About Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (La Chiesa del Santo Rosario) [Historic Church] · Indianapolis, Indiana
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (La Chiesa del Santo Rosario) is a historic Catholic parish in Indianapolis, Indiana, founded in 1909 by Italian immigrants as the city's first Italian national parish. Today, after more than a century of faithful Catholic witness, it stands as a unique parish in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis committed to reverent worship, faithful teaching, and an appreciation of sacred beauty. It is renowned for offering both the Ordinary Form and the Traditional Latin Mass (Tridentine Mass), Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, and a treasury of sacred art, drawing Catholics from across central Indiana. Located at 520 Stevens Street in the Holy Rosary–Danish Church Historic District on the southeast edge of downtown, the parish continues to celebrate its Italian heritage, host the annual Italian Festival, and serve as a spiritual home for nearly 1,300 souls.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
- Rector
- Rev. Jerry Byrd
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
Holy Rosary offers something rare in central Indiana: a parish fully committed to the beauty of the Catholic tradition, with daily Mass offered in both English and the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Missal), Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony, all-night First Friday adoration, a sung Rosary before Sunday Masses, and a treasury of sacred art and historic bells. Catholics drawn to reverent liturgy, ethnic heritage, or the Extraordinary Form will find a devoted community here, alongside active ministries of faith formation, sacramental preparation, outreach, and the beloved annual Italian Festival that funds the upkeep of one of Indianapolis's most historic houses of worship.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (La Chiesa del Santo Rosario) [Historic Church]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00–8:20 AM and 10:30–10:50 AM
- Monday and Friday: 6:50–7:10 AM
- Tuesday: 5:15–5:45 PM
- Friday: 5:15–5:35 PM
- Saturday: 8:30–8:50 AM
Adoration times
- Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:15 PM (occasionally concluding with Benediction)
- First Friday: 8:00 AM through 11:59 PM (extends overnight to Saturday morning)
- First Saturday: 12:00 AM to 8:30 AM (concludes with Benediction)
History of Holy Rosary Parish
Holy Rosary was founded in 1909 as the first Italian national parish in Indianapolis and the first of four such parishes in Indiana, established by Bishop Francis Silas Chatard to counter Methodist proselytization among the city's growing Italian community. The neighborhood — settled largely by Sicilian immigrants from Termini Imerese who worked in the produce trade near the City Market — became Indianapolis's largest permanent Italian immigrant enclave. The present Italian Renaissance church, designed by J. Edwin Kopf and Kenneth K. Woolling after the Basilica of San Giorgio in Velabro in Rome, was begun in 1911, delayed by war and funding shortages, completed in 1925, and dedicated by Bishop Joseph Chartrand on May 3, 1925. The parish has weathered the Great Depression, post-war neighborhood decline, two proposed closures, and the loss of homes to Eli Lilly's expansion and the Interstate highway system — surviving today as the only remaining Italian national parish in Indiana.
- Founded 1909 by Bishop Francis Silas Chatard
- Founding pastor: Rev. (later Monsignor) Marino Priori (1909–1934)
- Present church designed by J. Edwin Kopf and Kenneth K. Woolling
- Modeled on the Church of San Giorgio in Velabro, Rome
- Dedicated May 3, 1925 by Bishop Joseph Chartrand
- Holy Rosary–Danish Church Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places, March 13, 1986
Italian Heritage
Holy Rosary retains deep Italian roots even as its membership has diversified. The parish's Italian name, La Chiesa del Santo Rosario, is still used, and the Italian Festival each June — running since 1934 and revived in 1984 — remains a parish tradition that both celebrates heritage and funds maintenance of the historic building. Although only about a third of today's parishioners are of Italian heritage, the parish proudly remembers its founders and those who kept the parish alive through lean decades.
- Italian name: La Chiesa del Santo Rosario
- Annual Italian Festival since 1934 (revived 1984) — every June
- Founding pastor Monsignor Marino Priori's Italian homily preserved on parish history page
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Sacramental preparation — including Confirmation — is offered through the parish's Faith Formation ministry. Catholics seeking baptism, marriage, anointing of the sick, or sacramental preparation should contact the parish office at (317) 636-4478 or [email protected].
- Baptism
- Confirmation (preparation program offered)
- Eucharist
- Penance / Reconciliation (see Confession schedule)
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocation discernment supported)
Liturgical Music and Sacred Art
Holy Rosary has a strong commitment to sacred liturgical music, including Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony, led by Music Director Katrina Keat. The parish's interior holds a treasury of sacred art assembled by founding pastor Monsignor Marino Priori, who also published the local religious magazine Eternal Light.
- Music Director: Katrina Keat
- Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony
- Sacred art collection originally assembled by Monsignor Marino Priori
- Historic bells ringing across the southeast quadrant of downtown
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation for parishioners of all ages is offered through the parish, including sacramental preparation for Confirmation. The parish welcomes inquiries from families seeking Catholic education.
- Confirmation preparation
- Faith Formation programs
- RCIA-style inquiry for adults (typical parish catechumenate)
Catholic Education — Lumen Christi
Lumen Christi is an independent Catholic academic institution that uses facilities on the parish campus at 580 Stevens Street. It is recognized as a private Catholic school by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and enjoys a special complementary relationship with Holy Rosary, including discounted tuition for parishioners.
- Address: 580 Stevens St., Indianapolis, IN 46203
- Phone: 317-632-3174
- Recognized by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis
- Discounted tuition for Holy Rosary parishioners
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a small professional staff handling communications, music, ministries and administration, operations, and facilities.
- Pastor: Rev. Jerry Byrd
- In Residence: Rev. Jeffrey L. Dufresne, MDiv
- Music Director: Katrina Keat
- Director of Ministries and Administration: Mark Bockstahler
- Director of Communications: David G. Walden
- Director of Operations: David Caito
- Director of Facilities: Peter Ponticello
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. (later Monsignor) Marino Priori1909–1934
Founding pastor; Franciscan ordained 1901 in Italy, immigrated 1908; built the wood-frame church, designed and built the present limestone church and school; transferred by Bishop Ritter to Troy, NY in 1934; retired 1941; died 1946.
- Monsignor Joseph F. Schaedel, V.G.Pastoral tenure; integrated the Tridentine Mass Apostolate in 1998
Doubled parish membership by welcoming members of the TMA from St. Patrick Church.
- Rev. Jerry ByrdCurrent pastor
Current pastor of the parish, leading the community in its Ordinary Form, Traditional Latin Mass, and devotions.
- Rev. Jeffrey L. Dufresne, MDivCurrent
Priest in residence.