About St. Joseph Catholic Church · Princeton, Indiana
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Princeton, Indiana, part of the Diocese of Evansville. Founded as a mission in 1855 and established as a parish in 1867, it serves the Catholic community of Gibson County from its campus at 410 South Race Street, Princeton. The parish shares its pastor with Holy Cross Parish in Fort Branch and operates St. Joseph Catholic School, an accredited PreK-5 elementary school located next door at 427 South Stormont Street. Its parish mission statement is 'Reborn In Baptism; Transformed Into Disciples.'
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Gary E. Kaiser
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a long-established Catholic community in the heart of Princeton with weekend and weekday Masses, regular Reconciliation and Adoration, and a thriving K-12 Faith Formation program that meets Sunday mornings from September through April. Parishioners of all ages are welcomed into ministries that span faith formation, youth service, music, outreach (including the Isaiah 1:17 Project and the on-campus Blessing Box food ministry), and the parish school. Families also benefit from St. Joseph Catholic School, an accredited PreK-5 school that shares the parish campus and offers tuition assistance, SCRIP, and Indiana Choice Scholarships.
Mass times at St. Joseph Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00–5:45 PM
- Saturday: 3:30–4:15 PM (October–March)
- Special Reconciliation services are scheduled during Advent and Lent
- Other arrangements can be made by calling the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:00–5:45 PM
- Second Friday of the Month: 9:00 AM Friday through 9:00 AM Saturday (24-hour Adoration)
Parish Overview & Mission
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Princeton, Indiana, in the Diocese of Evansville. Its mission statement, posted prominently on the parish website, is 'Reborn In Baptism; Transformed Into Disciples.' The parish shares its pastor with Holy Cross Catholic Church in Fort Branch, forming a 'Linked Parishes' partnership that pools resources to serve and build the Kingdom of God across Gibson County.
- Diocese of Evansville
- Parish Mission: 'Reborn In Baptism; Transformed Into Disciples'
- Linked with Holy Cross Parish, Fort Branch
- Address: 410 South Race Street, Princeton, IN 47670-2508
History
Catholic life in Princeton traces to March 1855, when Rev. F.W. Peppersack, a German-born priest, was appointed resident priest to serve Catholic families in Gibson County. On July 25, 1855, he laid the cornerstone of the first church — a Roman-style building completed that same year along with a commodious parsonage. The mission was formally established as a parish in 1867. Father Peppersack served until June 1866, followed by Rev. M. Ficker (who died July 18, 1868), the Benedictine Fathers, and Rev. J.B.H. Seepe (serving until spring 1875), each contributing to the physical and spiritual growth of the congregation. Decades of building projects, schools, societies, and cemetery traditions followed, all documented in parishioner Arline Riley's 'St. Joseph Catholic Church History Book I, 1855–1950.'
- Mission founded 1855; parish established 1867
- First church cornerstone laid July 25, 1855 by Rev. F.W. Peppersack
- Original church built in Roman architectural style
- Early pastors: Peppersack, Ficker, Benedictine Fathers, Seepe
- Benedictine sisters served at the parish school in early years
- 'St. Joseph Catholic Church History Book I, 1855–1950' by Arline Riley (96 pp.)
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph is led by Father Gary E. Kaiser as Pastor and is assisted by Deacon Joe Siewers. The parish staff also includes a parish secretary, business manager, parish catechetical leader, music minister coordinator, and facilities manager who together keep the parish office, school, and ministries running.
- Father Gary E. Kaiser — Pastor
- Deacon Joe Siewers
- Mindy Vieck — Parish Secretary
- Angie Paul — Business Manager
- Beth Kirsch — Parish Catechetical Leader
- Doris Stolz — Music Minister Coordinator
- Ed Sokeland — Facilities Manager
Parish Council
The St. Joseph Parish Council meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. CST in the Celestin Center (no meetings in July or December). The council is chaired by the pastor and includes at-large members plus commission representatives for Finance, School Council, Faith Formation, Spiritual Life and Worship, Outreach, and Building and Grounds.
- Pastor: Fr. Gary E. Kaiser
- At-large members: Rebecca Wright, Audrey Watt, Jeff Hill, Stephen Kissel, Thad Smith, Jeff Seibert, Chase Goldbach, Elaine Fortner, Seth Stevens
- Finance: David Oldham
- School Council: Valerie Zimmer
- Faith Formation: Beth Kirsch
- Spiritual Life and Worship: Linda Yeryar
- Outreach: Mary Collins
- Building and Grounds: Ed Sokeland
Sacraments
St. Joseph prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Infant Baptism is celebrated during or after weekend Masses, with parents meeting the pastor first. First Eucharist is ordinarily prepared in 2nd grade; Confirmation is currently celebrated during high school in the Diocese of Evansville (2025), with the age requirement being lowered between 2025 and 2029. Adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, or Eucharist enter through the OCIA process running from September to Pentecost. Engaged couples must contact the pastor at least six months before their wedding, and the parish offers Reconciliation regularly and on request, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders discernment, and Communion brought to the homebound.
