About St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception [Dearborn County Catholics] · Aurora, Indiana
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Aurora, Indiana, traces its roots to the 1840s when Catholics invited a priest to celebrate Mass in a home. Officially founded in 1857, the parish has grown from a small community of German and Irish immigrants into a vibrant middle-class parish with deep historical ties to the Diocese of Vincennes. The current church building on Fourth Street was completed in 1864, and the parish has maintained a strong commitment to education, service, and faith formation through ministries like St. Vincent de Paul and religious education. The parish is now served by two pastors in solidum, with a perpetual adoration chapel (Lourdes Chapel) opened in 2024.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- Mary, the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Fathers John Hollowell and Jonathan Meyer
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
Join a parish with deep historical roots and a strong commitment to community service, faith formation, and spiritual growth. Active ministries include St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, religious education, and a newly opened perpetual adoration chapel. The parish offers a welcoming environment for families and individuals seeking a vibrant Catholic community rooted in tradition and outreach.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception [Dearborn County Catholics]
Weekly Mass schedule
History
With roots as far back as the 1840s when local Catholics invited a priest to say Mass in an Aurora home, St. Mary’s is a testimony of the faith and determination of Roman Catholics in an area fertile with the missionary work of Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians. The parish was officially founded in 1857 according to information presented by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Presumably, the name, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, was assigned by the bishop; although that is the official name, the parish has been fondly known always as “St. Mary’s.” Early priests came sporadically from Cincinnati, and the community’s ties with the Queen City were strong despite the fact that Aurora was part of the Diocese of Vincennes which was comprised of the entire state of Indiana and about half of Illinois. As early as 1849 the construction of a church was discussed; the first church building near the foot of Market Street was built in 1857 probably by the German and Irish immigrants themselves who made up the membership. That building also served as school; Catholic students had had to attend school at St. Lawrence prior to the building of the first church building. (St. Mary’s sold the site of the first church building to Thomas Gaff who later built Crescent Brewery at the location. The caverns of that brewery still remain today.)
Parish Ministries
The parish is home to active ministries including St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, religious education, and a newly opened perpetual adoration chapel. The parish also hosts regular Masses and provides pastoral care through its office.
Sacraments and Services
The parish offers regular Masses, including weekday and weekend services. The parish office handles pastoral care, funerals, and Anointing of the Sick. The parish also provides online giving and bulletin subscriptions.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Daniel Mahan2021-2023
Pastor in solidum with Jonathan Meyer
- Jonathan Meyer2021-2023
Pastor in solidum with Daniel Mahan
- John Hollowell2023-present
Pastor in solidum with Jonathan Meyer