About St. Bernard (Tri-Parish Community) · Depauw, Indiana
St. Bernard Catholic Church is a small historic parish located in Frenchtown, an unincorporated community in Harrison County within the town of Depauw, Indiana. Founded in 1849 by French settlers, it is one of three parishes — together with St. Michael in Bradford and St. Joseph in Marengo — that make up the Tri-Parish Community served by a single pastor, Rev. Aaron Pfaff, and one administrative team. St. Bernard welcomes about 120 families in a 175-seat church situated on Highway 337 NW, and Sunday Mass is celebrated there at 9:30 AM as part of the Tri-Parish rotation.
- Established
- 1849
- Patron
- St. Bernard (of Clairvaux / of Menthon)
- Rector
- Rev. Aaron Pfaff
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Bernard is a small, tightly-knit parish with deep French-Catholic roots reaching back to 1849, where Sunday Mass at 9:30 AM, Monday evening Mass, and Wednesday morning Mass are celebrated in a historic 1894 brick church set on a hilltop cemetery ground. As part of the Tri-Parish Community with St. Michael in Bradford and St. Joseph in Marengo, parishioners share a single pastor (Fr. Aaron Pfaff), a director of religious education (Deacon John Jacobi), and Tri-Parish faith-formation programming, while still gathering in a worship space small enough that — at about 120 families and 175 seats — regulars easily know one another. The parish offers Confession every Monday evening before Mass, a Holy Hour on the second Monday of each month, and an active Pastoral Council and Cemetery Committee for those who want to be involved.
Mass times at St. Bernard (Tri-Parish Community)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM at St. Bernard, Frenchtown
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM at St. Michael, Bradford
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Michael, Bradford
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at 812-364-6646
Adoration times
- Second Monday of the month — Holy Hour at 7:00 PM at St. Bernard Church
- First Friday of the month — Adoration 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM at St. Joseph, Marengo
- First Friday of the month — Adoration 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM at St. Michael, Bradford
About St. Bernard Parish
St. Bernard Catholic Church is the Frenchtown/Depauw member of the Tri-Parish Community of St. Michael (Bradford), St. Joseph (Marengo), and St. Bernard (Frenchtown/Depauw). The parish is served by a single pastor, Rev. Aaron Pfaff, with Deacon John Jacobi as Director of Religious Education and Michelle Whittaker as Administrative Assistant. According to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis directory, St. Bernard has about 120 registered families and a sanctuary that seats 175. The Tri-Parish motto is: 'We the Parishes of St. Michael in Bradford, St. Bernard Church in Frenchtown, and St. Joseph Church in Marengo, IN, aim to Learn, Live, and Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.'
- Tri-Parish Community motto: Learn, Live, and Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Approximately 120 registered families
- 175-seat church
- Harrison County, Indiana — Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Parish History
St. Bernard was founded by French Catholic settlers in 1849 as a log church and is today the third church on the parish's present site. The detailed parish-history page on the Tri-Parish website traces the founding through the present day, including the 1880 second church (dedicated by Bishop Chatard, abandoned due to storm damage), the 1894 construction of the current brick church, the arrival of the Sisters of Providence teaching sisters, the installation of the Gothic altars under Fr. Bracher (1911–1917), interior renovations under Fr. Evrard (1969–1973), the Legacy of Hope additions (narthex, meditation garden) under Fr. Dennison, and the parish's 175th anniversary celebrated in 2024. A companion article in The Criterion (November 8, 2024) titled ''Deep roots' of St. Bernard Parish in Frenchtown reach back 175 years' recounts much of the same story.
