St. Mary Catholic Church - Anderson
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St. Mary - Anderson
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ADDRESS / DIRECCIÓN:
305 E. 11th Street
Anderson, IN 46016
ST. MARY PARISH OFFICE PHONE / TELÉFONO DE LA OFICINA DE SANTA MARIA:
765-644-8467
PASTORATE STAFF /
PERSONAL DEL PASTORADOParish Registration Form / Formulario de registro parroquial
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October 13Do you have an idea for a Pastorate logo? We need a pastorate logo encompassing the three parishes, two schools, and two towns unified in one image.Read More
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October 5
The Book of Remembrance has been placed near the baptismal font at each of our parishes and is now open for you to enter the names of friends and relatives who have gone before us. We will be praying for the people named in these books during our All Souls’ Day Mass and throughout November.Read More -
September 7
The St. Ambrose Funeral Committee is in need of new volunteers. To address this, the committee aims to form several teams to share the responsibilities of providing food and service to grieving families. If you are interested in helping by cooking, serving, or cleaning up, please consider volunteering.Read More
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Saturday, October 19, 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM
That Man Is You! is an interactive men's program combining the best research from science with the teachings of the Catholic faith and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of man fully alive. Click here for more details!Read More -
October 26 - October 27
The Care for Creation Team is hosting a recycling can drive on October 26th and 27th. Please bring rinsed and crushed aluminum and steel cans, separated into bags, to any of the parish Masses that weekend. The drive aims to promote recycling and raise funds for our schools.Read More -
Saturday, October 26, 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM
That Man Is You! is an interactive men's program combining the best research from science with the teachings of the Catholic faith and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of man fully alive. Click here for more details!Read More
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1) What is the Catholic Ministries Appeal?
The 2024 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) is not just a financial campaign—it's a call to action that empowers the Church and its ministries!This year's appeal has set goals aimed at bolstering vital diocesan programs that touch every aspect of our lives—education, evangelization, and outreach.
Your generosity will fuel an array of ministries, from engaging youth and young adults to enriching Catholic education and providing essential support to those in need. Every dollar helps to cultivate faith within our diocese and strengthens the Church.
All are invited to embrace this opportunity to contribute. Your generosity isn’t just a donation; it’s a powerful act that collectively drives the Church’s mission forward. Join us in making a lasting impact!2) How long do I have until it's too late to contribute?
Don’t miss your chance to make a difference! The Catholic Ministry Appeal runs until the end of this year. The Diocese will accept any payment postmarked on or before December 31, 2024.
3) What happens if we do not meet our goal?
We’re excited to reach our goal together but we have not met our goal yet. If the parish is unable to meet the goal set, we will have to make up the difference by using money that was budgeted to go towards paying operational expenses.
Therefore, we ask that you prayerfully consider and listen for that gentle nudge of inspiration to contribute. Even the smallest donation can create a ripple effect that will be felt throughout the diocese as your selfless generosity goes towards our Catholic Ministry Appeal!4) How can I donate?Great question! You can either click on the thermometer image or click on this link https://storybook.link/2024AnnualAppeal/
Thank you for your generosity!
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How do I get my special prayer intention mentioned at Mass?
The most direct way of having your intention mentioned at Mass is to contact the parish office to
schedule a Mass said for that purpose. Call or stop by the office at the church where you’d like the
Mass to be celebrated (the addresses and phone numbers of our three parishes are always printed on
the front of this bulletin) and talk with the secretary, who will let you know what dates and times are
available. It is customary to leave a $10 donation for each Mass requested.
Once it is on the calendar, your Mass intention will be printed in the bulletin—usually on page 3—the
weekend before. Regardless of whether or not the intention is specifically mentioned out loud during or
right before the Mass, be assured that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered for that person.
Since each Mass can have only one formal intention attached to it, you’ll need to choose an alternate
Mass for your intention if the particular date and time you were hoping for has already been claimed by
another parishioner. Keep in mind that Masses are celebrated not only on the weekends, but on certain
days during the week, as well. It is often easier to find a weekday Mass available than it is to schedule a
Saturday or Sunday Mass. Some parishioners schedule Masses months in advance if they have a one-
time or recurring intention that they’d like a specific date for, such as a birthday, a wedding anniversary,
or the anniversary of a loved one’s passing.
