About St. Vincent de Paul · Shelbyville, Indiana
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a historic parish in Shelbyville, Indiana, founded in 1837 as the very first Catholic congregation of Shelby County. Today it shares pastoral leadership, a website, and many ministries with neighboring St. Joseph Parish in downtown Shelbyville under the banner of the Shelby Catholic community. The parish is served by Very Rev. Michael Keucher, VF (a Vicar Forane of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis), Deacon Charles Giesting, and a lay staff, and it worships in English and Spanish, runs an active St. Vincent de Paul Society outreach, and partners with St. Joseph School for faith formation of children.
- Established
- 1837
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Very Rev. Michael Keucher, VF
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is the oldest Catholic parish in Shelby County with nearly two centuries of continuous worship, and today it shares a single Catholic family with neighboring St. Joseph under Pastor Fr. Mike Keucher. Parishioners can worship in both English and Spanish (with a 12:15pm Spanish Mass each Sunday), gather for Eucharistic Adoration, walk the journey of RCIA, support the local St. Vincent de Paul Society's food pantry and thrift warehouse on Hodell Street, and serve through the parish's Knights of Columbus Council — all in a small, family-sized community of around 220 families.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday – 8:00am (SV), 11:45am (SJ)
- Saturday – 4:00pm (SJ)
- Monday – 5:30pm (SV)
- Tuesday – 7:45am (SJ)
- Wednesday – 7:45am (SV)
- Friday – 7:45am (SJ)
- 3rd Friday – 9:00am–9:00pm (SJ)
- No confessions before daily Masses when a substitute priest is presiding
Adoration times
- Monday – 5:30pm–6:00pm (SV)
- Friday – 6:00pm–8:00pm (SJ)
- 24/7 Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Joseph (all hours currently covered; additional adorers always welcome)
Parish History & Founding
St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1837 as the first Catholic parish in Shelby County, after Bishop Simon Brute of Vincennes determined the local Catholic community had grown large enough for a resident priest. The Worland family — Kentucky transplants who arrived in 1826 — donated two acres of land, and Father Vincent Bacquelin arrived on horseback to build the church, which was dedicated in October 1839. The parish went on to establish a school staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg for 110 years, and to spin off what would become St. Joseph Parish in downtown Shelbyville in 1886.
- Founded 1837
- First Mass in county: fall 1828
- Church dedicated October 1839
- Parish school opened 1861
- Mother parish of St. Joseph (1886)
Rosary & Other Devotions
The rosary is prayed 30 minutes before every weekend Mass and on Wednesdays at 5:30pm at St. Vincent. A nightly 'call-in rosary' runs Monday through Thursday at 8:00pm (call 516-597-9420). During Lent the parishes host the Living Stations of the Cross, and a Spanish Charismatic Prayer Group with Eucharistic Exposition meets Fridays 6:00pm–8:00pm.
- Rosary 30 min before weekend Masses
- Wednesday rosary 5:30pm (SV)
- Call-in rosary Mon–Thu 8pm
- Living Stations of the Cross in Lent
Sacraments
Both parishes collaborate on sacramental preparation. Baptism preparation is offered in English on the last Monday of each month at 6:15pm at the SV schoolhouse (RSVP required) and in Spanish on the second Sunday of January, March, May, July, September, and November after the Spanish Mass. First Communion requires at least one year of catechesis. Confirmation is prepared in the 9th grade. Couples must contact Fr. Mike at least six months before a desired wedding date. The Anointing of the Sick is available by calling Fr. Mike anytime.
- Baptism (English & Spanish prep)
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation (9th grade)
- Marriage (6 months notice)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Quinceañera
Faith Formation & RCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is offered jointly by St. Joseph and St. Vincent de Paul parishes, meeting weekly from September until the Easter Vigil, when catechumens and candidates enter the Church fully. The team includes Fr. Mike, Sr. Joan Miller, Dcn. Charlie Giesting, and several other presenters. Children's faith formation (Preschool–5th grade) takes place at St. Joseph School, while the Sunday Night Youth Group (high school) brings the two parishes' teens together Sundays 6:00pm–7:30pm.
- RCIA (Sept–Easter Vigil)
- Preschool–5 faith formation at SJS
- Sunday Night Youth Group (HS)
- Confirmation Prep (9th grade)
- Adult Bible Study
St. Vincent de Paul Society (Outreach)
The parish hosts a thriving St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter serving Shelby County. Its mission is to grow spiritually through person-to-person service to neighbors in need — providing home care packages, financial assistance, and household items. The Society runs a thrift store at 424 E. Jackson Street (open Saturdays 10am–2pm) and a donation warehouse at 628 Hodell Street (open the first Saturday of the month 9–11am). The SVDP Helpline is 317-395-7027.
- SVDP Helpline: 317-395-7027
- Thrift Store: 424 E. Jackson St.
- Warehouse: 628 Hodell St.
- [email protected]
- Volunteer opportunities
Knights of Columbus
The St. Vincent de Paul Knights of Columbus Council is a major charitable and fundraising arm of the parish, supporting ministries inside the parish as well as county and statewide charities. Many Knights are also active in the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society. The Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:00pm and operates a lunch service open Monday–Saturday 11:00am–1:00pm, plus public Wings Night Wednesdays 6:00–8:00pm and Friday Dinner 6:00–8:00pm.
