About Prince of Peace Parish -Prince of Peace Church · Madison, Indiana
Prince of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana, formed in 1993 by merging four historic congregations of Jefferson County—St. Patrick, St. Anthony (China), St. Mary, and St. Michael—into a single Catholic community. A fifth, St. Magdalen, joined in 2013. The parish, an apostolate of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, gathers about 1,095 families and uses the former St. Mary Church building at 413 E. Second Street as its worship site, with weekday and Hispanic liturgies celebrated at nearby St. Patrick Chapel. It also operates Pope John XXIII Elementary School and shares responsibility for Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School, making Catholic schooling a central part of parish life.
- Established
- 1993
- Patron
- Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Eric (Rick) Nagel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
Prince of Peace brings together the entire Catholic community of Jefferson County under one roof (or rather, three historic worship sites), so visitors find a parish large enough to offer a full range of ministries—RCIA/OCIA, faith formation for all ages, youth ministry, St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and outreach, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Ladies Organization, Women's Correctional Ministry, Music Ministries, and Liturgical Ministries—while still rooted in the mid-19th-century heritage of Madison's German and Irish Catholic founders. Weekend Masses are offered in English at the historic St. Mary Church and in Spanish at St. Patrick Chapel, and Eucharistic Adoration is held weekly, giving parishioners room for both vibrant community life and traditional devotional practice.
Mass times at Prince of Peace Parish -Prince of Peace Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: Most Sorrowful Mother of God 2:30–4:00 PM
- Saturday: Following 6:00 PM Mass at Prince of Peace
- Tuesday: Following 8:00 AM Mass at Prince of Peace
- Wednesday: Following Noon Mass at St. Patrick Chapel
- Friday: Following Noon Mass at St. Patrick Chapel
- First Tuesday of the Month: After morning Mass
Adoration times
- Wednesday: St. Patrick Chapel 1:00–7:00 PM
- During the school year: St. Patrick Chapel 8:30 AM–3:00 PM (Tuesday)
- During the school year: St. Patrick Chapel 1:30–2:20 PM (school adoration period)
History of Prince of Peace Parish
Prince of Peace was erected by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on June 29, 1993, combining the congregations of St. Mary, St. Michael, and St. Patrick (all in Madison) and St. Anthony in China into one parish, with the former St. Mary's Church designated as the worship site. Rev. Jeffrey Charlton was appointed the founding pastor. In 2013 the parish of St. Magdalen also merged in. The parish traces its roots to 1837, when Rev. Michael Edgar Shawe became Madison's first resident Catholic priest, and to 1850, when German-speaking Catholics began building St. Mary's—the present Prince of Peace church—under the title Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Historic St. Mary Church Building (Prince of Peace Worship Site)
Walls were raised and roofed in 1851 under German hands; the steeple and four named bells (St. Joseph, St. Ann, Maria Angela, Gabriel) were added in 1860. In 1888 the interior was frescoed and the stained-glass windows were installed for $2,578.87; new pews replaced the old square ones in 1904. A tracker pipe organ bought in Tiffin, Ohio in 1864 was replaced in 1940; a second console was added at the front after Vatican II. Capacity is 450.
- Steeple and four named bells added 1860
- Frescoed walls, new altars and pulpit, and stained glass added 1888
- Stained-glass windows cost $2,578.87 in 1888
- New pews installed 1904
- Pipe organ (current) installed 1940; second console added late 1990s
'Steeple for the People' Restoration Campaign (2016)
In 2016, under then-pastor Fr. Chris Craig, the parish launched the 'Steeple for the People' capital campaign, raising $2.4 million. Funds purchased a new sound system, moved high-power lines from the west side of the church, installed new heating and lighting, restored the stained glass, and added a new steeple. The long-vacant adjacent rectory was refurbished with a new kitchen, bathrooms, and floors so the pastor could live on-site.
- Capital campaign total: $2.4 million
- New sound system, heating, and lighting
- Stained-glass restoration
- New steeple installed
- Adjacent rectory fully refurbished
Parish Ministries
Prince of Peace offers a wide range of lay ministries serving the parish and the wider Jefferson County community.
