About All Saints Parish -St. Paul Church · Guilford, Indiana
All Saints Parish is a merged Catholic community in Dearborn County, southeastern Indiana, formed on December 1, 2013 by Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin from four historic German-settler parishes: St. John the Baptist (Dover, est. 1824), St. Paul the Apostle (New Alsace, est. 1833), St. Joseph (St. Leon, est. 1841), and St. Martin (Yorkville, est. 1850). Unusually, the four original church buildings remain open for worship, so All Saints is 'one parish, four campuses.' The St. Paul Campus at 9788 N. Dearborn Road in Guilford contains the oldest Catholic church building still standing in Indiana — a brick structure completed in 1837 and blessed in 1838 by Bishop Simon Bruté, the founding bishop of the Vincennes Diocese. The parish serves roughly 1,057 families in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
- Established
- 2013 (merged); St. Paul Campus founded 1833
- Patron
- All Saints (parish); St. Paul the Apostle (campus)
- Rector
- Rev. Jonathan P. Meyer (Pastor in Solidum)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
All Saints Parish welcomes new parishioners with a Connect Team that follows up after registration, two annual New Parishioners Luncheons, and a wide range of ministries that span every age and stage of life — from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd faith formation for the youngest children through a Preschool Academy, dynamic youth ministry, and an active young-adult program (ages 18–39), to adult faith formation, the Ladies Sodality, the Kings Men, RCIA, a Bereavement Ministry, and the St. Vincent de Paul assistance effort for struggling families. Worship is rich: perpetual Eucharistic adoration 24/7, weekly Confession at every campus, First Friday 12-hour confession marathons, two annual Corpus Christi processions, monthly novenas, May and October rosary devotions with four May crownings and an October rosary procession, and the unique Good Friday 'Prayers With the Dead Savior' devotion. With four open historic campuses none more than three miles apart, parishioners can experience the spiritual treasure of the oldest Catholic church building in Indiana (the St. Paul Campus, completed 1837) while still being 'one parish.'
Mass times at All Saints Parish -St. Paul Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00 AM at St. Paul (30 minutes before Mass)
- Monday 5:15 PM at St. John (30 minutes before Mass)
- Tuesday 7:00 AM at St. John (30 minutes before Mass)
- Wednesday 5:15 PM at St. Joseph (30 minutes before Mass)
- Thursday 7:00 AM at St. Paul (30 minutes before Mass)
- Friday 7:00 AM at St. Martin (30 minutes before Mass)
- First Friday: 12 Hours of Confession, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM at St. Martin Church (no 12-hour Confession in June and July 2026)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week in the parish's Perpetual Adoration Chapel
- Chapel locked 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM (committed adorers have an access code)
- Every committed adorer is asked to pray a rosary for vocations one hour every Tuesday (each hour of the day)
- Advent Adoration Challenge: 300+ parishioners commit to an hour of adoration during Advent
Parish Overview and Four-Campus Identity
All Saints Parish is a community of about 1,057 families in Dearborn County, southeastern Indiana, in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Unusually for a merged parish, all four historic church buildings remain open: St. John the Baptist in Dover, St. Paul the Apostle in New Alsace, St. Joseph in St. Leon, and St. Martin in Yorkville. The parish describes itself as 'one parish, four campuses' and asks visitors to 'plan your visit' via its website. The parish's stated purpose is 'Forming the saints we are called to be by providing faithful teaching, authentic worship and compassionate service.' Its faith and actions aim to nourish engaged Catholics, inspire unengaged Catholics and invite all to Christ's Church.
- St. John the Baptist Campus: 25743 State Route 1, Guilford
- St. Paul Campus: 9788 N. Dearborn Rd., Guilford
- St. Joseph Campus: 7536 Church Ln., St. Leon / West Harrison
- St. Martin Campus: 8044 Yorkridge Rd., Guilford
- Parish Office: 25743 State Route 1, Guilford, IN 47022-8979 (Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM)
- Founded December 1, 2013 from four predecessor parishes (St. John 1824, St. Paul 1833, St. Joseph 1841, St. Martin 1850)
History of All Saints Parish and the St. Paul Campus
The roots of All Saints Parish stretch back to 1824 (St. John the Baptist, Dover) and 1833, when German-immigrant priest Rev. Joseph Ferneding formally established the Congregation of St. Paul in what became the village of New Alsace. Under his guidance the congregation built a wooden church; Bishop Simon Bruté blessed it in 1835 and contributed $500 toward a brick replacement, completed in 1837 and blessed by Bruté in 1838 (when he confirmed 100 of the faithful). Successive pastors enlarged the sanctuary, raised the steeple with its three bells (1869), enlarged the sanctuary again with a confessional and communion rail (1886), and in 1890 obtained the high altar, pews, pulpit, Stations of the Cross and six statues that still define the interior. Fr. Martin Stahl, who died on April 3, 1853, is buried under the main altar; his grave is accessible from the basement and a grave rubbing is preserved in the sacristy. A Lourdes grotto was added behind the church in 1911. A major 2016 restoration was followed by further updates culminating in a refurbished entryway for the 175th anniversary in 2008. In 2013 Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin merged the four parishes into All Saints Parish; he later granted the community's request to keep all four historic campuses open rather than consolidate to one.
- 1832 — Property for St. Paul Parish obtained
- 1833 — Rev. Joseph Ferneding formally establishes the congregation and begins a wood church
- 1835 — Bishop Simon Bruté blesses the wooden church and gives $500 toward brick construction
- 1837 — Brick church completed
- 1838 — Bishop Bruté blesses the brick church and confirms 100 faithful
- 1851–1853 — Fr. Martin Stahl enlarges the sanctuary; buried under the main altar
- 1869 — Fr. Peter Siebman adds an addition, erects the steeple and installs three bells
- 1886 — Fr. Frances Torbeck enlarges sanctuary, installs a confessional and communion rail
- 1890 — Fr. Joseph Merkl (longest-serving pastor) installs high altar, pews, pulpit, Stations of the Cross, six statues and new flooring
- 1911 — Lourdes grotto added behind the church
- 1983 — Fr. William Engbers tucks-points the church, installs carpeting and new pews for the 150th anniversary
- 1990 — Fr. Bill Turner and Sr. Sandra simplify the altars and repaint
- 2005 — Fr. Harold Rightor installs new stained glass windows
- 2008 — Fr. Brian Esarey refurbishes the entryway for the 175th anniversary
- Dec. 1, 2013 — Four parishes merged into All Saints Parish by Archbishop Tobin
The St. Paul Campus Guided Tour: Architecture and Symbols
A official 'St. Paul Campus A Guided Tour' PDF published by the parish walks visitors through the symbolism of the 2016 restoration. The 'fired-brick' red of the sanctuary references the bricks the early settlers made onsite in 1836 for the church, as well as the two martyrs honored by the parish — St. Stephen (whose death St. Paul, before his conversion, was responsible for in Acts 7) and St. Paul himself, who was beheaded. Three blues on the ceiling recall the legend that St. Paul's head bounced three times at his martyrdom, marked by the Tre Fountaine church in Rome. Tans and browns evoke the pioneer and Civil War era that shaped the local community. The high altar (1890) bears biblical imagery from the Book of Revelation — the four living winged creatures (ox, eagle, lion, man), the Lamb that was slain with the seven seals, and the harvesting angels — with a golden tabernacle at its center holding the reserved Blessed Sacrament.
