About Saint Joseph - Hessen Cassel · Fort Wayne, Indiana
Saint Joseph – Hessen Cassel is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, located along Old U.S. 27 South in the Hessen Cassel neighborhood of southern Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded on 29 September 1841 by 20 German Catholic farming families, it is the second-oldest Catholic parish in Allen County, after the cathedral parish in Fort Wayne. Today the parish serves about 547 households (roughly 1,286 people) and operates an attached Catholic school, St. Joseph – Hessen Cassel School, educating children from preschool through 8th grade. The community is known for multigenerational family ties — many of the names still on the pews also appear in the parish cemetery.
- Established
- 1841
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Ammer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Why belong here
St. Joseph – Hessen Cassel is a multigenerational Catholic community where many of the same family names appear on the pews and in the parish cemetery — a stability that is rare today. A pastor who is visibly present in the attached school (teaching religion, coaching, eating lunch with the kids) anchors a parish-and-school-as-one-ministry model, supported by daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration, an active Knights of Columbus council, RCIA, religious education for children and adults, a food pantry drive-thru, a parish library, a youth group, Vacation Bible School, a prayer chain, and the parish cemetery that ties today's families to their 1841 German-Catholic founders.
Mass times at Saint Joseph - Hessen Cassel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Friday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (30 minutes after the morning Mass)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Friday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (immediately following the morning Mass)
Parish Identity and Location
St. Joseph – Hessen Cassel Catholic Parish serves the Hessen Cassel neighborhood in the southern part of Fort Wayne, Indiana, along Old U.S. 27 South — about one block south of the intersection of US 27 South and I-469. The parish is part of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend and is the second-oldest Catholic parish in Allen County, founded by 20 German Catholic farm families in 1841. The parish mailing address is 11337 Old U.S. Hwy 27 S, Fort Wayne, IN 46816, and the parish office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, at (260) 639-3748.
- Patron: Saint Joseph
- Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
- Established: 29 September 1841
- Parish families/households: 547 (≈1,286 persons, per 2025–26 diocesan directory)
- Church address: 11337 Old U.S. Hwy 27 S, Fort Wayne, IN 46816
- School address: 11521 Old U.S. Hwy 27 S, Fort Wayne, IN 46816
A 184-Year-Old German Catholic Community
On 29 September 1841 — the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, the German 'Michaelmas' tax-day — at least 20 German Catholic families living in the Hessen Cassel 'station' south of Fort Wayne signed the first page of the parish church book, in German, pledging to organize as a parish and to support the German-speaking missionary priest Fr. Joseph Hamion, who with Fr. Julius Benoit had been riding out from St. Augustine in Fort Wayne to serve them since 1840. They built a log church on a one-acre lot that same year, with an attached cemetery; over time the precise sites of both were lost. By 1857 the parish had 52 families and needed a larger church; the cornerstone of the present brick church was laid in 1857 (the source of the '1857' founding date sometimes used) and it was actually erected in 1860 under the first resident pastor, Fr. Joseph Mayer (1858–1863), who also built the parish's first convent in 1859. The brick church carries three exterior stone markers: 1857 (cornerstone), 1927 (interior remodeling), and 2001 (exterior expansion). A school has been attached to the parish since 1859 — first staffed by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and the Franciscan Sisters of Joliet, and then by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart for 115 years until June 1992. The current two-story brick school was built in 1879 by Fr. J. H. Hueser, D.D., and the parish school still serves preschool through 8th grade today. Parishioner Carl Kleber, with John Schreiber, has produced a draft 'History of the St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish at Hessen Cassel, Indiana' that integrates 30 years of primary-source genealogical research; it is available for download from the parish website.
