About St. Patrick Mission Church · Salem, Indiana
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a small mission parish in Salem, Indiana, that has been paired with American Martyrs Parish in nearby Scottsburg since the founding of that parish in 1938. Located in Washington County about 25 miles from Scottsburg, St. Patrick serves about 102 families and shares its pastor, religious education program, and pastoral staff with American Martyrs under the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Worship is offered weekly on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, with the parish's bulletin, ministries, and pastoral council coordinated out of the American Martyrs office in Scottsburg.
- Established
- 1942
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Esarey
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis (Metropolitan Archdiocese)
Why belong here
St. Patrick is a small, tight-knit mission parish of about 102 families where everyone knows each other by name, and the parish shares a single pastor and staff with its sister community American Martyrs in Scottsburg. The parish offers a complete sacramental life — weekday and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation, Baptism preparation, Marriage preparation, Anointing of the Sick, and a K–12 religious education program — in a manageable setting. Members are directly involved: the St. Patrick Parish Council meets on the first Wednesday of the month, and parishioners serve on the Liturgical Committee, Finance Committee, Food Bank, Pro Life committee, and Building & Grounds, with Denise Sowder as the St. Patrick Parish Council contact. If you are a Catholic in Washington County, St. Patrick is the parish that can both know you personally and connect you to the broader life of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Mass times at St. Patrick Mission Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saint Patrick: Wednesdays 5:00 - 5:40 p.m. or by appointment
- Reconciliation also available at American Martyrs: Saturdays 4:00 - 4:40 p.m., Thursdays & Fridays 5:00 - 5:40 p.m.
Adoration times
- Sunday 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. (Adoration listed in combined parish bulletin)
About St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a mission parish of about 102 families located at 208 S. Shelby Street in Salem, Washington County, Indiana. Founded in 1942, the parish shares its pastor, staff, religious education program, and pastoral council with American Martyrs Parish in Scottsburg — a partnership formalized because both communities were originally established as mission churches and both honor missionaries as patrons. The combined parish office is at 262 W. Cherry Street, Scottsburg, IN 47170-2013, and the mailing address for St. Patrick is P.O. Box 273, Salem, IN 47167. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and is led by Rev. Brian Esarey.
- Founded 1942 in Washington County
- Approximately 102 registered families
- Church capacity: 250
- Sister parish: American Martyrs, Scottsburg
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
History
St. Patrick Catholic Church was established in 1942 to serve the Catholics of Washington County, Indiana, where until that point residents had limited local access to weekly Mass and the sacraments. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis and GCatholic both record 1942 as the founding year. The church was built to seat about 250 people. The parish was subsequently twinned with American Martyrs Parish in nearby Scottsburg, founded in 1938 and named for the eight Jesuit North American Martyrs. CauseIQ records that the St. Patrick Salem entity was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the USCCB group exemption in 1946 (EIN 35-2078032). The two parishes have shared pastors and other religious for decades, and today operate with a combined parish council, finance committee, and religious education program while retaining separate Mass schedules and church buildings.
- 1942 — Parish founded in Washington County
- 1946 — Incorporated under USCCB group exemption
- Twinned with American Martyrs Parish, Scottsburg
Worship and Liturgy
Mass is celebrated at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Salem twice a week: on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM and on Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM. Music is provided by Mary Cannello, Mark Olesh, and Sherry Morris, the same musicians who serve American Martyrs. The combined parish bulletin also lists Sunday Adoration from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. for those wanting time before the Blessed Sacrament. Mass times for the sister church at American Martyrs are Saturday 5:00 PM, Sunday 8:30 AM, Thursday 6:00 PM, and Friday 6:00 PM.
- Wednesday Mass — 6:00 PM
- Sunday Mass — 10:30 AM
- Music: Mary Cannello, Mark Olesh, Sherry Morris
- Sunday Adoration — 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parishes run a joint Religious Education program for grades Pre-K through 12, which meets at St. Patrick on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m., August through May. The American Martyrs office notes that the Director of Religious Education position is currently vacant (DRE 'VACENT'), with Cindy Light listed as Administrator of Religious Ed and RCIA coordinator (812-595-3673). The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is available for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church; interested individuals are asked to call the parish office for times.
