About St. Thomas the Apostle · Fortville, Indiana
St. Thomas the Apostle is a small Roman Catholic parish in Fortville, Indiana, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Founded in 1869 by Irish Catholic railroad workers and their families, the parish serves roughly 120 families in Hancock County from its historic 1916 brick church on South Merrill Street. Today the parish is led by Fr. Aaron Jenkins (since July 2022), who also serves nearby St. Michael Parish in Greenfield, with a small staff and dedicated lay ministries including the Women's Club, Knights of Columbus, and a Youth Ministry.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Aaron Jenkins
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle offers an intimate, family-sized Catholic community of roughly 120 to 225 families in the Fortville area of Hancock County, where the same families worship together generationally and members know one another by name. The parish provides the full sacramental life of the Church — daily and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation on Thursdays and Saturdays, monthly Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, and a full sacramental preparation program — together with a strong youth ministry for grades 6–12, family formation, the parish Women's Club, and Council of the Knights of Columbus. Its 1916 brick church has been lovingly maintained and beautified by parishioners for more than a century, including recent tuckpointing, stained-glass protection, interior painting, and a refurbished altar — a place that feels rooted, hospitable, and alive.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 11:30-11:50 AM
- Saturday 5:25-5:50 PM (also reported as 5:30-5:50 PM)
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the Month, 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Parish History
Founded in 1869 by Irish Catholic families tied to the Big Four 'Bee Line' Railroad, St. Thomas the Apostle has served Fortville continuously through three buildings and several pastoral eras. Initially a mission visited from Indianapolis and Anderson, the parish came under the care of the Franciscan friars in 1877 and returned to diocesan care in 1934. The 1916 brick church and the 1952 parish hall (rebuilt from a former Presbyterian church) are both standing treasures kept up by generations of parishioners.
- 1869: Frame church built on ground donated by James E. Merrill; dedicated by Father Crowley of St. Mary's, Anderson.
- 1877: Franciscan monastery in Indianapolis assumes charge; Fr. Arsenius Fahle first Franciscan pastor.
- 1916: Current brick church built for $7,113.67 under builder Frank Crouch and Brother Christopher.
- 1934: St. Thomas returns to diocesan care under Bishop (later Cardinal) Joseph Ritter.
- 1951: Becomes a mission of St. Lawrence, Indianapolis.
- 1952: Parish hall dedicated June by Archbishop Paul Schulte.
- 1961: Designated an independent parish; Fr. Joseph Koster first resident pastor.
- 1967: New front altar dedicated (donated by the Women's Club).
- 1984: Parish hall addition dedicated by Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara on November 18.
- 2016: 100th anniversary of the 1916 church celebrated with then-Archbishop Joseph Tobin.
- 2017: Interior painted, new carpet installed, statues refurbished; Deacon Tony Lewis ordained.
- 2022: Fr. Aaron Jenkins named pastor of both St. Thomas and St. Michael, Greenfield.
Clergy & Staff
St. Thomas is a small parish served by a lean pastoral team. Fr. Aaron Jenkins has served as pastor since July 2022 and also pastors nearby St. Michael Parish in Greenfield. A parish deacon, a secretary/bookkeeper, a director of liturgy and choir, and youth ministers round out the staff listed on the parish website.
- Rev. Aaron Jenkins — Pastor (since July 2022)
- Deacon Tony Lewis (ordained 2017)
- Diane Brady — Secretary & Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Stephanie Garst — Director of Liturgy & Choir ([email protected])
- Steven & Ruth Moll — Youth Ministers ([email protected])
Sacraments
Mass is celebrated on Saturday evenings and on Thursdays at noon, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation offered a half hour before each Mass and by appointment. Eucharistic Adoration is held on First Fridays of the month from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
- Weekend Mass: Saturday 6:00 PM
- Daily Mass: Thursday 12:00 PM
- Confession: Thursday 11:30-11:50 AM; Saturday 5:25-5:50 PM (some listings say 5:30-5:50 PM); or by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday of the Month, 12:30-4:30 PM
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith formation at St. Thomas the Apostle traces back to February 1953, when the first lay catechists began teaching preschool and elementary classes. Today the parish supports a Family Formation program for families and a Youth Ministry that welcomes students in grades 6 through 12 under the leadership of Steven and Ruth Moll.
- Family Formation — religious formation for parish families
- Youth Ministry — grades 6-12, led by Steven & Ruth Moll
- Youth Ministry email: [email protected]
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Lay organizations have been central to St. Thomas since its earliest decades — the Ladies' Altar Society for altar needs, the League of the Sacred Heart (organized 1913), and the St. Ann's Club (organized 1920) all raised funds for vestments, Stations of the Cross, the church, even a car for the priest in 1928. Their modern descendants — the Women's Club, the Knights of Columbus, and a busy Youth Ministry — keep that tradition of hands-on parish life alive.
