About St. Elizabeth of Hungary [Catholic Community of St. Anne & St. Elizabeth] · Cambridge City, Indiana
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a small Roman Catholic parish in Cambridge City, Indiana, in the west-central part of the state on historic U.S. Highway 40. It is one half of the Catholic Community of St. Anne & St. Elizabeth of Hungary, sharing its pastor, staff, bulletins, website and a single parish office with St. Anne in nearby New Castle. The parish belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Indianapolis and to the Connersville Deanery, and its historic 1880 church — visible by its steeple from Highway 40 — has been the worship home of local Catholics for more than 170 years.
- Established
- 1852
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. Michaelprakasam Puthumaisavari (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a small, warm, long-established parish where visitors are literally 'greeted at the door.' Members are described as 'very enthusiastic' and financially supportive of the three Catholic schools in the Connersville Deanery, and the parish gives back locally through its annual freewill-offering Thanksgiving dinner (with proceeds going to Meals on Wheels and the Western Wayne Senior Center) and a Canal Days food booth. Joining is easy: register online through the parish office in New Castle and you will be added to the family rolls and the archdiocesan Criterion subscription.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth of Hungary [Catholic Community of St. Anne & St. Elizabeth]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Elizabeth: by appointment / call the parish office (the scheduled 'Adoration with Confessions' times published on the joint parish site at 4:30 p.m. apply to St. Anne before Wednesday Mass; St. Elizabeth confessions are arranged through the office).
Adoration times
- Adoration at St. Anne on Wednesday before the 5:30 p.m. Mass (4:30 p.m.) with Confessions available; Holy Day schedules are posted in the bulletin.
History of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
Catholic life in Cambridge City traces back to the Irish workers who came to build the Whitewater Canal beginning in 1836. Traveling priests served the scattered Catholic families from 1842 onward, and in 1852 the parish was formally established and acquired its first church. The current historic church on West Maple Street was dedicated in 1880; its steeple remains a local landmark visible from U.S. Highway 40.
- 1836 — Construction begins on the Whitewater Canal through west-central Indiana.
- 1842 — Enough Catholics have settled around Cambridge City to be served by traveling priests.
- 1852 — St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish is established; the first church is purchased.
- 1880 — The present historic church building is dedicated.
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
The Catholic Community of St. Anne & St. Elizabeth of Hungary is currently administered by Rev. Michaelprakasam Puthumaisavari. The shared parish staff in New Castle includes a secretary, a bookkeeper and a Coordinator of Religious Education. The mailing address for both parishes is 102 N. 19th St., New Castle, IN 47362.
- Administrator — Rev. Michaelprakasam Puthumaisavari
- Secretary — Mallory Houser
- Bookkeeper — Mary Powell
- Coordinator of Religious Ed — Becca Lee
- Phone — (765) 529-0933 / (765) 478-3242
- Email — [email protected]
Becoming Catholic & Registering as a Parishioner
Anyone attending Mass at St. Anne or St. Elizabeth and wishing to make it their parish home can register online through the parish website. Registration ensures you receive the archdiocesan Criterion, weekly collection envelopes, parish mailings and news.
- Registration form available on sa-se.org under the Registration tab
- Forms can be returned in the collection plate or emailed to [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for the Catholic Community of St. Anne & St. Elizabeth of Hungary is coordinated by Becca Lee, Coordinator of Religious Education, and is offered through the Faith Formation Commission. Programming includes Sunday Religious Education and Adult Education, supported by a team of catechists.
- Sunday Religious Education
- Adult Education
- Catechists
- RCIA — contact the parish office
Parish Ministries & Commissions
Parish life is organized through several commissions and outreach groups, including parish-life/social-concerns ministry, finance, maintenance and grounds, and the cemetery board. Specialized ministries include a Prayer Line, Catholic Women of Henry County, the Knights of Columbus, Pro-Life work, the local Pregnancy Care Center, God's Grain Bin food pantry, and stewardship.
- Faith Formation (Catechists, Sunday Religious Ed., Adult Ed.)
- Parish Life / Social Concerns
- Finance Committee
- Maintenance and Grounds
- Cemetery Board
- Prayer Line
- Catholic Women of Henry County
- Knights of Columbus
- Pro-Life
- Pregnancy Care Center
- Stewardship
- God's Grain Bin (Henry County food pantry)
Community Outreach & Local Traditions
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is known for two signature local events: a freewill-offering community Thanksgiving dinner (held on a Sunday a few weeks before Thanksgiving, with the proceeds going to Meals on Wheels and the Western Wayne County Senior Center) and a Canal Days food booth over Labor Day weekend, famous locally for its sausage and pork-chop sandwiches with peppers and onions. The parish also supports the three Catholic schools in the Connersville Deanery.
- Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner (benefits Meals on Wheels and Western Wayne Senior Center)
- Canal Days festival food booth (weekend after Labor Day)
- Support for the three Catholic schools of the Connersville Deanery
Sacraments
Information on Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is handled through the shared parish office in New Castle.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Communion & Confirmation — through Faith Formation
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- RCIA — contact the parish office to become Catholic
Bulletin, News & Communication
The joint parish bulletin for the Catholic Community of St. Anne & St. Elizabeth of Hungary is published weekly and is available from the parish website. Parish news, schedules and ministry information are also posted on the website and in the archdiocesan Criterion.
- Weekly joint bulletin (St. Anne & St. Elizabeth)
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis The Criterion
- Parish website: stannenc.com / sa-se.org
Visit Us — Locations, Hours & Maps
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church is located at 333 W. Maple St., Cambridge City, IN 47327. There is no separate staffed parish office for St. Elizabeth — the parish office at 102 N. 19th St., New Castle serves both communities. The St. Elizabeth office is staffed on Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to Noon; the St. Anne office is staffed Monday 9–Noon and Tuesday–Friday 9–Noon and 1–4.
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — 333 W. Maple St., Cambridge City, IN 47327
- Parish Office (mailing address) — 102 N. 19th St., New Castle, IN 47362
- St. Anne office hours — Mon 9–Noon; Tue–Fri 9–Noon and 1–4
- St. Elizabeth office hours — Mon 9–Noon
- Phone — (765) 529-0933 / (765) 478-3242
- Maps for both sites are linked from the Visit Us page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Hall
Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary as of the April 8, 2022 Archdiocese of Indianapolis Criterion feature, when he was quoted about the parish's welcome, history and community outreach.
- Rev. Michaelprakasam Puthumaisavari
Current Administrator of the Catholic Community of St. Anne & St. Elizabeth of Hungary (listed on the parish website and archdiocesan directory).