About Holy Angels · Indianapolis, Indiana
Holy Angels Catholic Church is a predominantly Black, urban parish of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis located in the near-Northwest neighborhood of Indianapolis along the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street corridor. Founded in 1903, it has served as a center of evangelization, Catholic education, and African-American Catholic life for more than a century. The parish is paired with Holy Angels Catholic School (PK-6), a Mother Theodore Catholic Academy, and worships in a new brick-and-stone church dedicated on June 9, 2021, which replaced the original 1903 wood-frame building.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- The Holy Angels
- Rector
- Rev. Jean Bosco Ntawugashira, CMM (Administrator; per the parish website). The Archdiocese of Indianapolis parish listing also names Rev. Benjamin Syberg as Administrator Pro Tem, with sacramental ministry from Rev. Nick Dant and Rev. Jim Farrell.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
Holy Angels is a small but deeply rooted urban parish with more than 120 years of history on Indianapolis's near-Northwest side, and its Catholic worship intentionally embraces African-American and African cultural traditions, including a Gospel Choir that sings at the Sunday Mass. The parish is paired with Holy Angels Catholic School (PK-6), a Mother Theodore Catholic Academy offering a faith-based education that prepares children for 'college and Heaven,' and the 2021-dedicated new church anchors a continuing Catholic presence along the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. corridor. Active ministries include the Parish Pastoral Council, religious education, sacramental preparation (baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, marriage), and the parish's long tradition of ecumenical and community engagement in northwest Indianapolis.
Mass times at Holy Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- See the bulletin (the parish directs penitents to the bulletin for the current confession schedule).
About Holy Angels Parish
Holy Angels is a Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis located in the near-Northwest neighborhood of Indianapolis along the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street corridor. The parish's own website describes it as 'A Church Built of Living Stones' and as a community offering 'Catholic Worship in the African American and African Cultural Traditions.' With about 229 registered families and a church that seats roughly 333 (per the Archdiocese of Indianapolis listing), Holy Angels is a small but historically significant urban parish whose roots go back to 1903.
- Parish type: Roman Catholic, Archdiocese of Indianapolis
- Parish families: 229 (per archdiocesan listing)
- Church capacity: 333 (per archdiocesan listing)
- Self-description: 'A Church Built of Living Stones'
- Worship style: 'Catholic Worship in the African American and African Cultural Traditions'
Parish History
Founded in 1903, Holy Angels has been a continuous Catholic presence on Indianapolis's near-Northwest side for more than 120 years. The parish's history is closely tied to the city's demographic shifts, to the long pastorate of Father Clarence R. Waldon (1970–2005), to the school and parish center built in 1999, and to the nine-year journey from the 2012 demolition of the old 1903 frame church to the June 9, 2021 dedication of the present brick-and-stone building.
- 1899 — Land purchased by Father Stephen Donoghue, assistant pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Indianapolis
- 1903 — Parish organized by Father James Carrico; cornerstone April 26, 1903; church dedicated October 4, 1903
- 1907 — Holy Angels School opens
- Post-WWII — Neighborhood becomes predominantly African-American
- 1970 — Father Clarence R. Waldon appointed pastor (first Black pastor of the archdiocese)
- 1972 — 'Holy Angels Model School' concept launched under Father Waldon
- 1999 — New school/parish center opens (first new inner-city Catholic school built in the U.S. in 40+ years)
- 2005 — Father Waldon dies; Father Kenneth Taylor becomes temporary administrator
- 2006 — Father Kenneth Taylor becomes pastor
- Oct. 9, 2011 — Last Mass in the 1903 church
- Jan. 5, 2012 — Old church decommissioned
- Aug. 22, 2012 — Old church demolished
- Dec. 19, 2018 — Father Kenneth Taylor dies
- Sept. 26, 2020 — Groundbreaking for the new church
- June 9, 2021 — New church dedicated by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson
The New Church (2021)
On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, Archbishop Charles C. Thompson dedicated the new Holy Angels Catholic Church on the original hilltop site at 28th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street — fulfilling a years-old dream of the parish after nearly a decade of worshipping off-site. The new edifice is a modest, light-filled brick-and-stone worship space that anchors the Holy Angels campus alongside Holy Angels School and other ministries, and continues the parish's ministry along the Dr. M. L. King corridor.
- Architect: HCO Architects
- Construction Manager: CPM Construction – Indianapolis
- Approximate size: 7,000 square feet
- Seating: ~300 (plus room for up to 40 in the Gospel Choir)
- Cost: approximately $1.7 million (Archdiocese of Indianapolis investment)
- Exterior: brick and stone with cream-colored front
- Interior: large windows, two interior doors decorated with angels, gathering space, environmentally friendly HVAC and lighting
- Preserved elements: two copper crosses and the large bronze bell salvaged from the 1903 church
- Site feature: large angel statue reaching out to the surrounding community
Leadership — Clergy & Staff
Holy Angels is currently administered by Rev. Jean Bosco Ntawugashira, CMM (per the parish's own Pastoral Staff page), supported by Deacon Wilfredo de La Rosa. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis parish listing also names Rev. Benjamin Syberg as Administrator Pro Tem, with sacramental ministry provided by Rev. Nick Dant and Rev. Jim Farrell. The parish website additionally lists Stephanie Whitley as Director of Religious Education, Canisha Ramsey as Parish Secretary, Gayle Jones as Choir Director, and Justin Armitage as School Principal.
