About St. Michael the Archangel · Indianapolis, Indiana
St. Michael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, located on the west side of Indianapolis at 3354 W. 30th Street. Founded in 1948 by Archbishop Paul C. Schulte, the parish grew from 106 founding families (transferred from St. Anthony Parish) into a faith community of roughly 600+ families. Today it is widely known in the archdiocese as an active, diverse and welcoming parish, with significant Eritrean, Ethiopian, West African, Filipino and Hispanic communities alongside longtime Anglo and Black members. The parish shares its campus with St. Michael–St. Gabriel Archangels Catholic Elementary School (PK–8) and serves as a regional hub for Catholics of the Ge'ez (Alexandrian) Rite and a monthly Kiswahili Mass celebrated by its Tanzanian-born pastor.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. John Kamwendo
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel is a faithful, multilingual Catholic community on the west side of Indianapolis with a 75+ year history, a parish school, and active devotional life. The parish is known for being welcoming to longtime Anglo and Black members alongside growing Eritrean, Ethiopian, West African, Filipino and Hispanic communities — including Ge'ez Rite Masses three times a year, a monthly Kiswahili Mass, Spanish charismatic retreats, and occasional Simbang Gabi. With daily and weekend Mass, Adoration and Benediction before several weekday Masses, a year-round Faith Formation program for children and youth, a vibrant St. Vincent de Paul conference, and the shared St. Michael–St. Gabriel Archangels Catholic Elementary School, it offers both a deep Catholic life and a strong sense of home for newcomers.
Mass times at St. Michael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00–5:45 pm (in church, with Adoration & Benediction)
- Friday 5:00–5:45 pm (in church, with Adoration & Benediction)
- Saturday 4:00–5:00 pm
Adoration times
- Adoration & Benediction Tuesday 5:00–5:45 pm in church
- Adoration & Benediction Friday 5:00–5:45 pm in church
- Divine Mercy Chapel open daily 8:00 am–8:00 pm
Our Story — A Brief History of St. Michael the Archangel
Archbishop Paul C. Schulte created St. Michael Parish on April 21, 1948 on a 17-acre campus on the west side of Indianapolis, with Father Thomas J. Finneran as its founding pastor. The parish's 106 charter families — soon to grow past 130 — had come from neighboring St. Anthony's Parish to serve the booming west-side township. The parish's first worship space was the second floor of its brand-new school in September 1949, and the cornerstone of the permanent church was laid by Archbishop Schulte on April 4, 1954 with a Dictaphone recording of parishioners' voices sealed inside. By the parish's 60th anniversary in 2007–08, those founding households had multiplied to 683.
- Parish created April 21, 1948 by Archbishop Paul C. Schulte
- 17 acres purchased Nov. 26, 1947 from Perry O. and Helen Cadle Bonham
- School/church cornerstone laid March 20, 1949; school opened Sept. 6, 1949 with 95 students
- Permanent church blessed Nov. 7, 1954
- First pastor: Rev. Thomas J. Finneran; first school principal: Sister William Marie
Trials by Fire — and the 2016 Steeple
The parish's buildings have been tested repeatedly. A December 1967 two-alarm fire destroyed the nave of the 1954 church, and for more than a year Masses were held in the school cafeteria and weddings at Marian College. Archbishop Schulte rededicated the rebuilt church on April 13, 1969. Fire returned on April 1, 1989, consuming the rear of the church and forcing complete reconstruction of the sacristy. Then on July 2015 a severe windstorm toppled the steeple and damaged many trees on the campus; the replacement steeple, dedicated May 13, 2016, holds a time capsule of mementos, photos and memories contributed by parishioners and friends.
- 1967 nave fire — church destroyed; Mass in school cafeteria; weddings at Marian College
- 1969 rededication by Archbishop Schulte
- April 1, 1989 sacristy fire — 4 to 5 weeks of reconstruction
- July 2015 windstorm topples steeple
- May 13, 2016 new steeple dedicated with time capsule inside
A Diverse, Multilingual Catholic Community
Father Kamwendo describes St. Michael's as 'active, diverse and welcoming.' Longtime Anglo and Black members — including some families from the parish's 1948 founding — worship alongside growing communities of Eritrean and Ethiopian Catholics (who follow the Ge'ez / Alexandrian Rite and gather for Mass three times a year), African members from Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, the Benin Republic, the Congo, Tanzania and other countries, Hispanic parishioners active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and Filipino members who have hosted Simbang Gabi. Father Kamwendo himself, a native of Tanzania, celebrates a monthly Kiswahili Mass that draws worshippers from across central Indiana.
