About St. Benedict Cathedral · Evansville, Indiana
St. Benedict Cathedral is the mother church (seat) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville, located on Lincoln Avenue on the east side of Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1912 as St. Benedict Parish and staffed from the beginning by Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Abbey, it has served as the diocesan cathedral since its consecration on April 11, 1999 by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger. The current Lombard–Basilica style church, completed in 1928, features 65-foot ceilings, a baldachin over the altar and seating for more than 1,000, and is a contributing property of the Lincolnshire Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The parish runs a K-8 school (St. Benedict Cathedral School), more than forty ministries, daily and Sunday Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration and a robust sacrament schedule, all while maintaining its distinctive Benedictine monastic heritage.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Saint Benedict of Nursia
- Rector
- Very Rev. Alex Zenthoefer (Rector of the Cathedral, appointed 2022)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
St. Benedict offers a rare combination: a celebrated, history-rich cathedral (seating 1,000+, home of diocesan liturgical celebrations with the Bishop) that also remains a hands-on neighborhood parish with a parish school, daily 9:00 am Mass, Monday evening confessions, all-day Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Saturday, and more than forty active ministries. Worshippers appreciate the distinctive Benedictine monastic rhythm of prayer-and-work, the soaring 65-foot ceilings and Zettler stained glass, and a community that explicitly welcomes seekers, the poor and anyone 'looking for a family of faith.' If you want a parish where you can come for daily Mass, drop in for Adoration, enroll your children in a parish school, and serve in social outreach, music, or the St. Vincent de Paul conference — all under one roof and on one campus — St. Ben's is built for that.
Mass times at St. Benedict Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 5:00 pm – 5:40 pm
- Tuesday–Friday 8:40 am – 8:55 am (parish lists 8:30–8:55 am on some pages)
- Saturday 9:30 am – 10:00 am
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- By appointment: call (812) 425-3369, ext. 0
Adoration times
- Monday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Benediction at 5:45 pm)
- Tuesday–Friday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm (except holidays)
- Saturday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Sunday: no scheduled public adoration
- Access outside posted hours available by code on request (contact Lisa Roth)
Our History
St. Benedict Parish was founded in 1912 to serve Catholics on the east side of Evansville and placed under the care of the Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Abbey and the Benedictine Sisters of Ferdinand from the start. The first multi-purpose building (now St. Meinrad Hall) went up in 1913–1914, followed quickly by a convent and rectory. The current Lombard–Basilica style church, designed by Edward J. Thole and built by parishioner Michael Hoffman, was completed and dedicated on March 18, 1928. Two Evansville bishops were ordained here before the parish was elevated: Francis R. Shea (1970) and Gerald A. Gettelfinger (April 11, 1989). On April 11, 1999, Bishop Gettelfinger consecrated St. Benedict as the third cathedral of the Diocese of Evansville.
- 1912 — Parish established; Benedictine monks from St. Meinrad Abbey assume pastoral care
- 1913–1914 — First combination church/school built (now St. Meinrad Hall), architect Frank J. Schlotter, contractor Michael J. Hoffman
- 1928 — Present church completed in Lombard–Basilica style; designed by Edward J. Thole (Thole & Legeman); dedicated March 18 by Abbot Athanasius Schmidt, OSB
- 1944 — Diocese of Evansville established; Assumption Church becomes first cathedral
- 1953 — St. Scholastica Hall (school) completed with auditorium, cafeteria, gymnasium
- 1965 — Holy Trinity becomes Pro-Cathedral after Assumption is demolished
- 1989 — Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger ordained and installed at St. Benedict's
- 1989 — Cathedral, rectory and original school listed as contributing properties to Lincolnshire Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
- 1999 — April 11, consecrated as the third cathedral of the Diocese of Evansville
- 2004 — St. Benedict Hall completed (offices, classrooms, meeting rooms)
- 2012 — Parish centennial; Pope Benedict XVI names Father Gregory Chamberlin, OSB, a Monsignor
- 2018 — Major renovation of the cathedral begins
Architecture & Campus
The current church was completed in 1928 in the Lombard–Basilica style with construction costs of about $230,000; it has ceilings 65 feet high, a baldachin over the altar (advanced about 25 feet post-Vatican II) and seating for more than 1,000. The stained glass was installed by the Zettler Art Glass Company of St. Louis. The campus also includes the 1914 St. Meinrad Hall (Neoclassical, architect Frank J. Schlotter), St. Scholastica Hall (1953, with auditorium/cafeteria/gymnasium) and the modern St. Benedict Hall (2004), which holds offices, classrooms and meeting rooms.
