es of the churches in the Newburgh Deanery
St. Bernard Church, Rockport
St. Bernard Church was
founded by the legendary Father ::
Joseph Kundek, and named for the
patron saint of Bernard Herman
Waiters, who contributed $687 to
build a church in 1850. Benedic-
tine Sisters from Ferdinand estab-
lished the parish school.
Construction of a larger church
began in 1875. Fire destroyed the
interior in 1917. A Gothic interior
replaced the original Roman architecture. Recent work has restored its original beauty.
The parish serves Rockport and several towns. Challenges include economic development, reduction of unemployment,
and a greater emphasis on education. Parish organizations and community services include: 4-H Club, CYO, School Parents' Association, Altar Soci-
ety, Cursillo, Booster Club, Re-Cycle Center, Day Care, Health care Referral, General Welfare Assistance, and Day Camps.
St. Clement Church, Boonville
' The first Mass in Boonville was
in 1858 at the home of Benedict
Gast, a non-Catholic. Bene-
dictines, Father Chrysostom Foffa
and others, were the first priests.
Church construction began in
[". 1880. Evansville philanthropist
John Joseph Reitz added a rectory
[i" in the 1920s. Benedictine Sisters
from Ferdinand opened a school
in 1951; it was closed in 1971.
The parish boundaries encompass several communities. An estimated 60 to 75 percent of marriages are interfaith mar-
riages. Challenges include reaching out to the alienated, ecumenical programs, emergency shelter for the homeless and a
.alger worship snace Parish organizations and services incude Youth, Women's and Men's Club, St Vincent de Paul, Kni hts of Columbus,
. l- " t:J • g
Wzdow/Widowers Group, Food Pantry, Drug Referral and Adult Education.
St. John Church, Newburgh
Newburgh Catholics first
met for Mass in 1862, at the
home of Henry Weiss. Bene-
dictines guided church con-
struction in 1866.
Sisters of Providence estab-
lished the parish school. A
convent, school and church
were built in the 1950s, a
: : : : 6Z.5 Frame Road
: Newburgh, lndmna 47630 • (812} 853o6181
Pastor: Rev.' h Ziliak DRE: Connie Schn f
a-- multi-purpose center in 1979,
al a new priests' house and a new church in 1993. : . . , , ,
i,..,, he parish, is in one of the fastest growing counties in
:'mana. It includes a core roun of oriuinal Newburgh families and many new families who are without local relatives. Challenges to the area include
Mme--eting the needs of y outhand " young adults and operating a regional school. Among parish, organizations and services area Senior Citizens, Young
uthers y t Vincent de Paul Bereavement Grou Cursfllo Scouts After School Pro ram and Pro ram for Elderl
, outh, School Parents Association, S. ' , p, , , g , g y.
St. Martin Church, Chrisney
Benedictine priests from St. Meinrad were the first to serve area :SLI
Catholic families. A church was built at Centerville in 1866. In the
1890s, a new church was built in Chrisney.
Father F. W. Wolf was the first resident pastor, from 1905-1910,
At times, the parish was a mission of churches in Rockport and
Boonville. Pastors included Benedictine and diocesan priests.
With Father Paul Roos as pastor, the parish has recently com-
pleted extensive renovation of the church. An open house and re-
ception were held in March 1993.
The area served by the parish is generally rural. People typically work away from the area. Few new houses are built.
Many young people leave the area for school and work, a situation also found in much of the deanery.
Challenges to the area include having support groups and study groups, ministry to the sick and grieving, family life and
spiritual life, music ministry and youth ministrT.
h°ng parish organizations and community services are Youth, Housing Maintenance, and General Welfare Assistance. .........
St. Rupert Church, Red Brush
Many Red Brush Catholic families trace their ancestry to a small
area of Germany -- and new connections have been re-established.
Catholic families began settling in the area in the 1830s and 1840s.
The first church was built in 1865 and dedicated in 1866. Benedic-
tine priests were the first to serve area Catimlics.
The parish built a new church and a rectory at the turn of the ceu- :: ........
tury. Membership grew until some families sold their farm land for
strip mining and moved away.
The parish be(:ame a mission in 1940, but in recent years, the area
has been getting renewed attention as a site for new home develop-
ment on reclaimed strip mine areas. Ah:oa and I & M attract techni-
calllv skilh;d workers.
:\\;rc, a roads are (:onsiderc.d t()t)e in poor condition and nmch of the parish is in a flood plain, 1 t)ro,ing the roads is one of
enges tf th, area. l)arishioners include residents of two counties and three school systems. Among organizatior (Jctivt, in the parisli im
ub, a Sodality aml (:ursillo.