- Administrator: Rev. Jean Bosco Ntawugashira, CMM (parish website)
- Administrator Pro Tem: Rev. Benjamin Syberg (archdiocese listing)
- Sacramental Ministers: Rev. Nick Dant, Rev. Jim Farrell
- Deacon: Wilfredo de La Rosa
- Director of Religious Education: Stephanie Whitley
- Parish Secretary: Canisha Ramsey
- Choir Director: Gayle Jones (parish website) / Vincent Howard (archdiocese listing)
- School Principal: Justin Armitage (parish website) / Matthew Krulik (archdiocese listing)
- Bookkeeper: Johnette M. Grant, ABD
- Administrative Assistant: Stephanie Whitley
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council guides the lay life of the parish. The council is chaired by Adonis Hardin, with Clarice Keno Blake as Vice-Chairperson, and includes Lillian Jackson, Carl Edwards, Vincent Harrington, Mya Terrell, Alessandra Shepard, Ted Davis, Paula Keno Smith, Rita Sharp, Phillip Keno, Ed Squires, Jesse Jones, Laverne Anderson, and Johnette Grant.
- Chairperson: Adonis Hardin
- Vice-Chairperson: Clarice Keno Blake
- Finance Chair (archdiocese listing): Vincent Harrington
- Members: Lillian Jackson, Carl Edwards, Vincent Harrington, Mya Terrell, Alessandra Shepard, Ted Davis, Paula Keno Smith, Rita Sharp, Phillip Keno, Ed Squires, Jesse Jones, Laverne Anderson, Johnette Grant
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation, marriage, and reconciliation. Parents are asked to notify the Rectory for Infant Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Communion. Couples planning to marry at Holy Angels are asked to give the Rectory at least six months' notice for marriage preparation.
- Infant Baptism — contact the Rectory
- First Reconciliation — contact the Rectory
- First Communion — contact the Rectory
- Marriage Preparation — at least six months' notice to the Rectory
- Confession — see the bulletin for the schedule
Holy Angels Catholic School
Holy Angels Catholic School sits on the same parish campus at 2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and is a Mother Theodore Catholic Academy (MTCA), a consortium that also includes Central Catholic and St. Philip Neri in center-city Indianapolis. The school serves pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, offers a faith-based education rooted in the belief that 'the intellectual growth of our scholars is a spiritual imperative,' and provides a safe, nurturing environment with small class sizes, free breakfast/lunch/dinner, and before- and after-care.
- Address: 2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., Indianapolis, IN 46208
- Phone: 317-926-5211
- Website: holyangelscatholicschool.org
- Principal: Justin Armitage (parish website) / Matthew Krulik (archdiocese listing)
- Grades: PK-6
- Consortium: Mother Theodore Catholic Academies (MTCA) with Central Catholic and St. Philip Neri
- Mission: 'form scholars and Saints' — preparing students for 'College and Heaven'
- Amenities: small class size, free breakfast/lunch/dinner, before- and after-care, student-specific technology plan
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education at Holy Angels is coordinated by the Director of Religious Education and is centered on sacramental preparation for the parish's children and families. Sacramental preparation is offered for Infant Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Communion, with parents asked to contact the Rectory to begin the process.
- Director of Religious Education: Stephanie Whitley
- Programs: Infant Baptism preparation, First Reconciliation, First Communion preparation
- Adult sacramental preparation: contact the Rectory
Music & Liturgy
Music is central to worship at Holy Angels. The parish's Gospel Choir sings at the 9:00 am Sunday Mass, and the parish describes its worship as 'Catholic Worship in the African American and African Cultural Traditions.' Choir leadership is listed as Gayle Jones on the parish website and Vincent Howard on the archdiocesan listing.
- Gospel Choir sings at the 9:00 am Sunday Mass
- Choir seating in the new church accommodates up to 40 singers
- Choir Director: Gayle Jones (parish website)
Building a New Church with Living Stones
The capital campaign that produced the 2021 church was titled 'Building a New Church with Living Stones.' According to the parish's announcement of the dedication, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis invested approximately $1.7 million in the new church along the Dr. M. L. King corridor. HCO Architects performed the design work and CPM Construction – Indianapolis was the construction manager. The parish continues to welcome donations and the completion of outstanding pledges.
- Campaign name: 'Building a New Church with Living Stones'
- Approximate total: $1.7 million
- Design: HCO Architects
- Construction: CPM Construction – Indianapolis
- Donations: still accepted; pledges may be confirmed through the parish office at 317-926-3324
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James Carrico1903–
Founded and organized the parish; cornerstone laid April 26, 1903, first church dedicated Oct. 4, 1903.
- Father Stephen Donoghue1899
Assistant pastor of St. John the Evangelist who purchased the land for the parish in 1899.
- Father Clarence R. Waldon1970–2005
First African-American priest ordained for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis; youngest pastor and first Black pastor in the archdiocese at his appointment; first director of the archdiocesan Office of Evangelization; developed the 'Holy Angels Model School' in 1972; founding member of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus; died Aug. 14, 2005.
- Father Kenneth E. Taylor ('Father K.T.')2005/2006–2018
Temporary administrator from 2005, pastor from 2006; 1965 graduate of Holy Angels School; also director of the archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministry, dean of the Indianapolis West Deanery, and president of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus; also served as pastor of St. Rita Parish from 2014; died Dec. 19, 2018.
- Rev. Jean Bosco Ntawugashira, CMMpresent
Current Administrator per the parish website.