Students of Mary Carrico Catholic School in Knottsville wear blue hardhats while attending the school’s Aug. 14 groundbreaking for a new expansion project. RACHEL HALL | WKC
Mary Carrico celebrates growth, breaks ground on expansion
BY RACHEL HALL, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
On Aug. 14, 2026, Mary Carrico Catholic School in Knottsville, Kentucky, broke ground for one of their largest campus expansions in the school’s recent history.
Students donning bright blue hardhats gathered with members of the local community, public officials and other leaders to celebrate the milestone for Catholic education as new principal John Kirkpatrick thanked everyone for joining and addressed the students, “Kids, one day you’ll remember when they broke ground on this addition.”
The expansion will include four new classrooms, a dedicated preschool classroom, a secure main entrance and administrative office suite, new restrooms for students and staff, an enclosed corridor connecting the addition to the existing building, and the renovation of existing space into a modern computer lab.
In a statement, the school said the nearly $1 million project is the first phase of a broader, long-term campus improvement plan. It is the first step in a long-term vision to ensure Mary Carrico Catholic School continues serving families across eastern Daviess County for generations to come.
Also, as part of the statement, Tony Lanham, a benefactor who helped play a leading role in bringing the project to life and is overseeing construction, said the expansion is ultimately an investment in the future of the community.
“Schools like Mary Carrico are the heart of rural communities,” Lanham said. “When you invest in children, you’re investing in the future of families, businesses and our way of life. This is an important first step, and I hope it inspires others to continue investing in the future of this school for generations to come.”
Fr. Shijo Vadakumkara, pastor of St. William and St. Lawrence Parishes in Daviess County, speaking at the groundbreaking, credited God’s providence in moving the project forward: “God has sent us the right people to help us,” he said.
Fr. Vadakumkara said, “This helps lay the foundation for our vision of the school and the church.”
The expansion reflects the Catholic community’s enduring commitment to education and the families it serves, “the vision to go make disciples for Christ, to send out better citizens out in the world,” he added.
Bishop William F. Medley, participating in the groundbreaking, echoed a similar sentiment as he addressed the crowd: “Why do we do what we do here?” he asked.
“The answer is, we do it for Jesus Christ. He is the breath of this school,” Bishop Medley said. “That missionary spirit that Jesus gave us: Go out and make disciples of all nations.”
The community of Mary Carrico Catholic School in Knottsville cheers amid balloons and confetti during the Aug. 14 groundbreaking for their expansion. RACHEL HALL | WKC
Originally printed in the September 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
