About Corpus Christi Catholic Church · South Bend, Indiana
Corpus Christi Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend located in northwest South Bend, Indiana, at 2822 Corpus Christi Drive. A parish-school community, it is home to roughly 700 families and operates Corpus Christi Catholic School (PreK–8) on the same campus. Best known locally as 'The House That Prayer Built,' the parish is distinguished by its long-running daily Eucharistic Adoration chapel, which has operated without interruption since 1981.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Daryl Rybicki
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
Corpus Christi is a parish where the Eucharist is at the center of daily life: the on-site adoration chapel has been open every day since 1981, and the parish community literally built its church through sustained prayer. Families will find a PreK–8 Catholic school on the same campus, an active Religious Education program for K–8 students, and ministries ranging from RCIA and youth ministry to a men's group, women's group, Pro-Life Rosary, Music Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, and a monthly Soup Kitchen. With about 700 families and multi-generational attendance, it offers the feel of a true neighborhood parish in northwest South Bend.
Mass times at Corpus Christi Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
- By appointment or request — call the parish office (574-272-9982)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel: Thursdays 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (September through April)
- Adoration Chapel open: Sunday 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel open: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel open: Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
History of Corpus Christi Parish
Corpus Christi grew out of Sacred Heart Church on Thomas Street in South Bend, which was established in 1898 by Belgian immigrants and first led by Rev. Henry Paanaker, C.S.C. As the downtown neighborhood changed, Bishop Leo A. Pursley proposed in 1960 that the parish relocate to northwest South Bend. Msgr. Elmer G. Peterson identified the 29-acre farm that became the present site, groundbreaking followed in June 1961, the school opened in September 1962, and Mass was initially celebrated in the school basement. The current church — known affectionately as 'The House That Prayer Built' — was dedicated June 9, 1985, the fruit of a parish-wide perpetual adoration movement that had begun in February 1981. Five pastors have served the parish: Msgr. Elmer Peterson, Fr. Joseph Horvath, Fr. Denis Blank, Fr. Camillo Tirabassi, and the current pastor, Fr. Daryl Rybicki (since August 2009).
Patron and Feast Day
The parish takes its name from Corpus Christi — the Body and Blood of Christ — and its identity is deeply Eucharistic. Each year the community celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (the Thursday after Trinity Sunday) with a Eucharistic procession through the neighborhood, May crowning observances, and a parish picnic in June.
Devotions and Sacramentals
In addition to weekday Mass and the adoration chapel, the parish maintains a schedule of traditional devotions: the Rosary is prayed daily after the 8:00 AM Mass and before all weekend Masses; a Novena to St. Anthony follows Tuesday Mass; and during Lent the community gathers for Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings at 6:30 PM in the Chapel, followed by soup and fellowship in Sacred Heart Hall.
- Daily Rosary after 8:00 AM Mass
- Rosary before all weekend Masses
- Novena to St. Anthony on Tuesdays after Mass
- Stations of the Cross: Fridays 6:30 PM in Lent
Ministries and Parish Life
The parish community supports more than two dozen active ministries. Liturgical roles include Music Ministry (rehearsals Tuesday at 7:00 PM), Altar Servers (grades 3+), Senior Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers (who also bring Communion to the sick and homebound), Greeters, Ushers, Sacristans, the Liturgical Linen Service, and Offertory Counters. Spiritual and formation ministries include the Monday Night Prayer Group (7:00 PM, Convent Chapel), Pro-Life Rosary, RCIA, and parish Bible study. Outreach includes a monthly Soup Kitchen for the homeless, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, visiting the homebound, and supporting local food pantries. Fellowship is anchored by a Men's Group (every other Saturday morning), Women's Group, Fellowship Committee, Flowers and Grounds, and the annual parish bazaar; liturgical and parish decisions are guided by the Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council.