- Baptism (Infant & Adult via OCIA)
- Confirmation (high school, per current diocesan norms; adult via OCIA)
- Eucharist (1st Communion preparation in 2nd grade; adult via OCIA)
- Reconciliation — regular schedule plus Advent/Lent services
- Marriage — 6-month notice, wedding packet, marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — home, hospital, or hospital at special request
- Holy Orders & Religious Life — contact Pastor or Diocesan Vocation Office (812-424-5536)
- Communion for the Homebound — arrange through Parish Office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation program invites children and teens in grades K–12 to gather for 'Faith, Fun & Fellowship' on Sunday mornings from 8:45 to 10:15 AM, September through April. Age-specific groups meet about three times per month, with breaks for holidays and school breaks. 'Family First' events are held on the first Sunday of October, December, January, February, March, and April, strengthening parish-wide family faith life. A team of catechists supports the program, and the parish also runs OCIA for adults inquiring about the Catholic faith from September to Pentecost, culminating at Easter.
- Sunday Faith Formation: 8:45–10:15 AM, September–April
- Grades K–12, age-specific groups meeting ~3 times per month
- Family First events: 1st Sunday of Oct, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar & Apr
- Faith leaders: Mike Goldbach, Mary Lee Ingram, Becky Siewers, Beth Kirsch, Beth Putt, Beth Selby, Seth Stevens, Angie Walden, Audrey Watt
- Contact: Beth Kirsch, 812-385-2617, [email protected]
- OCIA for adults, September through Pentecost
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School is an educational ministry of St. Joseph Catholic Church, located on the parish campus at 427 South Stormont Street, Princeton. Accredited by the Indiana Department of Education and a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), the school serves Preschool through Grade 5 with about 125 students, a 16:1 student-teacher ratio, and an average class size of 15. Its motto — 'We plant the seed of Catholic faith' — frames a mission of faith formation, strong community, and education to each child's highest human potential, so that students grow into mature Christian adults who minister to others.
- Grades: Preschool (PS) through Grade 5
- Enrollment: ~125 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1; average class size: 15
- Accredited by Indiana Department of Education; member of NCEA
- Motto: 'We plant the seed of Catholic faith'
- Athletics: Basketball
- Tuition assistance: Indiana Choice Scholarship (up to 100%), St. Joseph Parish Scholarship, SCRIP gift card program
- Address: 427 South Stormont Street, Princeton, IN 47670
- Phone: 812-385-2228; Fax: 812-648-0025
- Principal: Mrs. Valerie Zimmer
- Pastor: Father Gary Kaiser
- Office Manager: Mrs. Bryna Smith
- Secretary: Mrs. Danni Neal
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Joseph is coordinated by Music Minister Coordinator Doris Stolz, working with the parish's pastoral team to support Sunday and weekday Masses as well as special Advent and Lenten liturgies. The parish's regular schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, Reconciliation, and 24-hour monthly Eucharistic Adoration on the second Friday provides the rhythm of liturgical life for parishioners.
- Music Minister Coordinator: Doris Stolz
- Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM is the principal parish liturgy
- Weekday Masses Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
- Special Advent and Lenten Reconciliation services
Community Outreach
St. Joseph maintains several ongoing outreach programs that put the parish's faith into action locally. The Isaiah 1:17 Project engages parish youth to prepare meals that are delivered to the Isaiah project office for monthly distribution to local families in need. The Blessing Box, started in May 2019, is an on-campus food and personal-products box stocked with donations from parishioners to serve Princeton residents facing food insecurity; current needs are listed weekly on the parish Facebook page. Amazon and Wal-Mart registries also allow supporters to send supplies directly to the parish office.
- Isaiah 1:17 Project — youth prepare and deliver meals monthly
- Blessing Box — non-perishable food and personal products for those in need (since May 2019)
- Blessing Box parish coordinator: Mary Collins
- Amazon Registry and Wal-Mart Registry for direct supply donations
- Parish Office address for donated items: 410 S. Race St., Princeton, IN 47670
Visiting & Contact
Newcomers are welcomed at St. Joseph at 410 South Race Street, Princeton, with parking lots on both the east and west sides of the sanctuary. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. An after-hours emergency line (812-618-4778) is available for urgent pastoral needs such as Anointing of the Sick.
- Address: 410 South Race Street, Princeton, IN 47670-2508
- Office Phone: 812-385-2617
- Emergency After-Hours Phone: 812-618-4778
- Fax: 812-648-0025
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–3:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Parking: east and west lots with access to the sanctuary
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. F.W. Peppersack1855–1866
German-born priest appointed resident priest in March 1855; laid cornerstone of the first church July 25, 1855; built the original Roman-style church and parsonage; served until June 1866.
- Rev. M. Fickerc. 1866–1868
Succeeded Peppersack; died in office on July 18, 1868.
- Benedictine Fathers1868 (approx.)
Had charge of the parish for a brief period after Ficker's death.
- Rev. J.B.H. Seepe1868/69–spring 1875
Took charge after the Benedictine Fathers; served until the spring of 1875; repaired the parsonage and otherwise improved the property.