- Religious Education: Pre-K – 12, Sundays 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. (Aug–May) at St. Patrick
- Administrator of Religious Ed: Cindy Light (812-595-3673)
- RCIA and Adult Education: Cindy Light (812-595-3673)
Sacraments
The parish offers the full range of Catholic sacraments. Infant Baptism preparation classes are offered and parents are asked to attend one before the child is born — contact the Parish Office at 812-752-3693. Marriages are arranged through the Parish Office, with preparation required. The Anointing of the Sick and ongoing visits to the sick and homebound are coordinated through Ramona Barger, Minister to the Sick. Reconciliation times are listed under the Reconciliation section above, and RCIA is offered for adults seeking initiation or full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Infant Baptism — preparation classes required before birth
- Marriage — contact Parish Office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / Visitation of the Sick — Ramona Barger
- RCIA — call the office for times
Parish Leadership and Staff
St. Patrick is led jointly with American Martyrs under Pastor Rev. Brian Esarey. The Archbishop of Indianapolis is The Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson, and the reigning pontiff listed in the bulletin is Pope Leo XIV. Tracy Winston serves as Office Manager (812-752-3693). The St. Patrick Parish Council contact is Denise Sowder, and the council meets the first Wednesday of the month at 5:00 p.m.
- Pastor: Rev. Brian Esarey
- Archbishop: Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson
- Office Manager: Tracy Winston — 812-752-3693
- St. Patrick Parish Council contact: Denise Sowder
Parish Pastoral Council
The combined Parish Pastoral Council is the consultative body that works with the pastor on the spiritual and temporal welfare of both St. Patrick and American Martyrs parishes. Its bylaws organize work into five ministry areas: Spiritual Life, Administration, Education, Family Life and Social Concerns, and Communications. The American Martyrs council meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m., while the St. Patrick council meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. Council leaders include Pastor and President Rev. Brian Esarey; Vice Chairperson Mark Olesh; Secretary Mark Olesh; Chairperson Judy Saunders; Finance contact Debbie Lecklitner; and Members-at-Large Willie Harlen, Ginny Hammond, and Darrell Lanham.
- Five ministry areas: Spiritual Life, Administration, Education, Family Life & Social Concerns, Communications
- American Martyrs council: 3rd Thursday, 6:00 p.m.
- St. Patrick council: 1st Wednesday, 5:00 p.m.
- Promotes collaboration with sister parish St. Patrick in Salem
Ministries and Outreach
Parishioners from both churches serve on a wide range of committees and ministries. Spiritual-life ministries include the Liturgical Committee (Mary Smith, Katie Rowe, Cindy Light), Evangelization (Mary Smith & Katie Rowe), and Minister to the Sick (Ramona Barger). Outreach ministries include the Food Bank led by Peggy Boulet, Pro Life led by Al Riggle and Terry Thixton, and the Welcoming Committee led by Jose Guevara and Hank Jentzen. Administration ministries include Finance (Brenda Moyna, Kathy Karmire, Mary Smith, Tracy Winston), Building & Grounds (Rich Smith, Ed Escobades, James & Steve Boswell), and the Parish Hall contact through the Parish Office. The parishes describe their mission as acknowledging 'their heritage, built as a mission church, with missionaries as patron saints,' and inviting parishioners to share their time, talents, and resources in service of the Catholic faith in Scott and Washington Counties.
- Food Bank — Peggy Boulet
- Pro Life — Al Riggle & Terry Thixton
- Welcoming Committee — Jose Guevara & Hank Jentzen
- Minister to the Sick — Ramona Barger
- Liturgical Committee — Mary Smith, Katie Rowe, Cindy Light
- Finance — Brenda Moyna, Kathy Karmire, Mary Smith, Tracy Winston
- Building & Grounds — Rich Smith, Ed Escobades, James & Steve Boswell
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
New parishioners and those whose contact information has changed are encouraged to call the parish office at 812-752-3693 or stop by 262 W. Cherry Street, Scottsburg. Membership and Discipleship forms are available at all the entrances of the church. Parish Office Hours are posted on the American Martyrs page. The parish email is [email protected], and the shared website is http://amartyrs.org/, where the combined weekly bulletin is posted.
- Phone: 812-752-3693
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://amartyrs.org/
- Office: 262 W. Cherry St., Scottsburg, IN 47170-2013
- Membership forms available at all church entrances
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Brian EsareyCurrent (as of parish bulletin, Pope Leo XIV listed as reigning pontiff)
Serves as Pastor of both American Martyrs (Scottsburg) and St. Patrick (Salem) parishes.