Enter a spirit of ecumenism, a word not to be found in most dictionaries at a time when, for the most part, Catholics and non-Catholics went their separate ways.

But none of that bothered Father Mulcahy and Brother Walker, pastor of Carlisle Avenue Baptist Church. The Baptists still had a building on Woodruff which once had been a church. Although it was dirty from the flood and in disrepair, Father Mulcahy saw it as a place where he could hold Mass.

A deal was struck and parishioners cleaned up the Baptist building. Then on the fourth Sunday of April 1937, less than four months after the parish had been established, a spirit of ecumenism prevailed when Father Mulcahy said Mass in the building he had rented from Brother Walker and his church.

The first Mass was the beginning of a practice which lasted more than a year, until a new Most Blessed Sacrament school-church building was opened in the 110 block of Berry Boulevard.

Such was the beginning of the South Louisville parish which now marks the anniversary of that first Mass - again on the fourth Sunday in April.

Father Mulcahy, a 41-year old Irishman who was ticketed for the Diocese of Louisville when he was ordained in Rome in 1924, had been slowed in his efforts to get the parish off and running because members of his flock had been busy with their own flood clean-up.

However, in February he had gathered together about 60 families from Holy Name and St. Helen's, the primary parishes from which Most Blessed Sacrament was formed. He asked for monetary donations and plans were made for additional fund-raising.

When Father Mulcahy rented a house - the parish's first rectory - in March on what is now Sale Avenue, the tempo of action increased!

Always a great talker and never a man to meet a stranger, Father Mulcahy soon became acquainted with his parishioners and put them to work as quickly as they eagerly volunteered.

For example, two sixth-graders, Leonard Rieber and Lawrence Hardesty, asked of they could serve the first mass. They not only did, they served all of the Masses for about a year. Rieber is deceased but Hardesty is Father Lawrence Hardesty, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church, Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Four days after the initial Mass, an organizational meeting for an Altar Society drew a crowd, with 70 women paying the $1.00 annual dues at the first meeting. Officers elected were: Mrs. Frank Zeller, president; Mrs. William Frederick, vice-president; Mrs. Frank Greenert, secretary; and Mrs. James Lindley, treasurer.

The Holy Name Society was started in 1938 by a group of men that included Ignatius Kehl, Ed Gilthaus, Art Gutman, John Rieber, Emmett Metcalfe and Frank Greenert. It since has become the Men's Club.

The Blessed Virgin Sodality was organized in May 1938 by Theresa Stromowsky and the Rosary Club was founded by Alice Hornung in 1951.

The parish has given several young men to the seminary and these seven have been ordained: James S. French, Lawrence Hardesty, Robert Reilly, James E. Wuerth, William Spine, Joseph Atcher and Donald Medley.

Continued construction through 1963 was the order of business after the school-church building was put to use in 1938. In the early 40's a rectory was built. In August,of 1952 a convent was ready for the Charity nuns - since followed by Ursulines - who had operated the school since 1938 while living at St. Helena's College.

All the while Father Mulcahy had been seeking permission to build a church. Almost from the beginning he had worked toward that goal. But it was not until 1962, when the parish had money in the bank, that ground was broken at Taylor Boulevard and Hathaway for what since its completion in 1963 has been one of the most majestic churches in the city. The cost at the start of construction was estimated at $350,000.

Although comprised primary of blue-collar workers who have struggled through several recessions, the parish has had strong financial support. Father Mulcahy decreed that expenses were to be met through donations and, difficult as it must have been at times, generosity has been outstanding.

Financial problems also were eased from time to time by the successful investments Father Mulcahy made in the stock market, using parish funds - but never more than he could personally cover should an investment become a loss.

Father Mulcahy, suffering for many years with what eventually became stomach cancer, retired in June 1968 and died in December: He is buried in the Sisters of Charity Cemetery at Nazareth, Kentucky.

The Rev. William H. Pank was transferred from St. Paul's Church to succeed Father Mulcahy. The second pastor, a native Louisvillian, 55, had been ordained in 1940. He had served both in the city and out in the state. As pastor of St. Ann's in Howardstown from 1952 to 1960, he also was pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in Hodgenville where, in 1957, he opened the only Catholic school in LaRue County. While Pastor of MBS, Father Pank was known as strict and no nonsense, but fair and compassionate as well. He retired June 13, 1984 

Father C. J. Wagner, also a Louisvillian with a lengthy background as a teacher in Louisville high schools, was ordained in 1957. He served as assistant in several city parishes and followed Father Pank as the third Pastor at Most Blessed Sacrament. Father Wagner was well  liked and always had a way of boosting your spirit. Rev.Wagner died in 1990 of cancer.

Click photo for Father  Caskey's memorial page.

FATHER JOHN U. CASKEY A native of Louisville was pastor of MBS from 1996 till 2004. He served as administrator of the parish until his death on February 25, 2008. He graduated from St. Meinrad Seminary and was ordained into the priesthood on May 23, 1959. Father Caskey taught at Trinity High School, Bishop David High School and Angela Merici High School. His parish assignments included St. Aloysius in Pewee Valley, St. Polycarp, St. Timothy, St. Helen and was pastor of St. Denis, St. Columba and Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church's. Here at MBS Father Caskey was known for his great smile and funny stories. Father Caskey touched many lives in his service to God.  His spiritual guidance will be felt for generations.

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