About Saint Boniface Parish · Evansville, Indiana
Saint Boniface Parish is a Catholic territorial parish in the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana, formed on July 1, 2014 by the decree of Bishop Charles Thompson (issued September 27, 2013) through the merger of the former St. Boniface Parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, and St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr Parish. The combined parish worships in three historic churches on Evansville's west side — St. Boniface Church (418 N. Wabash Ave.), Sacred Heart Church (2701 W. Franklin St.), and St. Agnes Church (1600 Glendale Ave.) — with the parish office at 1626 Glendale Ave. The parish also operates Westside Catholic School, with campuses on the St. Agnes and St. Boniface sites. Its mission statement reads: 'As witnesses of Jesus Christ, we share the Gospel, form disciples, and enrich the lives of others. Rooted in Catholic Faith, we care for the people, places, and resources entrusted to us by God.'
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- St. Boniface of Mainz
- Rector
- Fr. Christopher Droste
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
St. Boniface Parish brings together three historic west-side Evansville congregations — a German-heritage parish (St. Boniface), an Irish-heritage parish (Sacred Heart), and a railroad-village parish (St. Agnes) — under one roof family of three living worship sites. Members can choose from daily and weekly Masses across three sanctuaries plus a Traditional Latin Mass every Sunday at noon, and benefit from a parish school (Westside Catholic School) with two campuses, an active Religious Education program, and the historic Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto used for weekday liturgy. It is a place where 19th-century immigrant Catholicism, a National-Register-listed church, and contemporary parish life continue side by side.
Mass times at Saint Boniface Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:30–7:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church
- Tuesday 7:30–8:00 AM at St. Boniface
- Wednesday 5:00–5:30 PM at St. Boniface
- Thursday 7:30–8:00 AM at St. Agnes
- Friday 7:00–7:30 AM at Sacred Heart
- Saturday 7:30–8:00 AM at the Grotto
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM at St. Agnes
- Sunday 7:00–7:30 AM at Sacred Heart
- Sunday 9:30–10:00 AM at St. Boniface
Adoration times
- First Friday of the Month, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Sacred Heart Church
- Monday 6:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church
Parish History
Saint Boniface Parish was canonically established on July 1, 2014 by the decree of Bishop Charles Thompson of the Diocese of Evansville, issued September 27, 2013. It is a territorial parish formed from the merger of the former St. Boniface Parish (serving the German-speaking Catholics of Independence), the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish (serving the Irish Catholics of Independence), and the former St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr Parish (serving the railroad-village faithful of Howell). All three historic churches remain open and in regular use, and the cultures and traditions of the three former parishes continue to shape the prayer and ministry of the present-day parish.
- Decree of merger issued Sept. 27, 2013; took effect July 1, 2014
- Last pastors of the three former parishes — Fr. Kenneth Herr (St. Boniface) and Fr. David Nunning (Sacred Heart and St. Agnes) — retired June 30, 2014
- Deacon David Seibert appointed Parish Life Coordinator at founding
History of the Three Churches
Although the merged St. Boniface Parish is barely a decade old, the three worship sites that make it up are deeply historic. Together they preserve more than 140 years of immigrant Catholic life on Evansville's west side.
St. Boniface Church (1881)
The original St. Boniface Parish was established in 1881 for the German-speaking Catholic families of Independence. The first temporary frame church was begun February 1, 1880; Bishop Chatard received the deed for the Wabash Avenue property on January 4, 1880 and appointed Rev. William Bultmann as founding pastor. The cornerstone of the first grand church was laid September 4, 1881 and the building was dedicated April 27, 1882. The present church was built in 1902 to replace that structure after it was destroyed by fire in March 1902, and it remains the only Catholic church in Evansville listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, dedicated in 1914, lies below the church and is still used for weekday Mass and occasional baptisms.
- Founded 1881 for German-speaking Catholics
- Original 1881–1882 church replaced by 1902 church after 1902 fire
- Only Evansville Catholic church on the National Register of Historic Places
- Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto dedicated 1914
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (1885)
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish was established in 1885 by Bishop Chatard of Indianapolis to serve the Irish Catholic families of Independence. The present church, built in 1928 and dedicated in April 1929, was modeled on the Chapel of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago. Rev. William Bastnagel completed the rectory in 1940 and Rev. Clemens Hut became pastor in 1948, directing construction of the present church; parish volunteers built a sandstone bell tower alongside it using the original bell from the previous church. The bell was renovated in 1979 and the church interior was remodeled in 1980. A new school was built in 1964 and Ryves Hall was added in 2001.
