About Saint John the Evangelist · Evansville, Indiana
St. John the Evangelist Parish, popularly known as "St. John Daylight," is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana, located at 5301 Daylight Drive in the northern suburbs of Evansville. Founded in 1868 by a small but tightly knit group of German immigrant families, the parish has served its community through three dioceses and over two dozen pastors, and today is a flourishing community of more than 600 families. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, a robust Eucharistic Adoration schedule including a perpetual adoration chapel, an active parochial school-age religious education program, the Daylight Discovery Preschool, and a wide range of lay ministries and apostolates.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle and Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher (Chris) Forler
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville (South Deanery)
Why belong here
St. John Daylight offers a rich liturgical and devotional life, including daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday vigil and Sunday morning Masses each preceded by a community Rosary, frequent Confession throughout the week, a Wednesday Holy Hour of Adoration, and the Saint Clare Perpetual Adoration Chapel open 24 hours. Families find a full K-8 religious education program with sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, plus a vibrant youth ministry and the Daylight Discovery Preschool. An array of parish groups — Knights of Columbus, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Gabriel Project, Respect Life, Magnificat Moms, Troops of St. George, Ex Nihilo Young Adult Ministry, Adult and Children's Choirs, Men's Club, and the St. Anne Altar Society — give every parishioner a place to serve, build friendships, and grow in holiness.
Mass times at Saint John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Wednesday: 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
- Thursday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Friday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Saturday (First Saturdays only): 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Sunday: 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM and 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
- Monday: 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (Adoration in Church before Mass)
- Saint Clare Perpetual Adoration Chapel — 24 hours a day (call 812-867-3718 to sign up)
History of St. John the Evangelist
The parish was founded in 1868 by German immigrant families in Elberfeld, just north of Evansville. For more than a century it served as a rural farming community, but as Evansville's northern suburbs grew the parish relocated and opened its present church in Daylight in 1987. Over 150 years the parish has been part of three dioceses — Vincennes, Indianapolis, and since 1944 Evansville — and has been shepherded by more than two dozen pastors.
- Founded 1868 in Elberfeld by German immigrant families
- New church in Daylight opened 1987
- Has been part of the Diocese of Evansville since 1944
- Today serves more than 600 families
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. John Daylight is pastored by Father Christopher Forler, with Father Aaron Herrenbruck serving as Parochial Vicar. Two deacons — Vince Bernardin and Lonny Davis — assist with ministry. The lay staff supports liturgy, faith formation, youth ministry, music, the parish office, finances, and the preschool.
- Rev. Christopher Forler — Pastor (ordained May 31, 2008)
- Rev. Aaron Herrenbruck — Parochial Vicar (ordained June 14, 2025)
- Deacon Vince (Vincent) Bernardin
- Deacon Lonny Davis
- Mary Shetler — Parish Catechetical Leader / Youth Minister
- Cora Kirsch — Middle School Youth Minister
- Marie Dasher — OCIA Coordinator
- Jason Allen — Director of Music / Liturgy
- Alicia Taylor — Parish Office Manager
- Bernadette (Berny) Heitzman — Parish Office Manager (directory listing)
- Bob Bindley — Bookkeeper
- Jenny Barry — Parish Secretary
- Jane Young — Secretary
- George Smiljanich — Building Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education for kindergarten through 8th grade meets on Sundays from 8:30 to 9:45 AM. The program includes Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children beginning at age 3, as well as sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (using the Renewed and Received curriculum) and Confirmation preparation for older students. Children must attend at least 75% of Religious Ed. classes and regularly attend Sunday Mass to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist through the parish.
- K–8 Religious Education — Sundays, 8:30–9:45 AM
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (age 3 and up) in the Good Shepherd Room
- First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation (typically 2nd grade)
- Confirmation preparation for teens
- Contact: Mary Shetler, [email protected], (812) 867-3718
Youth Ministry
The parish offers a separate youth ministry program led by Mary Shetler (Parish Catechetical Leader/Youth Minister) and Cora Kirsch (Middle School Youth Minister). Activities span middle and high schoolers, and the program integrates sacramental preparation, retreats, and fellowship for Confirmation candidates and other teens.
