About St. Joseph · Indianapolis, Indiana
St. Joseph Parish is a small, active Roman Catholic community on the west side of Indianapolis, Indiana, just south of the city's "old" airport. Founded in its present form in 1949 (with roots going back to an 1873 parish), the parish is now home to about 293 registered families and serves both English-speaking and Vietnamese Catholics through weekend Masses celebrated in each language. The parish is best known for the lively stewardship of its members — from running a concession stand at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to hosting Seeds of Hope, a recovery residence for women overcoming addiction that was founded on parish grounds by the late Father Glenn O'Connor in 1999.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Minh Quang Duong (Father Minh Dủỏng) — Administrator and Chaplain to the Vietnamese Catholic Community in Indianapolis
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a tight-knit, multicultural Catholic family of roughly 293 households where nearly every member is a minister — from cantors and lectors to gardeners, cooks, and concession-stand volunteers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is one of the few parishes in Indianapolis offering regular Vietnamese-language Masses, and its campus is home to Seeds of Hope, a faith-based recovery residence for women that has helped more than 800 people rebuild their lives. If you want a parish where stewardship is lived as a way of life — and where your time and talents will quickly find a use — St. Joseph welcomes you.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 8:30 am – 9:00 am
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Third Thursday of each month, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (Flame of Love devotion begins at 4:30 pm)
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Parish is a small, multicultural Roman Catholic community on the west side of Indianapolis, near the city's former airport. The mission of the parish is to be a loving Catholic community serving the spiritual needs of its parish family and neighbors, growing in spirit and service as modeled by its patron, St. Joseph. Stewardship — the sharing of time, talent, and treasure — is described on the parish's own website as "a way of life."
- About 293 registered families; church capacity 236 (per the Archdiocese of Indianapolis parish listing)
- Located on 11 acres on South Mickley Avenue on the west side of Indianapolis
- Member parish of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (Parish #027)
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph first opened its doors on East Vermont Street in 1873, growing quickly enough that a new church was built in 1879 at 623 East North Street. In June 1949 the original parish was dissolved, and a new St. Joseph Parish was announced at 6041 West Morris Street that September with Rev. Vincent Grannan as founding pastor. The parish was later relocated to 11 acres on South Mickley Avenue, where the current church-school, rectory, and convent were built under Rev. Thomas Carey — and the pews from the old North Street church were moved to the new building as a physical link to the past.
- 1873 — Parish founded on East Vermont Street
- 1879 — New church built at 623 East North Street
- June 1949 — Original parish dissolved
- September 1949 — New St. Joseph Parish opens at 6041 W. Morris St. (Rev. Vincent Grannan, pastor)
- Relocation to 11 acres on South Mickley Avenue (Rev. Thomas Carey, pastor)
- June 1970 — Parish school closes; convent leased to Sisters of Charity for the St. Joseph House of Prayer
- 1971 — Church interior modernized to a new seating arrangement
- 1980 — Rectory-area property sold to a day care; convent leased to First Steps for women's addiction recovery
- 1984 — Hip roof added; 1988 — stained-glass windows; 1989 — air conditioning installed
- 1991 — Fr. Glenn O'Connor arrives; rectory and Elford Hall renovated
- 1999 — Fr. O'Connor founds Seeds of Hope on parish grounds
- 2008 — New Narthex (gathering area) added; sanctuary interior renovation begun
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Joseph offers a bilingual liturgical schedule, with weekend Masses in both English and Vietnamese and a daily Mass on most weekdays. The rosary is prayed before every weekend Mass. Confessions are heard Monday mornings before the 9 am Mass and Saturday afternoons before the vigil Mass, with additional times by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 pm (English)
- Sunday: 9:00 am (Vietnamese), 11:00 am (English), 1:00 pm (Vietnamese)
- Monday 9:00 am; Tuesday 5:45 pm; Wednesday 5:45 pm (Communion Service); Thursday 5:45 pm; Friday 5:45 pm
- Tuesday 10:00 am Mass at Neighbor Care, 230 Welcome Way Blvd. (Ballroom)
- Confessions: Monday 8:30–9:00 am and Saturday 3:30–4:00 pm, or by appointment
- First Friday Devotion: monthly, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Third Thursday Eucharistic Adoration: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (Flame of Love devotion begins at 4:30 pm)
- Holy Day Mass times published in the weekly bulletin insert
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Religious education for children from Pre-school through Confirmation is offered on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:50 am, September through May. The Coordinator of Faith Formation (Judy Meyers) also oversees preparation for First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Baptism, with a bilingual sacrament registration form available on the parish website.
