About St. Michael the Archangel [Brookville Parishes] · Brookville, Indiana
St. Michael the Archangel Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Brookville, Indiana, the county seat of Franklin County. Founded in 1845, it is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the spiritual home of more than 620 families in the Whitewater River valley. The parish is administered together with its sister community of St. Peter (also in Brookville) and the Holy Guardian Angels Oratory in nearby Cedar Grove, sharing clergy, staff, and a single parish website. A parish school, St. Michael Catholic School (PreK–8), has educated local children on the same grounds since 1855.
- Established
- 1845
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Santosh (Santhosh) Yohannan (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel is the oldest Catholic parish in Franklin County, founded in 1845 by pioneer Catholic families along the Whitewater, and still described by the archdiocese as a 'pillar of the community.' A family of more than 620 households worships across three historic churches — St. Michael in Brookville, St. Peter on East Road, and Holy Guardian Angels Oratory in Cedar Grove — sharing one pastor, one faith-formation program, and one parish school. Daily and Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation before every Mass, a PreK–8 Catholic school, Religious Education and Youth Ministry (Team Jesus), and a marriage-enrichment program partnered with the St. John Paul II Foundation all give parishioners of every age a place to grow in discipleship and service.
Mass times at St. Michael the Archangel [Brookville Parishes]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — St. Michael — 3:30 PM to 3:50 PM
- Saturday — St. Peter — 30 minutes after the 5:30 PM Mass (unless a baptism is scheduled)
- Wednesday evenings — St. Peter — 30 minutes before and after the 6:00 PM Mass
- Tuesday–Friday — 30 minutes after each weekday Mass
Adoration times
- Thursday — St. Michael — following the 8:35 AM Mass until 10:00 AM
- 1st Friday — St. Michael — following the 7:30 AM Mass until 9:00 AM
- Saturday — St. Michael — weekly, 3:00 PM until the start of the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass
- Wednesday — St. Peter — 5:00 PM until the 6:00 PM Mass
About the Brookville Parishes
St. Michael the Archangel is one of two Catholic parishes serving Brookville, Indiana, the seat of Franklin County in southeastern Indiana. Together with St. Peter Church (1207 East Rd., Brookville) and Holy Guardian Angels Oratory in nearby Cedar Grove (405 US Hwy 52), St. Michael forms the 'Brookville Parishes' — a single pastoral family that shares one administrator, one staff, one bulletin, and one website. The official mission statement on the parish website reads: 'We are welcoming Catholic churches serving the people of Franklin County Indiana with a focus on discipleship and service.' The parish families commit to five pillars of parish life: the celebration of Mass, Sacred Scripture, prayer, the sacramental life of the Church, and knowing and living out the Catholic faith.
- St. Michael Church — 145 St. Michael Blvd., Brookville, IN 47012
- St. Peter Church — 1207 East Rd., Brookville, IN 47012
- Holy Guardian Angels Oratory — 405 US Hwy 52, Cedar Grove, IN 47016
- Parish Office: 145 St. Michael Blvd., Brookville, IN 47012 — 765-647-5462 — [email protected]
Parish History
Catholic worship in Franklin County began in 1838 when the missionary Fr. Joseph Ferneding of New Alsace visited scattered Catholic families along the Whitewater Canal, saying Mass in private homes — including the home of Michael Schrank south of Brookville. About 1849 the Brookville Catholics were visited monthly by Fr. William Engeln from St. Peter's, Blue Creek. He was followed in 1854 by Fr. H. Koering, who found only 15 Catholic families in Brookville but succeeded in raising $600 from Catholic and non-Catholic contributors alike to buy a lot and small brick dwelling that became Brookville's first Catholic church. His successor, Fr. Januarius Weissenberger, arrived in 1857 to find the parish grown to about 40 families. He envisioned a large brick church that would serve the congregation into the future; when the parish wavered over the $10,000 cost, German immigrant Melchior Witt — who had come to Brookville in 1840 — broke the stalemate by hauling 'an immense pile of stone' to the site. The present brick church was completed by 1859. Fr. G. H. Ostlangenberg became the parish's first resident pastor in 1863, and in 1868 the long pastorate of Fr. Meinrad Fleischmann — born in Lachen, Switzerland — began. He served for nearly thirty years, joined in 1874 by his brother Fr. Joseph Fleischmann as an assistant. By 1883 St. Michael had about 130 families, a $4,000 parsonage, a parochial school taught by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (who took over the school in 1873), and a convent. Originally within the Diocese (later Archdiocese) of Vincennes, St. Michael became part of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in 1898.
- 1838 — Fr. Joseph Ferneding begins visiting Catholics in private homes and canal-laborer shanties
- 1849 — Fr. William Engeln of St. Peter's, Blue Creek, visits Brookville monthly
- 1854 — Fr. H. Koering organizes purchase of first church lot ($600)
- 1857 — Fr. Januarius Weissenberger arrives; parish grown to 40 families
- 1859 — Large brick church completed under Melchior Witt's resolve
- 1863 — Fr. G. H. Ostlangenberg becomes first resident pastor
- 1868 — Fr. Meinrad Fleischmann begins a 29-year pastorate
- 1873 — Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis take over parochial school
- 1883 — 130 families; $4,000 parsonage built
- 1898 — Transferred from Archdiocese of Vincennes to Archdiocese of Indianapolis
- 2020 — 175th anniversary commemorated (delayed by COVID-19 pandemic)
Sacraments
The parish website has a dedicated Sacraments section that explains preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation.
- First Holy Communion — usually at age seven (2nd grade); older children prepared separately. Coordinator: Brenda Bertsch (St. Michael, 765-547-1462); Susan Leffingwell (St. Peter, 812-569-8101).