- St. John Youth Group — contact Mary Shetler at (812) 459-4420 or [email protected]
- Middle School Youth Ministry led by Cora Kirsch
- Registration packet covers Youth Ministry, Religious Education, and Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
Daylight Discovery Preschool
The parish operates Daylight Discovery Preschool, a Pre-K program that shares space in the parish's new building. The preschool is staffed by parish employees and offers a Catholic early-childhood environment for parish families and the wider community.
- Director / Pre-K Teacher: Traci Davis
- Pre-K Teacher: Becky Lasher
- Pre-K Teacher: Kassie Dus
- Pre-K Teacher: Lisa Wagner
- Teaching Assistant: Marie Hartmann
- Afternoon / After School Care Director: Melissa Fox
- Contact: (812) 867-3718
Music & Liturgy
Jason Allen serves as Director of Music and Liturgy. Two parish choirs — the Adult Choir and the Children's/Youth Choir — lead music at Sunday Mass, holy days, and major liturgical seasons. The choirs welcome singers of all experience levels.
- Adult Choir — Tuesdays, 6:00 PM; typically sings the 10 AM Sunday Mass twice monthly and on Holy Days
- Children's / Youth Choir (ages 8–14) — Tuesdays, 4:00 PM; leads the 10 AM Mass on the first Sunday of each month plus All Saints Day, Christmas Eve, and Palm Sunday
- Music / Liturgy Director: Jason Allen
Parish Groups & Apostolates
St. John Daylight has an unusually rich mix of parish groups spanning men's, women's, family, young adult, pro-life, fraternal, service, and outdoor apostolates. Most groups meet regularly in the St. Anthony Room, Good Shepherd Room, St. Elizabeth Room, or the parish gym.
- Knights of Columbus Council 14659 — meets first Thursday, 6:45 PM, St. Anthony Room
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — meets second Monday, 4:00 PM, St. Elizabeth Room
- St. Anne Altar Society — quarterly meetings, St. Anthony Room, 6:00 PM; supports altar needs and outreach through Kuchen sales and dumpling sales
- Men's Club — first Monday (except May–July), Parish Gym, 6:00 PM
- Magnificat Moms — mothers' faith and fellowship community
- Ex Nihilo Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–35) — meets second Thursday, 6:00 PM (St. Anthony Room) and fourth Thursday, 9:00 AM (Good Shepherd Room)
- Gabriel Project — pro-life support and referrals to community resources and St. Vincent de Paul
- Respect Life Ministry — sponsors a table at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life Banquet each April
- Troops of St. George Troop 10 — parish-sponsored Catholic father-and-son outdoor apostolate open to families across the Diocese of Evansville
- Prayer Chain Ministry — daily prayer support emailed to volunteers
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments and runs sacramental preparation programs for children, youth, and adults through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), coordinated by Marie Dasher.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (Renewed and Received curriculum)
- Confirmation (youth and adult)
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Marie Dasher
Getting Involved
Beyond the formal ministries, the parish actively invites parishioners to register, volunteer, and join the Prayer Chain or one of its many lay groups. Most groups list a contact person and meeting time on the parish website's Groups page.
- Register as a parishioner through the Join the Parish page
- Join the Prayer Chain by emailing Jenny Barry
- Volunteer for Religious Education, Youth Ministry, music, or a service apostolate
- Sign up to be a regular adorer in the Saint Clare Perpetual Adoration Chapel (call the parish office)
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish office is open Monday through Friday and can be reached at (812) 867-3718. The church is located at 5301 Daylight Drive, Evansville, IN 47725-7636, with convenient access from I-69 (Exit 15 to Boonville New Harmony Rd.) or from US-41 (east on IN-57, then via Boonville New Harmony Rd. and Green River Rd. to Daylight Drive).
- Address: 5301 Daylight Dr., Evansville, IN 47725-7636
- Phone: (812) 867-3718
- Website: www.catholicdaylight.org
- Office Manager: Alicia Taylor; Bernadette (Berny) Heitzman
- Secretaries: Jenny Barry, Jane Young
- Bookkeeper: Bob Bindley
- Building Maintenance: George Smiljanich