About Saint Michael · Plymouth, Indiana
St. Michael Catholic Church is a bicultural Roman Catholic parish in Plymouth, Indiana, in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, serving over 1,200 families in English and Spanish. The parish congregation dates back to 1862 (with roots to 1856) and is built around a 1910 Romanesque-style church that was restored in 1994. It is home to St. Michael School (K–8), a parish school with deep roots in the community, and offers a full sacramental life including daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), and religious education. In 2025 the parish was designated one of nine Jubilee Churches in the diocese for the Holy Year of Hope.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Fernando Jimenez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
St. Michael is a bicultural parish that welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking families into one worshiping community, with Mass, confession and adoration offered in both languages. The parish is home to a parish school (K–8) with a deep 160+ year history, a full religious education (CCD) program for children, and OCIA for adults seeking to become Catholic. With daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, First Friday overnight Adoration, an active parish choir and music program, and ministries like RCIA, religious education, a prayer line, Bible studies, youth group, bereavement support, health care ministry, and quinceañera celebrations, there are many ways to belong.
Mass times at Saint Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday evening following the 6:00 PM Mass (English and Spanish)
- Saturday 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (English)
- Saturday 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (English and Spanish)
- By appointment — contact the parish office at (574) 936-4935
Adoration times
- Every Wednesday following the 8:30 AM Mass until 5:00 PM
- Every Thursday evening following the 6:00 PM Mass
- First Friday of the month from 8:00 PM until 6:00 AM (overnight)
Parish History
St. Michael's roots reach back to 1856, when Plymouth-area Catholics purchased lots on Center Street between Madison and Monroe for $500 and began gathering for Mass in homes, a lumber yard, and the courthouse during the Civil War. In 1862 the congregation was formally organized and in 1863 Bishop John Henry Luers blessed the first frame church, with Rev. Gabriel Volkert as the founding pastor. The present church and rectory were built in 1910, designed in a Romanesque style with Byzantine influence to reflect the congregation's largely German heritage, and were extensively restored in 1994 at a cost of $252,000.
- 1856 — Catholics purchase Center Street lots for $500
- 1862 — Parish formally organized as St. Michael's
- 1863 — First frame church built; Rev. Gabriel Volkert first pastor
- 1872 — Three additional lots purchased across from current church
- 1910 — Current Romanesque/Byzantine church and rectory built on Walnut Street
- 1954 — Academy replaced with a modern school building
- 1994 — Major church restoration ($252,000)
- 2000 — School addition: science/art room, four classrooms, gymnasium
- 2009 — Full city-block playground built for the school
- 2013 — Sesquicentennial celebrated with bilingual Mass by Bishop Rhoades
Architecture and Interior Highlights
Drawing on the parish's predominantly German heritage, the 1910 church was designed in a Romanesque style with Byzantine influence. It is built in the shape of a cross; two towers of unequal height give the facade scale and perspective, and Byzantine-style domes crowned with small cupolas and crosses rise above them. The center of attention in the sanctuary is the main altar where Mass is celebrated and the main tabernacle where the Eucharist is reserved.
- Vestibule: statue of the Infant of Prague and a statue of the Blessed Virgin holding the infant Jesus (donated by the Poor Handmaid sisters at Ancilla Domini, Donaldson)
- Reconciliation room in the vestibule for the Sacrament of Penance
- Vestibule light fixture more than 100 years old, originally from the now-closed St. Augustine's Cathedral in Chicago
- Statue of St. Francis of Assisi — known for his love of animals and the poor and for bearing the stigmata
- Statue of St. Therese the Little Flower — Carmelite nun remembered for humility and wholehearted love of God
- Holy Water font at the entrance as a reminder of Baptism
- 14 Stations of the Cross with devotions held during Lent
- Stained-glass windows depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus showing His Sacred Heart, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Joseph and the four evangelists (Rising Eagle = St. John; Winged Bull = St. Luke; Winged Lion = St. Mark; Angel = St. Matthew)
St. Michael School
St. Michael School has served Plymouth-area families since 1861, when the Sisters of Holy Cross of St. Mary founded St. Michael's Academy at Center and Madison Streets. The current school building replaced the original Academy in 1954 and was expanded in 2000 with a science/art room, four classrooms, and a gymnasium with stage and storage. A full city-block playground was added in 2009. The school educates students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and welcomes students of all faiths.