- 1849 — log church built on land donated by John B. Marchery (first pastor: Rev. J. P. Dion)
- 1881 — second church dedicated by Bishop Silas M. Chatard; later abandoned
- 1894 — present brick church completed; Sisters of Providence taught in the parish schoolhouse until 1896
- 1953 — frame rectory replaced with the present brick rectory
- 1911–1917 — Gothic altars installed (Fr. Bracher)
- 1969–1973 — interior renovated (Fr. Evrard)
- 1982–2006 — Fr. Fred Dennison oversees 'Legacy of Hope' campaign adding the narthex, meditation garden, kitchen, parish-hall renovation
- 2024 — 175th anniversary celebrations
Founding Family & Cemetery Heritage
The parish's French roots are still visible in the Old Cemetery next to the original 1849 log-church site, where family names such as Bary, Bogard, Colin, Nolot, Pate, Pinaire, Thevenot and Troncin are still familiar in the community today. Earlier names — Bosier, DeHart, Freret, Godier, Marchery, Petitpierre, Robot, Tratator — have been lost to local memory. The original cemetery at the never-built Little St. Louis church site was destroyed, and land for the Old Cemetery at the present site was donated by Joseph DeHart.
- Theodore Henriott — host of the first Mass in his home in 1847
- John B. Marchery — donated the two-acre tract for the 1849 log church
- Joseph DeHart — donated land for the Old Cemetery
- Felicion Henriott — sold the 22-acre present-church site to Rev. J. P. Dion for $400
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education across the Tri-Parish is coordinated by Deacon John Jacobi, who serves as Director of Religious Education. Sacramental preparation (First Holy Communion, Reconciliation, RCIA candidates) is arranged through the Tri-Parish office by calling Fr. Aaron Pfaff at 812-364-6646 ext. 7.
- Director of Religious Education: Deacon John Jacobi
- RCIA and First Communion prep coordinated at the Tri-Parish level
- Youth choir history (started by Fr. Earl Feltman in the 1950s)
Parish Leadership & Staff
St. Bernard is part of the Tri-Parish Community sharing one pastor, one DRE, and one administrative team. The St. Bernard Pastoral Council and the St. Michael Cemetery Committee provide governance and grounds oversight. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis directory lists the parish's Business Manager position as vacant as of the most recent listing.
- Pastor: Rev. Aaron Pfaff
- Deacon / Director of Religious Education: John Jacobi
- Deacon: Christopher Rainbolt
- Administrative Assistant: Michelle Whittaker
- Pastoral Council — St. Bernard
- Cemetery Committee — St. Michael (Tri-Parish)
Contact & Visiting
St. Bernard can be reached through the Tri-Parish Office in Bradford or directly at its Frenchtown mailing address. Confessions are also available by appointment.
- Address: 7600 Hwy 337 NW, DePauw, IN 47115-8558
- Parish phone: 812-347-2326
- Tri-Parish Office: 812-364-6646
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.saintmichaelschurch.net/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. P. Dion1858–1861
First resident pastor; purchased the present 22-acre site from Felicion Henriott for $400.
- Rev. F. Delangier1872–1877
- (no resident pastor)1877–1878
Fr. Dion came up from St. Croix to say Mass.
- Fr. Seegmuller1878–1879
Came from Bradford to say Mass.
- Rev. Martin Andres1880–?
Built the second church, dedicated in 1881 by Bishop Chatard.
- Rev. Maas1890s
- Rev. Liesen1890s
- Rev. John Bracher1911–1917
Installed the Gothic altars.
- Rev. Joseph C. Backert1929–1937
- Rev. Edwin Spalding1939–1944
Enlarged the basement; installed a stoker furnace.
- Rev. Earl Feltman1950s
Installed electric organ and started a youth choir.
- Rev. Andrew Diezeman1960–1969
Enhanced grounds and both cemeteries; completed and dedicated the school (now parish hall).
- Rev. Donald Evrard1969–1973
Renovated the church interior.
- Rev. John Fink1973–1982
- Rev. Fred Dennison1982–2006
Oversaw the Legacy of Hope campaign — narthex, basement/kitchen renovation, meditation garden.
- Rev. John Fink2006–2013
Second tenure as pastor.
- Rev. Joseph Villa2013–2016
- Rev. Aaron Pfaff2016–present
Current pastor; originally from Jasper, Indiana; came from St. Michael in Bradford, now serves all three parishes.