About Resurrection · Evansville, Indiana
Resurrection Catholic Parish is a friendly, family-oriented Catholic community on the west side of Evansville, Indiana, in the Diocese of Evansville. Founded in 1954, the parish operates Resurrection Catholic School (Preschool through 8th grade, serving more than 400 students) and offers weekend and weekday Mass, Reconciliation, faith formation for all ages, and a growing youth ministry. Its mission is to pass on Christian values and Catholic traditions by tending to the spiritual, physical, and educational needs of all through worship and stewardship.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Jerry Pratt
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
Resurrection is a close-knit, family-oriented Catholic community on Evansville's west side where members are known by name and welcomed into a working parish. A parish-run school (Preschool through 8th grade) and active Religious Education program make it an ideal home for young families, while adults can grow through OCIA, Bible studies (including a Moms Morning Bible study), monthly parish-wide Eucharistic Adoration, and Welcome retreat weekends. A brand-new, part-time middle-school youth ministry launched in 2024, and ministries across faith formation, school, and outreach give every parishioner a place to serve.
Mass times at Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monthly parish-wide Eucharistic Adoration on the third Thursday of each month through the school year
Parish History
The parish's roots reach to 1853, when five and a half acres on New Harmony Road were donated to Bishop St. Palais for a parish church and school. A mission known as St. Margaret was established, with monthly services in a log-and-frame school/chapel. After the original school was abandoned in the 1880s and the teacherage later destroyed by fire, the property went idle until Bishop Henry J. Grimmelsman, on August 7, 1954, designated it as the Church of the Resurrection and assigned Rev. Roman F. Vollmer as its first pastor.
- 1853: Original 5½ acres purchased for $110 and donated to Bishop St. Palais; mission known as St. Margaret established.
- Early 1880s: School abandoned; property later known as the 'Bishop's Ground.'
- August 7, 1954: Parish of the Resurrection created; Rev. Roman F. Vollmer named first pastor.
- November 22, 1954: Cornerstone laid for the new church.
- April 28, 1955: Additional 6½ acres purchased from Louis Happe.
- January 10, 1957: First kindergarten class held in the rectory basement.
- 1963–64: Resurrection School opens, taught at first by the Sisters of St. Benedict.
- November 1, 1981: Present church dedicated; old church converted to a gym.
- 1987: Four new rooms added to the school.
- 1996–97: Old church/gym razed; new school addition (offices, 7 classrooms, preschool area, gymnasium) dedicated August 9, 1997.
- 1999: 2.75 acres purchased for future growth.
- August 7, 2004: Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger celebrates 50th Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving.
- 2008–onward: Three-year Renovation Fund Drive retires $133,000 of debt, expands upper parking lot, and replaces the church and rectory roofs.
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for Baptism, Marriage, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and full initiation through OCIA. Parents are encouraged to register for Baptism preparation in the second trimester, and engaged couples are asked to contact the parish at least six months before their wedding. Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and First Communion takes place in the second grade at Resurrection Catholic School.
- Baptism: monthly class at 9:30 a.m. led by Deacon Dan Niemeier or Deacon Ed Walker
- Marriage: contact Deb Mitchell (Director of Development) at least six months in advance; assigned a marriage mentor couple
- First Reconciliation & First Communion: prepared in second grade through Resurrection School
- OCIA: classes begin each Fall for adults seeking initiation
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Jerry Pratt and served by two deacons and a dedicated lay staff who direct faith formation, school, finance, development, and operations. The full Parish Council and Finance Council provide advisory and stewardship oversight.
- Fr. Jerry Pratt — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Ed Walker — Pastoral Associate ([email protected])
- Deacon Dan Niemeier — Clergy ([email protected])
- Courtney Ethridge — Principal, Resurrection Catholic School ([email protected])
- Annie-Rose Keith — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Beth Hebbeler — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Deb Mitchell — Director of Development ([email protected])
- Glenn Smith — Director of Operations ([email protected])
Resurrection Catholic School
Resurrection Catholic School has served families on Evansville's west side since 1963 and today educates more than 400 students in Preschool through 8th grade. The school is central to parish life: faith, prayer, and sacramental preparation are woven into every grade, and graduates often return as parishioners, school staff, and volunteers.
- Opened 1963–64, originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Benedict
- Serves more than 400 students, Preschool through 8th grade
- Principal Courtney Ethridge (a former Resurrection School 7th/8th grade Language Arts teacher) took the helm in 2025
- Religion textbook series: Augustine Institute's Word of Life (Grades 1–8)
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and First Communion in second grade
- School Resource Officer on staff
- Volunteer opportunities: classroom, lunch, office, extracurricular, and sports coaching
Faith Formation & Spiritual Life
Faith formation at Resurrection is offered for every age and stage. Children not enrolled at the parish school can attend Religious Education classes, while adults find community through OCIA, a Moms Morning Bible study, periodic Bible studies, monthly parish-wide Eucharistic Adoration, and annual Welcome retreat weekends for men and women. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 10:30 am Mass for PreK–2nd graders, and Vacation Bible School is held each summer in partnership with St. Joe parish.
- Religious Education for public-school and homeschooled K–9 students (every other Sunday at 9 a.m.)
- OCIA classes begin each Fall
- Moms Morning Bible Study (Thursday mornings in the church cry room)
- Monthly Eucharistic Adoration on the third Thursday
- Annual Welcome retreat weekends for men and women
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 10:30 am Mass
- Summer Vacation Bible School (in partnership with St. Joe parish)
- Weekend faith-formation prayer kits for elementary-aged children during summer
Youth Ministry
After years without a dedicated program, Resurrection relaunched a middle-school youth group in 2024 in response to requests from parish families. The new part-time youth minister, Aubree Beyer, is a lifelong Resurrection parishioner and Resurrection Catholic School alumna (Preschool through 8th grade) and a North Posey High School graduate. All adult volunteers must complete a background check and Safe Environment training.
- Part-time youth minister: Aubree Beyer ([email protected])
- Open to middle-school students seeking faith-based community and fun activities
- Volunteers must complete background check and Safe Environment training
Parish Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
Resurrection's ministries range from sacramental accompaniment (Baptism Partner Couples, Marriage Mentor Couples) to school and faith-formation support, hospitality, and outreach. A published ministries PDF connects volunteers with contact people for each role.
- Baptism Partner Couple (contact: Deacon Ed Walker)
- Marriage Mentor Couple (contact: Deb Mitchell)
- Religious Education Instructor (contact: Annie-Rose Keith)
- Classroom, lunch, office, extracurricular, and sports coaching volunteers (contact: Lindsey Hurt / Adam Wildeman)
- Vacation Bible School volunteer (contact: Annie-Rose Keith)
- Alumni Relations — forming a Resurrection alumni association (contact: Joe Berendes)
- Pizza with the Pastor — homemade cookies (contact: Deb Mitchell)
Parish Council & Finance Council
Lay leadership at Resurrection is organized through a Parish Council, which meets on the last Tuesday of each month to advise the pastor on pastoral planning, and a Finance Council, which meets monthly to steward the parish's finances.
- Parish Council Chair: Rusty Schimmell; Secretary: Melissa Miller
- Finance Council Chair: Lacy Bender
- Both councils include the pastor, deacons, principal, and director-level staff, plus at-large and community members
Visit, Join & Contact
Newcomers are warmly invited to register as parishioners through an online registration form on the parish website; staff then follow up to officially welcome each family. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
- Address: 5301 New Harmony Road, Evansville, IN 47720
- Parish Office phone: 812-963-3121
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- New-parishioner registration form available on resurrectionevv.com
- School phone: 812-963-6148 (Resurrection Catholic School)
- Diocese: Diocese of Evansville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Roman F. Vollmer1954–
First pastor of the newly-created Church of the Resurrection, assigned by Bishop Henry J. Grimmelsman on August 7, 1954.