During the Washing of the Feet during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the cathedral, Bishop William F. Medley is assisted by Dcn. Conrad Jaconette, a seminarian for the Diocese of Owensboro. RILEY GREIF | WKC
‘The Word remains the same’
Diocesan faithful celebrate Holy Week with bishop
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
During this year’s Diocese of Owensboro Chrism Mass, held on the Tuesday of Holy Week, Bishop William F. Medley challenged the faithful to recognize all people’s inherent dignity.
“Image and likeness” does not mean “one skin color or one language,” said the bishop in his April 15 homily to those sitting in the bleachers of the Owensboro Sportscenter, where Chrism Mass was held. “It means all are created with immense and unlimited human dignity and worth.”
“It is unsettling, it is evil, it is a sin that in our nation today there are many voices all too ready to deny the dignity of others created in God’s image,” said Bishop Medley. “It is sinful that as the richest nation in the history of the world we seem to deny any responsibility to share the bounty of God’s creation with the poorest in our midst and around the world.”
The bishop also called the people of the diocese to embrace the Jubilee 2025, which had been given the theme of “hope” by Pope Francis.
The universal Church was called to reflect upon the Church “as a community, as pilgrims of hope,” said the bishop. “Much changes – but the Word remains the same.”
Apart from the liturgy at the sportscenter, the bishop presided at the other Holy Week liturgies at St. Stephen Cathedral, the mother church of the Owensboro diocese, as is tradition.
A woman kisses the cross held by two altar servers during the Veneration of the Cross at St. Stephen Cathedral’s Good Friday liturgy on April 18, 2025. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Kennedy Payne, serving as the crucifer, holds the processional cross adorned with red ribbon and palms during the April 13, 2025 Palm Sunday liturgy at St. Stephen Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Bishop William F. Medley pours balsam into the oil that he will consecrate as Sacred Chrism during the diocese’s April 15, 2025 Chrism Mass, held at the Owensboro Sportscenter. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Lector Eddy McFarland, rector Fr. John Thomas, and Bishop William F. Medley participate in the reading of the Passion narrative at St. Stephen Cathedral’s Good Friday liturgy on April 18, 2025. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Bishop William F. Medley confirms those entering the Catholic Church during the April 19 Easter Vigil at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro. The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky. RACHEL HALL | WKC
During the Washing of the Feet portion of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the cathedral, Bishop William F. Medley greets baby Andrew Best before washing his feet. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Bishop William F. Medley baptizes Matt Galloway during the April 19 Easter Vigil at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro. RACHEL HALL | WKC
Originally printed in the May 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
