About St. Margaret Mary · Terre Haute, Indiana
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Terre Haute, Indiana, located on the south side of the city at 2405 S. 7th Street. Founded on January 23, 1920 and served today by the Rogationist Fathers (RCJ), it shares clergy, administrative staff, and a weekly bulletin with nearby St. Patrick Parish. The parish celebrates Mass in English and Spanish and offers faith formation, a parish soup kitchen, and Eucharistic adoration as part of its mission to be an active, welcoming Catholic community.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
- Rector
- Rev. Elmer Dula, R.C.J. (Administrator; St. Margaret Mary and St. Patrick share clergy under one administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Margaret Mary offers a warm, bilingual Catholic community with weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, daily Mass on Thursdays and Fridays, weekly Eucharistic adoration with confession, and the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. Parishioners are formed through faith formation for all ages and serve neighbors in need through a parish-run soup kitchen and other outreach ministries. Sharing clergy and a weekly bulletin with St. Patrick Parish, St. Margaret Mary combines the resources of two parishes with the personal feel of a southside Terre Haute family.
Mass times at St. Margaret Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 9:30-10:30 AM (during Holy Hour)
- Saturday 3:00-3:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30-10:30 AM (Holy Hour, with confession available)
Parish History
St. Margaret Mary Parish traces its origin to January 23, 1920, when Bishop Joseph Chartrand asked Fr. Clement J. Thienes to organize a new Catholic parish south of Washington Street in Terre Haute. The site at Seventh and Voorhees Streets was purchased on May 20, 1920, and the first Mass was celebrated at midnight on Christmas Day in the priest residence. A combination school-church was completed in 1921 and staffed by the Sisters of Providence. The current church and rectory were dedicated in 1958, and the interior was renovated to Vatican II norms in 1980-1981. In 1998 the parish launched a pastoral planning process called the Legacy of Hope to consider relocating south of the city, and in 2007 followed up with The Legacy For Our Mission to renovate the Dede Parish Activity Center.
- Founded January 23, 1920 by Fr. Clement J. Thienes at Bishop Chartrand's request
- First Mass: midnight, Christmas 1920, in the priest residence
- School opened September 1921 with 100 pupils, Sisters of Providence teaching
- New church and rectory dedicated January 19, 1958
- Vatican II renovation completed for Easter 1981 under Fr. John Dede
- 1998: Legacy of Hope pastoral planning and capital campaign
- 2007: Legacy For Our Mission renovation of the Dede Parish Activity Center
Our Patron: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
The parish takes its name from St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the French Visitandine (Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary) who experienced revelations from Christ that led her to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her dedication to spreading this devotion has left a lasting legacy throughout the Church, and many parishes — St. Margaret Mary in Terre Haute among them — bear her name. The parish marked the sisters' arrival at the parish convent on her feast day, October 17, 1941, when Anton Hulman donated a house at the corner of Seventh and Voorhees to serve as their home.
- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque — Visitation nun, promoter of devotion to the Sacred Heart
- Feast day: October 17
- Sisters moved into the donated Hulman convent on the parish feast day in 1941
Mass and Sacraments
St. Margaret Mary offers a bilingual weekend Mass schedule, with Saturday Vigil and a Sunday morning Mass in English and a Sunday afternoon Mass in Spanish. Daily Mass is celebrated on Thursday and Friday mornings, with a special 11:00 AM Mass on the third Thursday of the month. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered during Friday's Holy Hour and on Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass, and by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 11:00 AM (English) and 1:00 PM (Spanish / Misa en Español)
- Thursday Mass: 9:00 AM (11:00 AM on the 3rd Thursday)
- Friday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Confessions: Friday 9:30-10:30 AM and Saturday 3:00-3:45 PM, or by appointment
- Holy Hour with Adoration and Confession: Friday 9:30-10:30 AM
Parish Clergy and Staff
St. Margaret Mary is served by the Rogationist Fathers (RCJ), a religious order of priests and brothers founded by St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia. The parish shares its priests with neighboring St. Patrick Parish, and together the two parishes operate under a common administrator and administrative staff. A deacon assists with pastoral ministry, and lay staff coordinate faith formation, music, parish facilities, finances, outreach to the sick and homebound, and the parish soup kitchen.
- Administrator: Rev. Elmer Dula, R.C.J.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Tommy Latina, R.C.J.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Paul John Mapacpac, R.C.J.
- In Residence: Rev. Anthony Eziefule
- Deacon: Michael Stratman
- Parish Secretary: Martha Thiemann
- Business Manager: Kelly Carter
- Administrative Assistant: Martin Schmidt
- Parish Facilities Manager: Michael Fisher
- Director of Faith Formation: Veronica Rogers
- Soup Kitchen Director: Carla Johnson
- Ministry to Sick and Shut-Ins: Betty Kapellusch
- Liturgical Music Director (interim): Kathy Sutterer
- Pastoral Council Chair: Tyler Dinkel
Faith Formation
The parish's Director of Faith Formation coordinates the religious education and sacramental preparation programs for children and adults at St. Margaret Mary. As a parish that shares clergy and resources with St. Patrick, faith formation offerings are supported by the combined pastoral team of both Terre Haute parishes.
- Director of Faith Formation: Veronica Rogers
- Sacramental preparation for children and ongoing adult faith formation
- Shared faith formation resources with neighboring St. Patrick Parish
Outreach and Service
Outreach to the wider Terre Haute community is a defining part of parish life. St. Margaret Mary operates its own soup kitchen to feed neighbors in need, and the parish maintains a ministry to the sick and shut-ins who cannot easily attend Mass. The pastoral council, chaired by Tyler Dinkel, helps shape the parish's mission of stewardship and service.
- Parish Soup Kitchen (Director: Carla Johnson)
- Ministry to Sick and Shut-ins (Betty Kapellusch)
- Pastoral Council (Chair: Tyler Dinkel)
- Stewardship and service as part of the parish mission
Worship and Liturgical Music
St. Margaret Mary's liturgy is supported by an interim Director of Liturgical Music, Kathy Sutterer, who coordinates music for weekend and daily Masses. The parish's dedication to vibrant worship is described in its mission as 'opening our hearts to God's word in vibrant worship.'
- Interim Liturgical Music Director: Kathy Sutterer
- Music for English and Spanish Masses
- Music for daily Mass, Holy Hour, and weekend liturgies
Visiting the Parish
St. Margaret Mary welcomes visitors and newcomers. The church office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00-4:00 PM. Parking is available behind the church, next to the old school, and along the bordering streets. The parish shares clergy, administrative staff, resources, and its weekly bulletin with neighboring St. Patrick Parish.
- Office hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9 AM-12 PM and 1-4 PM
- Phone: (812) 232-3512
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 2405 S. 7th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47802
- Parking behind the church, next to the old school, and along bordering streets
- Corner of 7th and Voorhees Streets
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Clement J. Thienes1920-
Asked by Bishop Joseph Chartrand in 1920 to organize and found the parish.
- Fr. John Dede1980-1981
Directed the Vatican II renovation of the church, completed for Easter 1981.