- Red ('fired brick') — refers to pioneer-made brick and martyrdom of St. Stephen and St. Paul
- Three blues on the ceiling — echoes the legend of St. Paul's head bouncing three times at martyrdom
- 1890 high altar — Book of Revelation imagery: winged creatures, Lamb of God, harvesting angels
- Tabernacle at center of the altar
- Red sanctuary lamp must perpetually burn before the tabernacle, per liturgical law
- New altar and ambo (2016) constructed from the historic communion rail
Leadership, Staff and Deacons
All Saints Parish is led by two Pastors in Solidum — Rev. Jonathan P. Meyer and Rev. John Hollowell — who alternate weekly in celebrating the televised and weekend Masses. The parish is also served by two deacons, Bob Decker and Mark Schmidl. A large lay staff coordinates parish life from the Guilford office: Office & Parish Coordinator Emily Alig; three secretaries (Marilyn White, Maureen Stenger, Beth Buescher); two bookkeepers (Jane Dever and Pat Stenger); Coordinators of Catechesis Cyndi Voegele and Teresa Callahan; 7th-8th Grade Religious Education leaders Brian and Joeline Chipps; Adult Faith Formation coordinator Glenn Yeager; Music Director for Weddings & Funerals Cyndi Voegele; Youth Minister Lucy Herth; Young Adult & Electronic Evangelization Coordinator Claire Keck; Bereavement Ministry lead Cheryl Wilhelm; Baptismal Preparation coordinator Brenda Bruns; and Facilities Coordinator Jeff Crail.
- Rev. Jonathan P. Meyer — Pastor in Solidum ([email protected], pastoral emergency 513-255-4575)
- Rev. John Hollowell — Pastor in Solidum ([email protected], 317-294-8761)
- Deacon Bob Decker ([email protected], 812-212-3971)
- Deacon Mark Schmidl ([email protected], 513-460-6748)
- Emily Alig — Office & Parish Coordinator
- Cyndi Voegele & Teresa Callahan — Coordinators of Catechesis
- Lucy Herth — Youth Minister
- Claire Keck — Young Adult & Electronic Evangelization Coordinator
- Glenn Yeager — Adult Faith Formation
- Cheryl Wilhelm — Bereavement Ministry
- Brenda Bruns — Baptism Preparation
- Marilyn White — Wedding Coordinator & Secretary
Marian Devotions and Other Parish Devotions
All Saints Parish places strong emphasis on devotion to Our Lady and to the Passion. The parish rosary is prayed as a community before each Mass during May and October, and every Monday night at the St. Paul Campus. The parish holds four May crownings in the spring and two Rosary Processions in October. On Good Friday the parish invites members to 'remain in prayer' through the 'Prayers With the Dead Savior' devotion, a custom the parish describes as unique to All Saints. Monthly novenas, listed in the parish bulletin and gathered into an annual 'Book of Novenas and Prayers,' foster home prayer and unite the community.
- Parish rosary before each Mass in May and October
- Monday-night rosary at the St. Paul Campus
- Four May crownings each spring
- Two October Rosary Processions
- Good Friday 'Prayers With the Dead Savior' devotion
- Monthly novenas and an annual parish 'Book of Novenas and Prayers'
- Novena to St. Anne (July 17–25, 2025)
- Candlelight Mass (e.g., July 22, 2025)
Worship and the Seven Sacraments
The parish describes its approach as: 'For many people our weekend Mass experience might be their only contact with us, but there is so much more to All Saints Parish when it comes to Worship!' It estimates that parishioners receive Confession for two hours every week plus twelve hours every First Friday — about twenty hours per month — and that about thirty babies are baptized each year, with each baptism paired with a house blessing and in-home preparation. First Communion uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Montessori-based), and Confirmation preparation draws on Matthew Kelly's Dynamic Catholic Institute. Marriage preparation aims at reverent celebrations that evangelize guests. The Anointing of the Sick is offered communally in Mass on the first Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each month, individually in homes and hospitals, and especially during the weekend closest to February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. At the time of death the parish 'execute[s] the burial rites of the Catholic Church with honor and respect.'