- Women's Club
- Knights of Columbus (parish council)
- Nursing Home Ministry (begun 1991)
- Choir / Liturgy Ministry under Director of Liturgy & Choir Stephanie Garst
- Annual Parish Festival — a major parish fundraiser and community gathering
The Church Building
St. Thomas worships in its 1916 brick church, modestly built for $7,113.67 and furnished over the decades with carved statuary, handcrafted stained glass, and beautiful altars. Recent renovations have included tuckpointing, new gutters and downspouts, refurbished stained-glass protection, new interior paint and carpet, and a steam-cleaning of the statues — most of the work done by parishioners and the Knights of Columbus.
- Cherry wood altar carved by Franciscan monks in Germany; shipped in two pieces.
- Stained glass by Emil Frie Glass Works of St. Louis (all windows reportedly bought for $500).
- Sacred Heart and Blessed Virgin statues by Daprato Statuary Company, Italy.
- Original communion rail converted (1991) by Weberding's Carving Shop into the current front altar, lectern, and Reconciliation Room screen.
- 2017 interior repaint, new carpet, statue refurbishment.
- Handicap ramp and rebuilt front steps/landing added 1992 ($10,000).
- Cry room built 1995 by enclosing the back-left corner.
Parish Buildings & Property
The parish grounds include the 1916 church, the parish hall (originally built in 1952 from a dismantled Indianapolis Presbyterian church and expanded in 1984), a rectory purchased in 1960, a garage built in 1999, and overflow parking acquired across Garden Street in 1996 and 2000.
- Parish hall — dedicated June 1952 by Archbishop Paul Schulte; expanded and dedicated Nov. 18, 1984 by Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara.
- Rectory — purchased 1960 for about $6,200.
- Garage — new construction completed 1999 under leadership of Paul Nobbe.
- Overflow parking — property purchased across Garden Street in 1996 and again in 2000.
- St. Thomas Annual Festival — major parish fundraiser hosted on the grounds.
Contact & Visit
St. Thomas the Apostle is located on South Merrill Street in Fortville, in the fast-growing northern corridor of Hancock County. Visitors can reach the parish by phone or email; the parish secretary is the main office contact.
- Address: 523 S. Merrill St., Fortville, IN 46040-1428
- Phone: (317) 485-5102
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stthomasfortville.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stthomasfortville/
- Handicap-accessible entrance via ramp; overflow parking on Garden Street.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Father Denis McMullen1869 (founding pastor, supervision)
Pastor of St. John's, Indianapolis; supervised the 1869 frame church construction.
- Father Crowley1869
Pastor of St. Mary's, Anderson; completed dedication of the original frame church.
- Fr. Arsenius Fahle, OFM1877
First Franciscan pastor after the order took charge in 1877.
- Fr. John Reidenger1934-1938
First pastor assigned by Bishop (later Cardinal) Joseph Ritter after St. Thomas returned to diocesan care.
- Fr. Thomas Kilfoilafter 1938
Served St. Thomas as a Franciscan-era successor.
- Fr. Dennis Spalding1938-1947
- Fr. Dennis Nolan1947-1951
- Fr. Robert Minton1951 (mission status under St. Lawrence, Indianapolis)
Shepherded the building of the parish hall dedicated by Archbishop Paul Schulte in June 1952.
- Fr. John Stahl and Fr. Ralph Stasshelm1953-1961
Served St. Thomas while it remained a mission of St. Lawrence.
- Fr. Joseph Koster1961
First resident pastor after St. Thomas was designated an independent parish in 1961; first year of two Sunday Masses and weekday Masses.
- Fr. Matthew Herold1966
In March 1967 the new front altar (donated by the Women's Club) was dedicated during his tenure.
- Fr. Francis Touhy1971
- Fr. Paul Utz1974
- Fr. Albert AjamieJuly 1989
Commissioned Weberding's Carving Shop to make the current altar, lectern and Reconciliation Room screen from the original communion rail (1991); oversaw the 1984 hall dedication and the start of Nursing Home Ministry and Parents Day Out.
- Fr. Roger Gaudet1994
Saw construction of the cry room in 1995 and reorganization of the CYO into Youth Ministry in 1996.
- Fr. Rob HankeeJuly 2019
- Fr. Aaron JenkinsJuly 2022-present
Also serves as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Greenfield.