About St. Mary of the Visitation · Huntingburg, Indiana
St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church is a parish in the Diocese of Evansville located at 317 N Washington Street in downtown Huntingburg, Indiana. Formally established on July 11, 1861, and welcomed its first resident priest in 1869, the parish describes itself as a welcoming community redeemed by Christ, called to know, love, and serve God through the sacraments and the Word. Today it offers Mass in English and Spanish, an active faith formation program for all ages, Eucharistic adoration, and a rich liturgical and devotional life, and in 2025 was designated a Jubilee Church by the Diocese of Evansville for the Year of Hope.
- Established
- 1861
- Patron
- The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Biju Thomas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, an unusually rich Eucharistic adoration schedule (including a First-Saturday 40 Hours Devotion), and frequent confession times. It is a community blessed with many young families, with a cry room in the back of church, hearing devices available from ushers, and a full faith-formation program that spans Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for preschoolers through Life Teen EDGE for middle schoolers, with Confirmation being moved to 5th grade. As one of only five Jubilee Churches designated in the Diocese of Evansville for 2025, it is also a destination for the special indulgences and pilgrimages of the Holy Year.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Visitation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 7:00–7:45 AM
- Thursday 11:00–11:45 AM
- Friday 7:00–7:45 AM
- Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM
- First Saturday 6:45–7:45 AM
- Sunday 7:00–7:20 AM
Adoration times
- Tuesday — one hour before 6:00 PM Mass
- Wednesday — one hour before 8:00 AM Mass
- Thursday — one hour before 12:05 PM Mass
- Friday 8:30 AM through Saturday 8:00 AM (24-hour adoration)
- First Saturday of the month — 40 Hours Devotion, beginning Thursday after 12:05 PM Mass and ending before the Saturday 8:00 AM Mass
Parish History & Identity
St. Mary of the Visitation was formally established on July 11, 1861, during the opening months of the Civil War, and welcomed its first resident priest in 1869. For most of its tenure it has been served by Benedictine monks from St. Meinrad, and has grown into a Catholic anchor for southwestern Indiana. The parish's patron, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is invoked through Marian devotion and prayer, and the parish entrusts itself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- Founded July 11, 1861 in Huntingburg, Indiana
- First resident priest arrived in 1869
- Historically served by Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad
- Patron: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Biju Thomas, originally from India and ordained in 2000, who has served St. Mary's since June 2020. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Homero Rodriguez, a priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart ordained in 2016 who serves part-time at St. Mary's and part-time at St. Joseph in Jasper.
- Fr. Biju Thomas — Pastor (since June 2020)
- Fr. Homero Rodriguez — Parochial Vicar
- Clare Neukam — Parish Catechetical Leader / Evangelization Leader / Accompanist
- Kim Kendall — Parish Catechetical Leader
- Nick Wagner — Maintenance & Grounds
- Sr. Mary Louise Uebelhor, OSB — Bookkeeper
- Angie McDonald — Parish Secretary (Wed–Fri)
- Sharon Prior — Parish Staff
Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Mary's spans every age, rooted in Christ's Great Commission to 'go and make disciples.' Programs include Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for preschoolers, Family Catechesis for elementary grades, Life Teen EDGE for middle schoolers, and adult faith formation — all supported by a large volunteer catechist team.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (preschool)
- Family Catechesis / 2nd–5th Grade Faith Formation
- Life Teen EDGE (6th–8th grade), Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Adult Faith Formation
- Vacation Bible School
- Annual Backpack Blessing
Confirmation Preparation
Over the next four years the Diocese of Evansville is moving the sacrament of Confirmation from 10th grade to 5th grade. St. Mary's is transitioning its Confirmation program accordingly, with candidates attending 6–7 Sunday preparation sessions after the 10:00 AM Mass and a retreat the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
- Sundays after the 10:00 AM Mass
- Wednesday evening religious education encouraged
- Retreat the Wednesday before Thanksgiving
- Bishop Siegel's pastoral letter on the change is available on the parish site
Sacraments
St. Mary's makes the seven sacraments widely available to parishioners. Baptism is offered to infants (with parental preparation), to children over age 6, and to adults through OCIA. Confirmation is being moved to 5th grade. Matrimony is arranged by appointment with the parish office, and Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders vocations are supported on request.
- Baptism — infant, child, and adult (via OCIA)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
- Confirmation (transitioning to 5th grade)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Holy Matrimony — call the parish office to schedule
Parish Ministries & Volunteer Life
Parishioners are invited to share their time and talents across a wide range of ministries. The parish frames volunteer life as 'Serving as Missionary Disciples,' echoing Christ's words that 'the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve' (Matthew 20:28) and St. Peter's call to be 'good stewards of God's varied grace' (1 Peter 4:10).
- Liturgical Ministries (Eucharistic Minister, lector, altar server)
- Music Ministry (choir, cantors, accompanist)
- Faith Formation catechists and assistants (PreK–Adult)
- Bereavement Support (meal preparation after funerals)
- Cleaning & Grounds Work
- Hospitality / Environment (decorating and event setup)
Jubilee Church 2025 — Pilgrims of Hope
St. Mary's was designated one of five Jubilee Churches in the Diocese of Evansville for the 2025 Jubilee Year 'Pilgrims of Hope.' As a Jubilee Church, it facilitates the plenary indulgences attached to the Holy Year and offers expanded opportunities for sacramental and extra-sacramental penance. Visitors are invited to make a pilgrimage to the parish during the Jubilee.
- One of 5 Jubilee Churches in the Diocese of Evansville
- Plenary indulgence available to visitors
- Pilgrims of Hope — 2025 Holy Year
Music & Liturgy
The parish's music ministry welcomes singers, cantors, and instrumentalists, and runs an after-school music station for children. Pastoral musician Sr. Mary Louise Uebelhor, OSB — a Ferdinand Benedictine with 47 years of music ministry experience — supports the program alongside full-time accompanist Clare Neukam. Masses and adoration are livestreamed via Shalom World TV.
- Adult choir, cantors, and accompanist
- Children's after-school music station
- Livestream through Shalom World TV
Visiting St. Mary's
Located just east of Historic 4th Street in downtown Huntingburg, the parish welcomes visitors with ample parking on its lots and along Washington Street. The church offers a cry room at the rear and hearing devices available from the ushers, and is described as blessed with many young families who are glad to see children in the pews.
- 317 N Washington Street, Huntingburg, IN 47542
- Parking in parish lots or on Washington Street
- Cry room in the back of church
- Hearing devices available from ushers
- Office: (812) 683-2372
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Biju ThomasJune 2020–present
Originally from India; ordained May 3, 2000; came to the U.S. in 2014; assigned to St. Mary's as Administrator in June 2020. Prefers to be called Father Biju.