About Saint Matthew · Mount Vernon, Indiana
St. Matthew Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Mount Vernon, Indiana, belonging to the Diocese of Evansville. Founded in 1857 and now past its 150th anniversary, the parish serves the Posey County seat with weekend Masses, weekday Masses and adoration, a K-5 Catholic school, a preschool/child care ministry, and ongoing religious education for youth, teens, and adults. Its motto — 'Love God, Love Each Other' — frames a mission to be a welcoming, service-oriented community offering inspirational worship and faith formation. Distinctive treasures include stained-glass windows shipped from Germany in the 1920s and a first-class relic of St. Pantaleon.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. Matthew
- Rector
- Fr. Darnis Selvanayakam (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
St. Matthew offers a close-knit parish family in which parishioners regularly encounter one another across Mass, school, faith formation and service. With a K-5 school enrolling roughly half Catholic and half non-Catholic families, a Child Care Ministry preschool, and religious education programs for youth, teens, and adults, it is a place where multiple generations worship and learn together. Its ministries — from a parish prayer chain to the annual Benefit Auction and Summer Raffle — and its long tradition of community service (the parish school still raises funds for the Mason Mileham Foundation and Riverbend Food Pantry) make belonging here a tangible way to live the Gospel in Posey County.
Mass times at Saint Matthew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday Vigil — prior to 5:00pm Mass
- Tuesday — 5:00pm, prior to 6:00pm Mass (during Adoration)
Adoration times
- Tuesday — 5:00pm (prior to 6:00pm Mass)
History of St. Matthew Parish
Catholic worship in Mt. Vernon began with visiting priests Fr. E.J. Durbin and Fr. Roman Weinzapfel in 1840; the parish itself was founded in 1857 with the blessing of a two-story brick church on land sold by Hiram P. and Mary Castleberry to Bishop De St. Palais. The Rev. John Sondermann became the first resident pastor in 1868, and under the Rev. J.J. Schoentrup the present Roman-style church was begun in 1879 and blessed by Bishop Chatard on October 10, 1880. The longest pastorate belongs to Rev. Francis B. Luebbermann (1885–1917), whose 32 years produced the convent, rectory, the brick school at 5th and Mulberry, and the Poor Souls Chapel mission on 80 acres in Point Township.
- 1840 — Fr. E.J. Durbin and Fr. Roman Weinzapfel begin visiting Mt. Vernon.
- 1856 — Lots 136 and 139 sold by the Castleberrys to Bishop De St. Palais of Vincennes.
- 1857 — First brick church blessed by Rev. E.J. Durbin; parish founded.
- 1865 — Rev. H.J. Diestel takes charge; introduces the Sisters of St. Francis.
- 1867 — Frame schoolhouse/parsonage erected.
- 1868 — Rev. John Sondermann becomes first resident pastor.
- 1879–1880 — Present Roman-style church built (112 × 50 ft, 146-ft steeple), blessed Oct. 10, 1880.
- 1885–1917 — Rev. Francis B. Luebbermann pastorate: convent, rectory, two-story brick school, 80-acre mission.
- 1900 — 80 acres in Point Township acquired; Poor Souls Chapel dedicated October 1902.
- 1937 — Poor Souls Chapel destroyed by fire.
- 2007 — Parish celebrates 150th anniversary.
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Matthew is currently led by an Administrator, Fr. Darnis Selvanayakam, who was assigned by Bishop Siegel, with Deacon Tom Evans assisting. Lay staff handle parish operations, faith formation, the school, and the preschool / Child Care Ministry.
- Administrator: Fr. Darnis Selvanayakam
- Deacon: Tom Evans
- Business & Marketing Manager: Donett May (812-838-2535)
- Parish Secretary: Sherri Rapp (812-838-2535, [email protected])
- Parish Catechetical Leader: Bridget Seifert (812-838-2535)
- St. Matthew School Principal: Christan Shockley (812-838-3621)
- Child Care Ministry Director: Heidi Martin (812-838-1995)
- Prayer Chain Contact: Frank Liberti
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8am–12pm and 1pm–3pm
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education at St. Matthew serves youth, teens, and adults under the direction of Parish Catechetical Leader Bridget Seifert. The Thursday 8:15am School Mass integrates the parish school community into the liturgical life of the parish, and the Child Care Ministry uses a religion curriculum called 'Seeds' that correlates with each week's Sunday Gospel.
- Parish Catechetical Leader: Bridget Seifert
- Programs for youth, teens, and adults
- School Mass every Thursday at 8:15am
- Child Care Ministry 'Seeds' religion curriculum paired with Sunday Gospel
St. Matthew Catholic School
St. Matthew School has educated children in Mt. Vernon, Indiana since 1867 and currently serves preschool through 5th grade, welcoming families of all faiths. Roughly half of students are Catholic and half non-Catholic; nearly all benefit from Indiana Choice Scholarships and parish endowments. The school is state-accredited, has earned 'Grade A' recognition five times and 'Four Star School' honors three times for academic excellence, and maintains a 10:1 student-teacher ratio. The K-5 curriculum includes Art, Technology, Handwriting, Health, Language Arts, Math, Music, PE, Religion, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish/Immersion Spanish, with technology integrated through Promethean boards and Chromebooks. Students are the 'Wildcat Cubs.'
- Operating continuously since 1867
- Preschool through 5th grade; families of all faiths welcome
- Approximately 50% Catholic / 50% non-Catholic enrollment
- Choice Scholarship and parish endowment aid available for nearly all students
- State of Indiana accredited; 'Grade A' five times; 'Four Star School' three times
- 10:1 student-teacher ratio
- K-5 curriculum plus Spanish/Immersion Spanish
- School mascot: Wildcat Cubs
- Service learning: fundraising for Mason Mileham Foundation and Riverbend Food Pantry
Child Care Ministry (Preschool / Pre-K)
Often called 'CCM,' the Child Care Ministry opened in September 2005 and offers preschool/prekindergarten in a multi-aged setting for children ages three to five. Hours run 7:00am to 5:30pm, with class 8:00am–11:00am and an extended full day of learning until 5:30pm for an additional cost. Children eat a hot lunch in the St. Matthew cafeteria (included in tuition) and the program follows the St. Matthew School calendar. CCM uses the 'Big Day for Pre-K' curriculum, the 'Letter People' alphabet program, the 'Seeds' religion program (correlated with the Sunday Gospel), weekly Spanish class, and twice-monthly library visits.
- Opened September 2005
- Director: Heidi Martin (812-838-1995)
- Ages 3–5; multi-aged classroom; 2-, 3-, or 5-day options
- Hours 7:00am–5:30pm; full-day extended care available
- One of the few Posey County centers at Level 3 of Indiana's Paths to Quality
- All staff have early-childhood/elementary degrees or certification, plus 20 hours annual training and CPR certification
Parish Mission, Vision & Identity
St. Matthew Parish identifies itself with the motto 'Love God, Love Each Other.' Its Vision is 'St. Matthew Parish strives to be Christ to others,' and its Mission is 'St. Matthew Parish is a welcoming community known for our service, offering inspirational worship and activities to grow and witness our faith to others.' The parish belongs to the West Deanery of the Diocese of Evansville.
- Vision: St. Matthew Parish strives to be Christ to others.
- Mission: a welcoming community known for service, inspirational worship, and faith formation.
- Diocese of Evansville — West Deanery
Treasures: 14 Holy Helpers Windows & St. Pantaleon Relic
St. Matthew's church houses two remarkable treasures highlighted on the parish's homepage. The 14 Holy Helpers stained-glass windows were shipped by boat from Germany to Mt. Vernon in the 1920s — a set of devotional windows dedicated to the late-medieval saints traditionally invoked in times of plague and need. The parish is also home to a first-class relic of St. Pantaleon (St. Panteleimon), one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and venerated in the East as one of the Holy Unmercenary Healers, martyred at Nicomedia in the Diocletianic persecution.
- 14 Holy Helpers stained-glass windows shipped from Germany by boat in the 1920s
- First-class relic of St. Pantaleon (one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers)
- St. Pantaleon: patron of physicians and midwives; martyred 305 AD
Fundraisers & Parish Life
Parish life at St. Matthew revolves around both liturgy and community fundraisers that support the school. The annual St. Matthew School Benefit Auction draws many from the wider Mt. Vernon community, and the St. Matthew Summer Raffle is held in the church parking lot with cash prizes, quilts, and food for purchase.
- St. Matthew School Benefit Auction (annual; e.g. 'The Monster Mash' theme Feb. 28, 2026)
- St. Matthew Summer Raffle — drawing at 1:00pm in the church parking lot
- Memorial contributions accepted online
- Online giving available through the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. E.J. Durbinvisiting from 1840
Co-pioneer with Fr. Roman Weinzapfel; blessed the first church in October 1857.
- Rev. Roman Weinzapfelvisiting through July 1858
First to pay Mt. Vernon regular visits; celebrated liturgy in the Schenk brothers' home.
- Rev. Patrick McDermott1858–1859
Attended the parish from Evansville.
- Rev. Paul Wagnertwo years after 1859
Visited monthly from St. Wendel.
- Rev. H.J. Diestel1865–
Residing at St. Philip; built schoolhouse/parsonage in 1867 and introduced the Sisters of St. Francis.
- Rev. John Sondermann1868–1874
First resident pastor (appointed Nov. 11, 1868); paid off $2,000 in debts, acquired cemetery, added second story to residence.
- Rev. Matthias A. Gillig1874–1876
Left at his own option.
- Rev. J.J. Schoentrup1877–
Began construction of the present Roman-style church in 1879, completed July 1880 and blessed by Bishop Chatard Oct. 10, 1880.
- Rev. A. Koesters1883–1884
Brief tenure.
- Rev. Francis B. Luebbermann (Liebbermann)1885–1917
Longest pastorate (32 years). Acquired 80 acres in Point Township, built Poor Souls Chapel (1902), erected the present convent, rectory, and the two-story brick school at 5th and Mulberry.