About Saint Pius X · Granger, Indiana
Saint Pius X Catholic Church is a large, vibrant Roman Catholic parish in Granger, Indiana, part of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. Its roots reach back to 1870, when Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., founded St. Joseph's Farm to supply food to the University of Notre Dame while serving rural Catholic families. Established as a parish in 1951 and dedicated under its current name in 1956, Saint Pius X now serves more than 2,900 families (over 9,000 parishioners) and is one of the largest parishes in the diocese. The parish operates a preschool-through-Grade-8 Catholic school, more than 80 ministries, and a major three-phase facilities expansion completed in 2019.
- Established
- 1951
- Patron
- Saint Pius X (Pope)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Michael Heintz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
Saint Pius X offers the rare combination of a large, active parish community and a deeply rooted Catholic identity. With more than 80 ministries — from youth ministry, Knights of Columbus fish frys, and Christ Renews His Parish retreats to a Prayer Blanket Ministry and ongoing service opportunities — there is a place for every age and stage of life. The parish grounds are a true Catholic campus: a 2017-dedicated Romanesque church, a preschool-through-Grade-8 school, weekly Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, daily Confession opportunities, and faith formation from cradle to grave (RCIA, RCIT, RCIC, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd). Its Holy Cross heritage, traced back to Fr. Edward Sorin and St. Joseph's Farm in 1870, gives the community a tangible connection to the University of Notre Dame and a missionary spirit of service.
Mass times at Saint Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 7:30 AM – 8:15 AM (West Transept)
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (West Transept)
- Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 8:15 AM (West Transept)
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (West Transept)
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 8:15 AM (West Transept)
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (West Transept)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (West Transept)
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Chapel)
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (Church)
History of Saint Pius X Parish
The parish's history runs from the 1870 founding of St. Joseph's Farm by Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., through the 1920s ministry of Fr. George O'Connor, C.S.C., to the formal establishment of St. Joseph's Farm Parish in 1936. A new church dedicated to Pope Saint Pius X was built in 1955–56 by its 145 founding families on five acres of land off Fir Road. Growth followed steadily — a rectory in 1970, parish center and gym in 1982, a second church in 1992 — and in 2001 pastoral care passed from the Congregation of Holy Cross to diocesan clergy, beginning with Msgr. William Schooler. A 2008 Parish Education Center, a 2017 new church, and a Parish Life Center followed in the largest parish-building era in diocesan history.
- 1870 — Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., founds St. Joseph's Farm in Granger to supply food to Notre Dame and serve rural Catholic families.
- 1922–1928 — Fr. George O'Connor, C.S.C., superior of the farm, begins offering Mass for neighboring farm families.
- 1936 — Informal Catholic community formally recognized as St. Joseph's Farm Parish.
- 1951 — Established as a parish; five acres off Fir Road donated for a new church.
- 1956 — First Mass celebrated in the new church dedicated to Saint Pius X, built by 145 families.
- 1970 — New rectory built.
- 1982 — Parish center and gym constructed.
- 1989 — Parish reaches 1,200 families.
- 1992 — Second, larger church and offices completed by Easter; dedicated by Bishop John M. D'Arcy in September.
- 2001 — Holy Cross congregation turns pastoral care over to diocesan clergy; Msgr. William Schooler becomes first diocesan pastor.
- 2008 — Parish Education Center (PEC) dedicated by Bishop D'Arcy, housing the preschool, grade school, Religious Education, RCIA/RCIT/RCIC, and meeting space.
- 2017 — New Romanesque-style church dedicated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades on March 25; Parish Life Center opens in September.
- 2019 — Parish Education Center addition and renovated Catechesis of the Good Shepherd wing completed in August.
- Today — More than 2,900 families and 9,000+ parishioners; implementing a five-year Strategic Plan (2019–2024).
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Msgr. Michael Heintz, who succeeded Msgr. William (Bill) Schooler in 2024 after Father Schooler's 23-year pastorate. Two parochial vicars, Fr. David Langford and Fr. Andy Barnes, assist him, along with two permanent deacons, Tim Wheeler and Jeremy Hoy. The parish staff also includes a Director of Religious Education, Director of Liturgy & Music, Director of Youth Ministry, Director of Christian Initiation, Director of Finance and Operations, Director of Stewardship and Engagement, Assistant Directors, parish secretaries, and a Campus Minister.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Michael Heintz
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. David Langford
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Andy Barnes
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Msgr. William (Bill) Schooler (2001–2024)
- Permanent Deacon: Tim Wheeler
- Permanent Deacon: Jeremy Hoy
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Saint Pius X is described by the parish as lifelong — 'from cradle to grave.' Programs for children and youth include Religious Education for grade-school students, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, and a Children's Stewardship program (Step-by-Step Stewardship) tied into the parish school. For teens and adults, the parish offers Middle School and High School Youth Groups, RCIA (adults), RCIT (teens), and RCIC (children), as well as Christ Renews His Parish weekend retreats.
- Religious Education for K–Grade 8 (500+ students).
