Sts. John & Elizabeth Catholic Church

Caring for Every Heart: An AED for Sts. J&E

Saints John and Elizabeth Catholic Church in Grayson, Kentucky, is a small but vibrant parish community with a big heart for God and for one another. Every Sunday, our pews are filled with families, seniors, and visitors who gather to pray, serve, and share in the love of Christ.

To continue caring for one another—body and soul—we are raising $1,800 to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for our church.

An AED is a life-saving device used in emergencies when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest. Quick access to an AED can mean the difference between life and death—especially in rural areas where emergency response times may be longer. Having one readily available in our church ensures that if a medical emergency occurs during Mass, parish gatherings, or community events, we will be prepared to respond immediately with compassion and care.

This is more than just a piece of equipment—it’s an expression of our faith in action, our commitment to protecting the life and dignity of every person who enters our doors.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to making our church not only a place of spiritual refuge but also of physical safety.

Thank you for helping our little church with a big heart care for the flock God has entrusted to us.

“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40

Who We Are

Saints John and Elizabeth Catholic Church was originally started by the Glenmary Home Missioners in 1964 due to the Diocese of Covington’s request to determine the Catholic needs in Carter and Elliott Counties. Glenmary began locating the known Catholics starting January of that year and found the greatest initial need was to have a Mass closer to their homes. Out of this recognized need, the first Mass was held at Dr. and Mrs. Rizk’s home in Grayson, Kentucky and eventually the Masses were moved to several local areas before a permanent structure was built. These locations included a Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) trailer donated by Monsignor Ralph Beiting which was placed on a lot near the old courthouse building in Grayson; and then to a home that is serving as the current rectory on Horton Street in Grayson. The Horton Street home was originally converted into a chapel and rectory combined with the mission name of “The Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church”.
After several years of construction, the permanent church building was formally dedicated in 1972 and became known as Saints John and Elizabeth Catholic Church in honor of Saint John the Baptist and his mother, Elizabeth; as well as, in memory of John and Elizabeth Madden, parents of Reverend Leo Madden who was a generous benefactor towards the building. In 1988, we were gathered into the newly formed Diocese of Lexington created by Pope John Paul II as a new mission diocese. Following the original plan and parish milestone goals, Glenmary continued to guide, nurture, and tend our parish family until July, 2013 when the pastoral care of Saints John and Elizabeth was turned over to the Diocese of Lexington.
Now Saints John and Elizabeth Catholic Church has grown to around 55 families with a number of children to carry on the mission. A large percentage of our members are local Catholic converts which further testifies to the hard work and prayers of Glenmary, both Dioceses, and many individual parishioners. Glenmary’s vision of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and the continuation of His ministry in the Roman Catholic Church in rural America lives on in our parish.