- Ge'ez (Alexandrian) Rite Mass — 3 times per year
- Monthly Kiswahili Mass with Father Kamwendo
- Spanish Catholic Charismatic Renewal retreat — twice a year
- Simbang Gabi Filipino novena of Masses at Advent
- Monthly French Mass (begun by Father Hoyt)
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish's Faith Formation office coordinates sacramental preparation for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation for children and youth, with formal catechesis from Pre-K through 8th grade following the school calendar (September through May). Advent and Lenten family retreats enrich parish life, and Sacramental sign-ups are due by September 1 each year for sacraments celebrated the following May. Adult formation includes Bible Study, RCIA, Sacramental Retreats and the Totus Tuus summer program.
- Children's Faith Formation (Pre-K–8) — Theresa Brydon (Interim)
- First Reconciliation/First Communion — Joan Lile (Interim)
- Youth Ministry — Abbi Abiodun
- Confirmation prep for 9th–12th graders
- Baptism prep class (parents) and Baptisms on 1st/3rd weekends
- Adult formation: Bible Study, RCIA, Sacramental Retreats, Totus Tuus
St. Michael–St. Gabriel Archangels Catholic School
The parish shares its campus — and its school — with neighboring St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish. St. Michael–St. Gabriel Archangels Elementary School, located at 3352 W. 30th St., serves PK through Grade 8 with about 301 students under Principal Elizabeth Ramos. Its Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) athletics program is open to neighborhood children, not only school families, reflecting Father Kamwendo's pride that 'they involve not only the school kids, but kids from the neighborhood who are not even Catholic.'
- St. Michael–St. Gabriel Archangels (PK–8)
- 3352 W. 30th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222
- Phone: (317) 926-0516
- Principal: Elizabeth Ramos
- Approx. 301 students
- CYO athletics open to neighborhood youth
Parish Ministries & Volunteer Life
The parish maintains a rich menu of liturgical, music, faith-formation, outreach and operations ministries — coordinated through parish commissions (Finance, Parish Life, Stewardship/Outreach) and supported by Parish Council. Highlights include a strong St. Vincent de Paul conference with a monthly second collection, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, a Women's Prayer Group, Pro-Life ministry, Bake Sale, Mercy Meals, Coffee & Donuts, and event teams for Parish Feast Day, the Parish Picnic and Pumpkinfest.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, EMHCs, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Ministers to the Homebound
- Music: Cantor, Choir (Lorelei Cleary), Musicians (Matt Dickerson)
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul (Kathy Cowden), Mercy Meals, Pro-Life
- Commissions: Finance, Parish Life, Stewardship/Outreach
- Events: Parish Feast Day, Parish Picnic, Pumpkinfest
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
Father John Kamwendo serves as pastor and is supported by a small staff team handling music, faith formation, youth ministry, the parish office, bookkeeping and the Parish Life Center gym. Parish office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- Pastor: Rev. John Kamwendo — [email protected]
- Music Director/Organist: Matt Dickerson — [email protected]
- Faith Formation (Interim): Theresa Brydon
- First Reconciliation / First Communion (Interim): Joan Lile
- Youth Ministry: Abbi Abiodun
- Bookkeeper: Karla Russell
- Office Manager: Katie Monnett
- Gym Manager: Muffy Price
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 3354 W. 30th Street on Indianapolis's west side, just minutes from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The parish livestreams Mass for those unable to attend in person and uses Flocknote and a 'My Parish App' to keep members connected. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- Address: 3354 W. 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222
- Phone: (317) 926-7359
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am–4:00 pm
- Livestream Mass and Flocknote sign-ups available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas J. Finneran1948–1951
First pastor; created the parish with Archbishop Schulte; resigned due to illness.
- Rev. Richard Kavanagh1951–
Named administrator after Father Finneran's resignation; by then 275 families and 176 school pupils.
- Father James Wilmoth1990s
Led the capital campaign and construction of the Parish Life Center (dedicated 1996).
- Rev. Joe Villa
Filled in briefly between pastors in 1997.
- Father Tony Volz1997–2004
Revived parish commissions and Parish Council alongside his successor.
- Father Kenneth (K.T.) Taylor2004–2006
Continued rebuilding of parish commissions and council.
- Father Varghese Maliakkal2006–2014
Joined as Sacramental Minister in Jan 2006; became pastor July 2006; reassigned in 2014.
- Father Michael Hoyt2014–2017
Administrator; previously at St. Malachy, Brownsburg; started a monthly French Mass at the parish.
- Rev. John Kamwendo2017–present
Administrator from July 2017, now pastor; Tanzanian-born, offers a monthly Kiswahili Mass.