About Saint Rupert · Newburgh, Indiana
Saint Rupert Catholic Church is a historic rural parish nestled in the wooded countryside of Red Brush, near Pigeon Creek in western Warrick County, just outside Newburgh, Indiana. Founded in 1865 to serve 13 Catholic families in Yankeetown, it is now one of two worship sites of St. Clement Catholic Parish (along with St. Clement Church in Boonville), united under the Diocese of Evansville. The little church at 1244 W. Red Brush Road continues to offer Sunday and weekday Mass in a quiet country setting, with Sunday Rosary and confessions forming a cherished pre-Mass devotional rhythm for its parishioners.
- Established
- 1865
- Patron
- Saint Rupert
- Rector
- Father Dusty Burns
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
St. Rupert offers a quiet, country-rooted Catholic experience just outside Newburgh, where families have worshipped on Red Brush Road since 1865. Sunday Mass at 7:30 a.m. is preceded by a brief period of Rosary and confessions, creating a small but intentional devotional rhythm. As one of two worship sites of St. Clement Catholic Parish, St. Rupert brings the spiritual and sacramental resources of a larger faith community — religious education, OCIA, music ministry, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, and the wider diocesan ministries of the Diocese of Evansville — to a tucked-away stretch of Warrick County along Pigeon Creek.
Mass times at Saint Rupert
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00 AM – 7:15 AM (before 7:30 Mass)
About St. Rupert Catholic Church
St. Rupert Catholic Church is one of two worship sites of St. Clement Catholic Parish, which belongs to the Diocese of Evansville and covers more than 250 square miles of Warrick County, including Boonville, Newburgh, Yankeetown, Richland, Chandler, Lynnville, Tennyson, and Hatfield. Tucked into the wooded countryside of Red Brush near Pigeon Creek, the church at 1244 W. Red Brush Road has served local Catholic families since 1865 and retains the quiet, rooted character of a country parish.
- Established 1865
- 1244 W. Red Brush Road, Newburgh, IN 47630
- Part of St. Clement Catholic Parish (merged July 1, 2014)
- Diocese of Evansville, South Deanery
History
The parish traces to 1864, when Benedictine priest Rev. Henry Hug began riding out to Yankeetown to celebrate Mass in the homes of the area's 13 Catholic families. The community built a 40 x 26-foot frame church in 1865, blessed by Rev. Chrysostome Foffa, O.S.B., on January 2, 1866. By 1880, with 33 families and a debt-free mission, Rev. J. W. Book enlarged the structure to seat the growing congregation. A unique chapter in the parish's identity is its founding link to St. Meinrad Abbey: both institutions were established by Father (later Bishop) Marty Martin in the rolling country along Pigeon Creek. Bishop Charles Thompson returned to that story in his homily at the 150th anniversary Mass in August 2015, celebrated alongside Bishop Emeritus Gerald Gettelfinger and St. Meinrad Archabbot Justin DuVall, O.S.B.
- 1864 — Rev. Henry Hug, O.S.B., first visits Yankeetown families
- 1865 — Frame church built; blessed Jan. 2, 1866 by Rev. Chrysostome Foffa, O.S.B.
- 1880 — Rev. J. W. Book enlarges the church to fit 33 families
- Aug 28–30, 2015 — 150th anniversary celebration
- July 1, 2014 — Merger with St. Clement Parish, Boonville
150th Anniversary (2015)
St. Rupert's sesquicentennial was a three-day gathering of past and present parishioners, roughly 400 in attendance across the weekend. Highlights included the dedication of the Gab House Memorial Prayer Garden on Saturday evening and a Sunday Anniversary Mass concelebrated by Bishop Charles Thompson, Bishop Emeritus Gerald Gettelfinger, Archabbot Right Reverend Justin DuVall, O.S.B., of St. Meinrad Abbey, Fathers Ken Herr, Ron Kreilein, Ted Tempel, and Joseph Ziliak, with deacons Thomas Lambert and Tim Cox. The parish's oldest member, Eleanora Lathery, carved the first piece of cake; Indiana State Senator Ron Bacon presented a state proclamation, and Warrick County commissioners were represented by Mr. Leon Nash.
