About St. Mary · Lanesville, Indiana
St. Mary Catholic Church is a historic rural parish in Lanesville, Harrison County, Indiana, perched atop a hill overlooking the small town and known locally as 'the church on the hill.' Founded in 1843 by German-Catholic immigrant families and formally established as a parish in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, it has served southern Indiana for more than 180 years. Today the parish of about 426 families is twinned with neighboring St. Joseph in Corydon and continues to operate a school of faith, a parish life center, and a long-running tradition of community involvement dating back to the 1924 parish picnic.
- Established
- 1843
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish renamed from its original title of St. John the Baptist)
- Rector
- Rev. Kyle G. Rodden
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Mary's Lanesville offers the experience of a small, rooted Catholic community with deep history and active parish life. Worship is celebrated in English at a landmark church on the hill, with daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA for adults, multiple Bible studies (Sunday morning, Thursday morning, and Tuesday women's), and a parish life center that hosts men's and women's faith-sharing groups, the Knights of Columbus, Blessed Is She, and a thriving youth ministry staffed by two directors.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
- Thursday 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (at St. Mary)
- Friday 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- After 8:00 AM First Saturday Mass (monthly)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM (St. Mary)
History of St. Mary Parish
St. Mary's roots stretch back to around 1814, when German immigrant John Miller dedicated a room of his log house as a chapel — the first Catholic worship site in Harrison County. The first Catholic family, the Yanners, arrived around 1833, and in 1843 Catholic families purchased four lots in Lanesville for $325, marking the parish's founding under its original name, St. John the Baptist. The parish grew through missionary priests until Father Aegidius Moschall became its first resident pastor in 1852. The defining era began in 1854 when Father Alphonse Munschina arrived from France, opened a school with the Sisters of Providence, and broke ground on the brick church on the hill, with the cornerstone laid March 27, 1859. The 1906 Atlas called it 'one of the finest churches in the State.' The church was gutted by fire on July 30, 1948; the brick walls survived and the interior was rebuilt for $125,000 in 1940s style. The parish celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2018.
- 1814 – John Miller's log-cabin chapel, first Catholic worship in Harrison County
- 1833 – First Catholic family (Yanners) arrives in Lanesville
- 1843 – Parish founded (originally St. John the Baptist); four lots purchased for $325
- 1849 – First frame church built
- 1852 – Father Aegidius Moschall becomes first resident pastor; first rectory built
- 1854 – Father Alphonse Munschina arrives; school opens with Sisters of Providence from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
- 1859 – Cornerstone of present brick church blessed March 27
- 1864 – Church dedicated (though still unfinished)
- 1924 – First parish picnic, August 31, under Father Adam Baron
- 1948 – Devastating church fire, July 30; walls preserved; rebuilding costs $125,000
- 1994 – Parish school closes after ~140 years
- 2018 – 175th anniversary celebrated with Archbishop Joseph Thompson
Our Pastor and Staff
St. Mary is led by a pastor and supported by a team of deacons, faith formation staff, musicians, and parish administrators, many of whom serve across both St. Mary and its sister parish St. Joseph in Corydon.
- Pastor: Rev. Kyle G. Rodden
- Deacons: Richard Cooper, Timothy Elder
- Executive Assistant to the Pastor: Brian Schunemann
- Director of Faith and Youth Ministry: Joseph Fey
- Director of Youth Ministry: Katie Warren
- Business Manager: Catherine Donovan
- Director of Liturgical Music: Kim Allen
- Office Manager: Rena Phillips
Mass and Sacraments
St. Mary celebrates Mass in English, with weekly services on Tuesday morning, Thursday evening, and Sunday morning. Confessions are offered multiple times each week, and Eucharistic Adoration is held on Wednesdays in the parish. A monthly First Saturday Mass is followed by the Rosary and an additional opportunity for Confession.
- Tuesday 7:00 AM – Mass (English)
- Thursday 6:15 PM – Mass (English)
- Sunday 8:00 AM – Mass (English)
- Saturday 2:00–3:30 PM – Confessions
- Thursday 7:00–8:00 PM – Confessions (St. Mary)
- Friday 3:00–4:00 PM – Confessions
- Wednesday 3:00–8:00 PM – Adoration (St. Mary)
- First Saturday: 8:00 AM Mass, Rosary, and Confession
Faith Formation and Bible Study
Parishioners of every age can grow in their faith through several Bible studies and faith-sharing groups that meet in the St. Mary Parish Life Center. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is offered for adults seeking to become Catholic, and youth ministry is led by two directors.