- Founded in 1861 by the Sisters of Holy Cross of St. Mary
- Current school building: 612 N. Center Street, Plymouth, IN 46563
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
- Curriculum includes religion, language arts, math, music/band/choir/orchestra, social studies, science/health, art, physical education, computers, and Spanish
- Athletics: ICCL girls' and boys' basketball (grades 5/6 and 7/8), boys' and girls' soccer, girls' volleyball; grade 4 basketball vs. Plymouth elementary schools
- Students regularly attend weekday Mass and serve as lectors and cantors
- Students of the Week / Month honored at all-school Mass on Fridays
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish provides Religious Education (CCD) for children of parish families, with classes meeting at Saint Michael School on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–7:00 PM during the school year, offered in both English and Spanish. For adults seeking to become Catholic or to come into full communion with the Church, the parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA), walking inquirers through the Period of Evangelization, the Rite of Acceptance, the Rite of Election during Lent, and the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
- OCIA / OCIC for adults (English and Spanish)
- Religious Education (CCD) classes at St. Michael School
- Why Catholic? program
- Bible studies
- Prayer line
Music, Liturgy and Live-Stream
Sacred Music at St. Michael is led by Kimberley Mendez, Director of Sacred Music. The parish live-streams its Sunday Liturgies on its YouTube channel, especially for homebound parishioners. A weekly printed bulletin (with digital version online) and ministry schedules for Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and Altar Servers keep the liturgical life of the parish organized and welcoming.
- Director of Sacred Music: Kimberley Mendez
- Sunday Liturgies live-streamed on parish YouTube
- Weekly bulletin (digital edition online)
- Ministry schedules for Lectors, EMHCs and Altar Servers
- Bilingual liturgical celebrations throughout the year
Parish Staff and Contact
St. Michael is served by a pastor and parochial vicar, a business manager and parish secretary in the office, and a school principal and directors of religious education and sacred music on staff. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00), and an emergency line is available through Fr Fernando.
- Pastor: Rev. Fernando Jimenez
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jose Arroyo
- Business Manager: Nancy Garcia Peña
- Parish Secretary: Jessica Aguilar
- School Principal: Robin Coffman
- Director of Sacred Music: Kimberley Mendez
- Director of Religious Education: Alexa Esquivel
- Parish office: (574) 936-4935
- Fr Fernando emergency line: 260-249-8088
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00)
Becoming Catholic and Joining the Parish
Those interested in joining the parish can fill out the online Parishioner Registration Form linked from the parish website. Adults inquiring about the Catholic faith — whether unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or already Catholic and seeking full communion — are invited to explore OCIA (formerly RCIA) by contacting the parish office at (574) 936-4935.
- Online Parishioner Registration Form
- OCIA/OCIC information page (linked from homepage)
- Parish office phone: (574) 936-4935
Jubilee Year 2025
St. Michael Catholic Church was named one of nine Jubilee Churches throughout the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades celebrated a special Jubilee Mass at the parish with several concelebrating priests, and the Mass concluded with an apostolic blessing in honor of the Jubilee Year.
- One of nine designated Jubilee Churches in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
- Jubilee Mass celebrated by Bishop Rhoades on September 3, 2025
- Concelebrants included Pastor Fr Fernando Jimenez and Parochial Vicar Fr Jose Arroyo
- Apostolic blessing given at the conclusion of the Jubilee Mass
Stewardship and Online Giving
The parish offers online giving as a simple way to financially support the mission and works of St. Michael. A 2024–2025 Annual Report is published on the parish website for transparency and parish-wide stewardship.
- Online Giving link on parish website
- 2024–2025 Annual Report published
- Weekly bulletin with giving and event updates
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gabriel Volkert1862-1864
First pastor; church built under his tenure by Bishop John Henry Luers
- Rev. George Steiner1864-1866
- Rev. Francis Siegelack1866-1869
- Rev. George Zurwellen1869-1883
- Rev. Louis Moench1883-1898
- Rev. Charles Lemper1898-1900
- Rev. Peter Schmitt1900-1901
- Rev. Simon Yenn1901-1903
- Rev. Henry Kappel1903-1905
- Rev. John Tremmel1905-1930
- Rev. Lawrence Eberle1930-1953
- Rev. Msgr. Adrian Brandehoff1953-1956
- Rev. Casimir Moskwinski1956-1971
- Rev. Lawrence Tippmann1971-1974
- Rev. Thomas Doriot1974-1980
- Rev. Bernard Galic1980-1981
- Rev. Raymond Balzer1981-1987
- Rev. David Voors1987-1997
- Rev. Anthony Gillespie1997-2002
- Rev. William J. Kummer2002-2013
- Rev. John Korcsmar, C.S.C.2013-2021
Holy Cross priest; shepherded the bicultural parish of over 1,200 families
- Rev. Fernando Jimenez2021-Present
Current pastor; led Jubilee Year Mass with Bishop Rhoades in 2025