About Saint Francis Xavier · Pierceton, Indiana
Saint Francis Xavier is a small, family-sized Roman Catholic parish tucked into the small town of Pierceton, Indiana (Kosciusko County), in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. Worshiping at 408 W. Catholic Street, the parish runs a tight weekly schedule of weekday, Saturday, and Sunday Masses along with Saturday confessions and monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and it is supported by a roster of lay ministries including Knights of Columbus, a music ministry, a Women's Fellowship, a youth group (the SFX Flames), religious education, and parish-council leadership. The parish traces its origins to 1864, when Pierceton-area Catholics built the original frame church and named it for St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit 'Apostle of the Indies.' More than 160 years later, the same community continues to gather at a 1972-dedicated church whose stained-glass windows, bell, and Stations of the Cross were carried over from that first little building.
- Established
- 1864
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Fr. Daniel Chukwuleta
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier offers a small, personal Catholic community where nearly every member can be known by name. With daily weekday Mass, a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses (plus a third summer Mass at Jellystone Campground), and a monthly Mass at Miller's Merry Manor, the parish keeps Catholic worship close at hand. A solid lineup of lay ministries — Knights of Columbus, Music Ministry, Women's Fellowship, the SFX Flames youth group, Religious Education, RCIA/OCIA, and a Parish Pastoral Council — makes it easy to get involved, while long-standing traditions like the annual Parish Picnic in September, donuts-and-coffee after the first-Sunday Mass, and the Pierceton Days parade float keep the parish woven into the life of the surrounding lakes country.
Mass times at Saint Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00-3:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 8:30-9:30 AM (following 8:00 AM Mass)
Parish History
Saint Francis Xavier was founded in 1864, making it one of the older Catholic communities in Kosciusko County. The parish's own 'About Our Parish' page traces its roots to the creation of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1857 and the missionary ride of Fr. John Ryan from Lagro. Through the financial generosity and construction skills of the first parishioners, the original frame church was built in 1864, additional land was added in 1866 and 1874 (the latter becoming the parish cemetery), and the parish grew from a twice-monthly mission to a thriving community served by its first resident pastor, Fr. Robert Hoevel. The mid-twentieth century brought a parish hall (1950), a rectory house across the street (1953), natural gas to Pierceton, and a centennial celebration in 1964. In 1972 a new church was dedicated by Bishop Crowley with treasured pieces — stained glass, the bell, and the Stations of the Cross — carried over from the 1864 building. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2014.
- 1863: land purchased Dec. 23
- 1864: first frame church completed and named St. Francis Xavier
- 2014: 150th anniversary Mass with Bishop Kevin Rhoades
- 2022: Fr. Charles Herman memorial garden blessed Oct. 2
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The parish keeps a tight and consistent weekly schedule: a daily 8:00 AM Mass Tuesday through Friday, a 4:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass, and a 9:00 AM Sunday Mass, with an additional 7:30 AM Sunday Mass from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 3:45 PM and by appointment. Eucharistic Adoration is held on the first Friday of the month from about 8:30 to 9:30 AM following the 8:00 AM Mass, and the parish also notes a rosary prayed before each 9:00 AM Sunday Mass.
- Weekday Mass Tue-Fri at 8:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM
- Sunday 9:00 AM, plus 7:30 AM Memorial Day-Labor Day
- Confessions Saturday 3:00-3:45 PM or by appointment
- First Friday Adoration 8:30-9:30 AM
Additional Worship Services & Outreach
Beyond the regular Mass schedule, St. Francis Xavier extends its ministry into the wider Pierceton community. On the second Sunday of each month the parish celebrates a 2:00 PM Mass at Miller's Merry Manor, and during summer it offers a 7:30 AM Mass at Jellystone Campground. Wednesdays of Lent bring a 6:00 PM community soup supper followed by 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross. The parish participates in the annual Pierceton Days parade with a float, hosts a Parish Picnic each September, and joins with other area churches for a community dinner every other month on the third Thursday in the parish hall; donations for the food bank are collected at every Sunday Mass.
- Monthly Mass at Miller's Merry Manor
- Summer Mass at Jellystone Campground
- Lenten Soup Supper and Stations of the Cross
- Pierceton Days parade float
- Community dinners every other month
Religious Education & OCIA
Religious Education classes for the parish's children meet in the church basement most Sundays September through April, beginning the Sunday after Labor Day weekend and following the 9:00 AM Mass. Registration is held the Sunday classes begin, with a suggested donation of $20 per child (maximum $60 per family). The parish's website lists grade-level catechists: Greg Rostochak (Pre-K, K, 1st), Sharon DeLong (Grade 2), Dulcie Stevens (Grades 3-6), and Susan Eberhardt (Grades 7-8), with Sharon DeLong serving as Director of Religious Education. Adults preparing for the Catholic sacraments follow the OCIA (formerly RCIA) program, which generally runs on the same schedule as the children's RE; adults are typically baptized and receive First Communion during Lent and the Easter season, with adult confirmation taking place in Fort Wayne or South Bend in late May or early June.