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Atrium).
- RCIA, RCIT, and RCIC — Christian Initiation programs.
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation.
- Christ Renews His Parish weekend retreats.
- Step-by-Step Stewardship for K–7 students at the parish school.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 3 through 1st grade) during 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Sunday Masses.
- Middle School and High School Youth Groups.
St. Pius X Catholic School
St. Pius X Catholic School serves preschool through Grade 8 on the parish campus. Opened as part of the Parish Education Center dedicated in 2008 by Bishop John M. D'Arcy, the school enrolls roughly 635–655 students and is led by Principal Chris Milliron. As part of the diocesan school system, it shares a Step-by-Step Stewardship curriculum with after-school religious education classes, and the school's SPX campus minister visits those classes with the same grade-level themes (veterans, the elderly, seniors, the homeless).
- Grades served: Preschool through Grade 8.
- Principal: Chris Milliron.
- Enrollment: approximately 635–655 students.
- Diocesan listing: stpiuscatholicschool.net (website), 574-272-4935 (school office).
- Address (same as parish): 52553 Fir Rd., Granger, IN 46530.
- Step-by-Step Stewardship program connects prayer, service, and sacrificial giving to grade-level themes.
Music & Liturgy
The parish's Liturgy & Music ministry supports weekend and daily Masses, holy days, and special celebrations. The team is led by a Director of Liturgy & Music, with an Assistant Director of Liturgy, an Assistant Director of Music, a Coordinator of Liturgy & Music, and a Cantor program. The 2017 Romanesque-style church was designed to better accommodate music and fuller congregational participation at Mass.
- Director, Liturgy & Music.
- Assistant Director, Liturgy.
- Assistant Director, Music.
- Coordinator, Liturgy & Music.
- Cantor program supporting parish Masses.
Service & Outreach
Service is woven into parish life. The Children's Stewardship program and the school tie service hours to sacramental preparation — typically 20 hours of helping family, friends, neighbors, and community outreach. Adult ministries include a Prayer Blanket Ministry that creates and distributes handmade blankets, and ongoing cook-and-serve opportunities with Hope Ministries. The Knights of Columbus sponsor a monthly parish Breakfast and a Lenten Fish Fry.
- Prayer Blanket Ministry.
- Cook for Hope Ministries.
- Knights of Columbus monthly Breakfast.
- Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fry.
- Sunday Children's Liturgy of the Word (helpers).
- Sunday Nursery help during 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Masses.
- First Communion Set Up and First Communion Retreat helpers.
- 20-hour service expectation as part of sacramental preparation.
Retreats & Adult Spiritual Life
The parish hosts seasonal retreats (such as a Lenten morning retreat led by Fr. David Langford featuring Mass, Eucharistic Adoration with optional Confession, light refreshments, and a presentation), as well as Christ Renews His Parish weekend retreats, small-group faith opportunities, and recommendations for personal retreats at local retreat centers. Daily Mass, the Rosary after Mass, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration are encouraged as steady rhythms of prayer.
- Seasonal parish retreats (e.g., Lenten morning retreat).
- Christ Renews His Parish weekend retreats.
- Daily Mass as the center of parish prayer life.
- Rosary prayed weekdays 8:15 AM – 12:00 PM.
- Friday Adoration in the Chapel (9:30 AM – 5:00 PM) and Saturday Adoration in the Church (8:30–9:30 AM).
Parish Campus & Facilities
Saint Pius X sits on a growing campus along Fir Road in Granger. The current church was dedicated in 2017; the Parish Life Center opened in 2017 to host fellowship and meetings for more than 80 ministries; the Parish Education Center opened in 2008 and was expanded in 2019 along with the renovated Catechesis of the Good Shepherd wing. Athletic fields and a new rectory were also added in recent years to serve the parish community.
- Original church: dedicated 1956 on five acres off Fir Road.
- Second church: completed 1992; dedicated by Bishop John M. D'Arcy.
- Parish Education Center: dedicated 2008.
- New (current) church: dedicated March 25, 2017 by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades; Romanesque style with Holy Cross heritage elements.
- Parish Life Center: opened September 2017.
- Parish Education Center addition and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd wing renovation: completed August 2019.
- New rectory: built 2014 (old rectory torn down).
- Athletic fields on adjacent purchased acreage.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George O'Connor, C.S.C.1922–1928
Superior and director of St. Joseph's Farm; began offering Mass for farm families, planting the seed of the parish.
- Fr. Peter Jarrett, C.S.C.1995–2001
Last Holy Cross pastor of Saint Pius X before the parish transitioned to diocesan clergy.
- Rev. Msgr. William (Bill) Schooler2001–2024
First diocesan pastor (arrived 2001 with Fr. Daniel Scheidt); oversaw school construction (2008), new church dedication (2017), and Parish Life Center (2017); ordained 1974; retired in 2024 at age 76.
- Rev. Msgr. Michael Heintz2024–present
Former student of Msgr. Schooler; succeeded him as pastor in 2024.