About Saint Mary · Fort Wayne, Indiana
St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1101 South Lafayette Street in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. Founded in 1848 as a German-speaking national parish (originally 'Mother of God' or 'Mutter des Gottes'), it is the second-oldest parish in Fort Wayne. The parish is known for its extraordinary outreach ministries, especially the famous St. Mary's Soup Kitchen (operating since 1975 and now serving over 300,000 meals a year), the Ave Maria Hospitality House for the homeless, and its instrumental role in founding the Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic. Despite losing its historic 1886 Gothic Revival church to a lightning-sparked fire on September 2, 1993, the congregation rebuilt and rededicated a new complex on May 2, 1999, continuing 175+ years of 'faith in action.'
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (Mother of God)
- Rector
- Rev. Bartholomew Chikodi Okorie (11th Pastor, June 2024 to Present)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
St. Mary Mother of God is a parish where worship and service to the poor are inseparable. It welcomes visitors and parishioners from virtually every ZIP code in the Fort Wayne area, reflecting the city's full cultural and economic diversity, and offers Sunday Mass, faith formation for children and adults, and a vibrant sacramental life grounded in 175+ years of history. Members can join the famous Soup Kitchen (serving 300,000+ meals annually), the Ave Maria Hospitality House for those experiencing homelessness, the Haiti mission, the annual Thanksgiving Dinner (1,800+ meals), Christmas Food Baskets (1,100+ families), the St. Vincent de Paul Society, or the parish's liturgical and music ministries. For anyone seeking a downtown Catholic community with deep immigrant roots, an unmistakable social-justice charism, and a pastor's open-door welcome, St. Mary's is a compelling choice.
Mass times at Saint Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Anytime by appointment
- Diocesan-wide 'The Light Is On For You' Lenten reconciliation: Tuesdays 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Holy Saturday 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (seasonal)
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament offered in conjunction with diocesan 'Light Is On For You' reconciliation evenings (Tuesdays during Lent, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
Parish History and the German-Catholic Roots of Downtown Fort Wayne
St. Mary Mother of God was established on November 29, 1848, when thirty German-speaking Catholic families—five of whom mortgaged their farms to raise $1,700—split from St. Augustine's Church (today's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) to found a national parish where they could continue German Catholic traditions. The celebrant, Rev. F.X. Weninger, led the procession and named the new church 'The Mother of God Church' (Mutter des Gottes). Over 175 years later, that immigrant parish has survived three fires, two world wars, and shifting neighborhood demographics while remaining the second-oldest parish in Fort Wayne. In 2014, the parish restored its historical name 'St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church' with the approval of Bishop Kevin Rhoades.
- Founded November 29, 1848 — the second-oldest parish in Fort Wayne
- Five chartering families mortgaged their farms to purchase the land for $1,700
- Original name: 'Mother of God' / 'Mutter des Gottes Parish'
- Name restored to 'St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church' on June 22, 2014
Four Churches on One Site: 1848, 1858, 1886, and 1999
The parish has worshipped in four successive buildings on the corner of Lafayette Street and East Jefferson Boulevard. The first (1848) measured just 32 by 64 feet. A larger second church with a 200-foot Gothic steeple — then the tallest building in Fort Wayne — was built in 1858 and destroyed in January 1886 when the boiler exploded, killing custodian Anton Evans and a 13-year-old girl. Father John Oechtering rallied the congregation within two days; Bishop Dwenger laid the cornerstone in July 1886 and the magnificent Gothic Revival replacement by architect Samuel W. Lane was dedicated December 11, 1887. That 237-foot landmark stood for 106 years before being struck by lightning on September 2, 1993. The present modern complex was dedicated May 2, 1999, after a $6.6 million insurance settlement funded both the new worship space and the St. Mary's Heritage Fund for other parishes.