- Cathedral architect: Edward J. Thole (firm Thole & Legeman)
- Contractor: Michael J. Hoffman (parishioner)
- Stained glass: Zettler Art Glass Company, St. Louis
- Original school architect: Frank J. Schlotter; rectory architect: August Gehlhausen
- Zoning: contributing property, Lincolnshire Historic District (NRHP ID 89001426, added October 2, 1989)
The Parish School: St. Benedict Cathedral School
St. Benedict Cathedral School shares the parish campus at 530 S. Harlan Avenue (Evansville, IN 47714) and has served parish and local families for more than a century. Education was entrusted to the Benedictine Sisters of Ferdinand from the founding of the parish in 1912; the school continues today with grades K–8 and a long tradition of academic and spiritual formation. School office hours are listed as 7:15 am to 3:30 pm and the school's phone is 812-425-4596. The newest school building, St. Benedict Hall (2004), houses offices, classrooms and meeting rooms.
- Address: 530 S. Harlan Ave., Evansville, IN 47714
- Phone: (812) 425-4596
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: 7:15 am – 3:30 pm (weekdays)
- Campus buildings used by the school: St. Meinrad Hall (1914), St. Scholastica Hall (1953), St. Benedict Hall (2004)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Benedict covers children preparing for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation; the Parish School of Religion (PSR) supports families whose children attend public schools; an RCIA process initiates adults into the Church; ongoing Bible study, small Christian communities, and discipleship programs sustain adult growth. Preparation for Marriage and Baptism is coordinated through the parish office. The parish also runs Children's Liturgy of the Word at Sunday Mass and a vibrant Youth Ministry program (EDGE for middle school and Life Teen for high school).
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist preparation
- Confirmation preparation (with diocesan celebration)
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Youth Ministry: EDGE (middle school) & Life Teen (high school)
- Bible Study & Small Christian Communities
- Marriage Preparation and Baptismal Prep
Music & Liturgy
Music and liturgy are central to the Benedictine prayer-and-work tradition at St. Benedict. The parish maintains a Cathedral Choir and welcomes cantors and instrumentalists to share their gifts. Servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, and Art & Environment volunteers shape the prayer of the assembly at daily Mass, Sunday liturgies and Holy Day feasts.
- Cathedral Choir and Music Ministry
- Cantors and instrumentalists
- Altar Servers
- Lectors (Lectors Ministry)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Sacristans
- Art & Environment / Decorating Committee
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish community lives out its Benedictine call to welcome the stranger and serve the poor through more than forty ministries. The parish St. Vincent de Paul conference serves neighbors in need; Respect Life promotes the dignity of life from conception to natural death; Catholic Relief Services keeps the parish connected to global Church relief; Bereavement Ministry and Funeral Dinners support grieving families; Saints Alive (50+) fellowship, Men's Club, Women's Club (Ladies of St. Ben's), Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus and the Benedictine Oblate program foster community and discipleship for adults at every stage of life.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Catholic Relief Services (parish liaison)
- Respect Life
- Bereavement Ministry & Funeral Dinners
- Knights of Columbus — St. Benedict Council
- Holy Name Society
- Men's Club
- Women's Club / Ladies of St. Ben's
- Saints Alive (50+ fellowship)
- Rosary Group / Mary's Children Prayer Group
- Welcome / Newcomers Ministry
- Benedictine Oblates (spiritual sons and daughters of St. Benedict)
- Helping Hands
- Stewardship Committee
- Coffee & Donuts (fellowship)
- Garden & Grounds
Capital Campaign: Building For Mission
St. Benedict undertook an ambitious 'Building For Mission' capital campaign, surpassing $6 million in pledges and gifts. The campaign retired the parish's debt and began a series of campus improvements, including the major interior renovation of the cathedral that began in November 2018. The Campaign Cabinet publicly thanked volunteers and parishioners for their time, talent and treasure.
