By GAGE WILSON
Glasgow News 1
With the 225th anniversary of Barren County’s founding getting closer, residents all across the county can step back and recognize how a sense of unity is a cornerstone to the foundation of that community. The growth of the county was only matched by the uniqueness of those who settled down in the area, all from different backgrounds, cultures, and faiths, but bonded together to get Barren County where it is today.
In Glasgow, almost a century after Barren County was formed, the first Catholic church was erected on what would become W. Brown Street. Since, Saint Helen has been a sanctuary for residents and welcomes all regardless of their personal beliefs. This is manifested in one of the church’s largest events, the annual St. Helen’s Ice Cream Social.
The social has been going on for more than five decades, each year expanding and improving the event. Father Joel Rogers has pastored at the church for years.
“St. Helen gets the opportunity to come together as a Parrish and to do something together with the goal of reaching out to the community,” he said. “The community (members) get to learn about our parishioners here, and more about the Catholic faith.”
The Parrish serves around 1,200 parishioners, according to the Archdiocese of Louisville. This is a less than 8 percent of Glasgow’s population. Joel recounted the first ice cream social in the 1960s and its goal of bringing together and educating the predominately protestant population about Catholicism and the ways that St. Helen benefits the community.
“The priest that began this event, did so out of a want to break down barriers,” Joel said. “He wanted to clear up any misunderstandings from the non-Catholic community. He wanted to do this by just getting them together, as a community, and just enjoy an ice cream social.”
While the social is a fundraising opportunity, Joel was adamant that the fundraising aspects are secondary to the fellowship between those attending.
As the social became a calendar-marked event for many, it began expanding into more than just ice cream. Silent auctions, vendors, and family activities began sprouting up more and more to accommodate the hundreds of visitors.
Joel attends the event committee meetings, but the work of the volunteers is significant.
“I really depended heavily on parishioners like Mike Nash, who acted as the organizer for the social, along with many others, that made this event possible,” he said. “They’ve given us an opportunity to get know Glasgow better, and an opportunity for Glasgow to get to know us.”
The social this year will have more than ice cream, with volunteers cooking barbecue. Los Mariachis has also contributed to the menu this year offering tacos and burritos.
The event will be Saturday, Aug. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 230 Cavalry Drive. Those looking for more information can contact 270-651-5263.
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