On November 24, 1907, at LaCenter, Ballard County, Right Reverend William George McCloskey, Bishop of Louisville, dedicated the church of St. Mary of the Fields." These official words from the church register testify to the eighty-five years Saint Mary has served the Roman Catholics of this far-western county of the Diocese of Owensboro.
Originally, Mass was celebrated in homes in Wickliffe, and for a number of years, only on Monday morning. Earliest members of the church include M.K. Church, Mrs. Tom Tharpe, Lon Bullock, Mrs. Ben Curtis, N.L. Cannon, Willie Poole, and E. Weidenbenner. The Goughs, Ballards, Haydens, Mattinglys, Aubreys, and Harrisons were also numbered among the first families.

Plans for a brick structure were begun under Father Rhodes, pastor from 1944-1955, and construction began during the pastorate of Father Phil Riney. The new Saint Mary was blessed by Bishop F.R. Cotton (who had earlier served as pastor) on November 5, 1956, with its patronal feast designated as the Assumption.

The only Catholic church in the County, Saint Mary is one of fifty-one churches of various denominations within Ballard's one hundred ninety-eight square miles. The less-than-two-percent Catholic population is spread not only across the fields, but also in the settlements of Kevil, West Paducah, Gage, New York, Blandville, Barlow, Wickliffe, Oscar, Bandana, Ingleside, Lovelaceville, and Monkey's Eyebrow. The church is centrally located at LaCenter, the heart of the County.