About Saint John the Baptist · Newburgh, Indiana
St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Newburgh, Indiana, in the Diocese of Evansville. Founded by fifteen families in the years just before the Civil War and once known as the "Little Church on the Ohio," it has grown over 160 years into a thriving parish served by a pastor, associate pastor, three deacons, and a full parish and school staff. The parish campus on Frame Road includes a church, parish school, preschool ("Kinder Kountry"), religious education, and outreach ministries serving Warrick County. Its mission statement: 'Be the heart of Jesus by sharing His mercy and love. Be the hands of Jesus by serving one another. Be the feet of Jesus by walking in others' shoes.'
- Established
- 1862 (first Mass); parish formally established 1865 (cornerstone laid) / dedicated 1866
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Claude T. Burns, M.S. (per the Diocese of Evansville 2026 Yearbook); the parish staff page also lists Rev. Thomas Kessler as pastor. A recent diocesan reassignment announced Fr. Crispine Adongo as the incoming pastor effective June 24.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a full sacramental and parish life: weekend and daily Mass, daily Reconciliation opportunities, live-streamed worship, a parish school and preschool (Kinder Kountry), K-8 Religious Education, Order of Christian Initiation for adults, Bible studies and FORMED access, plus outreach to food-insecure students, the bereaved, the homebound, and a sister orphanage. With three deacons, dozens of ministries, and 160+ years of Catholic heritage in Newburgh, it is a place where parishioners can live out the parish mission to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus.
Mass times at Saint John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:30–6:55 AM
- Wednesday 6:30–6:55 AM
- Thursday 5:30–6:15 PM
- Friday 6:30–6:55 AM
- Saturday 8:15–8:55 AM
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM
- Communal services announced; or by appointment
Parish History
Founded over 160 years ago by fifteen families just before the Civil War, St. John the Baptist began when Rev. Francis X. Kutassi offered the first Mass in 1862 at the Newburgh home of Henry Weiss. The cornerstone of the brick church was laid in 1865 by Rev. Henry Hug, O.S.B., and the church was dedicated in August 1866. The parish grew from a 45' x 20' building seating 125 to a thriving parish on an 11-acre Frame Road campus anchored by a school (1954), convent (1956), and the current church (1958).
- First Mass in Newburgh: 1862
- Cornerstone laid: Sept 22, 1865
- Church dedicated: August 1866
- Current church blessed: April 12, 1959
Live Streaming
All Masses are live streamed from the church, and a recording of a weekend Mass is shared on Monday morning for those unable to attend in person.
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, associate pastor, three deacons, and a full administrative, formation, music, facilities, and school staff. The Music Director / Liturgy is Mike Killebrew. School leadership includes Principal Elizabeth Flatt and Preschool Director Julie Swihart (Kinder Kountry).
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas Kessler (per parish website)
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Attila Frohlich
- Business Manager: Paul Keller
- School Principal: Elizabeth Flatt
- Pre-school Director / Kinder Kountry: Julie Swihart
- Director of Accounting: Angie Knust
- Music Director / Liturgy: Mike Killebrew
- R.E. Coordinator / Elementary Director: Connie Schnapf
- RCIA / Landings Director: Beverly Okey
- Marketing / Development: Janice Jillson
- Buildings & Grounds Coordinator: Chad Bennett
- Deacon Vince Bernardin
- Deacon Joe Seibert
- Deacon Tony Schapker
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Office of Faith Formation coordinates Parish Religious Education and preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. K-5 classes meet Wednesdays 4:00–5:00 PM; Grades 6-8 meet Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM (September–April). The parish also offers the Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA) for adults, the Landings program for returning Catholics, Adult Faith Formation, DeSales Bible study, and free access to FORMED digital content.
- Parish Religious Education (K-8)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults
- Landings — returning Catholics
- Adult Faith Formation
- DeSales Bible study
- FORMED digital platform (free)
St. John the Baptist School
The parish school opened in September 1940 with 71 students and six graduates that first year. The current school building was constructed in 1954 on the Frame Road campus as part of the 1950s expansion. School Principal is Elizabeth Flatt (812-490-2000). A preschool program called Kinder Kountry is directed by Julie Swihart (812-490-3000).
- School opened: September 1940
- New school built: 1954
- Principal: Elizabeth Flatt
- Preschool / Kinder Kountry Director: Julie Swihart
Community Outreach Ministries
St. John the Baptist runs an active community outreach program. The Backpack Program, supported by parishioner donations, provides weekend food to food-insecure students in four local schools — volunteers sort, pack, and distribute more than 150 blue bags of nutritional, shelf-stable food each week during the school year. Other outreach includes nursing home ministry, bereavement ministry, St. Vincent de Paul, and a sister-parish relationship with an overseas orphanage.
- Backpack Program — 150+ bags per week to 4 schools
- Nursing Home ministry
- Bereavement ministry
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Sister parish / orphanage outreach
Visiting & FAQ
Visitors are welcomed and not expected to contribute to the offering; regular members are invited to prayerfully consider tithing by check, cash, or online giving. Parking is available on all sides of the church, with accessible parking outside the main doors near the bell arch and on the north side near the awning, which leads to the accessible entrance. To register as a parishioner, contact the parish office at 812-490-1000.
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed 12–1 PM for lunch)
- Summer hours: office closes at noon on Fridays in June and July
- Accessible entrance on the north awning side
- Online giving available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis X. Kutassi1862 (first Mass; pastor of Holy Trinity, Evansville)
Offered the first Mass in Newburgh at the home of Henry Weiss
- Rev. Henry Hug, O.S.B.1865
Laid the cornerstone Sept 22, 1865
- Rev. Bernard H. Kintrup1867–1869
First resident pastor; first baptisms recorded
- Rev. Fred Mueller1869–1874
- Rev. Joseph Merckle1874–1875
Purchased organ, chalice, vestments
- Rev. Alexander Koesters1875–1877
- Rev. John McCabe1878
- Rev. Clement J. Conrad1878–1887
- Msgr. Theodore S. Mesker1887–1888
- Rev. Charles Stricker1888–1890
- Rev. Joseph E. Hegger1889
- Rev. Edward J. Schmitt1890–1893
Added vestments, tin roof, painted steeple; acquired cemetery
- Rev. Charles J. Wagner1893–1904
Enlarged church 32 feet, added arched sanctuary and sacristy
- Rev. Michael Wagner1904–1906
- Rev. Mattias Schmitz1906–1914
- Rev. E.J. Zirkelbach1915–1917
- Rev. Paul Bleuel1918–1920
- Msgr. Herbert Winterhalter1920–1937
- Rev. Emil Goosens1937
- Rev. William Davis1937
- Rev. Francis Mellen1938–
First full-time resident pastor; oversaw growth, new rectory, school opening 1940
- Rev. James H. Rogers1952–
Led expansion: 11-acre Frame Road site, school (1954), convent (1956), church (1958)
- Rev. Leo Kiesel & Rev. Francis Schroering1970
Appointed co-pastors
- Rev. David Kissel1979–1982
With associate Rev. Joseph Kirsch
- Rev. William Schwenk1982–1987
- Rev. Joseph L. Ziliak1987–2012
Led parish-wide assessment and major expansion project
- Rev. Thomas J. Kessler2012–2020
Retired June 2020
- Rev. Claude 'Dusty' Burns, M.S.2020–2025
Installed by Bishop Joseph Siegel on Aug 2, 2020