Fr. Steve Roberts is from Cumberland, KY in Harlan County. Always wanting to be a physician, he enrolled the pre-med program at Transylvania University and graduated with a chemistry degree in 1985. He attended the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1989. After medical school, he entered and then completed an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at UK in 1993. After his residency, he helped form Women’s Care of Eastern Kentucky, an OB/GYN practice in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. The practice moved to Central Kentucky in 1997 as Women’s Care of the Bluegrass.
Raised a Southern Baptist, he converted to the Catholic faith and entered into the Roman Catholic Church at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Paintsville, KY at the Easter Vigil in 1997. After his conversion, he felt that God was calling him to the Catholic priesthood, and after a period of discernment, the Diocese sent him to Mundelein Seminary in Chicago in 2000 for his educational and formational training. There he received a Master of Divinity degree and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology specializing in Systematic Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Christ the King on May 20, 2006 by Bishop Ronald Gainer and was assigned as Parochial Vicar at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary in Lexington. After a year at Mary Queen, Fr. Roberts spent two years in Rome studying bioethics at the Athenaeum Pontificium Regina Apostolorum. He was named Vocation Director for the diocese in 2009 and assigned to Holy Spirit Parish / The Newman Center in Lexington in 2010. Bishop Stowe appointed him Pastor there in 2015. After thirteen years on the UK campus, Bishop John assigned Fr. Roberts to St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Lawrenceburg, KY, beginning in February 2024
Deacon Chris and his wife Carol have four children that are “hand picked and home grown.” Their oldest sons were “handpicked” from the Kentucky Special Needs Adoption Program and their younger son and daughter are their “homegrown” biological children. Their belief is “love multiplies love” so there’s plenty for everyone. Deacon Chris and Carol raised their children in Frankfort and were assigned to serve the people of St. Lawrence Parish when he was ordained in 2016. Deacon Chris is the youngest of 13 children and grew up in Louisville. His parents grew up in Marion County Kentucky and the Cecil homestead is in Raywick (built in 1785.) Chris is a retired social worker and enjoys spending time in his stained-glass art studio and camping / boating / hiking with his family, gardening, home repair and going to car races to watch his nephew and his brother-in-law race. He is involved in many of the ministries at St. Lawrence and also serves in a number of ministries for the Lexington Diocese. Deacon Chris has a lot of family in Louisville so he has also served in the Louisville Diocese on occasion.
Born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Deacon Frank grew up in Chicago with 6 brothers and sisters. At 18 he enlisted in the US Army where he worked on UH-60A BlackHawk helicopters. He met his wife, Monika while stationed in Germany. They have been married for 40 years and have two children and 6 grandchildren. After 21yrs in the Army and 5 years of corporate America, Frank heard the call to serve as a deacon for the church. He began serving as the pastoral Associate for Annunciation Parish and entered the diaconate formation program for the Archdiocese of Louisville. He was ordained on August 22, 2008. In 2010 became the Director for Hispanic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Louisville. In 2013 he became the director of worship and youth ministry for St. Bartholomew in Louisville, and was later assigned to Holy Name in Louisville. While on leave of absence from ministry, Deacon Frank and his wife began attending Holy Mass at Annunciation and St Lawrence. Monika fell in love with St Lawrence and convinced Deacon Frank to ask for a reassignment to either Annunciation or St Lawrence. Archbishop Shelton and Bishop John agreed that Deacon Frank would be assigned to Annunciation parish but will serve at St Lawrence. Deacon Frank and Monika are excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of St Lawrence.
Office Staff
Anna was born and raised in Ohio. At age 21 she left for New Jersey and began a life traveling the world. In 2019 Anna and her husband JR settled in Kentucky. After 34 years in the flight industry Anna retired. Four months later she began working at St Lawrence. She is happily married with 2 children and a chihuahua named Nemo. Anna has won many service awards both at her job and through her volunteer service. She enjoys leisure flying/travel, snorkeling, and baking.
Rita grew up in Falls Church, VA in the suburbs of Washington D.C. and moved to KY, along with her mother in 1983 to care for grandparents. She was a hairstylist for many years before owning a salon in KY and pursuing a college degree. During college she worked as a church office manager and upon graduation became a legal assistant to an assistant county attorney. In 2007 Rita moved to Frankfort to work for the Dept. of Public Advocacy as an Administrative Assistant for Appellate Public Defenders and retired in 2022. She is a long time Methodist and comes from a long history of Methodists to include at least 3 circuit rider pastors serving in KY, TN and MO. When she finds time she enjoys Bible study, quilting, embroidery and herding cats.
RELIGIOUSEDUCATION
Robin was born in North Carolina and moved to Kentucky with her family. She married Kevin and they have two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren. Robin taught school for 26 years and she was confirmed into the Catholic Church in 1996 at St. Lawrence. She and Kevin are retired, have an RV to travel and spend much of their time with family and friends.