About Saint Louis Besancon · New Haven, Indiana
St. Louis Besancon is a Roman Catholic parish in New Haven, Indiana, established in 1846 by French Catholic settlers who named their community "Besancon" after their French hometown near the Swiss border, and their church "St. Louis" in honor of St. Louis IX, the only French king to be canonized. The parish sits on the historic Lincoln Highway in Jefferson Township, Allen County, and its present Gothic Revival brick church, built around a still-surviving log church in 1870-1871, is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as part of the St. Louis, Besancon, Historic District. Today the parish belongs to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and serves its largely descendant congregation of French-American farm families through daily and weekend Masses, a parish school (St. Louis Academy), religious education, youth ministry, and traditional Catholic devotions including Eucharistic Adoration and a parish prayer line.
- Established
- 1846
- Patron
- St. Louis IX of France (King Louis IX, 1226-1270)
- Rector
- Father Tyrell J. Alles, O.S.B.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Why belong here
St. Louis Besancon is one of the oldest and most historically distinctive Catholic parishes in Indiana — a direct continuation of the 1846 community founded by French settlers whose descendants still worship here. The parish offers daily and weekend Masses in the Roman Rite, frequent Eucharistic Adoration (Tuesday evenings, Saturday mornings, and First Fridays), regular Reconciliation on Tuesdays and Saturdays, a parish prayer line, the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process for those becoming Catholic, religious education and youth ministry, St. Louis Academy (a parish school serving preschool through 8th grade), and a thriving choir and music ministry. New members are warmly invited to register at the parish office and meet the pastor.
Mass times at Saint Louis Besancon
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM
- Saturday 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
- Saturday 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (followed by 6:00 PM Mass)
- Saturday 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
- First Friday of the month 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
History of St. Louis Besancon
St. Louis Besancon Catholic Church was established in the year of Our Lord 1846, when French Catholic settlers — many from eastern France in the Franche-Comté and from French-speaking Switzerland — gathered around priests like Rev. Julian Benoit on land in Jefferson Township, Allen County. The first Masses were said in the log home of Joseph Dodane; in 1851 land was donated for a church and a log church was erected on the site of the present building. As the surrounding 'Black Swamp' was drained and the Lincoln Highway road cut through, the community grew into a farming parish in the Maumee River Valley. In 1870-1871 the log church was replaced with a Gothic Revival brick church, fired in a kiln across the road and built around the still-standing log structure. The soft brick was later 'shamrocked' with cement-mortar to look like stone — sealed with cement paint in 1998. The complex, which includes the 1871 church, 1893 Queen Anne rectory, 1915 school and convent, 1940 garage, and old cemetery, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The parish marked its 175th anniversary in 2021.
- Founded in 1846 by French Catholic settlers in Jefferson Township, Allen County
- First Masses said in the log home of Joseph Dodane; land for the church donated in 1851
- Present brick Gothic Revival church built 1870-1871 by builder Frank Sallier
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as St. Louis, Besancon, Historic District
- Named for St. Louis IX, King of France (1226-1270); community named for the settlers' French hometown Besancon
Architecture & the Historic District
The church is a Gothic Revival brick structure built 1870-1871, featuring a steep gable roof and a five-part projecting square steeple. Bricks were made on site in a kiln just across the road. In 1889-1893 a Queen Anne-style 2½-story brick rectory was added, followed by the brick school and the convent house in 1915 and a garage in 1940. The soft brick exterior was coated with cement-mortar ('shamrocking') to give the appearance of stone and was repainted in 1998. The fleur-de-lis appears throughout the building as a quiet reminder of the parish's French heritage.
- Gothic Revival church, 1870-1871, with steep gable roof and five-part steeple
- Queen Anne rectory, 1893
- Brick school (St. Louis Academy), 1915
- St. Louis Convent House, 1915
- Garage, 1940
- Old St. Louis Cemetery (contributing site)
- Architect: Frank Sallier; architectural styles: Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Queen Anne, Gothic
Patron Saint & Liturgical Year
The parish takes its name from St. Louis IX, King of France from 1226 to 1270 — the only French king to be canonized a saint, the patron of France, and one of the most venerated figures among the French settlers who founded Besancon. The 175th anniversary celebration in 2021 was deliberately scheduled three days before his feast day, August 25.
- Patron: St. Louis IX of France (King Louis IX, 1226-1270)
- Feast Day: August 25
Parish Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently served by Father Tyrell J. Alles, O.S.B., a Benedictine priest from Sri Lanka with degrees in philosophy, theology, and a doctorate in Biblical Studies from the Catholic University of America. He previously served as pastor of St. Peter's in Fort Wayne and as parochial vicar of St. Therese and St. Henry in Fort Wayne. A full lay staff and Parish Council support the work of the parish and its school.