- Religious Education classes: Sundays 9:30–10:50 am, Sept.–May
- RCIC — Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (for children/young adults not yet baptized or preparing for 1st Communion / Confirmation; reception at the Easter Vigil)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, coordinated through Janet Abdoulaye at St. Susanna Parish (317-839-3333 / [email protected])
- Sacrament Certificate Request Form available online
- Inclement-weather class cancellations announced via REMIND text message
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Joseph organizes its ministries into Liturgy, Parish Life, Parish Needs, and Community Outreach. Volunteer opportunities range from altar serving and cantoring to church cleaning and building maintenance, and from the Men's Club and Altar Society to the Faith Formation team.
- Liturgy: Ushers & Greeters, Rosary Leaders, Liturgy Committee, Lectors, Gift Bearers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Church Decorations, Cantors, Altar Servers
- Parish Life / Social: Men's Club (3rd Tues. 7 pm), Altar Society (1st Sat. 10:30 am), Harvest House Seniors (2nd Wed. noon, Sept.–May, currently on hold)
- Parish Needs: Collection Counters, Church Cleaners, Building & Grounds Committee
- Parish Council: monthly at 7 pm, Sept.–May
Outreach: Seeds of Hope & Service to Neighbors
The parish's most distinctive outreach is Seeds of Hope, a faith-based recovery residence for women overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. It was founded on the parish campus in 1999 by the late Fr. Glenn O'Connor and has served more than 800 women since. A new two-story residence — "The Father Glenn O'Connor Home" — opened on parish grounds in 2021. The parish also operates a weekly free meal and partners with Seeds of Hope on fundraising and board governance.
- Seeds of Hope (recovery housing for women) — founded 1999 by Fr. Glenn O'Connor; former convent building on parish campus
- Father Glenn O'Connor Home (three-quarter house) — opened July 2021, with 22 furnished apartments
- Feed the Hungry — free weekly meal Thursdays 6:00–7:00 pm (except Thanksgiving)
- Seeds of Hope Board Meeting — 4th Tuesday monthly, 6:00–8:00 pm
- Community Garden
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway concession-stand volunteer program
- Three-day September parish festival
Staff & Leadership
The parish is currently administered by Father Minh Quang Duong, who also serves as Chaplain to the Vietnamese Catholic Community in Indianapolis. Day-to-day parish life is supported by a small lay staff and the Parish Council.
- Rev. Minh Quang Duong (Father Minh) — Administrator & Chaplain to the Vietnamese Catholic Community
- Patty Arthur — Parish Secretary / Office Manager (works from home much of the time; reachable M–F 10 am–5 pm at 317-244-9002)
- Mike McKay — Music Director & Parish Accountant
- Judy Meyers — Coordinator of Faith Formation & Parish Council President (also Coordinator of Faith Formation per archdiocese listing)
- Joselin Arvizo — Coordinator of Faith Formation
- Janet Abdoulaye — Director of Faith Formation at St. Susanna, assists with OCIA
Office, Contact & Visiting
The parish office is on the Mickley Avenue campus, but in-person office hours are limited because Parish Secretary Patty Arthur works from home much of the time. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to call or email, and the parish maintains an active Facebook presence at facebook.com/stjosephindy/.
- Church & Office: 1401 S. Mickley Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46241
- Rectory: 1375 S. Mickley Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46241
- Phone: 317-244-9002
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stjosephindy.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjosephindy/
- Typical in-office hours: Sun 12–3 pm, Tue 10:30 am–4 pm, Wed 10 am–4 pm, Thu 2–4 pm (Mon & Fri office closed; Sat office closed — hours vary)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Vincent Grannan1949 (founding pastor of the new St. Joseph Parish at West Morris Street)
Announced as pastor when the re-established parish opened in September 1949 after the original parish was dissolved.
- Rev. Thomas CareyMid-20th century (during relocation to Mickley Avenue)
Pastored the parish when it was relocated to 11 acres on South Mickley Avenue and the new church-school, rectory, and convent were built.
- Fr. Glenn O'Connor1991 onward (died of cancer; Seeds of Hope founded 1999)
Oversaw major renovations (rectory, Elford Hall, sanctuary) and founded Seeds of Hope in 1999 on parish grounds to serve women recovering from addiction. Posthumously honored with the dedication of "The Father Glenn O'Connor Home" in 2021.