- Liturgical Ministries
- Music Ministries — Directors Pam Deveary and Larry Wickersham
- Legion of Mary
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies Organization
- Women's Correctional Ministry
- Fiber Ministry
- St. Vincent de Paul Society and Food Pantry (Mon & Thu; 812-265-2920)
Faith Formation and Schools
The parish runs Religious Education for children and adults, a youth ministry, and OCIA (RCIA) for those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Director of Religious Education is Morgan Werner; Youth Ministry Coordinator is Sofia Morales; Adult Formation Coordinator is Deacon Mike Boggs; Pastoral Minister is Mary Ellen Minnick. Catholic schools include Pope John XXIII Elementary (PK–6, 221 W. State St., Principal Bethany Fewell, 291 students) and Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School (7–12, 201 W. State St., Principal Curt Gardner, 183 students).
- OCIA / RCIA — contact Fr. Rick Nagel at 812-265-4166 ext 241 or [email protected]
- Pope John XXIII Elementary (PK–6)
- Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School (7–12)
- Parish schools' shared website: www.popeaceschools.org
Staff and Clergy
Prince of Peace is led by Pastor Rev. Eric (Rick) Nagel and Deacon Mike Boggs (Adult Formation Coordinator). Lay staff include Parish Office Manager Beth Kring, Administrative Assistant Mary Rose Carlow, Parish & School Business Manager Marty McClure, and Music Directors Pam Deveary and Larry Wickersham.
- Pastor: Rev. Eric (Rick) Nagel (812-265-4166 ext 241; [email protected])
- Deacon / Adult Formation: Mike Boggs
- Director of Religious Education: Morgan Werner
- Youth Ministry Coordinator: Sofia Morales
- Pastoral Minister: Mary Ellen Minnick
- Music Directors: Pam Deveary & Larry Wickersham
Contact, Locations, and How to Get Involved
Parish office and Catholic Community Center are at 305 W. State Street, Madison, IN 47250; the church building is at 413 E. Second Street; St. Patrick Chapel is at 301 W. State Street. Visitors and newcomers can register as parishioners and sign up for ministries via the parish website's 'I'm New' page and the online Ministry Sign-Up form. Mass livestreaming is available for those unable to attend in person.
- Parish Phone: 812-265-4166; Fax: 812-273-3427
- Parish Email: [email protected]
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry: 812-265-2920 (Mon & Thu)
- Three worship/office sites in Madison: 413 E. Second St., 305 W. State St., and 301 W. State St.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Edgar Shawe1837–
First resident pastor of Madison; built the first St. Michael's Church beginning 1838 (precursor parish).
- Rev. Anthony Carius1850–
Founding pastor of the German congregation (later St. Mary's); laid the cornerstone Oct. 21, 1850; selected the dedication 'Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.'
- Rev. Joseph Fischer1848 (visiting)
Visiting German priest who came Aug. 2, 1848.
- Rev. Joseph KundekMarch 1851 (visiting)
Pastor of Jasper who assisted the new German parish during its founding.
- Rev. Philipp Doyle1858 (temporary)
Substituted for Fr. Brandt during his absence.
- Rev. Anthony ScheidelerOctober 1860 (2 months)
Assistant at St. Mary's after ordination Oct. 21, 1860.
- Rev. Leonhard (Leonard) Brandt1856–
Ordained Vincennes, Jan. 1, 1853; arrived Madison Feb. 6, 1856; stabilized parish, built steeple (1860) and bell tower.
- Rev. Charles SchafrothApril 1852 – April 1853
Second permanent rector at St. Michael's.
- Rev. Edward MartinovicJuly 1853 – May 1855
Austrian priest who served at St. Michael's.
- Rev. Patrick O'Byrne1837
Attended Madison from Logansport/Mount Pleasant per 1837 Directory.
- Rev. Hippolyte Dupontavice1847–
Pastor of St. Michael's; preached at St. Mary's cornerstone laying, Oct. 21, 1850.
- Rev. Francis Joseph Rudolf1850
Oldenburg; preached in German at St. Mary's cornerstone laying.
- Rev. Jeffrey (Jeff) Charlton1993–
Founding pastor of Prince of Peace Parish when four Jefferson County parishes merged in 1993.
- Rev. Christopher (Chris) Craig2011 – July 2025
Served Jefferson and Switzerland counties for 14 years; oversaw the 'Steeple for the People' $2.4M restoration campaign and refurbishment of the adjacent rectory; ordained June 5, 1993; previously in Columbus, Aurora, and Shelbyville.
- Rev. Eric (Rick) Nagel2025–
Current pastor; previously pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Indianapolis, and Catholic chaplain at IUPUI (12 years); ordained June 2, 2007; native of Rensselaer.