- Sunday Morning Bible Study – 9:15–10:45 AM, St. Mary Parish Life Center Cafeteria Classroom (contact: Chuck Lynch)
- Thursday Morning Bible Study – 9:15–10:15 AM, St. Mary Parish Life Center (contact: Joe & Pat Wuerth)
- Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study – 10:30 AM–12:00 PM, St. Joseph Fr. Pius Room (contact: Becky Eckart)
- OCIA – Wednesday 6:30–8:00 PM at St. Joseph
- Youth Ministry – Joseph Fey, Director of Faith & Youth Ministry; Katie Warren, Director of Youth Ministry
Fellowship and Community Life
St. Mary's has a strong culture of parish-wide fellowship, echoing Father Adam Baron's 1924 insistence that the parish picnic belongs to everyone. Men's and women's groups, senior gatherings, and the Knights of Columbus keep the parish socially and spiritually connected.
- Knights of Columbus – Pope John Paul II Council #1808, meets second Tuesdays at 6 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Lanesville (contact: Ron Casabella)
- Men's Faith Sharing Group – 1st Sundays at 6:30 PM (Oct–May), St. Mary Parish Life Center (contact: Stewart Toney)
- Men's Lenten Prayer Breakfasts – Saturdays in Lent (contact: Vince Stilger & Bob Schickel)
- Blessed Is She – women's ministry, 2nd Saturdays 9–11 AM, St. Joseph Theology Classroom (contact: Tina Schunemann)
- Ageless Angels – seniors 50+, third Saturdays 12–2 PM
- Widows, Widowers, and Senior Singles – usually 3rd Sunday at 12:30 PM, St. Mary Parish Life Center (contact: Clara Foushee & Susan Wohlfarth)
Liturgy and Music
Liturgical music at St. Mary is coordinated by Director of Liturgical Music Kim Allen, supporting the parish's Sunday and weekday Masses. The parish uses a Liturgical Ministry Scheduler for scheduling lectors, servers, and other liturgical volunteers.
- Director of Liturgical Music: Kim Allen
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesdays 3:00–8:00 PM
- Monthly First Saturday Mass with Rosary and Confession opportunity
- Holy Hour 'Happy Hour' fellowship events (e.g., March 26 — 6:15 PM Mass, 7 PM Holy Hour, 8 PM fellowship at Parish Center)
Devotions and Special Observances
Beyond Sunday Mass, St. Mary parishioners gather for devotions such as the monthly Marian Movement of Priests (hosted at St. Mary), the First Saturday Rosary, and seasonal Lenten prayer breakfasts with other area churches.
- First Saturday Mass with Rosary and Confession
- Marian Movement of Priests meetings (hosted at St. Mary)
- Men's Lenten Prayer Breakfasts (Saturdays in Lent)
- Holy Hour 'Happy Hour' quarterly gatherings
- Stations of the Cross and other Holy Week devotions
Visiting and Contact
St. Mary Parish offices are open Tuesday and Wednesday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and Thursday 12:00 to 5:00 PM. Inquiries can be made by phone or email through the Executive Assistant to the Pastor. The parish is part of a collaborative grouping with St. Joseph Catholic Church and School in Corydon.
- Address: 2500 St. Mary's Drive, Lanesville, IN 47136
- Phone: (812) 952-2853
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tue & Wed 8:00 AM–1:00 PM; Thu 12:00–5:00 PM
- Website: catholic-community.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmarysparishlanesville
- Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Indianapolis (Parish #087)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Aegidius Moschall1852–
First resident pastor of St. Mary's; immigrant from Alsace, France; built the first rectory.
- Father Alphonse Munschina1854–
French-born, ordained 1843; opened the parish school in 1854 staffed by the Sisters of Providence from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods; began construction of the present church on the hill in 1856; cornerstone blessed March 27, 1859.
- Father Adam Baron1920s
Resident pastor who began the parish picnic tradition on August 31, 1924 and insisted the picnic be a parish-wide effort.
- Father Hunger1948
Pastor at the time of the July 30, 1948 fire; rushed into the burning church to rescue the ciboriums containing the Blessed Sacrament.
- Father Wilfred 'Sonny' Day
Son of St. Mary Parish; later served as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Starlight and dean of the New Albany Deanery.
- Father Robert St. Martin, OFM Conv.2018
Conventual Franciscan pastor who helped lead the 175th anniversary celebrations; first time serving as pastor of a parish marking 175 years.