Roman Catholic Diocese of Bardstown

Among the early missionaries were Stephen Badin and Michel Barriere who set out on foot for Kentucky on September 3, 1793, sent by Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore.

In April, 1794 Barriere left Bardstown, for New Orleans but Badin established the home base for his missionary journeys on Pottinger's Creek.

For the next 14 years Badin travelled on foot, horseback and boat between widely scattered Catholic settlements in Kentucky and the Northwest Territory.

The new diocese comprised 8,127 miles, an area now covering 10 modern states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana and others.

[2] On his return trip to the United States, Flaget brought other early Sulpician missionaries to America: Simon Bruté, Guy Ignatius Chabrat, Anthony Deydier, and James Derigaud.

Upon taking office, Flaget found himself charged with the pastoral care of the western frontier of the United States, having the assistance of seven priests.

The Diocese of Bardstown, no longer a residential bishopric, is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.

[4] Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States in April 2008 celebrated the 200th anniversary of the 1808 creation of the new dioceses and the elevation of Baltimore to an archdiocese.