About Saint Martin I · Chrisney, Indiana
Saint Martin I is a small Roman Catholic parish in Chrisney, Indiana, in Spencer County, established in 1866 and named for Pope St. Martin I. Worship takes place in a traditionally decorated church featuring stained-glass windows and a high altar, set on grounds that also include a serenity garden and a multi-purpose parish hall. Since 2014 the parish has been merged with the former St. John Chrysostom Parish of New Boston and, together with neighboring St. Bernard Parish in Rockport, forms a clustered two-parish community in the Diocese of Evansville under the leadership of Father Jaison Kuzhiyil.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- St. Martin I (Pope and Martyr)
- Rector
- Rev. Jaison Kuzhiyil (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
Saint Martin I is a tight-knit, century-old rural Catholic community in Spencer County where every member is known by name. The parish gathers in a traditional church with stained-glass windows and a high altar, supported by a serenity garden and parish hall that foster fellowship. As part of the St. Bernard–St. Martin I cluster in the Diocese of Evansville, it offers weekly Mass, Reconciliation, faith formation, and OCIA (RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church.
Mass times at Saint Martin I
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — please call the cluster parishes office at 812-649-4811 (per St. Bernard & St. Martin Mass page)
About Saint Martin I Parish
Saint Martin I Catholic Parish 'strives to be a believing and loving community in which each individual experiences and grows in the love of God, neighbor, and self.' The parish is part of the clustered Catholic Parishes of Saint Bernard (Rockport) and Saint Martin I (Chrisney) within the Diocese of Evansville. The Saint Martin church building is decorated with stained-glass windows and a traditional high altar, and the property includes a serenity garden and a multi-purpose parish hall at 58 North Church Street in Chrisney.
- Parish vision: 'a believing and loving community'
- Clustered with St. Bernard Parish, Rockport
- Located in the Diocese of Evansville (East Deanery)
History of the Parish
The Catholic community at Chrisney was first organized in 1866 and named in honor of St. Martin I. Well over a century later, on July 1, 2014, the Diocese of Evansville merged the original St. Martin I Parish with St. John Chrysostom Parish in New Boston and canonically established a new St. Martin I Parish in their place. Today the historic Chrisney church continues to serve as the visible heart of the congregation.
- 1866 — Parish established in Spencer County, East Deanery, Diocese of Evansville
- July 1, 2014 — Merged with St. John Chrysostom (New Boston) under the St. Martin I name
- Now clustered with St. Bernard Parish, Rockport
Parish Staff & Leadership
Saint Martin I is led as part of a cluster by Father Jaison Kuzhiyil, who serves as Administrator for both St. Bernard and St. Martin I Parishes. Deacon Mike Waninger assists in sacramental ministry, and the shared cluster office handles day-to-day parish operations. Staff names listed on the diocesan yearbook for St. Martin I include the Pastor, Deacon, OCIA Coordinator, Music Director/Organist/Liturgical Coordinator, PCL and Youth Ministry, Secretary, and Bookkeeper.
- Administrator: Rev. Jaison Kuzhiyil
- Deacon: Michael (Mike) Waninger
- Music Director / Organist / Liturgical Coordinator: Karen Waninger
- PCL and Youth Ministry: Johnny Sherfick
- Secretary: Lori Chew
- RCIA / OCIA Coordinator: Carolyn Thorpe
- Business Manager: Paul Schulte
Parish Pastoral Council
The St. Martin Parish Council, together with the St. Bernard Parish Council, advises the pastor-administrator on parish priorities, directions and policies. Membership consists of representatives from parish commissions and committees plus at-large members; the councils meet monthly and assist in implementing parish goals through spiritual discernment and consensus.
- Central governing body for each parish in the cluster
- Members include representatives from commissions plus at-large members
- Meets once per month for each parish
Faith Formation, OCIA & Youth Ministry
Religious education and sacramental preparation for both cluster parishes are coordinated through the shared office. Carolyn Thorpe serves as OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) / RCIA Coordinator, while Johnny Sherfick serves as Parish Catechetical Leader and in Youth Ministry.
- RCIA / OCIA: Carolyn Thorpe
- Parish Catechetical Leader / Youth Ministry: Johnny Sherfick
- Religious Education office shared with St. Bernard Parish
Music & Liturgy
Karen Waninger serves as Music Director, Organist, and Liturgical Coordinator for Saint Martin I, supporting the parish's traditional Catholic liturgy inside a church noted for its high altar and stained-glass windows.
- Music Director / Organist / Liturgical Coordinator: Karen Waninger
Parish Life & Annual Events
The parish grounds — church, serenity garden and multi-purpose hall — are a gathering place for the Chrisney Catholic community. Each autumn the parish hosts the St. Martin Fall Social, a long-running fundraiser featuring Norb's chicken dinners, homemade ice cream and other homemade items.
- St. Martin Fall Social (annual, held on a Sunday in early October)
- Chicken dinners, homemade ice cream and parish-made goods
- Hospitality centered on the parish hall and serenity garden
Clustered Parishes Office & Contact
Day-to-day administration of Saint Martin I is run through the Cluster Parishes Office located adjacent to Saint Bernard Church in Rockport. The phone number — (812) 649-4811 — and the mailing address (547 Elm, Rockport, Indiana 47635) are used for parish business, while the physical church remains at 58 S. Church Street in Chrisney.
- Cluster Parishes Office: adjacent to St. Bernard Church, Rockport
- Phone: (812) 649-4811
- Mailing address: 547 Elm, Rockport, IN 47635
- Physical location: 58 S. Church Street, Chrisney, IN 47611