- Meetings: 1st & 3rd Tuesday 7pm
- Open lunch Mon–Sat 11am–1pm
- Wings Wednesday 6–8pm
- Friday Dinner 6–8pm
- Monthly Chicken Dinner (2nd Sunday)
- Grand Knight: Dan Weaver
St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery
St. Vincent de Paul maintains its own cemetery, primarily for parishioners of St. Vincent and (by welcome) St. Joseph parishioners. A single plot is $600 for contributing members of either parish and $2,000 for non-members; inquiries are handled by J.J. Jones at 317-364-2827. Donations to the St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery Endowment Fund may be mailed directly to the parish or placed in the Sunday collection.
- Plot cost: $600 (parishioners) / $2,000 (non-members)
- Contact: J.J. Jones 317-364-2827
- Cemetery Endowment Fund accepted
Parish Staff
The Shelby Catholic community is staffed jointly with St. Joseph. Pastor Fr. Michael Keucher, VF is supported by Deacon Charlie Giesting, Pastoral Associate Shona Duerstock, Administrative Assistants Kellie Goebel and Paula Perry, Administration Margaret Haehl, Music Director (parish listing) Linda Wisker / (bulletin) Matt Nelson, and Catechetical Leader Cathy Lampton. SV-specific contacts include JJ Jones (cemetery) and Karen Kuhn (hall reservations).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Michael Keucher, VF
- Deacon: Charles Giesting
- Pastoral Associate: Shona Duerstock
- Admin Assistants: Kellie Goebel, Paula Perry
- Parish Council Chair: Gregory Esslinger
- Music Director: Matt Nelson
- Catechetical Leader: Cathy Lampton
Getting Involved
New parishioners can register through shelbycatholic.org, at the Joint Parish Office, or by scanning the QR code in the bulletin. The parish bulletin is the central communication hub, and announcements at the end of Mass may be emailed to [email protected]. Active groups welcome new members across worship, faith formation, outreach, and operations ministries.
- Register online or at the parish office
- Email bulletin items to [email protected]
- Volunteer with SVdP Society
- Join a ministry (Worship, Faith Formation, Charity, Operations, Community)
Contact & Locations
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is located at 4218 E. Michigan Road, Shelbyville, IN 46176. The Joint Parish Office (with St. Joseph) is at 228 E. Hendricks Street, open Monday–Friday 8:00am–4:00pm (Spanish-language assistance Thursday and Friday). Parish phone: 317-398-8227. St. Joseph School (PreK–5) is at 127 E. Broadway Street.
- St. Vincent Church: 4218 E. Michigan Rd
- Joint Parish Office: 228 E. Hendricks St
- Phone: 317-398-8227
- Email: [email protected]
- Spanish assistance Thu–Fri 8am–4pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Vincent Bacquelin1837–1846
First resident priest of Shelby County; arrived on horseback, offered Mass in a Worland log cabin until the new church was dedicated in 1839.
- Father John F. Ryan1846
- Father John McDermott1847
- Father Patrick Murphy1847–1848
- Father John Guegen1848–1853
- Father Daniel Molony1853–1855
- Father Edward Martinovic1855–1863
Established the parish school with the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg in 1861 and built an eight-room brick convent.
- Father John Paul Gillig1863–1867
Purchased land in Shelbyville for what would become St. Joseph Parish.
- Father William Doyle1867–1868
- Father Francis Joseph Rudolph1868–1881
Expanded the parish house in 1870; built and dedicated the current church in 1880 at a cost of $9,000.
- Father Francis Torbeck1881–1886
- Father Michael Guthneck1886–1890
- Father Joseph HeggerJanuary 1891
- Father Ferdinand Hundt1891–1892
- Father Gustave Ginnsz1892–1896
- Father Aloysius Danehoeffer1896–1898
- Father Charles Stricker1898
- Father Joseph Hass1898–1899
- Father Joseph T. Bauer1899–1906
- Father Frederic Ketter1906–1918
- Father Cornelius Bosler1918–1923
- Father Francis Wolf1923–1926
- Father Joseph F. Duffey1926–1928
- Father Thomas Hoffman1928
- Father Pierce Dixon1928–1932
- Father Andrew Bastnagel1932–1934
- Father Bernard Riedford1934–1938
- Father Henry Trapp1938–1941
- Father John Bankowski1941–1949
- Father Anthony Seger1949–1973
- Father Joseph Laugel1973–1979
- Father James R. Dede1979–1996
- Father Paul Landwerlen1996–2013
Retired at the end of June 2013.
- Father Aaron Pfaff2013–2016
Sacramental Minister from St. Joseph Parish after St. Vincent became a mission.
- Father Martin Rodriguez2016–2017
Sacramental Minister (July 2016 – March 26, 2017).
- Father Joseph Newton2017
Sacramental Minister (March 29 – July 5, 2017).
- Father Michael Keucher2017–present
Became Sacramental Minister in July 2017; currently Pastor of the joint St. Joseph & St. Vincent de Paul parishes, with the title Vicar Forane (VF).