About Our Lady of Grace · Noblesville, Indiana
Our Lady of Grace (OLOG) is a Roman Catholic parish in Noblesville, Indiana, founded in 1944 by the Montfort Fathers from New York as the first permanent Catholic parish in Hamilton County. Today the parish serves more than 1,800 families at its current campus on East 191st Street and offers thirteen Masses each week in English and Spanish, along with a Catholic preschool–8th-grade school, an extensive faith-formation program from pre-K through young adulthood, and outreach ministries including the parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference (NobleCause). The parish belongs to the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana and continues to grow as the spiritual home for a large and active Catholic community north of Indianapolis.
- Established
- 1944
- Patron
- Our Lady of Grace (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Clayton Thompson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana
Why belong here
Our Lady of Grace is a thriving, multigenerational Catholic community rooted in Hamilton County since 1944, offering thirteen weekly Masses in both English and Spanish plus bilingual confessions, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration on first Fridays/Saturdays and third Wednesdays, and a Catholic preschool–8th-grade school. Members grow in faith through every life stage — Elementary Religious Education, EDGE (middle school), Life Teen (high school), Bridges (ages 18–35), Adult Faith Formation, Confirmation preparation, the parish Rosary, and the parish's signature 'Generations of Grace' vision. A culture of outreach runs through it as well, with the parish's St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and NobleCause resale shop, Monthly Grace Meals, Family of Promise, and weekly visits to inmates at the Hamilton County jail.
Mass times at Our Lady of Grace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM (Bilingual English & Spanish)
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Bilingual English & Spanish)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Bilingual English & Spanish)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (3rd Wednesdays)
- Friday 9:15 AM – 11:55 PM (First Fridays; key needed from Parish Office for overnight adorers)
- Saturday 12:00 AM – 8:30 AM (First Saturdays; key needed from Parish Office for overnight adorers)
Parish History
Founded on September 15, 1944, by Father Thomas Kelly, SMM, and the Montfort Fathers from New York, Our Lady of Grace was the first permanent Catholic parish in Hamilton County. From a 14-family start in a living-room rectory, the parish moved into a former Seventh Day Adventist church on 11th Street in 1945 (first Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1945), opened a six-grade school staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph from Tipton in 1947, and saw new Catholic communities sprout from it in 1955 (Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carmel) and 1980 (St. Louis de Montfort, Fishers). In 1983 the Montfort Fathers returned to New York and diocesan clergy assumed leadership; under Father James Bates (pastor 1985–2002) the parish grew rapidly, prompting a county-wide study and the move to the present 191st Street and State Road 37 campus, dedicated September 8, 1991, by Bishop William Higi. The parish school, closed in 1974, reopened in 2000 and continues to serve children ages 2–14.
- 1944 — First parish Mass (September 15) for 14 families in the rectory living room
- 1945 — First dedicated worship space (former Adventist church on 11th Street)
- 1947 — Parish school opens with Sisters of St. Joseph from Tipton
- 1955 — Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carmel, formed from OLG
- 1974 — Moved to new 350-seat building on 10th Street; school closes
- 1980 — St. Louis de Montfort, Fishers, formed from OLG (425 families)
- 1983 — De Montfort Fathers return to New York; diocesan priests take over
- 1985 — Fr. James Bates arrives as pastor; county-wide growth study commissioned
- 1991 (September 8) — Current campus dedicated by Bishop William Higi
- 2000 — Parish school reopens
- 2017 — Parish surpasses 1,800 families
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
Our Lady of Grace is led by Pastor Fr. Clayton Thompson, a Hamilton County native ordained in 2013 after formation at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, and assigned to OLG in 2020 by Bishop Doherty. He is assisted by Associate Pastor Fr. Andrew Morand and Permanent Deacon Dcn. Steve Craver. A large lay staff directs faith formation, youth ministry, Hispanic ministry, music, the school, facilities, operations, communications, and advancement, supporting the parish's many ministries.
- Fr. Clayton Thompson — Pastor
- Fr. Andrew Morand — Associate Pastor
- Dcn. Steve Craver — Permanent Deacon
- Evelyn Burton — Director of Evangelization
- Julia Eckrich — Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- Jennifer Hagenauer — Coordinator of High School Ministry and Confirmation
- Emily Hines — Coordinator of Elementary Religious Education
- Katie McGhan — Faith Formation Assistant
- Marie Nagle — Youth Ministry Assistant
- Maria del Pilar Paz — Hispanic Ministry
- Colleen Puscas — Coordinator of Music & Liturgy
- Michelle Boyd — School Principal
- Larry Kunkel — Director of Operations
- Marsha Nystrom — Accountant
- Brian Meier — Facilities Manager
- Steve Supan — Maintenance
- John Hannagan — Coordinator of Engagement & Advancement
- Jake Teitgen — Director of Communications & Advancement
- Katy Troxell — Coordinator of Enrollment & Communications
- Tracy Hughes — Technology Director
- Alena Bauman — Parish Receptionist
- Becky Harmeyer — Accounting Assistant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
OLOG offers a complete cradle-to-college faith-formation program, from Preschool through age 35. Faith Formation is led by Director of Evangelization Evelyn Burton, with Emily Hines coordinating Elementary Religious Education and Katie McGhan assisting. The parish also welcomes adults preparing for Confirmation through the Adult Confirmation program.