- Confirmation — preparation classes tracked by year (St. Michael Class of 2026 and St. Peter Class of 2026 listed on the site).
- Reconciliation — see scheduled times; appointments available via the parish office.
- Marriage — Marriage Ministry offers enrichment; arrangements through the parish office.
- Baptism and Anointing of the Sick — by arrangement through the parish office.
Faith and Family Formation (Religious Education)
Faith and Family Formation provides religious education for parish children who do not attend St. Michael Catholic School. Two coordinators run the program — one for each worship site — and the schedule is built around Sunday or Wednesday Mass so families pray together as part of formation.
- St. Michael Faith Formation — Sundays 8:30–10:15 AM. Coordinator: Brenda Bertsch ([email protected])
- St. Peter Faith Formation — Wednesday evenings beginning with 6:00 PM Mass. Coordinator: Mrs. Susan Leffingwell (812-569-8101)
- First Communion preparation track (2nd grade and older)
- Confirmation preparation track (year-by-year cohorts posted on the parish website)
St. Michael Catholic School
St. Michael Catholic School has educated children on the same grounds near the parish since 1855, making it one of the oldest continuously operating Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Its tagline — 'Faith In Every Student, Since 1855' — captures the school's Christ-centered, family-engaged mission. The school serves about 230–250 students in PreK through 8th grade at a roughly 18:1 student-teacher ratio. Parents are recognized as a child's first teacher and are expected to take an active role. St. Michael School is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
- Address: 275 High Street, Brookville, IN 47012
- Phone: 765-647-4961 — Fax: 765-647-6802
- Principal: Mr. Chad Moeller — [email protected]
- Grades: PreK through 8
- Enrollment: ~230–250 students
- Member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
- Tagline: 'Faith In Every Student, Since 1855'
Marriage Ministry — Together in Holiness
In partnership with the St. John Paul II Foundation, the Brookville Parishes invite young married couples and young families to participate in the Together in Holiness Formation series. The program provides year-round marriage enrichment for small communities of spouses, equipping them with formation, encouragement, support, and practical tools to grow together in holiness and form their children in the Catholic faith.
- Program Directors: Joseph and Lauren Kolks
- Contacts: 513-317-1614 / 219-743-0349 — [email protected]
- Safe Parish Program compliance for facilitators
- Includes a meal and fellowship, short videos with national speakers (Danielle Bean, Damon Owens), facilitated discussion, and a 'Bring It Home' component
- Year registration: $75 per couple
Team Jesus Youth Ministry
Team Jesus is the parish's youth ministry program at St. Michael Church, providing young parishioners with community, formation, and service opportunities beyond the Sunday-morning faith-formation classes.
- Coordinator: Kayla Jonas
- Contact via the parish office: 765-647-5462
Music Ministry
Music Ministry serves Sunday liturgies and special celebrations across all three Brookville-parish worship sites.
- Director of Music Ministry: Theresa Back — 765-647-4961
Parish Staff
St. Michael and St. Peter share a single staff roster. The current administrator is Rev. Santhosh (Santosh) Yohannan. Pastoral and operational support is provided by a deacon, business manager, administrative assistant, directors of music, faith formation, communications, and maintenance.
- Administrator — Rev. Santhosh (Santosh) Yohannan, St. Michael and St. Peter Parishes
- Deacon — Dcn. Steve Tsuleff, St. Michael and St. Peter Parishes (812-569-8101 in some listings)
- Director of Operations / Business Manager — Donna Weekley
- Administrative Assistant — Carla Hertel
- Director of Music Ministry — Theresa Back (765-647-4961)
- Director of Evangelization & Faith Formation (St. Michael) — Brenda Bertsch (765-547-1462)
- Coordinator of Religious Education (St. Peter) — Susan Leffingwell (812-569-8101)
- Principal of St. Michael School — Chad Moeller ([email protected]; 765-647-4961)
- Team Jesus Youth Ministry — Kayla Jonas
- Communications Director — listed on staff page (765-647-5462)
- Maintenance Director, St. Michael — Dave McKinney (765-914-6286)
- Maintenance Director, St. Peter — John Schock
Safe Parish and Volunteer Compliance
The parish observes the Archdiocese of Indianapolis 'Safe Parish Program' for background checks and safe-environment training of all adults who work with minors and vulnerable adults. Completion of the program is required before volunteering in any parish or school ministry, including Marriage Ministry facilitators.
- Safe Parish Program completion required for ministry volunteers and Marriage Ministry facilitators
Live Streaming and Communications
Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM from St. Michael is live-streamed. The parish has moved streaming from Facebook to its YouTube channel; if a live broadcast fails, the Mass is recorded and uploaded later the same day. A weekly parish bulletin is published and can be subscribed to via the parish website.
- Sunday 10:30 AM Mass — livestreamed from St. Michael
- Platform: YouTube (parish channel — link on brookvilleparishes.com)
- Weekly bulletin email subscription available on the parish site
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Ferneding1838 (visiting)
Missionary priest from New Alsace who first brought the sacraments to Catholics in and around Brookville in private homes.
- Rev. William Engelnc. 1849–1854
Resident pastor of St. Peter's, Blue Creek, who visited the Brookville congregation about once a month.
- Rev. H. Koering1854–1857
Found only about 15 Catholic families in Brookville; organized the purchase of the first lot and brick church.
- Rev. Januarius Weissenberger1857–
Built the present large brick church (completed 1859) at a cost of about $10,000.
- Rev. G. H. Ostlangenberg1863–1868
First resident pastor at St. Michael; also served St. Philomena's at Wolf Creek.
- Rev. Meinrad Fleischmann1868–1897
Born in Lachen, Switzerland 1844; pastored St. Michael for nearly 30 years with his brother Fr. Joseph as assistant.