Father Stephen Theodore Badin holds a unique place in American Catholic history. As the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States, he became a pioneer missionary whose tireless work on the Kentucky frontier laid the foundation for what we now call the “Catholic Holy Land” of Kentucky.
Born in Orleans, France, in 1768, Badin was studying for the priesthood in Paris when the French Revolution erupted. Badin fled France in 1791 with fellow seminarians Benedict Joseph Flaget and Jean-Baptiste David — both future bishops in Kentucky.
The three arrived in Philadelphia in March 1792. Badin was ordained by Bishop John Carroll on May 25, 1793 — becoming the first priest ordained within the newly independent United States.
Mission to the Kentucky Frontier
In September 1793, Fr. Badin left Maryland for Kentucky with fellow missionary Fr. Michel Barrieres. Their journey was grueling — on foot over the Appalachian Mountains to Pittsburgh, then floated down the Ohio River by flatboat to Limestone (now Maysville, KY).
On December 1, 1793 — the first Sunday of Advent — Badin offered his first Mass in Kentucky, inside a settler’s log cabin in Lexington.
Fr. Barrieres would leave for New Orleans in 1794, leaving Badin as the only Catholic priest in Kentucky.
His first base was in Scott County at White Sulphur Springs. Later, he moved to Pottinger’s Creek in present-day Marion County, home to many Catholic families led by patriarch Basil Hayden. These settlers had built Holy Cross, the first Catholic church west of the Alleghenies, in 1792.
St. Stephen’s Farm: A Missionary Home Base
Fr. Badin acquired land known as St. Stephen’s Farm — now the site of the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky — through a purchase from Basil Hayden. The 200-acre tract became his missionary headquarters.
His work was grueling. He traveled over 100,000 miles during his decade in Kentucky — on horseback, on foot, and through illness and isolation.
Laying the Foundations
By 1803, Fr. Badin had baptized and instructed hundreds, built several chapels, and formed vibrant Catholic communities across Kentucky. Bishop Carroll appointed him vicar general of the Western missions.
Help arrived in 1806, when Belgian priest Fr. Charles Nerinckx joined him in Kentucky. In 1808, the Diocese of Bardstown was established — the first inland diocese in the U.S. When Bishop Flaget arrived in 1811, he found a network of thriving parishes, thanks to Badin’s years of labor.
Legacy of “The Apostle of Kentucky”
Fr. Stephen T. Badin earned the title “The Apostle of Kentucky” through extraordinary perseverance and faith. The parishes he organized became the backbone of the region’s Catholic life, and many are still active today.
About the Author
Kenny Browning is a lifelong resident of Marion County, Kentucky, with over 72 years of deep roots in the community. A passionate storyteller and history enthusiast, Kenny offers personalized tours that highlight the beauty and history of rural Kentucky.