About Saint Joseph · Evansville, Indiana
Saint Joseph Parish is a Roman Catholic community located about eight miles northwest of Evansville, Indiana, in the Diocese of Evansville. Founded in 1841 by German immigrant settlers and originally a mission parish of the Diocese of Vincennes, St. Joseph has grown from fifteen families to roughly 530 families today. The parish operates a parish school (K–8), an active religious education program, a historic cemetery, and a thriving Haiti mission outreach to its sister parish of St. James in Plaine du Nord. Parishioners describe themselves as a community of "joyful, active, faith-filled people who give thanks to God by generously sharing their individual gifts and talents."
- Established
- 1841
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Gene Schroeder
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, multigenerational rural parish where parishioners can be involved in nearly every aspect of parish life—from school, religious education, and Confirmation preparation, to the parish cemetery, lawn-care crews, and an active Haiti mission outreach to its sister parish of St. James in Plaine du Nord. The pastor also offers spiritual direction and a six-month marriage preparation process, and Eucharistic Adoration is part of parish life. With Mass celebrated several times each week, confession every Saturday, and a Catholic grade school next door, St. Joseph offers the kind of close-knit community in which members know one another by name.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm (regularly scheduled)
- By appointment with the pastor
- Penance Services are celebrated during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered (refer to the parish Eucharist page for current schedule)
Parish History
Saint Joseph is a community about eight miles northwest of Evansville, settled in the early nineteenth century primarily by German immigrants. The first recorded priest to visit was the Redemptorist Father Czackart, who celebrated the area's first Mass in the house of the Widow Weiss in 1836. In 1840, newly ordained Father Roman Weinzapfel arrived, and in 1841 the community built a two-story log church and became an official mission parish of the Diocese of Vincennes with fifteen families. A brick church was built in 1850–51, the parish took on a small school at the St. Margaret's mission (present-day Resurrection parish), and in 1875 three Franciscan sisters from Oldenburg, Indiana, came to teach. Fire destroyed the church on September 11, 1886, and the present 80-by-125-foot church was dedicated on November 17, 1888 for $15,000. The parish has grown from fifteen families in 1841 to roughly 530 families today, with annual parish expenses over $1.3 million.
- 1817: area settled, primarily by German immigrants
- 1836: first Mass celebrated by Redemptorist Fr. Czackart at Widow Weiss's home
- 1840: Fr. Roman Weinzapfel arrives
- 1841: two-story log church built; 15 families; mission of Diocese of Vincennes
- 1850–51: brick church built by parishioners
- 1875: three Franciscan sisters from Oldenburg begin teaching
- 1879: new two-room school built ($6,000)
- September 11, 1886: fire destroys the church
- April 17, 1888: cornerstone of new church laid
- November 17, 1888: present church dedicated ($15,000, 80 x 125 feet)
Marriage Preparation
The parish describes marriage as 'the single most significant event in the lives of most parishioners' and treats it as a call to build a partnership of life. Engaged couples are invited to participate in a six-month period of prayer and reflection prior to their marriage, meeting with the pastor for marriage preparation sessions and with the Director of Liturgy to plan the ceremony. Couples are asked to contact the pastor before any wedding date is set.
- Six-month preparation period
- Sessions with the pastor
- Ceremony planning with the Director of Liturgy
Faith Formation K–8
Parents are recognized as the first and best teachers of their children in the ways of faith, and the parish seeks to assist them through both the parish grade school and the Religious Education Program. For children in Kindergarten through 8th grade, formation includes K–8 Religious Education Classes, First Communion, First Reconciliation, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Vacation Bible School, and prayers for children.
- K–8 Religious Education Classes
- First Communion
- First Reconciliation (second grade)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Vacation Bible School
- Prayers for Children
Religious Formation at St. Joseph School
Specific religious formation for children in the parish school includes weekly Mass, plus special prayer times and Masses for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, the beginning and end of the school year, Prayer Partner Mass, Grandparent Days, and Catholic Schools Week. During Advent and Lent, each class has the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Weekly school Mass
- Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week prayer services
- Beginning & End of School Year services
- Prayer Partner Mass & Grandparent Days
- Catholic Schools Week celebration
- Class Reconciliation during Advent and Lent
High School Faith Formation & Confirmation
The parish offers faith-formation opportunities for public-high-school students. The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in the sophomore year of high school, with ongoing preparation throughout the high-school years that includes Confirmation-specific sessions as well as regular religion classes. Adults who have not been confirmed are invited to contact the pastor to begin preparation.