- Founding date: 29 September 1841 (feast of St. Michael / Michaelmas)
- Charter members: 20 German Catholic families (original German-language parish book survives)
- First church: log church, c. 1841, on the original one-acre church lot
- Present church: brick, cornerstone 1857, built 1860 under Fr. Joseph Mayer
- First resident pastor: Rev. Joseph Mayer, 1858–1863
- School in continuous operation since 1859
- Order of teaching sisters: Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ → Franciscan Sisters of Joliet, IL → Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart (115 years, to June 1992)
- 175th anniversary celebrated in 2016
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Michael Ammer, who is also a regular, visible presence in the attached school — teaching junior-high religion classes, coaching basketball, visiting with students during lunch, and greeting families at dismissal. The previous long-time pastor, Rev. William (Bill) Kummer — who led the parish through its 175th anniversary in 2016 — now serves the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend as chaplain (Fort Wayne area) for Courage/Encourage, the diocesan apostolate that ministers to those experiencing same-sex attraction and their loved ones.
- Rev. Michael Ammer — Pastor ([email protected])
- Edward (Ted) Niezer — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Leeann Kennerk — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Jacob Engel — Liturgy / Music ([email protected])
- Rose Yolevich — Marketing / Bulletin
- Michelle Boroff — Director of Religious Education ([email protected], 260-348-4336)
- Forrest Shelburne and Elise Bohl — Directors of OCIA (RCIA)
- Fr. William (Bill) Kummer — Pastor Emeritus; current diocesan chaplain, Courage/Encourage (Fort Wayne area)
St. Joseph – Hessen Cassel School
St. Joseph – Hessen Cassel School sits immediately adjacent to the parish church at 11521 Old U.S. Hwy 27 S, Fort Wayne, IN 46816 (phone 260-639-3580). The school serves preschool through 8th grade with about 194 students enrolled, and is recognized by the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. Principal Jeanine Skordos leads the school with School Secretary Shawn DeVido. Students serve as lectors, altar servers, choir members at school Masses, and classes rotate through weekly Eucharistic adoration; confession is offered in the school day as well. Pastor Fr. Michael Ammer treats the school as a ministry of the parish — teaching junior-high religion, coaching basketball, eating lunch with students, and greeting families at dismissal.
- Grades: preschool through 8
- Enrollment: ~194 students (2025–26 diocesan directory)
- Principal: Jeanine Skordos ([email protected])
- School Secretary: Shawn DeVido ([email protected])
- School phone: 260-639-3580
- Diocesan website listing: diocesefwsb.org/schools/st-joseph-hessen-cassel-school
Faith Formation, RCIA, and Youth
Religious Education for children and adults is led by Director of Religious Education Michelle Boroff, supported by OCIA (RCIA) Directors Forrest Shelburne and Elise Bohl. The parish also runs an active Youth Group and an annual Vacation Bible School, plus adult programming such as a weekly Bible Study and a monthly 'Burgers, Bible, & Beer' fellowship/discussion gathering.
- Director of Religious Education: Michelle Boroff (260-348-4336, [email protected])
- OCIA (RCIA) Directors: Forrest Shelburne ([email protected]) and Elise Bohl ([email protected])
- Youth Group (parish-run)
- Vacation Bible School (annual)
- Bible Study (weekly, parish calendar)
- Burgers, Bible, & Beer (monthly faith-and-fellowship gathering)
Parish Ministries, Service, and Fellowship
Beyond the sacraments and the school, the parish runs a wide network of ministries — spiritual, charitable, social, and administrative. A Knights of Columbus council (#12379) is chartered at the parish with its own calendar, newsletter, officers, and Facebook presence. The food pantry operates a regular drive-thru food bank. There is an active Eucharistic Adoration commitment, a Prayer Chain, a 'Pray for Vocations' group, a Grief Ministry, a Parish Library, a Cemetery ministry, and Parish Council / Finance Council / Buildings & Grounds committees. The parish cemetery remains an active ministry and a tangible link to the 1841 founders.
