About Immaculate Conception · Auburn, Indiana
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (ICC) is a Roman Catholic parish in Auburn, Indiana, belonging to the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. Founded in 1872 as a small mission celebrated in the home of Engelbert Ashley, it has grown into a parish of roughly 480 registered families (over 1,200 members) serving Auburn and surrounding DeKalb County. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration multiple days a week, faith formation for grades K–8, RCIA/OCIA, youth ministry, Totus Tuus, and a wide array of outreach and parish organizations including the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul Society. Its current pastor is Rev. Jake Schneider, who also co-hosts the DeKalb County Catholic podcast. The parish mission statement reads: 'As a Catholic community, we commit ourselves to faith formation, prayer and stewardship empowering us to live, love and teach in the likeness of Jesus.'
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Jake Schneider
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers the classic rhythms of a tight-knit Midwestern Catholic parish: weekday Mass at 12:05 p.m., Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, daily Reconciliation, and an unusually rich Eucharistic Adoration schedule (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the Adoration Chapel, plus Sunday Adoration in church). Parishioners can grow through OCIA/RCIA, K–8 faith formation, EDGE middle-school youth ministry, Totus Tuus summer programs, adult Bible study, That Man Is You, the Ladies Guild, and the Knights of Columbus Council #14962, while serving DeKalb County through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, B.R.E.A.D., Habitat for Humanity, the Open Shelter, and IHN/YWCA homeless ministry. It is a community where 'the people are very devout, they care about the faith, they love the Church' — in the words of a recent pastor — and where newcomers are welcomed into ministries that suit their gifts.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday – Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
- Saturday: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Anytime by request — call the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Adoration Chapel)
- Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Adoration Chapel)
- Thursday: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Adoration Chapel)
- Sunday: 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (in church, per diocesan listing)
Parish Overview and Mission
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (ICC) is a Roman Catholic parish in Auburn, Indiana, in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. Its mission is to commit as a Catholic community to faith formation, prayer, and stewardship, empowering parishioners to live, love, and teach in the likeness of Jesus. The parish worships at 500 East Seventh Street and serves roughly 480 registered families across Auburn and DeKalb County.
- Mission: 'As a Catholic community, we commit ourselves to faith formation, prayer and stewardship empowering us to live, love and teach in the likeness of Jesus.'
- Two mottoes: 'Loving Christ, Loving Others.'
- Parish website: iccauburn.com
History of Immaculate Conception Parish
Catholic life in Auburn began in 1871 when Father August Young celebrated Mass in Engelbert Ashley's home for about ten families. The parish was formally established in 1872, built its first church on Fourth and Railroad (Indiana) Streets, and acquired cemetery grounds in 1881. A larger church was completed in 1913, and in 1958 the parish dedicated the present church, school, and parish hall. The school operated until the early 1970s. The parish celebrated its 50th jubilee in 2008 and its 150th anniversary (sesquicentennial) in 2022.
- 1871 – First Mass at the Ashley home, Father August Young
- 1872 – Parish formally established
- 1881 – Cemetery grounds purchased
- 1913 – Second church completed on Fourth and Indiana Streets
- September 21, 1958 – Current church dedicated by Bishop Leo A. Pursley
- 1958–early 1970s – Parish grade school (staffed by Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Joliet, IL)
- 1962 – New rectory (priest's house) added
- 1987 – Church and school debt retired
- 2008 – 50th jubilee celebrated with Bishop John M. D'Arcy
- 2022 – 150th anniversary; Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades visits; Fr. Mark Enemali installed as pastor
Parish Staff
In addition to the pastor, day-to-day operations are supported by a small staff listed on the parish website.
- Fr. Jake Schneider — Pastor (ext. 303)
- Lisa Hess — Business Manager / Administrative Assistant (ext. 301)
- Jenny Caylor — Religious Ed Team Leader (Grades K–8)
- Jim Hummer — Maintenance
- Donald LeRoy — Cemetery Sexton
Other Devotions and Services
Beyond Mass and Adoration, the parish gathers for the Rosary around weekday Masses, weekly Stations of the Cross during Lent, and seasonal celebrations such as May Crowning, the Corpus Christi Procession, the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Healing Night. For the homebound, the Sunday Mass is televised locally and broadcast on Catholic radio.
- Rosary before/after weekday Masses
- Stations of the Cross, Fridays of Lent at 6:30 p.m.
- Healing Night (Wednesday evenings, seasonal)
- May Crowning and Corpus Christi Procession
- Televised Sunday Mass: WPTA 21.3 (MyTV) 7 a.m.; WISE CW 33 10 a.m.; Redeemer Radio 106.3 FM (live EWTN 8 a.m.)
