About St. Ambrose · Seymour, Indiana
St. Ambrose is a Roman Catholic parish in Seymour, Indiana, part of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Founded in 1860 in the southern Indiana railroad town, it is one of the older parishes in the archdiocese and serves approximately 725 families. Today it is a notably bilingual community — about 25% Latino — that runs its own PK-8 school, a Hispanic Heritage Fiesta each fall, and outreach to Anchor House, Jackson County's only housing shelter. The parish is led by Very Rev. Daniel Staublin, VF, with two deacons, and offers 12 Masses a week, several days of confession, and monthly Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1860
- Patron
- St. Ambrose (4th-century Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church; patron of beekeepers and candlemakers)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Daniel Staublin, VF
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Ambrose is known for being unusually welcoming — Father Staublin says visitors regularly write to say how warm the parish felt. It offers twelve Masses each week, including bilingual Sunday Masses at 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., confession three days a week, and monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration. The parish runs its own PK-8 school, an active St. Vincent de Paul conference, a Knights of Columbus council that supports Seymour's Oktoberfest, and ministries such as the Prayer Shawl group, Youth Ministry, and Hispanic Ministry — alongside regular outreach to Anchor House, Jackson County's only housing shelter.
Mass times at St. Ambrose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:30 PM – 5:10 PM
- Thursday 4:30 PM – 5:10 PM
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:10 PM
- Other times available by appointment — call the parish office at 812-522-5304
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month, 9:15 AM — Adoration & Benediction
Parish History
St. Ambrose Parish was founded in 1860 in the southern Indiana railroad town of Seymour, where Catholics had been recorded as early as 1834. The present church was dedicated in 1871 and is described by its pastor as 'a beautiful structure with wooden altars at the front and side.' The Archdiocese of Indianapolis lists St. Ambrose among its 1860 foundation parishes. In recent decades the parish has grown increasingly bilingual, with about a quarter of its families Latino, and is known for blending its Anglo and Latino communities through shared ministries and an annual Hispanic Heritage Fiesta each fall.
- Founded 1860 in Seymour, Indiana
- Church dedicated 1871
- Listed as a foundation parish of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis
- Icon of St. Ambrose and almost life-size print of Our Lady of Guadalupe inside the church
- Church open daily 7 a.m.–8 p.m. for prayer
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Daniel Staublin, VF, Pastor/Rector, with two permanent deacons — Deacon Mike East and Deacon John Cord — assisting. The staff also includes Cana Lingenfelter (Administrative Assistant & Bookkeeper), Robin Davidson (Business Manager), Beth Pifer (Religious Education & Youth Ministry Coordinator), and Maria De Martinis (Hispanic Ministry).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Daniel Staublin, VF
- Deacon Mike East
- Deacon John Cord
- Cana Lingenfelter — Administrative Assistant & Bookkeeper
- Robin Davidson — Business Manager
- Beth Pifer — Religious Education / Youth Ministry
- Maria De Martinis — Hispanic Ministry
Parish Life & Bilingual Community
St. Ambrose is a bilingual community of about 725 families, blending longtime multigenerational members with newer and younger families. Roughly 25% of parishioners are Latino — with members from Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Colombia — and the parish celebrates its diversity through bilingual Masses, Hispanic Ministry, and the annual Hispanic Heritage Fiesta held around the end of September or early October.
- ~725 registered families; church capacity 330
- Approximately 25% Latino membership
- Two bilingual Sunday Masses (12:30 PM and 5:00 PM) and one bilingual Thursday Mass
- Annual Hispanic Heritage Fiesta each fall with native foods and traditional dances
- Dedicated Hispanic Ministry Office Hours (Monday–Thursday 9 AM–4 PM, Friday 9 AM–3:30 PM)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Ambrose spans children, youth, and adults. The parish's OCIA program welcomes the unbaptized, Christians from other traditions, and Catholics seeking Eucharist or Confirmation, and meets on Thursday evenings in the Resource Center from September through the Easter season.
