About Corpus Christi · Evansville, Indiana
Corpus Christi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located on Hogue Road in the west of Evansville, Indiana, established in 1955 under the direction of Bishop Henry Grimmelsman, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Evansville. The parish's mission statement reads: 'The people of Corpus Christi Parish strive to live the Gospel of Jesus. It is our mission to touch the lives of others with God's loving presence.' It operates an integrated parish school (preschool through 8th grade), serves its community through numerous lay ministries and apostolates, and remains part of the West Deanery of the Diocese of Evansville.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Luke Hassler (Father Luke Hassler)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
Corpus Christi offers an unusually complete Catholic life on Evansville's west side — weekend and daily Mass, year-round opportunities for Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and a thriving parish school (preschool through 8th grade) accredited and rated 'A' by the Indiana Department of Education. Active lay faithful can join an extensive list of parish commissions and groups — Altar Society, Knights of Columbus (Auxillo Council), St. Vincent de Paul, OCIA, SAGES seniors group, Men's and Women's Clubs, Church Choir, and faith-formation programs for children and adults — making it a genuine community parish where newcomers are quickly drawn into service, worship, and fellowship.
Mass times at Corpus Christi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:00 PM (before the 4:00 PM Mass)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at (812) 422-2027
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered at the parish (see bulletin/website for current weekly schedule)
About Corpus Christi Parish
Corpus Christi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Evansville, located at 5528 Hogue Road on the west side of Evansville, Indiana. The parish's mission statement — 'The people of Corpus Christi Parish strive to live the Gospel of Jesus. It is our mission to touch the lives of others with God's loving presence' — guides every aspect of parish life from the sanctuary to the school to outreach. The parish is part of the Diocese of Evansville's West Deanery and operates Corpus Christi School (preschool through 8th grade) at 5530 Hogue Road on the same campus.
- Established 1955
- Member of West Deanery, Diocese of Evansville
- Parish Office: (812) 422-2027
- Email: [email protected]
History of the Parish
The parish was created in 1955 under the direction of Bishop Henry Grimmelsman, the first Bishop of Evansville, in response to growth on the city's west side. Land was obtained from John and Elizabeth Tekoppel, and the Diocese assigned Father James O'Connor as founding pastor. Father O'Connor celebrated the first Mass in the new church on August 18, 1957, and the parish school opened that same fall with four Sisters of Providence teaching eight grades. A rectory and convent were added around 1965. The parish school grew steadily — adding kindergarten in 1993, preschool in 2002, special education in 2012, and an extended-care preschool program by 2014–2015.
- 1955: Parish established by Bishop Henry Grimmelsman
- 1957 (August 18): First Mass celebrated in the new church
- 1957 (Fall): Corpus Christi School opens with four Sisters of Providence
- 1965: Rectory and convent added
- 1993: Kindergarten added
- 2002: Preschool program added
- 2012: Special education program added
- 2014–2015: Preschool extended care introduced
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently led by Father Luke Hassler as Pastor. Pastoral and liturgical assistance is provided by Deacons Tom Goebel (also OCIA Coordinator) and Danny Wheeler, with Chase Riecker serving as Transitional Deacon. The parish office is staffed by Angie Wulff (Office Manager / Personal Assistant to the Pastor), Kimberly Greulich (Administrative Assistant), Melissa Mindrup (Bookkeeper), and Dan Deville (Director of Operations). Music is led by Diane Sammet (Music Director) and Don Condon (Organist).
- Pastor — Rev. Luke Hassler ([email protected])
- Deacon / OCIA Coordinator — Tom Goebel
- Deacon — Danny Wheeler
- Transitional Deacon — Chase Riecker
- Director of Operations — Dan Deville
- Office Manager / Personal Assistant to the Pastor — Angie Wulff
- Administrative Assistant — Kimberly Greulich
- Bookkeeper — Melissa Mindrup
- Faith Formation & Youth Ministry — Cecilia Reising
- Music Director — Diane Sammet
- Organist — Don Condon
Sacramental Preparation
Parishioners preparing for the sacraments are accompanied by the Faith Formation team led by Cecilia Reising. Children in 2nd grade or older prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through the parish school or F.I.R.E. Religious Education program. Older children and adults who have not yet been baptized enter OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) formation, which begins each September and culminates at the Easter Vigil.
