St. Francis Xavier (continued)
The Diocese of Vincennes was established in 1834, with Bishop Simon Brute as the first bishop. His body, and the bodies of three other early bishops, are
in the crypt at the Old Cathedral.
Father Robert Bultman is the current pastor. Under his supervision, a new parish center was recently completed.
Many parishioners are elderly and many are on fixed incomes, according to the parish profile. It is a tight-knit community.
Areas that need development include services to the elderly, better health care, and more industrial employment.
Parish organizations include Women's Club, Pro-Life Group, School Parents' Association, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus and Alcoholics Anony-
mous St. Joan of Arc
A "temporary" church, built in 1908, serves St. Joan of Arc parish
today. Father Adam Baron served Catholics in the area at Linton and
Jasonville during the early years of the century.
A parish center, built in 1985, provided the parish with a large gath-
ering room, a small kitchen, restroons and a utility room.
Father Kenneth Graehler is the current pastor for St. Mary Church in
Sullivan and St. Joan of Arc in Jasonville.
Jasonville was once a prosperous area when coal mines were active
St. Joan of Arc
327 West McKinley Street
Jasonville, Indiana 47438
(812) 268.4089
Attended by: Rev. Kenneth Graehler, St. Mary
Church, Sullivan.
Pastor, DRE: Rev. Kenneth Graehler
St. Mary St. Peter St. Philip Neri St. Thomas
Sullivan Linton Bicknell Knox Count
(Census (Census
data data
unavailable una vailable
at time of at time of
publica tion) publica tion)
2,039 698
35 28
58.6 24.6
964 47% 356 51%
1,075 53% 342 49%
138 7% 36 5% i
372 18% 108 15%
145 7% 75 11%
280 14% 112 16%
269 13% 54 8%
185 9% 88 13%
203 10% 87 12%
136 7% 33 5%
95 5% 54 8%
216 11% 51 7%
20
3
O
2
15
14
0
19
O
. 4
5
16
12
56
6
2,025 99% 698 100%
0 0% 0 0%
14 .69% 0 0%
0 o% 0 0%
0 0% 0 0%
8 .39% 8 1%
1,985 97% 698 100%
1,772 87% 624 89%
213 10% 74 11%
54 3% 0 0%
54 3% 0 0%
o 0% o 0%
593 217
i,,
224 243 91
230 141
558 378 163
6 5 4
7 1 1
7- 12 I
7 6 6
14 12
12 9 0
1 o o
21 25 --
10 8 0
2 7 4
6 7 0
14 17 S
,,, , , , ,
29 6 22
64 56 34
19 13 7
40 40.3 39.1
St. Mary
105 East Jackson
Sullivan, Indiana 47882
(812) 268-4088
St. John the Baptist
Father Charles Schneiderjans was the first pastor of the parish with a remarkable history
of parish pastor stability: only 12 priests -- six of them German-born and one a Swiss
have served as pastor in more than 145 years.
Father Aegidius Merz, pastor from 1863 to 1897, enlarged the church building and
started the first parish school. The first school was replaced in 1872, and it in turn was re-
placed in 1953 by the building which now serves the larger community as Flaget Elemen-
tary School.
According to the parish profile, the parish community currently includes Vincennes
University staff, farm families and hospital workers. It retains a strong German flavor.
Areas needing development include migrant worker ministry and adult education.
Parish organizations include Senior Citizens, Youth, Scouts, St. Vincent de Paul, Altar
and Rosary Society, Bereavement Group, Widow and Widowers Group, and Alcoholics
Anonymous.
St. Mary
The first church in Sullivan County was built in 1868, and named in
honor of St. Joachim. The area was served by priests from the Terre
Haute area.
St. Mary Church -- now the only Catholic church in the county, -- was
built in 1898, under the supervision of Father Denis O'Donovan. He had
been appointed to the parish in Linton, but chose to live in Sullivan. The
next pastor, Father Adam Baron, moved to Linton, and St. Mary Church
St. Vincent de
Paul
Vincennes
936
19
49.8
456 49%
480 51%
45 5%
172 18%
62 7%
148 16%
13t 14%
94 10%
167 18%
31 3%
30 3%
56 6%
936 100%
o o%
o 0%
o o%
o 0%
7 .75%
936 100%
876 9496
60 6%
o o%
o 0%
o 0%
309
188
IO0
370
10
2
10
4
J
4
8
10
tO
65
0
was once again a mission parish,
Father William V. Botand came o Sullivan as
resident pastor in 1904.
St. John the Baptist
803 Main Street
Vincennes, Indiana 47591
(812) 882-1762
Pastor:. Rev. Donald K. Ackerman
I
DRE, Youth Minister: Lynn Carie I
Music Ministers: Gloria Kiefner ]
Parish Secretary: Dottle Lane ij
Many parishioners remember Father Henry J.
Bilz. a long-time pastor who drove 450 to 600 miles a week to visit
the families.
A new church, oifice and m,,lti-purpose building was completed
under the supervision of Father Raymond Brenner in 1980. A new
bell tower is the most recent addition to the church facility'.
The parish is spread out. according to the profile. Cultures and
backgrounds are varied -- including suburban and rural.
Areas that need development include socialization, youth, and
education.
Parish organizations include Knights of Columbus and Christian
Mothers.
St. Peter
The first church in the parish was declared un-
safe in 1963, and the present day church was built
"in the middle of Vatican II," according to Fa-
ther Ron Zgunda, a former pastor. Original plans
called for a "high altar against the wall, but plans
were changed during construction to follow new
liturgical directions.
A new parish center was also built at that same
time, under the supervision of Father loseph Steck-
ler.
The parish was estahlished in 1901. Father
Adam Baron was the first resident pastor.
A school opened in 1909. In 1956, the parishpurchased an un:
used public school -- which has since been soldand is now a pri-
vate residence.
The church was refurbished in 1988, during the pastorate of Fa-
ther Zgunda. He and Benedictine Sister Terence ICnapp from nearby
St. Joan of Arc Church frequently worked as a team on join proie, :j
for the two churches.
Father Hilary Vieck is the current pastor.
The parish currently serves the residents of four towns, according
to the parish profile. Many people in the parish are retired.
Areas that need development are youth activities, services to the
elderly, and more ...........
"community close- St. Peter
ness." 489 E. Street N.E.
Parish organiza- Linton, lndiima 47441
tions include (812) 947-78-1
Youth, Pro-Life
Group, Knights of Pastor:. Rev. Hilary F. Vieck
Columbus, Altar Parish ,galary, DII Deborah Wright
and Rosary Society. Youth Mlnlstm':. Kathleeu O'Haver ,
and Alcoholics Music Mlnistf: Donna Lannan
Anonymous. , ................
/
and a clothing factory provided hundreds of jobs. Today, many young
people leave the area, as community residents in general grow older.
Among areas needing development, as described in the parish profile, is a continuing Lenten program.
During the 1840s, German Catholic families in the French community of Vincennes attended Mass at the Old Cathedral or at the old St. Rose Chapel. In
1847 they won the bishop's approval for a church of their own.
