Students, faculty and staff fill Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel at Owensboro Catholic High School on Dec. 12, 2026, for the dedication of the brand-new chapel. COURTESY OF CLARE CLARK

PRESS RELEASE

Owensboro, KY – On Dec. 12, 2025, Owensboro Catholic High School gathered for a dedication service led by Bishop Medley to officially open the new Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of its community, the school is proud to announce the completion of this transformative project. The second part of this project, the practice facility, is also nearing completion. While serving different purposes, both projects share a common goal—to support the growth and development of every student in mind, body, and spirit.

Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel

What was once a small gymnasium has been beautifully transformed into a sacred, permanent space for worship. Every student now visits the chapel at least once per week, with many returning multiple times. The chapel provides a peaceful setting for prayer, reflection, and the celebration of the sacraments, placing faith at the heart of the school’s mission to form disciples of Christ. Principal George Powell says, “We are very excited to have our chapel project completed. This space will allow us to dive deeper into sacramental life and let students become closer to God. The chapel will now allow us to have mass in a more reverent space and have students more engaged as we celebrate the Eucharist.”

Bishop William F. Medley pours chrism on the altar of the new Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel at Owensboro Catholic High School on Dec. 12, 2026, while consecrating the worship space. COURTESY OF CLARE CLARK

New practice facility

To support extracurricular programs displaced during the chapel renovation, the school is finishing up construction of a steel prefabricated practice facility. The facility will primarily serve the band, along with athletics and student programs that enrich life beyond the classroom.

Community support and prayerful effort

The projects were made possible through a focused fundraising campaign led by Director of Advancement Natalie Hayden. When funding for the chapel initially fell short, a group of dedicated donors stepped forward to assist the advancement office, raising the remaining $1 million in just one month.

Honoring its heritage, Owensboro Catholic High School, originally named Assumption High School in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, entrusted the project to Our Lady, praying a nine-day novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Following this, parents offered a second nine-day novena to St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, the patron saint of students. The fundraising goal was met on the Feast Day of St. Gabriel, Feb. 27, marking a moment of gratitude and celebration for the school community.

Together, these two projects represent a $2.4 million investment in the future of Owensboro Catholic High School. Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel nurtures the soul through worship and the sacraments, while the new practice facility supports physical growth, discipline, and teamwork—both essential to forming well-rounded students.

A heartfelt thank you

Owensboro Catholic High School thanks its community for helping build a strong foundation for the next generation. These spaces will serve students for decades to come.

The progress of the future Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel at Owensboro Catholic High School is seen in October 2025. COURTESY OF CLARE CLARK