- Baptism — Deacon Tom Goebel, 812-422-2027
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — through school or RE
- Confirmation — Cecilia Reising, 812-480-1787
- OCIA (Adult Initiation) — Deacon Tom Goebel
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Corpus Christi's catechetical mission is to 'foster spiritual formation through initial conversion and life-long spiritual education for our worship community.' The F.I.R.E. Religious Education program meets on Sunday mornings between Masses for children in kindergarten through 8th grade who attend public school or are home-schooled. Children's Gospel Time takes children ages 4–8 out of the 10 AM Mass for about 15 minutes of Gospel-based catechesis on a rotating schedule. Adult faith formation is offered through Bible studies, lectures, and a House of Discernment.
- F.I.R.E. Religious Education (K–8)
- Children's Gospel Time at the 10 AM Mass
- Adult Bible Studies
- House of Discernment
- Apologetics
Parish School — Corpus Christi School
Corpus Christi School has educated west-side Evansville students since the fall of 1957, originally opened by four Sisters of Providence teaching eight grades. Today the school offers preschool through 8th grade on the same Hogue Road campus as the parish church, with specialized teachers in art, music, and physical education, and K–8 faculty all licensed by the Indiana Department of Education. The school is fully accredited and has received the highest 'A' rating from the IDOE. Its curriculum includes a strong academic core as well as accelerated reading, National Junior Honor Society, Speech and Robotics teams, and Math/Science/Spell Bowls. Spiritual events include a Living Rosary, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, Advent services, a First Communion Retreat, and Catholic Schools Week.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Rated 'A' by the Indiana Department of Education
- Kindergarten (since 1993), Preschool (since 2002), Special Education (since 2012)
- Athletics: basketball, baseball, soccer, cheerleading, track, volleyball, wrestling, cross country
- Spiritual events: Living Rosary, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, Advent Services, First Communion Retreat, Catholic Schools Week
- Principal: Andrea Greaney
- School phone: (812) 422-1208
Parish Ministries and Apostolates
A defining feature of Corpus Christi is the breadth of lay-led ministries and commissions that animate parish life. In addition to liturgical roles (Lectors, Ushers, Greeters, Sacristans, Servers, Choir), the parish hosts spiritual, charitable, social, and service groups that welcome involvement from new and long-time parishioners alike.
- Altar Society
- Apologetics
- Athletic Club
- Booster Club
- Church Cleaning
- Funeral Meals
- Healing Gardens Food Ministry
- House of Discernment
- Knights of Columbus — Auxillo Council
- Men's Club
- SAGES of All Ages (seniors)
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Welcome Weekend Retreat
- Women's Club
- Serve Our School (SOS) Club
Parish Council and Commissions
Parish governance at Corpus Christi is organized through a Parish Council and standing Commissions, with three-year terms on all positions. The commissions cover the major dimensions of parish life: education, family life, finance, property, and spiritual life, plus Special Committees and At-Large Representatives. The current Parish Council Chair is Julie Loehr.
- Education Commission
- Family Life Commission
- Finance Commission
- Property Commission
- Spiritual Life Commission
- Special Committees / At-Large Representatives
- Parish Council Chair — Julie Loehr
Getting Involved and Contact
Newcomers are welcomed to register through the Parish Office and can join any of the commissions, ministries, or small groups listed on the parish website. The parish regularly seeks volunteer catechists, lectors, choir members, greeters, ushers, sacristans, youth servers, and 'Serve Our School' (SOS) helpers — described as 'a great option for Grandparents.' Weekly bulletins (with announcements and current opportunities) are published on the parish website, and parish news is shared via a parish email and Facebook livestream of the Saturday 4:00 PM Mass.
- Parish Office — (812) 422-2027
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — www.corpuschristievansville.org
- Weekly bulletins posted online
- Facebook livestream of Saturday 4:00 PM Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James O'Connor1955–
Founding pastor; assigned by Bishop Henry Grimmelsman to build the new westside parish. Celebrated the first Mass in the new church on August 18, 1957, and opened the parish school that fall with four Sisters of Providence.
- (Subsequent pastors of Corpus Christi Parish, Evansville — full succession not exhaustively published on public sources consulted)
The parish's current and recent pastors are documented (see below); a complete public succession from 1957 to the present was not located in the official website, diocesan yearbook, or Historic Evansville archives reviewed.
- Rev. Jerry Pratt
Became Pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Evansville (along with Resurrection Parish) in a round of new pastoral assignments reported in The Message, the diocesan newspaper.
- Rev. Luke Hasslerpresent
Current pastor. Direct contact: [email protected].