- High School Religious Education (for public-school students)
- Confirmation preparation (sophomore year)
- Adult Confirmation by arrangement
St. Joseph School
Saint Joseph School offers a fully accredited Catholic education for children of all faiths in a secure, faith-based environment that encourages the spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical development of each child. The school sits next door to the parish at 6130 West St. Joseph Road. Founded alongside the parish's earliest days, the school took a giant step forward in 1974 when a new school building was constructed; it has long been staffed in part by the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg. The school's motto is 'Enter to learn, go forth to serve.'
- Address: 6130 West St. Joseph Road, Evansville, IN 47720
- Phone: 812-963-3335; Fax: 812-963-3337
- Principal: Mrs. Kelsy Meier ([email protected])
- Fully accredited Catholic K–8 education
- Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg on staff
- Motto: 'Enter to learn, go forth to serve'
- New school building constructed in 1974
Haiti Mission Outreach
St. Joseph Parish maintains a sister-parish relationship with St. James in Plaine du Nord, Haiti. The Haiti Outreach Committee, which meets monthly, oversees all of the parish's outreach efforts there. Ways to support the mission include contributing to the general fund, supporting the medical clinic, sponsoring students, joining a mission trip, giving to the yearly shipment of supplies, and supporting special projects and endowments. There is also a Haiti Sewing Hope Trade School.
- Haiti General Fund
- Medical Clinic support
- Student Sponsorships
- Mission Trips
- Annual Supply Shipment
- Haiti Sewing Hope Trade School
- Special Projects and Endowments
St. Joseph Cemetery
St. Joseph Cemetery has been the final sacred resting place for parishioners since 1841. All parishioners—and former parishioners—have the opportunity to be buried there. Maintenance and operation of the cemetery are overseen by a Cemetery Board that meets annually and as needed; current members include Randy Tenbarge, Jerry Happe, Larry Happe, Don Weis, Matt Ubelhor, Randy Fehrenbacher, and Dennis Gibbs. The parish also maintains five rotating lawn-mowing crews (April–October), each with six to eight people, with all equipment provided.
- Cemetery in use since 1841
- Cemetery Board: Tenbarge, J. Happe, L. Happe, Weis, Ubelhor, Fehrenbacher, Gibbs
- Five rotating lawn-mowing crews (April–October)
- Graves available to current and former parishioners
Parish Council, Commissions & School Board
Parish life is supported by a Parish Council and several commissions, including the Haiti Outreach Committee, as well as a School Board that serves as an advisory body to the school principal in planning and operations, formulating policies, preparing the budget, and providing a forum for the concerns of students, parents, and parishioners.
- Parish Council
- Haiti Outreach Committee
- School Board (advisory to the principal)
Parish Staff
The parish staff includes the pastor, the Director of Liturgy, the Director of Religious Education, the School Principal, and the Secretary/Business Manager.
- Fr. Gene Schroeder — Pastor ([email protected])
- Ms. Kristan Gilles — Director of Liturgy ([email protected])
- Mrs. Jessica Reckelhoff — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Mrs. Kelsy Meier — School Principal ([email protected])
- Mrs. Julie Kempf — Secretary / Business Manager ([email protected])
Contact & Location
The parish office is at 6202 West St. Joseph Road, Evansville, IN 47720, with phone 812-963-3273. The school office is next door at 6130 West St. Joseph Road, Evansville, IN 47720, with phone 812-963-3335 and fax 812-963-3337. Mass is also streamed online via the 'Watch Mass Online' link on the parish website.
- Parish: 6202 West St. Joseph Road, Evansville, IN 47720 — 812-963-3273
- School: 6130 West St. Joseph Road, Evansville, IN 47720 — 812-963-3335 (Fax 812-963-3337)
- Online Giving and Watch Mass Online available via the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Roman Weinzapfel1840–
Newly ordained in 1840; led the building of the first log church in 1841 and the brick church cornerstone in 1850.
- Rev. F. W. Pepersack
First resident pastor; erected a substantial brick church on the present campus (per the Historic Evansville account).
- Rev. Henry Feinsucceeded prior pastor May 1898
Succeeded previous pastor and oversaw a new parsonage costing $3,000 (per Historic Evansville).