About St. John the Baptist · Osgood, Indiana
St. John the Baptist is a small Roman Catholic parish in the town of Osgood, Ripley County, in southeastern Indiana, founded in 1867. It is one of roughly 135-family parishes administered by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and is pastored today by Fr. Binu Mathew as parish administrator. The faith community gathers for Saturday evening and Sunday morning Mass, weekday Masses shared with neighboring mission parishes (St. Maurice, Napoleon, and Millhousen), weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and an active religious-education program and Ladies Society. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in 2017 and is currently undertaking an "Ensuring the Future" capital campaign to repair stained-glass windows, masonry, bell towers and the handicap ramp.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Binu Mathew (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a faithful, family-oriented small-town parish where the same pastor and a tight-knit crew of parishioners know one another by name. Families with children will find a full religious-education program (Preschool through Grade 5, plus a Sunday-morning Youth Group, First Communion, and Penance services), adults can join the active St. John Ladies Society or grow in devotion through the parish Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary kit, and there is a regular Friday Eucharistic Adoration hour. Visitors and neighbors are openly welcomed at Saturday evening or Sunday morning Mass, and the parish is presently investing in the future of its historic church building through its 'Ensuring the Future' capital campaign.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–4:50 PM (before 5 PM Mass)
- Saturday 4:45 PM
- Friday 3:00–4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 3:00–6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Tuesday 5:00 PM Holy Hour (St. Maurice)
- Wednesday 7:00 AM Holy Hour (St. John)
- Thursday 5:00 PM Holy Hour (Millhousen)
- Friday 7:00 AM Holy Hour (St. John)
- Saturday 7:00 AM Holy Hour (St. John)
Welcome & Parish Identity
The parish's homepage greets visitors with Romans 15:7 — 'Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God' — and describes itself as a community of 'faith, family and community.' Founded in 1867 and located on S. Buckeye Street in Osgood, it serves about 135 registered families under the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
- Motto verse: Romans 15:7
- Founded 1867 (Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Parish #116)
- About 135 registered families
- Listed on the archdiocesan 'Churches in the Path of Totality' for the 2024 eclipse
Parish History & 150th Anniversary
St. John the Baptist was erected as its first church in 1867, according to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis's official foundation register. On September 10, 2017 the parish gathered to celebrate its 150th anniversary with a Mass and reception. Today the parish community is actively working to preserve that 150-year heritage through building repairs and a capital campaign.
- First church erected 1867
- 150th Anniversary Mass: September 10, 2017
- Recognized on the archdiocesan 175th-anniversary history of parish foundations
Ensuring the Future — Renovation & Capital Campaign
Because it had been roughly 30 years since the last major renovation, Fr. Binu Mathew, the Parish Pastoral Council and the Finance Committee launched a feasibility study in late 2024 to consider a capital campaign. The campaign — titled 'Ensuring the Future' — has an initial three-year goal of $775,000 and an overall goal of $1.4 million to address high-priority structural needs: stained-glass window restoration, bell-tower work, masonry, roof repair, leaks, the handicap-accessible ramp, and other preservation projects.
- Stained-glass window re-caulking and repair
- Bell-tower structural work
- Exterior masonry restoration
- Roof repair and active-leak repair
- Handicap ramp concrete repair
- Arsee Engineers structural assessment ($4,000 of $8,000 fee)
- $28,500 Center for Congregations (Lilly Endowment) grant
- Feasibility-study response: ~71% in favor overall
Religious Education
St. John's parish-school of religion serves children from Preschool through Grade 5, meeting Wednesdays from 6:45 to 8:15 PM (cancelled only if the local public school closes; on eLearning days the class still meets). First Reconciliation is celebrated for Grades 2–5, and First Communion preparation is offered for Grade 2. The school year runs from September through May and includes Lenten programming, a Passion Play, May Crowning of Mary, a pennies-for-posterity mission project, and a summer religion program.
- Elementary PSR: Wednesdays 6:45–8:30 PM
- First Reconciliation: Grades 2–5
- First Communion: Grade 2 (culminating June First Communion Class)
- May Crowning of Mary (7:00 PM Mass)
- Passion Play during Holy Week
- Summer Religion Program (early June, grades Preschool–5)
Youth Group
A parish Youth Group meets on Sunday mornings at 8:30 AM, immediately following the 7:30 AM Sunday Mass.
- Sunday mornings 8:30 AM
- Open to parish teens
St. John Ladies Society
The St. John Ladies Society is one of the most active parish organizations. Officers are President Melissa Grable, Vice President Mary Ann Westmeier, Secretary Rita Simon, Treasurer Sharon Voegeli, and Communications lead Toni McDonald. The Society meets monthly (with no meetings in January or February), hosts three annual Rummage Sales, Labor Day and spring Bake Sales, a Mother's Day Coffee & Donuts, and a December Ladies Christmas Party.
- President: Melissa Grable
- Vice President: Mary Ann Westmeier
- Secretary: Rita Simon
- Treasurer: Sharon Voegeli
- Communications: Toni McDonald
- Rummage Sales (April, August/September, October)
- Bake Sales (April, Labor Day weekend)
- Mother's Day Coffee & Donuts (May)
- Ladies Christmas Party (December)
Parish Staff & Leadership
Parish life is shepherded by Fr. Binu Mathew (Parish Administrator), supported by Administrative Assistant Jill Jansing, bookkeeper Katie Baumer, bulletin coordinator Sharon Voegeli, and Parish Pastoral Council Chair Bill McDonald. Fr. Binu also shepherds the sister mission parishes at St. Maurice (Napoleon) and St. Mary (Millhousen).
- Fr. Binu Mathew — Parish Administrator
- Jill Jansing — Administrative Assistant
- Katie Baumer — Bookkeeper
- Sharon Voegeli — Bulletin Coordinator
- Bill McDonald — Parish Council Chair
Contact, Bulletins & Calendar
Parish bulletins, a parish calendar, the weekly Mass intention list, and a contact form are all maintained on the parish website. Bulletin announcements are due by the Monday preceding the bulletin date and may be emailed to [email protected]. The parish office can be reached by phone, fax (812-689-5035), or email at [email protected].
- Phone: 812-689-4244
- Fax: 812-689-5035
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing: 331 S. Buckeye St., Osgood, IN 47037
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected]