About St. Mary of the Annunciation · Navilleton, Indiana
St. Mary of the Annunciation is a small Catholic parish in Navilleton, an unincorporated community in Floyd County, Indiana, founded in 1845 by German Catholic immigrant families and dedicated on September 8 of that year under the title 'The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.' It belongs to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and is one of the oldest faith communities in southern Indiana, with about 261 registered families and a church that seats 280. Since July 2022 the parish has been served by Conventual Franciscan Father Joseph West, who also pastors nearby St. John the Baptist in Starlight, with Father Wilfred Day assisting as Sacramental Minister.
- Established
- 1845
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph West, OFM Conv.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Annunciation is a small, close-knit rural parish where many current families are direct descendants of the original 1845 German Catholic founders — a fact longtime parishioners point to as the source of its strong sense of community. Sunday and weekday Masses are celebrated in an intimate 280-seat church, with Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning schedules that fit family life, and confessions offered Saturday afternoons or by appointment. Under Conventual Franciscan pastor Father Joseph West, OFM Conv. (who also serves nearby St. John the Baptist, Starlight), the parish continues traditional Catholic devotions such as the Blessed Virgin Shrine and runs CCD religious education, a paid youth ministry program, an Activities Center, and outreach to neighbors in need.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Annunciation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- By appointment
Parish History
The story of St. Mary of the Annunciation begins in 1844, when 17 German Catholic immigrant families — two of them named Naville — settled in Floyd County, Indiana, about five miles from St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Parish. They named their community Navilleton, and within a year organized their own mission parish. On September 8, 1845, Fr. Neyron of St. Mary's of the Knobs celebrated the first Mass in a log chapel donated through Charles Kinberger, dedicating it under the title of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many of those founders are direct ancestors of today's parishioners. For the next 63 years Navilleton was a mission served by priests from neighboring parishes; in 1908 it briefly became an independent parish under Father Herman Gadlage before reverting to mission status in 1913. It was re-established as an independent parish in 1935 with Father William Knapp, and has continued without interruption since then through a long line of pastors.
- 1845 – First Mass celebrated in a log chapel on the present cemetery site
- 1845 – Parish dedicated as the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 1908–1913 – First period as an independent parish under Father Herman Gadlage
- 1935 – Re-established as an independent parish under Father William Knapp
Parish Life in the 20th Century
Through the mid-20th century the parish was shaped by long-tenured pastors: Father William Dorraugh (1948–1962) and Father Edward Gayso (1962–1974). Father Bernard Gerdon arrived in 1976 and led the implementation of Vatican II reforms, and his volunteers built the parish's Blessed Virgin Shrine, blessed by Archbishop O'Meara on August 15, 1980. Under Father Charles Berkemeier (1983–1995) the parish grew physically: a new Activities Center was built in 1983, a paid professor was hired for CCD, a Religious Education Center was purchased, and a part-time Youth Ministry Coordinator was added in 1985. Father Tony Hubler (1996–2003) reconfigured parish buildings, turning the old rectory into a Parish Center and the Religious Education Center into the pastor's residence.
- 1980 – Blessed Virgin Shrine blessed by Archbishop O'Meara (Aug. 15)
- 1983 – New Activities Center built and paid CCD professor hired
- 1985 – Part-time Youth Ministry Coordinator position established
- Additional ground donated to expand the parish cemetery
Parish Staff
Beyond the priests, the parish is supported by a small staff and lay leaders who oversee faith formation, finances, music, and parish governance. Stephanie Willis serves as Youth Minister and Director of Religious Education, Rachel Payne as Business Manager, Susie Naville as Music Director, and Marti Perronie as Parish Council Chair.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph West, OFM Conv.
- Sacramental Minister: Rev. Wilfred Day
- Youth Minister & Director of Religious Education: Stephanie Willis
- Business Manager: Rachel Payne
- Music Director: Susie Naville
- Parish Council Chair: Marti Perronie
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Routine schedules for Mass and confession are posted above; parishioners are asked to contact the parish office directly for the celebration of Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and other rites.
- Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick and pastoral care available on request
- Funeral liturgies coordinated with the parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education has been a centerpiece of parish life since the 1980s. In 1983 a paid professor was hired for the CCD program, and in 1985 a part-time Youth Ministry Coordinator position was established. The parish's Religious Education Center — formerly the pastor's residence — houses ongoing faith formation. Today Stephanie Willis serves as Youth Minister and Director of Religious Education, coordinating both elementary CCD and youth ministry programs for parish families.
- CCD / Parish School of Religion program (since 1983)
- Part-time Youth Ministry Coordinator (since 1985)
- Youth Minister & DRE: Stephanie Willis
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Alongside faith formation, the parish maintains a number of ministries and lay groups that shape parish life. The Parish Council, chaired by Marti Perronie, provides lay governance; Susie Naville directs liturgical music; the parish Activities Center, built in 1983, hosts parish gatherings, CCD events, and community fellowship. The parish also engages in community outreach, sharing resources and clergy with neighboring St. John the Baptist, Starlight.
- Parish Council (Chair: Marti Perronie)
- Music Ministry (Director: Susie Naville)
- Activities Center (built 1983) for parish and community events
- Community outreach shared with St. John the Baptist, Starlight
Devotions & Shrines
Marian devotion has been a visible part of parish life since 1980, when the Blessed Virgin Shrine — built by parish volunteers — was blessed by Archbishop O'Meara on August 15, 1980. The parish's dedication to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also reflected in its September 8 feast day, marking the date of the very first Mass celebrated in the log chapel in 1845.
- Blessed Virgin Shrine, blessed Aug. 15, 1980 by Archbishop O'Meara
- Feast of the Annunciation celebrated September 8
- Parish patron: The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Facilities & Grounds
St. Mary's sits on a campus of about seven buildings, as Father Pius Poff once noted, and includes several historic and active structures: the original 1845 log chapel site (now the cemetery), the 1891 brick church that still serves as the worship space, the Religious Education Center (former pastor's residence), the Activities Center (1983), and the parish cemetery — expanded over the years through additional land donations.
- 1891 church building (still in use for worship today)
- Religious Education Center (former pastor's residence)
- Activities Center, built 1983
- Parish cemetery, originally the 1845 log chapel site and expanded thereafter
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. Mary of the Annunciation is located in the unincorporated community of Navilleton in Floyd County, southern Indiana, about five miles northwest of St. Mary-of-the-Knobs. From Galena on US Highway 150, turn north onto Navilleton Road and drive north about 2½ miles; the church is on the right. The parish office can be reached at 812-923-5419 or [email protected], and clergy and resources are shared with neighboring St. John the Baptist, Starlight.
- Address: 7500 Navilleton Road, Floyds Knobs, IN 47119-8603
- Phone: 812-923-5419 • Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmarysnavilleton.com
- Clergy and resources shared with St. John the Baptist, Starlight (smn-sjs.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Herman Gadlage1908–1913
First resident pastor; status as independent parish lasted only five years before reverting to mission.
- Father William Knapp1935–1938
First pastor when parish was re-established as independent in 1935.
- Father William Dorraugh1948–1962
Long-tenured pastor overseeing post-war parish growth.
- Father Edward Gayso1962–1974
Succeeded Father Dorraugh.
- Father Bernard Gerdon1976–c.1983
Implemented Vatican II reforms; Blessed Virgin Shrine blessed by Archbishop O'Meara on Aug. 15, 1980.
- Father Charles Berkemeierc.1983–1995
Built Activities Center in 1983; hired CCD professor and part-time Youth Ministry Coordinator (1985); purchased Religious Education Center; cemetery expansion.
- Father Tony Hubler1996–summer 2003
Rectory became Parish Center; Religious Education Center became pastor's residence.
- Dan Sarell (Parish Life Coordinator)2003–winter 2004
Lay Parish Life Coordinator with Father Mike Hildebrand as Sacramental Minister.
- Father John Elmer, OFM Conv.2004–c.2008
Appointed Sacramental Minister by Archbishop Buechlein Sept. 2004; temporary administrator Jan. 2005; officially named pastor June 2005.
- Father Pius Poff, OFM Conv.c.2008–March 2022
Devotedly served until his sudden passing from leukemia in March 2022.
- Father Wilfred E. Day (Interim Administrator)March 2022–July 2022
Pastor of St. John the Baptist, Starlight; served as interim administrator of St. Mary's.
- Rev. Joseph West, OFM Conv.July 2022–present
Appointed pastor of both St. Mary's Navilleton and St. John's Starlight in July 2022.