- Established 1885 by Bishop Chatard
- Present church (1928) modeled on Mundelein Seminary chapel
- Volunteer-built sandstone bell tower using original bell
- School built 1964; Ryves Hall added 2001
St. Agnes Church (1892)
St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr Parish was established in 1892 as a missionary parish serving the small railroad community of Howell, originally tended by Rev. Patrick Fitzpatrick of Sacred Heart. A small wood-framed church was built that year on the corner of Egmont Street and Barker Avenue. In 1906 the parish received its first resident pastor, Rev. Francis Ryves; in 1910 a new combined church-and-school building was constructed with the church on the upper floor. The present St. Agnes Church was built in 1952 and officially dedicated in January 1953. Today it is one of three regular weekend Mass sites of the merged St. Boniface Parish.
- Established 1892 in the railroad community of Howell
- First resident pastor Rev. Francis Ryves (1906); Ryves Hall named for him
- Present church built 1952, dedicated January 1953
Sacraments
Information on the parish's seven sacraments is published on the official website, including Baptism (with baptisms occasionally celebrated in Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto), Confirmation, Reconciliation (Confession — heard 30 minutes before every Mass), and Marriage (Wedding). Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education office.
- Baptism — preparation available; occasionally celebrated in the Grotto
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Confession) — 30 minutes before each Mass
- Marriage (Wedding)
- First Communion / First Reconciliation via Religious Education
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Christopher Droste (Pastor) with Fr. Lowell Will serving as Senior Priest in Residence and Deacon Rocky Mattingly as Parish Deacon. Parish operations are supported by Jenny Mayer (Director of Religious Education), Jamie Wicks (Director of Operations), Denise Lehman (Bookkeeper), and Erin Gries (Administrative Assistant). Westside Catholic School is staffed jointly across two campuses.
- Pastor: Fr. Christopher Droste
- Senior Priest in Residence: Fr. Lowell Will
- Parish Deacon: Deacon Rocky Mattingly
- Director of Religious Education: Jenny Mayer
- Director of Operations: Jamie Wicks
- Bookkeeper: Denise Lehman
- Administrative Assistant: Erin Gries
Westside Catholic School
Saint Boniface Parish operates Westside Catholic School across two campuses — St. Agnes Campus (principal Sr. Catherine Stewart) and St. Boniface Campus (principal Jessica Zavala). The school traces its roots to the parish schools historically attached to each of the three former parishes, including the original 1881 school building at St. Boniface and the 1964 Sacred Heart school with its 2001 Ryves Hall addition.
- St. Agnes Campus principal: Sr. Catherine Stewart
- St. Boniface Campus principal: Jessica Zavala
- School roots: 1881 (St. Boniface), 1906+ (St. Agnes), 1964/2001 (Sacred Heart)
Getting Involved & Newcomers
The parish welcomes newcomers, visitors, and long-time parishioners alike to attend Mass at any of its three churches. Newcomers can register by downloading the parish registration form from the official website and returning it to the Parish Office, the collection basket, or via email to [email protected]. Parish life includes a quilting ministry, Bible studies, the Catholic Ministries Appeal campaign, Religious Education, and the broader parish school community.
- Parish registration form available online
- Email registration returns to [email protected]
- Active quilting and Bible study ministries
Locations & Contact
All three churches and the parish office are clustered on Evansville's west side. The parish office at 1626 Glendale Ave. is open Monday through Thursday (hours vary slightly between 7:30 AM–3:00 PM and 8:00 AM–4:00 PM across listings). The single parish phone number, 812-423-1721, reaches the office and the staff listed above; the general email is [email protected].
- Parish Office: 1626 Glendale Ave., Evansville, IN 47712
- St. Boniface Church: 418 N. Wabash Ave., Evansville, IN 47712
- Sacred Heart Church: 2701 W. Franklin St., Evansville, IN 47712
- St. Agnes Church: 1600 Glendale Ave., Evansville, IN 47712
- Phone: 812-423-1721 • Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Bultmann1880 – founding
First pastor of the original St. Boniface Parish, appointed by Bishop Chatard.
- Rev. Patrick Fitzpatrick1885 –
First pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish; also served the missionary St. Agnes community.
- Rev. Francis Ryves1906 –
First resident pastor of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr Parish; the parish school building 'Ryves Hall' is named for him.
- Rev. William Bastnagelby 1940
Completed the Sacred Heart rectory.
- Rev. Clemens Hut1948 –
Directed the building of the present Sacred Heart Church and oversaw the volunteer-built sandstone bell tower.
- Fr. Kenneth Herrretired June 30, 2014
Last pastor of the former St. Boniface Parish.
- Fr. David Nunningretired June 30, 2014
Last pastor of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Agnes parishes.
- Deacon David Seibert2014 –
Appointed Parish Life Coordinator to lead newly-formed St. Boniface Parish.
- Fr. Brian Emmick2014
First Associate Pastor of the merged St. Boniface Parish.
- Fr. Phil Kreilein2014 –
First Moderator of the merged St. Boniface Parish.
- Fr. Simon NathaDec 2014 – Jun 2016
Replaced Fr. Emmick as Associate Pastor.
- Fr. Anthony GovindJun 2016 –
Replaced Fr. Natha.
- Fr. Christopher Drostepresent
Current Pastor of St. Boniface Parish.