- First church (1848): 32 × 64 ft
- Second church (1858): Gothic, 200-ft steeple; destroyed 1886 boiler explosion
- Third church (1886–1887): Gothic Revival by Lane / Griffith & Lane, 237-ft main steeple; NRHP #84000483 (1984); destroyed by lightning September 2, 1993
- Fourth (current) church: dedicated May 2, 1999; combines worship space, classrooms, offices, and the Soup Kitchen
Worship and Liturgy
Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:45 AM in English, with Holy Day Mass at 5:15 PM and a special 9:00 AM Thanksgiving Day Mass. Reconciliation is offered every Sunday from 10:00 to 10:30 AM (before Mass) and by appointment; the parish also participates in the diocese's 'The Light Is On For You' Lenten reconciliation program on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Children's faith formation ('Mary's Kids') meets Sundays at 9:30 AM. Stations of the Cross are prayed during Lent at 10:10 AM.
- Sunday Mass: 10:45 AM
- Holy Day Mass: 5:15 PM
- Thanksgiving Day Mass: 9:00 AM
- Confessions: Sundays 10:00–10:30 AM or by appointment
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on diocesan 'Light Is On For You' Tuesdays in Lent, 6–8 PM
St. Mary's Soup Kitchen — 50+ Years of Continuous Service
Founded by Father Tom O'Connor on January 22, 1975, when the parish's grocery budget ran out and music director David Fyfe suggested converting it into a carry-out soup kitchen operation, St. Mary's Soup Kitchen has never missed a single day of service — even after the 1993 fire, when volunteers served food from the back of a pickup truck in the parking lot the very next day. Originally cooked on a four-burner stove in the rectory, it eventually moved to the church basement, then to a converted boiler house, and now operates from a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen in the 1999 complex. Today it serves over 300,000 meals a year at an annual cost of approximately $270,000, funded entirely by donations, with soup and bread served seven days a week and milk three times a week.
- Operating continuously since January 22, 1975
- Hours: Monday–Friday 10 AM–2 PM; Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–12 Noon
- 300,000+ meals served annually
- Phone: (260) 426-1217
- Director: Shannon Shields; Assistant Director & Weekend Scheduler: John Barnett; Volunteer Coordinator: Jean Nix
Ave Maria Hospitality House
Located at 432 Madison Street in Fort Wayne, Ave Maria House is the parish's hospitality ministry for people experiencing homelessness. Open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM, guests can rest, get warm or cool, do laundry, take a shower, use the computer, watch television, and enjoy the comfort of 'home.' The parish collects donations of T-shirts, underwear, razors, deodorant, toothpaste, backpacks, travel-size toiletries, cleaning supplies, and paper goods to keep the ministry running.
- Address: 432 Madison St., Fort Wayne
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 AM–2 PM
- Phone: (260) 424-3355
- Services: showers, laundry, rest, computer, TV, coffee, companionship
Outreach Ministries and Charitable Works
Faith-in-action is the parish's signature identity. Beyond the Soup Kitchen and Ave Maria House, St. Mary's operates the Miss Virginia Food Pantry, sponsors an annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner serving around 1,800 meals, distributes Christmas Food Baskets to roughly 1,100 families, runs the 'Bells of St. Mary's' program helping low-income families afford private Catholic education, and supports a Mission to Haiti that funds a school there. The parish was instrumental in founding Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic, which now operates independently.
- Miss Virginia Food Pantry
- Thanksgiving Day Dinner (~1,800 meals served)
- Christmas Food Basket Program (~1,100 families)
- Bells of St. Mary's (tuition assistance for Catholic schools)
- Haiti Outreach Mission (school sponsorship)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- St. Martin de Porres Society (honoring parish diversity)
- East Side / West Side Summer Youth Program
Parish Ministries, Faith Formation, and Community Life
Inside the parish walls, ministries such as Mary's Kids (children's faith formation), the Liturgy Committee, Spiritual Life Committee, Parish Pastoral Council, Pastoral Care, Funeral Dinners, Hospitality Committee, and Women of Spirit sustain the parish's liturgical, catechetical, and social life. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin and operates online giving for parishioners and supporters.
