About St. Mary of the Knobs · Floyds Knobs, Indiana
St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church is a historic parish in Floyds Knobs, Floyd County, Indiana, founded in 1823 by Irish immigrants Thomas and Ellen Piers on land they donated — making it the oldest active parish in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, eleven years before the Diocese of Vincennes itself was established. Today the parish of about 1,198 families worships in a fourth church built in 2012, runs a PK-8 Catholic elementary school (enrolling 386 students) and operates under the pastoral guidance of Rev. William Marks, guided by the motto "Forming Disciples & Living Disciples." The parish is known for its strong Irish-Catholic pioneer heritage, a parish school tradition stretching back nearly 200 years, and a vibrant annual-events calendar including Knobsfest and the Lenten Fish Fry.
- Established
- 1823
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Saint Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. William Marks
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis (formerly Diocese of Vincennes, established 1834)
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Knobs welcomes new members into a deeply rooted faith community that has been passing on the Catholic faith "from one generation to the next" for 200 years. The parish offers prayerful, faith-filled liturgies, a full sacramental life (Daily and Sunday Mass, confession three days a week, Eucharistic adoration, Confirmation and family catechesis), an active PK-8 parish school, and a slate of annual community events — from Lenten Fish Frys and Knobsfest to the Corvette Raffle and Parish Night Out — that knit parishioners together across ages. With about 1,198 families and ministries spanning youth, college-age, adult faith formation, music and outreach, SMK offers both belonging and mission to anyone ready to call this historic Floyds Knobs parish home.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Knobs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration held in the chapel (sign-ups via "We Adore Him" on the parish website)
Parish Identity & Heritage
St. Mary of the Knobs is the oldest existing parish in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, founded in 1823 on land donated by Irish immigrant Thomas Piers and his wife Ellen. The parish is identified by its motto "Forming Disciples & Living Disciples" and is guided by Pastor Rev. William Marks. Today the faith community numbers about 1,198 families and is built on a continuous 200-year Catholic presence in Floyds Knobs.
- Founded 1823 — oldest active parish in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis
- Pre-dates the Diocese of Vincennes by eleven years
- Parish motto: "Forming Disciples & Living Disciples"
- Current pastor: Rev. William Marks
- About 1,198 registered families; church capacity 960
History of St. Mary of the Knobs
The parish's 200-year story is told through four successive churches and a Catholic school tradition stretching back to 1825. From the first log chapel built on Piers's donated acre, to the 1837 brick church parishioners made themselves, to the 1909 church (damaged by a 1955 tornado) and the present 2012 church, each generation has rebuilt for the next. The October 15, 2023 bicentennial Mass, presided over by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, marked the parish's two centuries of continuous worship.
- 1823 — First log chapel built on one acre donated by Thomas Piers
- 1825 — John Coleman begins teaching classes in his cabin (origin of parish school tradition)
- 1837 — Second church built of parishioner-fired brick on seven additional donated acres
- Mid-1850s — Brick church threatened by Know Nothing nativists; parishioners defend it
- 1864 — School becomes a lay-staffed public institution
- 1891 — Benedictine sisters from Ferdinand, Indiana take over the school
- 1909 — Third church built; 1837 church razed to expand cemetery
- 1955 — Tornado damages the 1909 church
- 1998 — Public school closes after 134 years
- 2001 — Parish elementary school reopens (PK-8)
- 2012 — Current church, parish office, activity center and parish hall completed ($12.5M campaign)
- 2017 — Middle school opens
- Oct. 15, 2023 — Bicentennial Mass with Archbishop Charles C. Thompson
Sacraments & Faith Formation
SMK walks parishioners through every stage of the sacramental and catechetical life. Confirmation preparation is open to teens in grades 9–12 and to adults; new youth sessions begin January 11, 2026 and meet every two weeks through May 31, with Confirmation celebrated the following Fall. Adult catechism and family catechism are staffed year-round.
- Confirmation (grades 9-12): formation sessions, service opportunities, retreat
- Confirmation for Adults — contact Angie Kaiser, Coordinator of Adult Catechism (812-923-2457)
- Coordinator of Family Catechism: Elisabeth Young
- Coordinator of Adult Catechism: Angie Kaiser
Becoming a Member
Whether a first-time visitor or a long-time attendee ready to commit, anyone can register through the parish's New Member Registration Form. SMK's stated goal is to enhance parishioners' faith experience through "prayerful, faith-filled liturgies" and meaningful relationships with Christ and the parish community.
- New Member Registration Form available on the parish website (yoursmk.org/join-us)
Parish School (PK-8)
St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Catholic School reopened as a parish elementary school in 2001 after the original public school (founded in the 1800s and run by Benedictine sisters from 1891) had closed in 1998. A middle school was added in 2017, and the school now serves 386 PK-8 students under Principal Tracy Jansen, with Assistant Principal Brittany Geswein.
- St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Catholic School, PK-8
- Address: 3033 Martin Road, Floyds Knobs, IN 47119
- Phone: 812-923-1630 | Fax: 812-923-0310
- Website: www.smkcatholicschool.com
- Principal: Tracy Jansen ([email protected])
- Total students: 386
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at SMK is led by Director of Music Stephen Fernung. The parish livestreams its liturgy — visitors to the website can "Watch SMK Liturgy" — and uses Flocknote to communicate parish news and sign-ups.
- Director of Music: Stephen Fernung
- Livestream: "Watch SMK Liturgy" on the parish website
- Communications: Flocknote
Youth, College-Age & Adult Ministries
SMK runs age-appropriate faith formation for the whole parish family: Family Catechism for parents and children, Youth Ministry for middle and high schoolers (led by Chrisy Nash), Confirmation preparation for grades 9-12 and adults, and a College-Age group for young adults 18-22 that uses the GroupMe app to organize events.
- Youth Ministry: Chrisy Nash (Christy Nash) — [email protected]
- College-Age Ministry: ages 18-22, coordinated via GroupMe
- Adult Catechism / RCIA: Angie Kaiser — 812-923-2457
- Family Catechism: Elisabeth Young
Annual Community Events
SMK's parish calendar is anchored by a slate of beloved annual events that draw the wider Floyds Knobs community — from Lenten fish frys to the parish's signature August festival, Knobsfest.
- Lenten Fish Frys — several Fridays during Lent
- Corvette Raffle Drawing (June 17, 2023)
- Knobsfest — 3rd weekend in August
- Card Party — 4th Wednesday of September
- Parish Night Out — Saturday before Thanksgiving
Parish Staff & Office
The pastoral team is supported by a full parish staff handling catechesis, music, facilities, communications, business and office management. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Pastor: Rev. William Marks
- Deacon: Robert Stout
- Director of Music: Stephen Fernung
- Coordinator of Adult Catechism: Angie Kaiser
- Coordinator of Family Catechism: Elisabeth Young
- Youth Ministry: Chrisy Nash
- Facilities Coordinator: Melanie Hartlage
- Social Media & Website Manager: Mary Hess
- Business Manager: Deanna McMahel
- Bookkeeper: Hannah Schuler
- Office Manager: Suzie Didat
- Office Hours: M–F, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Visit & Contact
St. Mary of the Knobs is located at 5719 Saint Marys Road in Floyds Knobs, Indiana — the range of hills northwest of New Albany from which the parish takes its name. Visitors can find Mass and Confession times, register as new members, watch livestreamed liturgies, and sign up for adoration via the parish website.
- Address: 5719 Saint Marys Road, Floyds Knobs, IN 47119-9142
- Phone: 812-923-3011
- Fax: 812-923-1431
- Website: www.yoursmk.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmaryoftheknobs
- YouTube: St Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church