- Knights of Columbus — Council #12379 ([email protected]; Facebook linked from stjoehc.org)
- Food Pantry / Food Bank Drive-Thru (monthly; listed on parish calendar)
- Eucharistic Adoration (Tue evenings, Fri mornings)
- Prayer Chain
- Pray for Vocations
- Grief Ministry
- Parish Library
- Funerals / Bereavement support
- Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Buildings & Grounds
- Kingdom Builders (parish capital-stewardship / fundraising group)
- Hall Rental
- Cemetery
- Genealogy Requests
Sacraments
All seven Catholic sacraments are celebrated or prepared for at the parish. Confession is regularly scheduled three times a week (see full schedule under 'Mass, Confession, and Adoration'); Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals, Anointing of the Sick, Confirmation, and First Eucharist are prepared in coordination with the parish office and the Director of Religious Education.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Tue 5–5:30 PM, Fri 8:30–9 AM, Sat 4–4:30 PM
- Eucharist (Holy Mass — see schedule)
- Confirmation
- Marriage (Matrimony)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
Stewardship, Giving, and Parish Support
The parish supports its mission through Online Giving, the SGO (Scholarship Granting Organization) donation form and SGO Scholarship Tax Credit Program, a Parish Endowment, restricted gifts, an annual Bishop's Appeal, and a Capital Campaign. Kingdom Builders is the parish's stewardship / capital-fundraising group, and Hall Rental is available as both a service and a fundraiser.
- Online Giving (stjoehc.org)
- SGO donation form / SGO Scholarship Tax Credit Program
- Parish Endowment
- Restricted Gifts
- Capital Campaign
- Annual Bishop's Appeal
- Kingdom Builders
- Hall Rental
History, Records, and the Parish Cemetery
The parish keeps and shares its history actively. The 'History of St. Joseph Hessen Cassel Parish' — a draft history book written by parishioner and historian Carl Kleber with John Schreiber, drawing on 30 years of primary-source research — is available for download from the parish website. The site also preserves the First Church Record Book, the parish's 1957 100th-anniversary booklet ('The First Hundred, 1857–1957'), and accepts Genealogy Requests from descendants of the founding families. The parish cemetery remains an active ministry and a living link to the 1841 founders.
- Draft history book by Carl Kleber (downloadable from stjoehc.org)
- First Church Record Book (in German; the original 1841 charter)
- 1957 100th-anniversary booklet 'The First Hundred, 1857–1957'
- Genealogy Requests ([email protected] via Carl Kleber or John Schreiber)
- Parish Cemetery (active ministry)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Hamion (missionary, not resident)1840–1841+
German-speaking missionary from St. Augustine, Fort Wayne; with Fr. Benoit helped the 20 founding families organize the parish on 29 September 1841.
- Fr. Julius Benoit (missionary)1840–
Missionary priest who with Fr. Hamion served the Hessen Cassel cluster from St. Augustine, Fort Wayne.
- Revs. Rudolf and Munschina (missionaries)after 1841
Served the parish in pastoral role after the founding.
- Rev. Joseph Mayer1858–1863
First resident priest; erected the present brick church (cornerstone 1857, built 1860) and built the parish's first convent in 1859.
- Rev. Martin Kink1863–1866
Succeeded Fr. Mayer.
- Rev. Woeste1866–1872
Succeeded Fr. Kink; severed his connection with the congregation in 1872.
- Rev. Joseph Nussbaum1872–1877
Succeeded Fr. Woeste.
- Rev. J. H. Hueser, D.D.1877–
Built the present two-story brick school in 1879 (32×20 ft, ~100 pupils, $3,690 including sisters' dwelling); served as parish historian into the 1880s.
- Rev. William (Bill) Kummer
Long-time pastor who led the parish through its 175th anniversary in 2016 and was widely quoted in the Today's Catholic anniversary feature; now diocesan chaplain for Courage/Encourage (Fort Wayne area).
- Rev. Michael Ammercurrent
Current pastor; teaches junior high religion, coaches basketball, eats lunch with students, and greets families at school dismissal; quoted by Today's Catholic on the centrality of the Eucharist and the unity of parish and school.