- ~30 baptisms per year, with house blessing + in-home prep
- First Reconciliation / First Communion via Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Confirmation via Dynamic Catholic Institute (Matthew Kelly)
- Marriage preparation aimed at reverent, evangelizing wedding Masses
- Anointing of the Sick: first Mon/Wed/Fri at Mass; home/hospital visits; weekend nearest Feb. 11 (Our Lady of Lourdes)
- Catholic burial rites offered with 'honor and respect'
Faith Formation and the Preschool Academy
All Saints Parish offers a 'seamless garment' of faith formation from age three through adulthood. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program (Montessori-based) begins with the youngest children. School-age children continue through the parish's regular Religious Education program; 7th and 8th graders have their own dedicated program led by Brian and Joeline Chipps. High-school youth are served by the Youth Ministry under Lucy Herth, while adults are served by Glenn Yeager's Adult Faith Formation program and the RCIA for those seeking to enter the Church. The parish also operates the All Saints Catholic Academy Preschool, located at the St. John Campus (25743 State Route 1, Dover, IN 47022, 812-576-0104), directed by Sally Bertram (Sally Teepe-Bertram) with teachers Amanda Keck, Lisa Spangler, Ashlynn Ballard and Lisa Brand. The preschool enrolls about 85 students.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (3-year-olds through school age)
- Religious Education program
- 7th & 8th Grade Religious Education — Brian & Joeline Chipps
- High School Youth Ministry — Lucy Herth
- Adult Faith Formation — Glenn Yeager
- RCIA — Cindy White ([email protected])
- All Saints Catholic Academy Preschool — 25743 State Route 1, Dover, IN (812-576-0104)
- Preschool Director: Sally Bertram; Teachers: Amanda Keck, Lisa Spangler, Ashlynn Ballard, Lisa Brand
- ~85 preschool students
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
The parish invests heavily in young people. The Youth Ministry under Lucy Herth hosts The Gathering (the weekly youth program), the annual Intense Youth Conference (held June 12–14, 2025 in St. Leon, with speakers Sarah Swafford, Sean Ferguson, Nathan and Emily Crankfield, Fr. Eric Bolek, Fr. John Hollowell and Fr. Jonathan Meyer), the Altar Boyz altar-server program, a Summer Gathering on Wednesday evenings at the St. Joseph PLC (June 17 – Aug 5), the King's Island youth outing, and a TAP — Teen Altar Program. Communication runs through Flocknote and a parish Discord channel. The Young Adult Ministry serves ages 18–39 with Bible studies, speaking events, round tables, forums, mission trips and local service opportunities, plus recurring events like Grounds for Faith, Young Adult Brunch, Thursday Lunches for Pastors, First Friday Meals for Priests and Keeping the Faith. A 40+ Singles group also meets monthly.
- Youth Minister: Lucy Herth ([email protected], 812-209-8300 mobile)
- The Gathering — weekly youth program
- Intense Youth Conference — speakers include Fr. Hollowell, Fr. Meyer, Sarah Swafford
- Altar Boyz altar-server program
- Summer Gathering — Wed 6:30–8:30 PM at St. Joseph PLC
- TAP — Teen Altar Program
- Flocknote and Discord communications
- Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–39): Bible studies, forums, service, mission trips
- Grounds for Faith, Young Adult Brunch, Keeping the Faith, Thursday Lunches for Pastors
- 40+ Singles — monthly meeting
Parish Service, Outreach and Pastoral Councils
Outreach is woven into parish life through the Ladies Sodality (a women's fellowship led by Chair Debbie Yeager), the Kings Men men's group (led by Jeff Brand), the Mercy Meals program, the Embrace Grace program (support for women in unplanned pregnancies), and St. Vincent de Paul assistance for struggling families. The Bereavement Ministry under Cheryl Wilhelm accompanies families through loss. Governance is shared through a Parish Pastoral Council (Chair Josh Herbert, Co-Chair Tim McComas, Secretary Seth Daugherty), a Finance Commission (President Ryan Vitolo), a Physical Facilities Committee covering all four campuses, and parish commissions/teams that span each campus's worship, formation, and service.