- Music Ministry — Tuesday 7:00 PM rehearsals
- RCIA team for adult initiation
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Monthly Soup Kitchen
- Pro-Life Rosary
- Men's & Women's fellowship groups
- Baptism Preparation
- Parish Pastoral Council & Finance Council
Religious Education (RE)
For students not enrolled in Corpus Christi Catholic School, the parish Religious Education program serves children in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Classes meet in the school building on Sundays from 9:10 to 10:20 AM and run from fall through mid-May. The Director of Religious Education is Mike Rafinski, reachable at the parish phone line (574-272-4621).
- Grades K–8
- Sundays 9:10–10:20 AM in the school building
- Director of Religious Education: Mike Rafinski
Corpus Christi Catholic School
Affiliated with the parish and sharing the campus, Corpus Christi Catholic School serves students in PreK through 8th grade. The school has been open continuously for more than 60 years and currently enrolls about 179 students. The school's mission is to provide a Christ-centered education that nourishes the spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical development of each child.
School Vision, Mission, and Belief Statements
Vision: 'We see Corpus Christi School as a community of faith, dedicated to fostering lifelong learning and enriching the mind, body, and soul through a quality Christ-centered education.' Mission: 'To provide an education for all children that will nourish spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical development through a balanced curriculum anchored in the doctrines of the Catholic Church and the rich tradition of Catholic education.' Among the published beliefs: every child is unique and created in God's image; service to others is fundamental to growth; Gospel values are integrated into everyday academic life; and teachers, parents, and the parish community together pursue the highest academic and faith values.
School Staff and Contact
The school is led by Principal Johnnathan Combs. The school office is staffed by Jane Kiley. Faculty listed for 2025–26 includes Laura Barnes (PreK), Monica Moore (K), Kimberly DeGroote (1), Maureen Alexander (2), Christine Nemeth (3), Becky Mammon (4), Aaron Nowak (5), Jennifer Carrier (MS Religion), Trisha Perry (MS ELA), Kelechi Amadi (MS Science), Cathy Oosterhoff (MS Math), Andy O'Reilly (MS Social Studies), Michele Tubbs (Resource), Jessica Mitchell (Librarian), Katie Parnell (K–8 Art), Mary Rose Schiemann (PreK–8 Music), Mo Pluta (PreK–8 PE), and Julie Walesiewicz (Aftercare).
- Principal: Johnnathan Combs
- School Office: Jane Kiley
- School address: 2817 Corpus Christi Dr., South Bend, IN 46628
- School phone: 574-272-9868
Parish Staff and Contact
Parish operations are small and personal: pastor Fr. Daryl Rybicki ([email protected]) and parish secretary Kristine Kopec ([email protected]) staff the parish office. The school office is led by Principal Johnnathan Combs and secretary Jane Kiley, reachable separately during school hours.
- Parish office: 574-272-9982
- School office: 574-272-9868
- Pastor email: [email protected]
Sacraments Offered
Corpus Christi celebrates the full sacramental life of the parish: Holy Mass and Communion (with homebound visits by extraordinary ministers), Baptism Preparation for parents, Confirmation (typically received during grade school years through the parish school or RE program), and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Baptism Preparation
- Eucharist & Communion to the homebound
- Confirmation
- RCIA (adult initiation)
Online Giving and Staying Connected
Corpus Christi provides online giving through the parish website, and weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil and Sunday 8:00 AM) are live-streamed on the parish Facebook page, 'Corpus Christi Parish - South Bend,' for those unable to attend in person.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Elmer G. Peterson1961–
First pastor of Corpus Christi; located the present 29-acre site in northwest South Bend
- Rev. Joseph Horvath
- Rev. Denis Blank
Led the parish during its perpetual adoration movement and the 1984–85 construction of the present church, which he called 'The House That Prayer Built'
- Rev. Camillo Tirabassi
- Rev. Daryl RybickiAugust 2009–present
Current pastor; led parish through the Solemnity of Corpus Christi neighborhood procession tradition