About St. Roch · Indianapolis, Indiana
St. Roch Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis located at 3600 S. Pennsylvania Street on the south side of Indianapolis, in the Marion County neighborhood south of the older Sacred Heart Parish. Founded on February 26, 1922, it grew out of Bishop Joseph Chartrand's 1918 vow to name the diocese's next parish after St. Roch, patron saint against contagious diseases, if the Spanish flu epidemic subsided — which it did almost immediately. The parish serves about 910 families, runs St. Roch Catholic School (PK-8) at 3603 S. Meridian Street, and since 1997 has been staffed by archdiocesan clergy after 75 years of Franciscan pastoral care. Its current pastor, Father Douglas Hunter, leads a community that has consistently been described in archdiocesan coverage as 'a very active, ministry-oriented parish.'
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- St. Roch (patron saint invoked against contagious diseases)
- Rector
- Rev. Douglas Hunter
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Roch is a long-established south-side Indianapolis parish that combines a 100-year Catholic tradition with an active, contemporary ministry life: a daily-Mass and Eucharistic Adoration schedule, a PK-8 parish school serving 277 students, Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs, and a Music Ministry led by a full-time director. The parish explicitly welcomes all to an 'open and safe environment' and calls its members to be 'generous Christian stewards and servants' through diverse education, evangelization, and service programs for all ages. Former pastor Father James Wilmoth and current pastor Father Douglas Hunter alike have described it as a 'very active, ministry-oriented parish,' with longtime parishioners emphasizing its warmth, hospitality, and strong school community.
Mass times at St. Roch
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00-4:30 pm
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 4:00-9:00 pm (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
St. Roch Parish was established on February 26, 1922, by Bishop Joseph Chartrand of the then-Diocese of Indianapolis in fulfillment of a vow he had made during the 1918-1920 influenza epidemic that the next new parish in the diocese would bear the name of St. Roch, patron saint against contagious diseases. The parish's first basement church was blessed on the Fourth Sunday of Advent 1922, and its first Midnight Mass on Christmas Day 1922 drew almost 400 people. The Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart Friars staffed the parish continuously for 75 years before handing it back to the Archdiocese in 1997.
- 1918-1920: Influenza epidemic; Bishop Chartrand's vow to name the next parish after St. Roch
- 1921: Sacred Heart purchases 2 acres at the 3600 block of S. Meridian St. for $2,300
- 1922, Feb 26: Official founding of St. Roch Parish
- 1922, Dec 25: First Midnight Mass (about 400 in attendance)
- 1924, Sep 8: St. Roch School opens with 46 students
- 1951-1952: Construction and dedication of the current St. Meinrad stone church
- 1959: Current school building completed
- 1997: Franciscan friars relinquish the parish; Father James Wilmoth becomes first archdiocesan pastor
- 2018: Father Wilmoth retires; Father Douglas Hunter becomes pastor
- 2022: 100th anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by pastor Rev. Douglas Hunter and is supported by deacon, lay staff, and the Parish Council. It is a smaller-staffed parish with a Parish Coordinator handling operations alongside ministry directors for faith formation, youth, and music. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis parish listing (#040) lists the full staff roster.
- Pastor: Rev. Douglas Hunter
- Deacon: Jerome Bessler
- Parish Coordinator: Julie Garcia
- Parish Council Chair: Paul Schmoll
- Music Director: Meredith Elam
- Director of Religious Education: Jenni Spitznagel
- Youth Ministry Coordinator: Jason Adams
- Business Manager: John Schneider
- Parish Communications Coordinator: Amanda Fisher
St. Roch Catholic School
St. Roch Catholic School is the parish's 'biggest ministry' in the words of pastor Father Hunter. It is a PK-8 Catholic school housed at 3603 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46227, with 277 total students under principal Amy Wilson. The school opened September 8, 1924, with 46 students, and the current school building was completed in 1959; the parish notes that St. Roch became the first all-lay staffed school in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. School office: 317-784-9144, fax 317-784-7051.
- Grades: PreK-8
- Address: 3603 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46227
- Phone: 317-784-9144
- Principal: Amy Wilson ([email protected])
- Total students: 277
- Founded with parish in 1924; current building completed 1959
- First all-lay staffed school in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Faith formation at St. Roch is led by Director of Religious Education Jenni Spitznagel, while Jason Adams coordinates Youth Ministry. Programs cover parish-school-age religious education as well as separate youth ministry offerings for older teens.
- Director of Religious Education: Jenni Spitznagel
- Youth Ministry Coordinator: Jason Adams
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music is coordinated by Music Director Meredith Elam. The parish offers three weekend Masses (Saturday 5:00 pm; Sunday 11:00 am and 5:30 pm) and four weekday Masses (Wed-Fri 8:15 am), supported by a Parish Life Center constructed during Father Wilmoth's pastorate.
- Music Director: Meredith Elam
Parish Mission and Stewardship
St. Roch's published mission statement reads: 'We, the parish of St. Roch Church, building upon our Catholic faith tradition, are called to be generous Christian stewards and servants for our parish. We welcome all to an open and safe environment. We actively share responsibility for diverse and inclusive education, evangelization, and service programs for all ages.' The parish has consistently been described in archdiocesan reporting as a 'very active, ministry-oriented parish' anchored by the dedication of its people.
- Welcome to 'an open and safe environment'
- Call to be 'generous Christian stewards and servants'
- Education, evangelization, and service programs for all ages
Visit, Contact, and Directions
St. Roch Catholic Church is located at 3600 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46227. The parish office is open 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00-4:00 pm Monday through Friday, and Saturdays by appointment. Office phone: 317-784-1763. Email: [email protected]. The parish website at strochindy.org publishes a contact-us and directions page with maps and visitor information.
- Address: 3600 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46227
- Phone: 317-784-1763
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: strochindy.org
- Office hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00-4:00 pm; Saturdays by appointment
Archdiocese of Indianapolis (Parish #040)
St. Roch is listed as Parish #040 of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Marion County, with 910 registered families and a church capacity of 644. The parish's sacramental schedule is also referenced in the Archdiocese's online parish directory.
- Parish #040, Archdiocese of Indianapolis
- 910 registered families
- Church seating capacity: 644
- Archdiocesan parish directory: archindy.org/parishes/listings/040.html
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Matthew Schmitz, OFM1922
First priest in residence; blessed the basement church on the Fourth Sunday of Advent 1922 and celebrated the first Midnight Mass on Christmas Day 1922.
- Peter Pfeifer, OFM1923-1933
Pastored the opening of St. Roch School on September 8, 1924, with 46 students under Sister Donatus.
- Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart Friars1922-1997
The parish was staffed continuously by Franciscan priests for 75 years before the order handed the parish back to the Archdiocese in June 1997.
- Rev. James Wilmoth1997-2018
First archdiocesan (non-Franciscan) pastor in parish history, appointed by Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein. Retired in 2018 after growing the parish from about 400 to more than 1,000 households; oversaw construction of the Parish Life Center and renovation of the church.
- Rev. Douglas Hunter2018-present
Former Southport police officer who entered seminary in 2009; also serves as Catholic chaplain of the Indianapolis Colts and chaplain of the Southport Police Department, and as an adjunct theology professor at Marian University.