- Elementary Religious Education (Pre-K through 5th grade)
- EDGE Junior High Youth Ministry (6th–8th grade)
- Life Teen High School Youth Ministry (9th–12th grade)
- Bridges Young Adult Ministry (Ages 18–35)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Adult Confirmation
- Two-year Confirmation preparation (typically received in 10th grade)
Youth Ministry
Life Teen (high school, 9th–12th grade) meets Sunday evenings beginning with the 5:30 PM Mass and continuing through 8:30 PM in the Donovan Center, focusing on catechesis, fellowship, retreats, conferences, mission trips, Bible study, liturgical ministry, music ministry, and leadership. EDGE (6th–8th grade) meets Wednesdays from 6:30–8:00 PM in the Donovan Center, led by a Core Team of parents, adults, young adults, and high school upperclassmen.
- Life Teen — Sundays, 5:30 PM Mass through 8:30 PM, Donovan Center
- EDGE — Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00 PM, Donovan Center
- Knights of the Holy Temple — high school young men focused on fraternity, prayer, and serving at liturgical celebrations
- Daughters of Grace — girls' ministry
- Crooked Halo — liturgical choir and band
- Liturgical Ministers — Life Teen students serve as ushers, cross bearers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and lectors, especially at the 5:30 PM Sunday Mass
Our Lady of Grace Catholic School
Our Lady of Grace Catholic School reopened in 2000 after being closed since 1974, and has served children ages 2 through 14 in Catholic education ever since. The school is described as Indiana's only certified STEM Catholic school and offers Preschool, Primary (K–3), Intermediate (4–5), and Middle School (6–8), plus Early Childhood Ministry for ages 12 months through 36 months and an Eagles Nest aftercare program.
- Early Childhood Ministry (12 months/walking through 36 months, all year)
- Preschool (Beginner 3s and Pre-K 4s)
- Primary — Kindergarten through 3rd grade
- Intermediate — 4th & 5th grades
- Middle School — 6th, 7th, & 8th grades
- STEM-certified curriculum (Indiana's only certified STEM Catholic school)
- Eagles Nest aftercare program
- Principal: Michelle Boyd
Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano
Our Lady of Grace serves its Spanish-speaking community through a dedicated Hispanic Ministry, including the weekly 1:30 PM Sunday Mass in Spanish and bilingual confession times on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings/afternoons. Maria del Pilar Paz coordinates the parish's Ministerio Hispano.
- Spanish Mass — Sundays, 1:30 PM
- Bilingual Confession — Wed 6:45–7:45 PM; Sat 9–10 AM; Sat 4–5 PM
- Hispanic Ministry Coordinator: Maria del Pilar Paz
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of the parish. The St. Vincent de Paul — Our Lady of Grace Conference operates the NobleCause food pantry and resale shop, which has fed nearly 400,000 individuals over a recent five-year stretch alone. OLG parishioners also serve weekly at the Hamilton County jail, provide meals through the Monthly Grace Meals program, and walk alongside families through Family of Promise as they pursue work and financial stability.
- St. Vincent de Paul — Our Lady of Grace Conference (NobleCause food pantry and resale shop, Hamilton County)
- Family of Promise (helps families find work and establish financial security)
- Monthly Grace Meals
- Hamilton County Jail ministry (weekly visits, prayer, scripture, guidance)
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical life at OLG is supported by a Coordinator of Music & Liturgy (Colleen Puscas), liturgical ministers (ushers, cross bearers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors), and Crooked Halo, the parish's liturgical choir and band. A Liturgical Minister Schedule is published on the parish website.
- Coordinator of Music & Liturgy — Colleen Puscas
- Crooked Halo — parish liturgical choir and band
- Liturgical Ministers serving at Sunday and weekday Masses, especially the 5:30 PM Sunday Life Teen Mass
- Live stream of daily Mass and special events
Sacraments
Information and preparation for the seven sacraments is coordinated through the parish office and listed on the parish website. The most active sacramental programs publicly highlighted are the Confirmation preparation (a two-year program typically culminating in the 10th grade) and Adult Confirmation (contact Evelyn Burton at [email protected]).
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Reconciliation — Wed evening and Saturday morning/afternoon (bilingual)
- Confirmation — two-year preparation, typically 10th grade; Adult Confirmation available
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Masses, including a Spanish Mass
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Generations of Grace — Capital Campaign & Vision
Generations of Grace is the parish's signature capital campaign and vision for 'forming a culture of enduring faith' — a building-and-ministry initiative described on the parish homepage as the biggest project in OLG's recent history, aimed at securing the parish's facilities and ministries for the next generation. The website invites parishioners to learn more about how the campaign will shape OLG's future.
- Tagline: 'Form a culture of enduring faith'
- Focus: securing the parish's facilities and ministries for the next generation
- Details available via the parish homepage at ologen.org
Visiting Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Grace is located at 9900 E 191st Street in Noblesville, on the southeast side of the city at the intersection with State Road 37. The parish office can be reached at (317) 773-4275 or [email protected]; fax is (317) 773-9344. Masses, confessions, Adoration, school events, and youth programs are listed in the weekly bulletin, and the parish publishes a live stream of daily Mass and special events.
- Address: 9900 E 191st St, Noblesville, IN 46060
- Phone: (317) 773-4275 | Fax: (317) 773-9344
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ologn.org/
- Live stream of daily Mass and special events on the parish website
- Weekly parish bulletin available in print and via Discover Mass bulletin archive and email sign-up
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas Kelly, SMM1944 (founding)
Founding pastor; member of the Montfort Fathers from New York. Celebrated the first parish Mass on September 15, 1944, for 14 families.
- Fr. James Bates1985–2002
Took over as pastor in 1985; commissioned the county-wide growth study that led to the move to the current campus; championed the parish's St. Vincent de Paul outreach, which originally used his garage for storage.
- Fr. Clayton Thompson2020–present
Hamilton County native; ordained in 2013 after formation at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. Previously served as parochial vicar, pastor, and diocesan director of vocations before Bishop Doherty assigned him to OLG in 2020.