- Pastor: Father Tyrell J. Alles, O.S.B. ([email protected])
- Pastoral Associate / Religious Education Director: Mrs. Kelly Mouch ([email protected])
- Youth Minister: Mrs. Morgan Tippmann ([email protected])
- Choir Director: Mrs. Rita Brueggeman ([email protected])
- Music Director: Mr. Allen Goebbert ([email protected])
- Principal of St. Louis Academy: Mrs. Vanessa Diller ([email protected])
- Secretary: Mrs. Regina Arnold ([email protected])
- Parish Council President: Craig Ladig
St. Louis Academy — Parish School
St. Louis Academy, the parish school, dates to 1910, when the Sisters of Notre Dame began teaching at the old wooden St. Joseph School on the French settlement. After a fire destroyed that building, the present brick school was dedicated Thanksgiving Day, 1915, and opened under the name St. Louis Academy with three Sisters of Notre Dame teaching 116 students. The Sisters of Notre Dame continued in charge for 67 years until June 1977; a kindergarten program was added in 1979. The school houses interactive smart boards in every classroom and serves roughly 134 students in preschool through eighth grade. The school has first-class accreditation and an active School Board and Home and School Association. Former pastor Father Stephen E. Colchin called St. Louis Academy 'the parish gem' at its 2015 centennial.
- Founded 1910 (wooden predecessor school); current brick building dedicated November 25, 1915
- Formerly taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame for 67 years (1910-1977)
- Preschool through 8th grade, ~134 students
- Accredited; current principal Vanessa Diller
- Affiliated with the parish and supported by its families for over a century
Faith Formation, OCIA & Youth Ministry
The parish's religious education program (under Mrs. Kelly Mouch) and youth ministry (under Mrs. Morgan Tippmann) accompany the parish school to form children, teens, and adults in the Catholic faith. For those inquiring about becoming Catholic — whether unbaptized or Christian seeking full communion — the parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), meeting Tuesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM each year from September through Easter.
- Religious Education Director: Mrs. Kelly Mouch
- Youth Minister: Mrs. Morgan Tippmann
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 PM, September-Easter; contact Kelly Mouch
Music & Liturgical Arts
Liturgical music at St. Louis Besancon is supported by a Choir under Mrs. Rita Brueggeman and a broader Music Ministry led by Mr. Allen Goebbert. Together they prepare music for Sunday and Holy Day liturgies in the historic 1871 church.
- Choir Director: Mrs. Rita Brueggeman
- Music Director: Mr. Allen Goebbert
Sacraments & New Members
St. Louis Besancon prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. The parish welcomes new members and asks visitors to register at the Parish Office and speak with the pastor. Couples preparing for marriage, families seeking baptism, and adults preparing for Confirmation or full communion should contact the parish office.
- New member registration at the Parish Office; meet with the pastor
- Reconciliation (see Mass, Reconciliation, Adoration & Devotions)
- Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick available by appointment
Visiting & Contact
St. Louis Besancon Catholic Church is located at 15535 Lincoln Highway East, New Haven, Indiana 46774, on the historic Lincoln Highway east of New Haven in Jefferson Township. The parish office can be reached by phone at (260) 749-4525 or by email at [email protected]. The pastor is Father Tyrell J. Alles, O.S.B.
- Address: 15535 Lincoln Highway East, New Haven, IN 46774
- Phone: (260) 749-4525
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stlouisb.org/
- Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Julian (Julius) BenoitPre-1864 (missionary priest)
Pioneer priest who administered to the early French settlement; first Masses said in his home area before the first resident pastor arrived
- Father Louis Grevin1864-1866
First resident pastor of St. Louis Besancon; built the first pastoral residence
- J. C. Carrier, C.S.C.1866
Successor pastor
- F. M. Ruiz1866-1867
Successor pastor
- A. DeMontaubricq1867
Successor pastor
- A. J. M. Vandevennet1867-1868
Successor pastor
- A. Mignault1868-1870
Successor pastor
- Reverend August Adam1873-
Began construction of the present brick church (cornerstone laid 1871)
- W. Demers, C.S.C.1875-
Successor pastor
- Constance Maujay1876-
Successor pastor
- Felix Veniard, C.S.C.1880-1893
Pastor; the only priest to die while serving as pastor of the parish
- Father Stephen E. Colchin
Former pastor who referred to St. Louis Academy as the 'parish gem' at its 2015 centennial
- Father Tyrell J. Alles, O.S.B.Current pastor
Benedictine priest from Sri Lanka; holds a doctorate in Biblical Studies from Catholic University of America; previously pastor of St. Peter's, Fort Wayne, and parochial vicar of St. Therese and St. Henry, Fort Wayne