Fr. Daniel Dillard is the new pastor of St. Martin Parish in Rome, Ky. COURTESY OF NICOLE GRAY
Fr. Daniel Dillard looks ahead with hope and purpose at St. Martin
BY NICOLE GRAY, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Fr. Daniel Dillard’s journey to the priesthood may have started unexpectedly, but today he is filled with a deep sense of joy and purpose – and a clear vision for the future of St. Martin Parish in Rome, Ky.
As the new pastor, Fr. Dillard hopes to bring energy, openness, and intentional leadership to the St. Martin community. He plans to focus on building a culture of discipleship and prayer, beginning with initiatives like a traveling chalice program to encourage parish-wide prayer for vocations.
“Vocations come from prayerful, joyful communities,” he said. “We need to invite our young people to imagine this life and support them in asking the question.”
Fr. Dillard also wants to strengthen communication within the parish and ensure that liturgy is meaningful and deeply engaging. His approach to preaching is honest and grounded in everyday life, and he is not afraid to talk about real, sometimes difficult topics that affect the faithful.
Faith formation will be a priority – especially for families, young adults, and children. He believes that everyone, no matter their age or background, should have a place to grow in faith at St. Martin.
Outside of weekend Masses, Fr. Dillard will continue his role as chaplain at Owensboro Catholic High School, where he hopes to help students see Catholic education as more than academics – it’s about forming disciples.
“St. Martin is a parish with a lot of heart,” he said. “I’m here to listen, to lead with joy, and to grow in faith alongside you.”
Nicole Gray is the communications director for St. Martin Parish in Rome, Ky.
Originally printed in the September 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