- Friday evening welcome and social mixer
- Saturday: children's games, music by "George & The Boys," prayer garden dedication, and Kenneth E. Barnes' talk on "Life on Pigeon Creek"
- Sunday tour of the cemetery, Anniversary Mass, and dinner for about 400
Clergy and Staff
The parish office team is anchored by Executive Administrative Assistant Barbara Forehand Carter (the primary email contact, [email protected]). Music ministry, religious education, custodial, and sacramental roles are spread across both worship sites, with Ed and Ginny Shields serving as Sacristans at St. Rupert and Mary Ann Seiler caring for the hall at the Red Brush site.
- Rev. Mr. Thomas Lambert — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. David Seibert — Deacon
- Barbara Forehand Carter — Exec. Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Judy McNeely — Music Ministry; Kristin Maurer Brenner — Pianist; Debbie Pounds & Melanie Seibert — Organists
- Sacristans (St. Rupert): Ed & Ginny Shields
- Hall Custodian (St. Rupert): Mary Ann Seiler
Liturgy and Music
Liturgical preparation at St. Rupert is supported by a parish music ministry that serves both worship sites. Organists Melanie Seibert and Debbie Pounds, pianist Kristin Maurer Brenner, and music coordinator Judy McNeely provide the music for weekend and weekday liturgies. Liturgical minister monthly schedules are posted under the Calendar tab on the parish website.
- Music Ministry lead: Judy McNeely
- Pianist: Kristin Maurer Brenner
- Organists: Debbie Pounds, Melanie Seibert
- Monthly liturgical minister schedule published online
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and youth across both St. Clement and St. Rupert is coordinated through the combined parish office. Mrs. Leslie Keys serves as CRE responsible for sacraments, and Ms. Janet Hirsch serves as CRE for Grades 7–12, with Mrs. Katie Vollmer listed as DRE on the parish staff roster.
- DRE: Mrs. Katie Vollmer
- CRE, Sacraments: Mrs. Leslie Keys
- CRE, Grades 7–12: Ms. Janet Hirsch
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their sacraments are welcomed through OCIA (formerly RCIA) at the parish. The combined staff coordinates preparation for parishioners of both St. Clement in Boonville and St. Rupert in Red Brush; inquiries can be directed through the parish office at [email protected].
- OCIA preparation available through St. Clement Parish
- Contact via parish office: [email protected]
Outreach & Charity
St. Rupert parishioners participate in the broader charity life of St. Clement Catholic Parish. The local St. Vincent de Paul Society — described by the parish as a worldwide lay network of 800,000 inspired by Gospel values to grow in holiness and serve those in need — operates a Boonville chapter that draws members from both worship sites. The chapter also runs a Spanish-speaking ministry and helps coordinate support with the Boon Township Trustee. In the year ending September 30, 2023, 17 members raised $46,033 and disbursed $32,396 in rent, utility, and emergency-hotel assistance, while logging thousands of in-person visits and hours of service.
- St. Vincent de Paul Boonville chapter serves Warrick County
- Assistance: rent, utilities, emergency hotel stays, elder care
- Spanish-speaking SVdP ministry
- Partnership with the Boon Township Trustee's office
Catholic Ministries Appeal
St. Clement Parish (covering St. Rupert) participates in the annual Catholic Ministries Appeal of the Diocese of Evansville. The parish has reached its CMA goal for the last two years. Funds raised here flow into the diocesan ministries that serve the wider Church across southwestern Indiana, including Red Bird Ministries and vocations work.
- Two consecutive years meeting the CMA goal
- Funds support diocesan ministries (Red Bird Ministries, Office of Vocations)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Henry Hug, O.S.B.1864–
Benedictine priest from St. Meinrad who first visited the 13 Catholic families of Yankeetown, celebrating Mass in their homes.
- Rev. Chrysostome Foffa, O.S.B.1866–
Blessed the original frame St. Rupert's church on January 2, 1866.
- Rev. J. W. Book1880–
Mission priest who considerably enlarged the church to seat the growing congregation of 33 families.
- Father (later Bishop) Marty Martin
Founder of St. Rupert's and also of St. Meinrad Abbey — the link Bishop Thompson highlighted at the 150th anniversary.
- Rev. Lowell WillThrough 2015
Pastor at the time of the 150th anniversary celebration in August 2015.