- Director of Religious Education: Sharon DeLong ([email protected])
- Classes meet Sundays Sept.-April after 9:00 AM Mass
- $20/child, $60 family max
- OCIA runs alongside RE; baptism and First Communion at Easter; adult confirmation in late May/early June
Parish Ministries & Groups
A wide range of lay-led ministries keeps the parish active. The Knights of Columbus meet on the first Tuesday of the month for prayer and works of mercy. The Music Ministry welcomes anyone who would like to sing, with special choirs for Christmas and Easter. The Women's Fellowship Group gathers monthly after the First Friday Mass and Adoration for spiritual development, community projects, and fun fellowship events. The SFX Flames youth group (launched in 2016) meets the second and last Sunday after Mass in summer and the second Sunday after RE during the school year. Liturgical roles — Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Ushers, Sacristans, Altar Servers, and the Liturgical Linen Service — are filled by volunteers, supported by the Finance Council, Parish Pastoral Council, and Offertory Counters.
- Knights of Columbus (1st Tuesday)
- Music Ministry with Christmas and Easter choirs
- Women's Fellowship Group
- SFX Flames youth group
- Parish Pastoral Council & Finance Council
- Lectors, EMHCs, Ushers, Sacristans, Altar Servers
Devotions
Devotional life centers on Eucharistic Adoration on the first Friday of the month, the rosary prayed before each 9:00 AM Sunday Mass, and the Lenten observance of Stations of the Cross paired with a community soup supper. The parish also observes Holy Days of Obligation according to the bulletin or website calendar.
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration (8:30-9:30 AM)
- Sunday Rosary before 9:00 AM Mass
- Lenten Stations of the Cross with community soup supper
Sacraments
The parish celebrates Baptism as needed; at least one parent must be a practicing Catholic, at least one godparent must be a practicing Catholic at least 15 years old, and catechesis may be required — arrangements are made through the pastor. Children must have received Baptism, Reconciliation, and First Holy Communion before being trained as altar servers. Adults preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church go through OCIA, with reception of the sacraments typically at Easter and adult confirmation in the diocese's central ceremony in late May or early June.
- Baptism Preparation — contact Father
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00-3:45 PM or by appointment
- First Communion and Confirmation
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the homebound
Facilities & Parish Grounds
The parish campus is centered at 408 W. Catholic Street, Pierceton. The present church building was dedicated in 1972, and the parish hall, built in 1950, originally included an apartment on the west end where the resident pastor lived. The parish cemetery — land first purchased by the parish in 1874 — continues to serve as the resting place for generations of local Catholic families. A diocesan-approved addition to the church was completed in time for Christmas 2016, providing much-needed storage and a relocated space for the musicians during Mass. In 2022 a memorial garden honoring Fr. Charles Herman was built on the grounds and blessed by Bishop Kevin Rhoades.
- 1972 church dedicated by Bishop Crowley
- Parish hall built 1950
- Parish cemetery (land acquired 1874)
- 2016 addition for storage and musicians
- 2022 Fr. Charles Herman memorial garden
Getting Involved
Visitors and parishioners are warmly invited to participate. The parish office can be reached at 574-594-5750 or [email protected], with office hours on Tuesdays from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM and on Thursdays and Fridays by appointment. The parish notes that the voicemail is checked remotely the rest of the week, so callers are asked to wait patiently for the voicemail to pick up when the office is closed. Those wishing to volunteer as catechists, choir members, lectors, or in any of the listed ministries can reach out through the office; the parish welcomes new members, returning Catholics, and visitors to join in any of its worship, fellowship, or service opportunities.
- Parish Office: 574-594-5750 / [email protected]
- Office hours: Tues 10:30 AM-4:30 PM; Thu/Fri by appointment
- Contact pastor at [email protected]
- DRE contact: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Ryan
First priest to visit Pierceton, riding on horseback from Lagro
- Fr. Francis Lawler1860s
Cared for the spiritual welfare of Catholics in and around Pierceton
- Fr. Robert Hoevel
First resident pastor; 29 families registered
- Fr. Thomas Koch1956-1959
- Fr. Joseph Lothamer1959
Served for six months
- Fr. Joseph Crowley1959
Appointed administrator; later became auxiliary bishop
- Fr. James O'Connor1960
About 75 families; natural gas brought into Pierceton during his tenure
- Fr. Eugene Zimmerman1962-1967
Led centennial celebration in 1964; later started St. Martin de Porres in Syracuse
- Fr. Kenneth Sarrazine1976
Appointed pastor of both St. Martin's and St. Francis Xavier
- Fr. Donald Muldoon1981
Administrator; about 80 families
- Fr. Michael Buescher1986
Served temporarily
- Rev. Charles Herman ('Father Chuck')2014-2020
Assigned as full-time priest in 2014 for the 150th anniversary; memorial garden blessed in his honor in 2022
- Fr. Daniel Chukwuleta2021-present
Assigned Pastor effective June 15, 2021, from St. Mary of the Assumption, Avilla