- Diocesan livestream available via diocesefwsb.org or Facebook
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation for children in grades K–8 is led by Religious Ed Team Leader Jenny Caylor and follows an annual calendar posted to the parish site. Adult initiation and ongoing formation is served by OCIA (the renamed Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), Adult Confirmation, Adult Bible Study, That Man Is You (men's program), and Formed online.
- Grades K–8 Faith Formation / Religious Education
- OCIA / RCIA (Pre-Catechumenate, Catechumenate, Rite of Election, Sacraments of Initiation at Easter, Mystagogy)
- Adult Confirmation
- Adult Bible Study
- That Man Is You (TMIY)
- Formed (Catholic Faith online subscription resource)
- Family Faith Formation (formerly PSR)
Youth and Family Programs
The parish invests in the spiritual life of its young people through EDGE (middle-school youth ministry), IC Youth Ministry, Totus Tuus (a week-long summer catechetical program), and Vacation Bible School.
- EDGE — Middle School Youth Ministry (Facebook & Instagram pages linked from iccauburn.com)
- IC Youth Ministry (high school)
- Totus Tuus (summer program; 2025 dates June 7–12)
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
Parish Organizations and Fellowship
Adult fellowship and parish governance are supported by the Ladies Guild (Women's Club), Knights of Columbus Council #14962, the Parish Finance Committee/Finance Council, the Pastoral Council, and the Hospitality Committee, alongside social groups like the Women's Bowling League and events such as the Parish Festival and Lenten Fish Fry.
- Knights of Columbus Council #14962 — meets 1st Tuesday, 7 p.m., Parish Hall
- Ladies Guild / Women's Club — open to all women 18+
- Parish Finance Committee / Finance Council
- Pastoral Council (monthly meeting, 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m.)
- Hospitality Committee
- Women's Bowling League
- Parish Festival and Lenten Fish Fry
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life is supported by lay volunteers serving as Sacristans/Senior Altar Servers, Liturgical Linen caretakers, Instrumentalists (seasonal, middle- and high-school students welcome), and ordinary altar servers. The Rosary is prayed communally around weekday Masses.
- Senior Altar Server / Sacristan Ministry
- Liturgical Linen Service
- Instrumentalists (seasonal; contact Parish Office)
- Communal Rosary at weekday Masses
Outreach and Social Concerns
Immaculate Conception reaches beyond its walls through a robust set of social-concern ministries serving the poor, homeless, and unborn across DeKalb County and the wider Fort Wayne–South Bend diocese.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- B.R.E.A.D. (Building Responsibility, Equality, and Dignity)
- Knights of Columbus Council #14962 (charitable works)
- Open Shelter Ministry
- IHN / YWCA Homeless Ministry
- Habitat for Humanity
- Committee for Life
- Sick and Shut-in Ministry and Home Visitors
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments, with Baptism Preparation for parents, OCIA/RCIA for adult initiation, regular Reconciliation times, Anointing of the Sick offered through Healing Night, and Matrimony arranged by contacting the Parish Office.
- Baptism (with Baptism Preparation Class)
- First Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation (youth and adult)
- Reconciliation (Penance) — regular schedule plus by request
- Anointing of the Sick / Healing Night
- Matrimony — call Parish Office
- OCIA/RCIA for adult initiation
Parish Cemetery
The parish has maintained its own cemetery since purchasing grounds in 1881. Cemetery matters are handled through the Parish Office.
- Cemetery Sexton: Donald LeRoy
- Cemetery grounds acquired 1881
Getting Involved
The parish invites new parishioners and visitors to join any of its ministries, attend OCIA/RCIA for those discerning Catholic membership, enroll children in K–8 Faith Formation, or simply come to weekday Mass or one of the Adoration hours to get to know the community.
- Contact Parish Office: (260) 925-3930
- Online giving available via iccauburn.com
- Safe Environment / Victim Assistance resources linked from parish site
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. August Young1871–1872 (visiting/mission priest)
Celebrated the first Mass in Auburn in the home of Engelbert Ashley in 1871; the parish was established the following year.
- Fr. Timothy WrozekRetired in 2021
His pastorship was followed by a year under a parish administrator; he wrote the parish prayer used during the 150th anniversary year.
- Fr. Mark Enemali, CSSpInstalled October 8, 2022
Served as parish administrator for the year prior to installation; presided at the close of the 150th anniversary year.
- Fr. Drew CurryMid-2020s (interim/recent listing)
Listed on some parish pages as 'Reverend Drew Curry, Pastor' between Fathers Enemali and Schneider.
- Rev. Jake SchneiderCurrent (2025– )
Installed as pastor; now also co-hosts the DeKalb County Catholic podcast with neighboring pastors.