, Fr. Busemeyer oversaw the establishment of the parish school, the dedication of a church building, and the construction of the rectory.

Fr. Busemeyer was still pastor in Walton in 1953, when Fr. Ryan finished his history. Many priests have served the parish since that time, Frs. Charles Donovan, Robert Vater, Joseph Rueter, Fred Bamberger, Harry Tenhundfeld, Joseph Collins, Eugene Wolzorn, Paul Krebs, Edwin Heile, and the present pastor, Fr. John Schulte, among them.

On night of November 1, 2000, after the celebration of the Mass of All Saints, the parishioners of All Saints, the Sisters of St. Joseph, and friends of the parish processed with the Blessed Sacrament to the site of their new church. The new site was solemnly blessed and prayers were offered to Almighty God for the successful completion of the building project. Thus opened a new chapter in the parish’s history.

In April, 2001, old St. Patrick’s, which had been sold and was being used as a farm store, caught fire and burned to the ground, thus leaving only St. Patrick’s Cemetery as visible evidence that the parish was once centered in Verona.

For an update to the Parish history, see page 39 of the A House for the Lord booklet prepared for and distributed at the May 31, 2003 dedication of our new church.

Parish School History (now St. Joseph Academy)

St. Joseph Academy is located on the parish property. It is a private academy run by the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker, whose motherhouse is in Walton. Ky. The academy includes grade levels K through 8.

All inquiries concerning the academy should be directed to the principal, Sr. Patricia Jean Cushing, SJW, or to the academy office. (859) 485-6444.

History:
For many years All Saints Parish operated an elementary school. This school was housed in a small wooden building attached to the church. In addition to the classrooms for all grades, the building housed the Benedictine Nuns who taught in the school. By the 1960′s it was clear that the school had outgrown the building. Plans were developed to build a new school building. During the pastorate of Fr. Joseph Rueter, a brick school building was erected.

Unfortunately, not long after the new building was dedicated, a combination of factors lead to the closing of the parish school.

In the mid 1970′s Fr. Joseph Collins, a retired priest, was asked to assume the duties of temporary administrator of All Saints Parish after the death of its pastor. Fr. Collins began discussions with the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker, asking them to consider re-opening the school. The Sisters agreed to open the school as a private academy, completely under their authority. They pay the parish the sum of $1.00 per year as rent for the school building.

The original brick school building was expanded during the pastorate of Fr. Paul Krebs, to include a parish hall, which also serves as the cafeteria for the school.

Enrollment has risen to the point where additional classroom space has had to be rented from a local physician, Dr. Waller, who has made rooms in his medical building available. Plans for further expansion of the school are now being discussed.

History of the Diocese of Covington

Copies of A Brief History of the Diocese of Covington, by James Ott, published on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of our Diocese, are still available. The book contains a brief history of Catholicism in Kentucky as well as short profiles of each parish within the present boundaries of our diocese.

Perhaps you did not grow up in this diocese and would like to know a little more about it. This could also be an opportunity to show your children or grandchildren the church where members of your family received their sacraments.

You are encouraged to purchase a copy of the book. The cost now is only $5.00 (was $20.00). As you know, we thought every family in the parish would be interested in this fine book. Hopefully, the reduced rate will make it available to many more. This would make a nice gift for Christmas or Confirmation.

It can be purchased at the parish office or by dropping your name, address, and phone number, along with payment, payable to All Saints Church, in the collection basket. Cyndie will see that you receive your copy.

The office is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday