About Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church · Mariah Hill, Indiana
Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Mariah Hill, Spencer County, Indiana, founded by German immigrants in 1857 and now one of three worship sites of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in the Diocese of Evansville. The church gathers its faithful for Mass each Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. and Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. (livestreamed), serving as a quiet rural anchor of worship in the Mariah Hill community. In December 2024, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel dedicated a newly crafted red oak altar built by local artisans Eric Boeglen and Deacon Jim Woebkenberg, a fitting capstone for a congregation whose roots in southern Indiana date back more than 165 years.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- Mary, Help of Christians (Mary Help / Maria Hilf)
- Rector
- Rev. Crispine Adongo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville (East Deanery)
Why belong here
Mary, Help of Christians offers a small, intimate rural setting with Sunday Mass livestreamed from its historic chapel, along with weekday Mass every Thursday morning, ongoing faith formation for children and youth preparing for First Communion and Confirmation, monthly adoration and First Saturday Devotions, and an active calendar of parish-wide fellowship — most notably the annual Mariah Hill Picnic each August. As one of three worship sites of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in the Diocese of Evansville, the church combines deep German-Catholic roots with contemporary ministries such as a community meal program, blood drives, highway cleanup, Operation Christmas Child, and food collections for the North Spencer Community Action Center.
Mass times at Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass at Mary, Help of Christians
- By appointment (contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- 24-hour Adoration — First Thursday of each month (parish-wide)
Mary, Help of Christians — A Spencer County Landmark
Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church is the spiritual heart of the unincorporated community of Mariah Hill in Carter Township, Spencer County, Indiana. Founded in 1857 by German Catholic settlers under Father Ulrich of the Diocese of Vincennes (now Evansville), the parish gave the surrounding town both its identity and its name. Today the church continues as a worship site of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, sharing ministry with St. Joseph in Dale and St. Nicholas in Santa Claus.
- Founded December 8, 1857 on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- Cornerstone of the second church laid May 24, 1865
- Diocese: Evansville · Deanery: East
- East Deanery parish merged into St. Francis of Assisi Parish on July 1, 2015
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a small team of clergy and lay staff supporting the three worship sites of St. Francis of Assisi Parish. The pastor of record for the merged parish is Fr. Crispine Adongo, with Deacon Jim Woebkenberg assisting at the altar and in parish life. Office, faith-formation, and outreach functions are coordinated centrally from Dale.
- Pastor — Rev. Crispine Adongo ([email protected])
- Deacon — Jim Woebkenberg ([email protected])
- Business & Office Manager — Devin Carpenter ([email protected])
- Coordinator of Religious Education (Grades 1–8) — Stephanie Wollenmann ([email protected])
- CRE Grades 9–12 — Marilyn Satkamp ([email protected])
- Faith Formation & Parish Outreach Coordinator — Theresa Brandes ([email protected])
- Hispanic Ministry Coordinator — Miriam Martinez
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation runs throughout the school year at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, with grade-level Coordinators of Religious Education for elementary and high school students. Sacramental preparation is a particular focus of the Mariah Hill site, with First Communion typically celebrated in second grade and Confirmation prepared over a multi-year program of study, retreats, and service.
- First Communion — second grade cohort with a tailored faith-formation class
- First Communion for older students — separate track by arrangement
- Confirmation preparation (2026–2027 cohort and beyond) with required service hours
- Confirmation service placements include the Mariah Hill Picnic (August), Dale Fall Fest (September), and SFA Octoberfest (October)
Sacraments at St. Francis of Assisi Parish
The three worship sites share sacramental ministry under one parish team. Baptisms, weddings, First Communion, and Confirmation are coordinated through the parish office in Dale, while the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is open to anyone inquiring about the Catholic faith.
- Baptism — preparation through the parish office
- First Communion — second grade
- Confirmation — two-year preparation
- Marriage — arranged through the parish office
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic — adult inquiry classes offered parish-wide
Outreach & Service to the Community
Outreach is one of the strongest expressions of parish identity. St. Francis of Assisi parishioners volunteer regularly with the Community Table free meal at Dale Presbyterian Church, run food drives for the North Spencer Community Action Center, and partner with national programs like the American Red Cross, Operation Christmas Child, and the Souper Bowl of Caring.
- Community Table — every Thursday 5:30–6:30 p.m. at Dale Presbyterian Church (parishioners serve once a month)
- Thanksgiving Food Drive — November
- Operation Christmas Child — November shoebox collection
- Angel Tree — December gift giving for local families in need
- Souper Bowl Food Drive — February
- Highway Cleanup — multiple times a year along Highway 162
- American Red Cross Blood Drives at the parish centers
Parish Festivals & Fellowship
Each year Mary, Help of Christians serves as the spiritual and social hub of the Mariah Hill Picnic in August, when the parish grounds overflow with food, games, and visiting families from across Spencer County. The parish also staffs the Dale Fall Fest lemon shake-up stand in September and helps run the parish-wide Octoberfest in October.
- August — Mariah Hill Picnic (hosted at the MHC site)
- September — Dale Fall Fest Lemon Shake-Up Stand
- October — SFA Octoberfest (set-up, service, and tear-down)
- Monthly — Second Thursday Group at St. Joseph Parish Center
- First Saturday — Youth Mass and First Saturday Devotion
The New Altar — A Gift to the Next Generation
On December 9, 2024, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel celebrated Mass at Mary, Help of Christians to bless and dedicate a brand-new altar. The altar was designed and built locally over the preceding decade by parishioners and artisans Eric Boeglen and Deacon Jim Woebkenberg, assisted by Dick Mohr. The mensa — the top — is carved red oak shaped to rest on a chalice-like base, with corner pillars lending a regal feel and a maple sacrificial lamb set at the center beneath the table. Carved grape clusters line the altar edge.
- Dedication and blessing by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel — December 9, 2024
- Replaced the post-Vatican II altar that served the parish 55+ years
- Wood donated by American Woodland Enterprises
- Crafted by Eric Boeglen (altar top with grape clusters) and Deacon Jim Woebkenberg with Dick Mohr (base and lamb)
- Choice of red oak for wide grain and similarity to existing sanctuary furniture
Visiting Mary, Help of Christians
Visitors are warmly welcomed. The church sits along a quiet country road in Mariah Hill; weekly Mass is celebrated Thursday morning and Sunday morning, with the Sunday Mass livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. The parish office, religious education registration, and sacramental arrangements are all handled centrally through the Dale office.
- Address — 6827 E. County Road 1930 N, Mariah Hill, IN 47556
- Mailing — P.O. Box 684, Dale, IN 47523-0684
- Phone — (812) 937-2200
- Fax — (812) 937-4197
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — https://www.sfrancisofassisi.org
- Office hours — Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CST
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Johncirca 2014–2015 (at the time of the merger)
Past priest of Mary, Help of Christians who initiated the documentation of the parish's history as the three Spencer County parishes came together as one.
- Rev. Martin EstradaListed in the Diocesan Yearbook as Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Appeared in the earlier diocesan directory following the 2015 merger.
- Rev. Crispine AdongoCurrent pastor (2024–present)
Concelebrated the December 2024 altar dedication with Bishop Joseph M. Siegel and continues to lead St. Francis of Assisi Parish.