About Saint Bernard · Rockport, Indiana
Saint Bernard Catholic Parish in Rockport, Indiana is a Eucharistic-centered Roman Catholic community serving Spencer County within the Diocese of Evansville. It is clustered with Saint Martin I Parish in nearby Chrisney. The parish operates the only remaining Catholic school in Spencer and Perry Counties — Saint Bernard Catholic School, which offers Preschool, Pre-K, and grades K–8 — and the historic church at 547 Elm Street is noted for its stained-glass windows, statues, and Stations of the Cross.
- Established
- 1849
- Patron
- Saint Bernard (of Clairvaux)
- Rector
- Father Jaison Kuzhiyil (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
Saint Bernard welcomes all who wish to worship in a community centered on the Eucharist, with daily and weekend Masses in a historic church adorned with stained glass, statues, and the Stations of the Cross. Families with children benefit from Saint Bernard Catholic School — the only remaining Catholic school in Spencer and Perry Counties — offering Preschool, Pre-K, and K–8 in a safe Christian environment. A cluster with Saint Martin I in Chrisney keeps the parishes rooted in small-town Spencer County while sharing faith formation, OCIA, and a network of lay ministries for service, outreach, and fellowship.
Mass times at Saint Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30–5:50 p.m. (St. Bernard, Rockport)
- Wednesday 7:30–7:45 a.m. (St. Bernard, Rockport)
- Friday 7:30–7:45 a.m. (St. Bernard, Rockport)
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 p.m. (St. Bernard, Rockport)
- By appointment — call the Cluster Parishes Office at 812-649-4811
About Saint Bernard Catholic Parish
Saint Bernard Catholic Parish in Rockport, Indiana is a Eucharistic-centered community of faith in the Diocese of Evansville. Its stated mission is to welcome all, excel in lifelong religious education, hospitality, outreach, and stewardship. The parish is clustered with Saint Martin I Parish in Chrisney and shares pastoral leadership, ministry, and faith formation across Spencer County.
- Clustered parishes: Saint Bernard (Rockport) and Saint Martin I (Chrisney)
- Diocese of Evansville
- Cluster Parishes Office located adjacent to Saint Bernard Church
History of Saint Bernard Catholic Church
The parish's story began in 1849, when Father Joseph Kundeck of Jasper found four Catholic families in Rockport — the Kerstiens, Bresslars, Walters, and Kluehs — and arranged monthly Mass at the Kerstien home. By 1850 twelve families were counted; General Williamson donated land at 6th and Elm, and Bernard H. Walters underwrote the $687 cost of the first small brick church, giving the parish its name.
- 1849 — Mission begun by visiting priests from Jasper, Saint Meinrad, and Cannelton
- 1850 — Cornerstone laid for the first brick church (6th and Elm)
- 1874 — Father John William Book arrives as resident pastor
- 1875–1876 — Larger brick church built and dedicated; old church converted to a school
- 1877 — Benedictine Sisters of Ferdinand open an academy boarding school on Bosler Hill (closed 1892)
- 1911 — Father Francis X. Schaub named pastor and administrator of Saint Martin's mission in Chrisney
- 1917 — New Year's Day fire destroys church interior; parish worships temporarily at the German Evangelical church on 5th Street
- 1917–1918 — Surviving walls rebuilt, interior changed from Romanesque to Gothic
- 1949 — Father Joseph Brown directs construction of the new brick school along Pearl Street (105 students)
- 1960–1961 — Father Michael O.J. Wolf razes the old school and opens an eight-classroom addition (202 students)
- 1985 — Additional classrooms, offices, and teacher's lounge added
- 1999 — Two-room classroom added to accommodate enrollment
Clergy & Parish Staff
The cluster is currently led by Administrator Father Jaison Kuzhiyil (ordained December 27, 2004), who was assigned by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel effective June 25, 2024. He succeeded Father Ron Kreilein, who resigned and moved to senior priest status. The parish is also served by three permanent deacons and a team of lay staff overseeing parish operations, religious education, OCIA, the parish business office, and the school.
- Father Jaison Kuzhiyil — Administrator
- Deacon Johnny Sherfick
- Deacon Mike Waninger
- Deacon Paul Schulte
- Lori Chew — Business Manager
- Carolyn Thorpe — Parish Secretary
- Parish Catechetical Leader (unnamed on staff page excerpt)
- Ryan Nowak — School Principal
- Kathy Schlachter — School Secretary
Saint Bernard Catholic School & Preschool
Saint Bernard Catholic School in Rockport welcomes families of all faiths from Spencer County and surrounding areas. Its mission is to educate the whole child to serve the world as a responsible Christian in a safe Christian environment. It is the only remaining Catholic school in Spencer and Perry Counties and offers Preschool, Pre-K, and grades K–8. The school's website is stbernardschool.org.
- Preschool and Pre-K programs
- Grades K–8
- Only remaining Catholic school in Spencer and Perry Counties
- Principal: Ryan Nowak
- School Secretary: Kathy Schlachter
- Phone: 812-649-2501
- More info: stbernardschool.org
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish supports lifelong religious education for children and adults through its school, parish catechetical programming, and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those seeking to enter the Catholic Church.
- Parish Catechetical Leader on staff
- OCIA Coordinator: Carolyn Thorpe
- Religious education through the school (K–8)
Ministries & Parish Life
The parish describes its ministries as 'the heart of our community,' organized around service, outreach, and fellowship. The website invites visitors to explore how they can get involved, grow in faith, and make a difference.
- Liturgical and music ministries
- Hospitality and outreach
- Stewardship
- School and parish faith formation
- Clustered ministry with Saint Martin I, Chrisney
Visit, Contact & Register
Guests are invited to attend Mass and to register as parishioners by contacting the Cluster Parishes Office, located adjacent to Saint Bernard Church. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Address: 547 Elm St., Rockport, IN 47635
- Cluster Office: 812-649-4811
- School: 812-649-2501
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Kundeck1849–visiting
Of Jasper, Ind.; first priest to visit and find the four founding Catholic families in Rockport.
- Father John William Book1874–
Moved to Rockport in January 1874; oversaw construction of the 1876 brick church and conversion of the old church into a school.
- Father Francis X. Schaub1911–
Appointed pastor in 1911; also administrator of Saint Martin's mission in Chrisney; expanded the rectory and school.
- Father Joseph Brown1949 (school construction)
Directed the building of the new brick school along Pearl Street, opened in fall 1949.
- Father Michael O.J. Wolf1960–1961+
Oversaw the razing of the old brick school and the 1961 eight-classroom addition.
- Father Andrew Bastnagel
Oversaw a frame addition to the old brick church-school so all students were under one roof.
- Father Ron Kreileinresigned 2024
Resigned as pastor in June 2024 and moved to senior priest status.
- Father Jaison Kuzhiyil2024–present
Assigned by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel as Administrator effective June 25, 2024.