- Mary's Kids (children's faith formation, Sundays at 9:30 AM)
- Liturgy Committee, Spiritual Life Committee, Parish Pastoral Council
- Pastoral Care and Funeral Dinners
- Hospitality Committee and Women of Spirit
- RCIA / adult faith formation
- Confirmation retreat (virtual and in-person)
The Pastor Succession: 1848 to Today
Eleven pastors have led St. Mary Mother of God since its 1848 founding. The parish's gathering area displays portraits of every one — except Father Weutz, who returned to his native Austria and left no known photograph. Hall spaces in the current complex — Oechtering Hall and the Allgier Conference Room — are named for early pastors. Father Tom O'Connor (1970–2004) is remembered by a memorial featuring the Lumen Christi Award from the Catholic Extension Society; the Father Tom O'Connor Light of Christ Award has honored ten recipients since his death. The current pastor, Rev. Bartholomew Chikodi Okorie, is the parish's 11th pastor and was assigned by Bishop Rhoades effective June 18, 2024, to also shepherd nearby St. Peter Parish.
- Rev. F.X. Weninger (1848 founding celebrant)
- Father Weutz (long tenure; returned to Austria)
- Father John Oechtering (led rebuilding after 1886 fire)
- Father Ralph Larson (1963–1969)
- Rev. Thomas 'Tom' O'Connor (1970–March 17, 2004; Soup Kitchen founder)
- Rev. Phillip A. Widmann (9th Pastor, ~2008–2020; restored parish name)
- Rev. Wimal Jayasuriya (10th Pastor, 2020–2024; now Bishop of Chilaw, Sri Lanka)
- Deacon James Tighe (Administrator, January–June 2024)
- Rev. Bartholomew Chikodi Okorie (11th Pastor, June 2024–Present)
Visiting, Contact, and Practical Information
St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church is located at 1101 South Lafayette Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802-3202. Parish office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The parish phone is (260) 424-8231, fax (260) 426-2029, and email [email protected]. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 11383, Fort Wayne, IN 46857-1383. Visitors are warmly welcomed at Sunday Mass and at the Soup Kitchen and Ave Maria House during their posted hours.
- Address: 1101 S. Lafayette St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802
- Parish phone: (260) 424-8231
- Soup Kitchen phone: (260) 426-1217
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: M–Th 8:30 AM–4:00 PM; F 8:30 AM–2:00 PM
- Mailing: P.O. Box 11383, Fort Wayne, IN 46857-1383
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. F.X. Weninger1848 (founding)
Celebrated the inaugural Mass and led the procession of 30 German families from St. Augustine's to dedicate the new Mother of God Church on November 29, 1848.
- Father Weutzmid-19th century (long tenure)
After a long tenure as pastor, returned home to his native Austria; no photograph of him survives in the diocesan archives. Hall/allgier conference room and Oechtering Hall are named in memory of early pastors.
- Father John Oechteringafter 1886 fire
Rallied the devastated congregation just two days after the boiler-explosion fire and led the campaign to build the Gothic Revival replacement church dedicated in December 1887.
- Father Ralph Larson1963–1969
Subject of one of the parish's 175th Jubilee History Project installments; pastor during the turbulent 1960s.
- Rev. Thomas (Tom) O'Connor1970–March 17, 2004
Longest-tenured modern pastor; founded the Soup Kitchen in 1975; oversaw 1993 fire recovery and construction of current church complex; received the Lumen Christi Award (Catholic Extension Society's equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize). Died March 17, 2004.
- Rev. Phillip A. WidmannNinth Pastor (c. 2008–2020)
Compiled the parish history from various sources; petitioned Bishop Rhoades in 2014 to restore the original name 'St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church'; later retired while continuing as Director of the Diocesan Museum.
- Rev. Wimal Jayasuriya10th Pastor, 2020–2024
Previously Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and diocesan tribunal judge; later appointed Bishop of Chilaw, Sri Lanka.
- Deacon James TigheAdministrator, January 2024–June 2024
Served as parish administrator in the interregnum between Father Wimal's departure and the new pastor's arrival.
- Rev. Bartholomew Chikodi Okorie11th Pastor, June 2024–Present
Previously Parochial Vicar of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Elkhart; assigned by Bishop Rhoades effective June 18, 2024, as pastor of both St. Mary Mother of God and St. Peter Parishes, Fort Wayne.