St. Mary

Parish History & Heritage

St. Mary of the Annunciation was founded in 1890 when Catholic farming families from St. Joseph Parish in Jasper pushed to establish a parish closer to their homes in the Ireland community. The first wooden-frame church was built in 1891, the first Mass was celebrated for 37 members, and the parish was run as a mission from Jasper College for its first twelve years. The current identity of the parish was forged in 1903 when Fr. Anthony Michel, O.S.B. became the first resident pastor, and in 1904–1905 when the brick Annunciation church was built for just $11,000 through donated labor and materials. The parish has continued to grow steadily, reaching 956 families and 2,438 members as of October 2025.

• 1890 — Land purchased (19 1/2 acres from Albert H. Stewart for $1,200)
• 1891 — First wooden-frame church built; first Mass for 37 members
• 1897 — St. Anne's Society organized for parish women
• 1903 — Fr. Anthony Michel, O.S.B. becomes first resident pastor
• 1904–1905 — Brick Annunciation church built; cornerstone laid Aug. 15, 1904; first Christmas Mass 1905
• 1916 — Pews, altars, electric lighting and the distinctive belfry added
• 1964 — Knights of Columbus Annunciation Council 5581 chartered
• 2018 — Groundbreaking for new church (Jan. 21 / Feb. 25, 2018)
• June 28, 2020 — New church dedicated by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel; first new church in the Diocese of Evansville in a decade
• Early March 2021 — Old 1904 church demolished; 1904 time capsule recovered

Our New Church (2020)

After decades of talk about needing a larger and safer worship space, St. Mary built a brand-new church that was dedicated on June 28, 2020 by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel, Fr. Joseph F. Erbacher 'Effie,' former pastors and more than 300 parishioners (capped by COVID restrictions). The $6 million project, the first new church built in the Diocese of Evansville in a decade, was funded through a capital campaign that began in March 2017. Through a long-term-planning committee and several town-hall meetings, parishioners chose a traditional design — the new exterior is nearly identical to the old brick church, even reusing some of the original stained-glass windows and the Virgin Mary statue.

• Original seating: ~380; new church seats nearly double
• Architectural elements transferred from the 1904 building: stained-glass windows and the Virgin Mary statue
• Old 1904 church demolished in early March 2021; copper-box time capsule from 1904 was recovered
• Property Manager Patrick Gress helped manage the new-church project

Parish Staff

St. Mary is served by a Parish Administrator, parish office staff, faith-formation leaders, and a property manager. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

• Fr. William Nicholas — Pastoral Administrator (2025–present)
• Dianne Gogel — Parish Staff
• Bonnie Meadows — Adult Faith Formation & Parish Communications ([email protected])
• Bridget Fleck — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd ([email protected])
• Sherri Hartley — Secretary / Bereavement Meals coordinator
• Martha Schmitt — Parish Catechetical Leader ([email protected])
• Keith Eckert — Property Manager

Faith Formation & Religious Education

St. Mary runs a robust faith-formation program for children and adults, anchored by the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium — a Montessori-inspired approach that nurtures the child's relationship with God through hands-on materials in a prepared 'atrium' space. Older children in grades 1–5 receive religious education through the Tuesday release-time program, and 2nd graders are prepared for First Reconciliation and First Communion.

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Level 1 (ages 3–6) and Level 2 (ages 6–9)
• Level 1 CGS: Wednesdays 9:30–11:00 AM; Sundays 8:15–9:45 AM; Thursdays 4:30–6:00 PM
• Level 2 CGS: Tuesdays 3:30–5:00 PM
• Faith Formation for Grades 1–5: Tuesday religious-education release time
• First Reconciliation usually celebrated in December/January
• First Communion Mass usually held the last Sunday of April
• Confirmation preparation for high-school sophomores (usually in January)

Adult Faith Formation & OCIA

The parish welcomes adults at every stage of the faith journey through its Adult Faith Formation and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. OCIA is a supportive, paced journey exploring Catholic teaching, tradition, and spiritual life alongside others considering the Church — whether someone has never been active in any church, is a baptized Catholic who never received Confirmation, comes from another Christian denomination, or was simply not raised in the faith. Contact Bonnie Meadows at the parish office ([email protected]).

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments, with preparation programs for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick, and assistance for those discerning Holy Orders.

• Baptism — infant/small child baptisms normally on Sundays after the 10:00 AM Mass; contact the parish office
• Eucharist — see First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
• Confirmation — January of sophomore year; adults not yet confirmed should contact Bonnie Meadows
• Reconciliation — see Confession schedule; by appointment as well
• Anointing of the Sick — by appointment, before surgery or during illness
• Holy Orders / Vocation discernment
• Marriage — at least six months' notice; couples meet with Fr. Bill several times for marriage preparation

Liturgical Ministries

Lay liturgical volunteers are the backbone of every Mass at St. Mary. Schedules are on a rotation so people typically serve at the Mass they already attend, and training is provided throughout the year.

• Usher/Greeter — teams of two greet, welcome, and take up the collection
• Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist — adults and confirmed youth distribute Holy Communion
• Sacristan — prepares sacred vessels, credence and gift table before Mass and cleans up after
• Lector — proclaims the Word of God at Mass
• Altar Server — youth grades 6 through high school; two servers at each weekend Mass

Parish Organizations & Outreach

The parish is sustained by a strong network of lay societies and outreach ministries that have served the Ireland community for generations.

• St. Anne's Society (since 1897) — open to all parish women 18+; quarterly meetings for spiritual enrichment, fellowship, and parish outreach; leads the Rosary before the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass; dues $10/year
• Knights of Columbus Annunciation Council 5581 (chartered 1964) — ~360 members; principles of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism; meets 2nd & 4th Monday at 7:00 PM (Rosary at 6:30 PM on the 1st meeting); awards two $500 scholarships annually; Grand Knight Dave Flynn (812-582-8129)
• St. Vincent de Paul Society — serves those in need; contact the parish office
• St. Mary Meal Train (Flocknote) — coordinates home-cooked meals or restaurant gift cards for new parents, those recovering from surgery/illness, and the bereaved
• Bereavement Meals — parish volunteers prepare and serve a luncheon after a funeral Mass; coordinated through Sherri Hartley

Contact & Visit

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The parish mailing address is PO Box 67, Ireland, IN 47545-0067, while the physical church is located at 2831 N 500 W, Jasper, IN 47546. Sacramental needs (including Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation) can be arranged by appointment by calling the parish office.

• Parish Office Phone: 812-482-7041
• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Physical Address: 2831 N 500 W, Jasper, IN 47546-9784
• Mailing Address: PO Box 67, Ireland, IN 47545-0067