- Raised $6 million+ in pledges
- Retired parish debt
- Funded cathedral interior renovation (begun November 2018)
- Funded additional campus improvements
Cathedral in the Diocese of Evansville
As the cathedral church of the Diocese of Evansville — established by Pope Pius XII on November 11, 1944 — St. Benedict is the site of diocesan liturgies with the Bishop, including Confirmations, ordinations, the Chrism Mass, and major feast-day celebrations. The diocese has 45 parishes in 4 deaneries and covers 5,010 square miles across twelve southwestern Indiana counties, with a Catholic population of about 79,500. The cathedral served as the third diocesan cathedral (after Assumption 1944–1965 and Holy Trinity as Pro-cathedral 1965–1999) when it was consecrated on April 11, 1999.
- Diocese of Evansville — created Nov 11, 1944
- 3rd cathedral of the diocese (after Assumption and Holy Trinity)
- Hosts diocesan Confirmations, ordinations, and feast-day celebrations
- Bishop Joseph M. Siegel is the current diocesan bishop
Getting Involved / I'm New
St. Benedict's 'I'm New' page welcomes anyone seeking 'a family of faith.' Becoming a member is straightforward (select About Us → Join the Parish), and new members are invited to register their family, enroll children in the school or Faith Formation, and be matched to a ministry. Visitors can attend daily 9:00 am Mass, Monday Holy Hour with Adoration, weekend Masses, or simply stop by during office hours.
- Mass and Confession schedule (above)
- Parish registration via About Us → Join the Parish
- School enrollment via St. Benedict Cathedral School
- Faith Formation enrollment for children and youth
- RCIA for adults seeking full initiation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Martin Hoppenjans, OSB1912–1936
Founding pastor; oversaw original 1913–1914 multi-purpose building, convent and rectory.
- Rev. Lambert Enslinger, OSB1936–1939
Benedictine pastor.
- Rev. Thomas Schaefers, OSB1939–1942
Benedictine pastor.
- Rev. Gilbert Hess, OSB1942–1943
Benedictine pastor.
- Rev. Gabriel Verkamp, OSB1943–1963
Benedictine pastor; served during 1944 creation of Diocese of Evansville and 1948 gold anniversary.
- Rev. Alban Berling, OSB1963–1973
Benedictine pastor; oversaw post-Vatican II renovation including moving baldachin and replacing altar.
- Revs. Lambert Reilly, OSB and Lawrence Ward, OSB1973–1974
Co-pastors.
- Rev. Cyril Vrablic, OSB1974–1977
Benedictine pastor.
- Rev. Camillus Elsperman, OSB1977–1991
Benedictine pastor; presided at episcopal ordination of Gerald A. Gettelfinger in 1989.
- Very Rev. Gregory Chamberlin, OSB1991–2013
Led the parish through its 1999 consecration as the diocesan cathedral; named Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI in the 100th-anniversary year (2012).
- Very Rev. Godfrey Mullen, OSB2013–2022
Rector during 2018 cathedral renovation and expansion of ministries.
- Very Rev. Alex Zenthoefer2022–present
Current Rector; first non-Benedictine priest to hold the role (the parish remained Benedictine-administered until 2022 before diocesan clergy resumed direct leadership).
 "St. Benedict Cathedral")