- Ladies Sodality — Chair Debbie Yeager
- Kings Men — Jeff Brand
- Mercy Meals
- Embrace Grace
- St. Vincent de Paul — assistance for struggling families
- Bereavement Ministry — Cheryl Wilhelm ([email protected])
- Parish Pastoral Council — Chair Josh Herbert, Co-Chair Tim McComas
- Finance Commission — President Ryan Vitolo
- Physical Facilities Committee covering all four campuses
Giving and Parish Support
The parish describes two giving programs: Text-to-Give (text 'AllSaintsGive' to 800-950-9952) and WeShare online giving, plus Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or credit-card recurring gifts. The 'Parish Purpose Partners' program allows parishioners to designate giving toward the Sunday Collection, Youth Ministry, and other funds. The 250 Club is a recurring stewardship group.
- Text-to-Give: 'AllSaintsGive' to 800-950-9952
- WeShare online giving
- EFT / Credit Card recurring gifts — form returned to parish office
- Parish Purpose Partners — designated giving (Sunday Collection, Youth Ministry, etc.)
- 250 Club
Visiting, Contact and Practical Information
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 25743 State Route 1, Guilford, IN 47022, and can be reached at 812-576-4302. For after-hours pastoral emergencies (a priest), call 513-255-4575. New and moving parishioners are welcomed through the Connect Team, two annual New Parishioners Luncheons, and the registration process. Bulletins can be submitted to [email protected] no later than 3:00 PM on the 20th of each month. Masses are livestreamed on Facebook (@allparish), and recordings are available via the parish podcast (allsaintsparish.podbean.com), YouTube channel, Twitter (@AllParish) and Instagram (@allparish).
- Parish Office: 25743 State Route 1, Guilford, IN 47022
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Office Phone: 812-576-4302
- Pastoral Emergency: 513-255-4575
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected] (by 3:00 PM on the 20th of each month)
- New Parishioner Connect Team and two annual New Parishioners Luncheons
- Mass livestream on Facebook @allparish
- Podcast: allsaintsparish.podbean.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Ferneding1833–
German immigrant priest, ordained by Bishop Benedict Flaget in 1832; formally established the Congregation of St. Paul in 1833 and made it his base of operations for ministering to German Catholics across the region.
- Bishop Simon Bruté1835, 1838
First bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes; blessed the original wooden church in 1835 and the completed brick church in 1838, conferring Confirmation on 100 faithful.
- Rev. Martin Stahl1851–1853
Enlarged the sanctuary; died April 3, 1853 and is buried under the main altar of St. Paul church (grave accessible from the basement).
- Rev. Peter Siebman1869
Added an addition, erected the steeple, and placed three bells in the tower.
- Rev. Frances Torbeck1886
Enlarged the interior sanctuary, installed a confessional, and crafted the communion rail.
- Rev. Joseph Merkl1890
Longest-serving pastor of St. Paul; obtained the 1890 high altar, new pews, pulpit, Stations of the Cross, six statues and new flooring.
- Rev. George Pohl1915
Removed the gothic/wall pulpit, shortened the choir loft, and redecorated the church.
- Rev. Bloemke1960
Repainted the church along with Severino (Rino) Mumfrey.
- Rev. William Engbers1983
Tuck-pointed and sealed the church, installed wall-to-wall carpeting and new pews for the parish's 150th anniversary.
- Fr. Bill Turner (with Sr. Sandra)1990
Simplified the altars, painted over the murals, and repainted the church.
- Rev. Harold Rightor2005
Installed new stained glass windows.
- Rev. Brian Esarey2008
Refurbished the church entryway for the 175th anniversary.
- Rev. Jonathan P. Meyer2013–present
First pastor of merged All Saints Parish; currently serves as Pastor in Solidum alongside Rev. John Hollowell.