- Religious Education Coordinator: Beth Pifer (Preschool–12th grade)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults): Thursdays 7:00–8:15 PM in the Resource Center
- First Communion preparation in 2nd grade at St. Ambrose School; one prior year of Religious Education required
- Confirmation typically in sophomore year of high school, after one year of active Youth Ministry
- Faith Formation Commission: retreats, Lenten Lectionary Studies, guest speakers, Christian musicians
St. Ambrose Catholic School (PK-8)
St. Ambrose Parish's largest single ministry is its parish school, St. Ambrose Catholic School, located at 301 S. Chestnut Street, Seymour. Serving roughly 146 students in PK through 8th grade, the school community is about half English-speaking and half Latino, and Father Staublin credits the Indiana voucher program with helping many families access a Catholic education.
- Address: 301 S. Chestnut St., Seymour, IN 47274
- Phone: 812-522-3522 (Fax: 812-522-3545)
- Principal: Michelle Neibert-Levine ([email protected])
- Grades: PreK through 8
- Enrollment: ~146 students, roughly 50/50 English and Latino
- Motto: 'Led by Christ through prayer and study, the St. Ambrose Catholic School Community encourages a lifelong commitment to faith, learning, leadership and service.'
Ministries & Outreach
The parish is known for being welcoming and for its active lay apostolate. The Knights of Columbus supports the school, church, and broader community through fundraising and charitable projects; the St. Vincent de Paul conference runs a help line and a special new-shoes project for elementary children; and the parish as a whole supports Anchor House, Jackson County's only housing shelter, with food collections, meal service, and COVID-era feeding efforts.
- Knights of Columbus — Oktoberfest food booth, monthly chicken/tenderloin dinners; charities include Special Olympics, Ultrasound Initiative, Coats for Kids, Wheelchair Project
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — meets 4th Thursday at 6:00 PM in the Parish Center; help line (812) 524-8566; provides food, shelter, and heat assistance and new shoes for elementary students
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — founded summer 2009; shawls for homebound and white baptismal garments (Hispanic group meets Tuesdays 10:00 AM–12:30 PM)
- Anchor House outreach — Lent food collection, meal service by Knights, St. Vincent de Paul, and Youth Ministry
- Faith Formation Commission — adult retreats, Lenten studies, guest speakers, Christian musicians
Sacraments
St. Ambrose prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. First Communion is celebrated in second grade (with at least one prior year of Religious Education); Confirmation is typically received in the sophomore year of high school after a year of Youth Ministry. The OCIA process runs Thursday evenings for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Catholic Church.
- Baptism — preparation required; call the parish office
- First Holy Communion — 2nd grade at St. Ambrose School; contact Beth Pifer ext. 322 for non-school families
- Confirmation — sophomore year or older after one year of Youth Ministry
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Holy Communion for the Homebound — contact the parish office
- Marriage — by appointment with the pastor
- OCIA — Thursdays 7:00–8:15 PM, September through Easter
Visiting & Contact
The parish church sits at 325 S. Chestnut Street in downtown Seymour, Indiana, with St. Ambrose School across the street at 301 S. Chestnut Street. Parish Office hours are Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (Fridays until 3:30 PM). The Hispanic Ministry Office keeps separate hours. Visitors are welcome — the church is open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. — and parking is available along Chestnut Street, behind the church, and on grass lots on Carter Street.
- Parish Office: 325 S. Chestnut Street, Seymour, IN 47274
- Phone: 812-522-5304 | Fax: 812-522-3545
- Email: [email protected]
- School: 301 S. Chestnut St. | 812-522-3522
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM (Fri until 3:30 PM)
- Hispanic Ministry Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–4 PM, Fri 9 AM–3:30 PM
- Church open daily 7 AM–8 PM
- Parking: along Chestnut Street, behind the church, and on Carter Street grass lots
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Daniel Staublin, VFcurrent pastor (as of 2024 Archdiocese of Indianapolis listing)
Featured in The Criterion's 2024 parish profile; described the church's bilingual mission and ministries.