Regardless of whether or not you formally schedule a Mass for your intention, remember that you’re
always welcome to make an entry into our Parish Book of Prayer, located in the narthex of each of our
pastorate’s churches. There you can write down what or whom you are praying for—with as little or as
much detail as you feel comfortable sharing. These intentions are included collectively at the weekend
Masses in the Prayers of the Faithful (after the homily and creed), when the lector reads, “For the
intentions entered in our parish Book of Prayer… we pray to the Lord,” and we all respond, “Lord, hear
our prayer.”
Most importantly, keep in mind that God is attentive to all of our prayers, big and small, whether
offered up by through a Mass celebrated by the Pope in Rome or in the silence of our hearts. He is
aware of all our needs and desires and wants to be as near to us as we will allow! As St. Paul assures us
in the fourth chapter of his letter to the Philippians: “ 6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
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¿Cómo puedo lograr que mi intención especial de oración sea mencionada en la Misa?
La forma más directa de hacer que se mencione su intención en la misa es comunicarse con la oficina
parroquial para programar una misa con ese propósito. Llame o pase por la oficina de la iglesia donde
desea que se celebre la misa (las direcciones y números de teléfono de nuestras tres parroquias siempre
están impresos en la carátula de este boletín) y hable con la secretaria, quien le informará sobre las fechas y horarios disponibles. Se acostumbra hacer una donación de $10 por cada misa solicitada. [Nota:
la secretaria de St. Mary en Anderson, de nombre Robin, habla español.]
Una vez que esté programado, su intención de Misa se imprimirá en el boletín—generalmente en la
página 3—el fin de semana anterior. Sin importar si la intención se menciona en voz alta o no antes o
durante la misa, tenga la seguridad de que el Santo Sacrificio de la Misa se está ofreciendo por esa
persona.
Dado que a cada misa solo se le puede asignar una sola intención formal, en caso de la fecha que
usted deseaba ya la haya tomado otro fiel, usted deberá elegir una misa diferente para su intención.
Tenga en cuenta que las misas se celebran no sólo los fines de semana, sino también ciertos días entre
semana. A menudo es más fácil encontrar una misa disponible entre semana que programar una de
sábado o domingo. Algunos feligreses piden misas con meses de anticipación si tienen una intención
única o recurrente para la cual desean una fecha específica, como podría ser un cumpleaños, un
aniversario de bodas o el aniversario del fallecimiento de un ser querido.
Independientemente de si programa formalmente o no una misa por su intención, recuerde que usted
siempre puede hacer una anotación en nuestro Libro de Oración Parroquial, ubicado en la entrada de
cada una de nuestras iglesias. Allí puede escribir por qué o por quién está orando, con tantos o tan
pocos detalles como lo desee. Estas intenciones se incluyen colectivamente en las misas de fin de
semana en las Oraciones de los fieles (después de la homilía y el Credo), cuando el lector pronuncia: “Por
las intenciones apuntadas en nuestro Libro de Oraciones parroquial… roguemos al Señor”, y todos
respondemos: “Señor, escucha nuestra oración”.
Lo más importante es tener en cuenta que Dios está atento a todas nuestras oraciones, grandes y
pequeñas, ya sea que las ofrezcamos a través de una misa celebrada por el Papa en Roma o en el
silencio de nuestros corazones. ¡Él conoce todas nuestras necesidades y deseos y quiere estar tan cerca
de nosotros como le permitamos! Como nos asegura san Pablo en el capítulo cuarto de su carta a los
filipenses: “ 6 Nada debe angustiarlos; al contrario, en cualquier situación, presenten a Dios su deseos,
acompañando sus oraciones y súplicas con un corazón agradecido. 7 Y la paz de Dios, que desborda toda inteligencia, guardará sus corazones y sus pensamientos por medio de Cristo Jesús.”
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St. Mary Anderson - Church History
St. Mary’s Parish was originally established in 1850 to serve the growing pastoral needs in Anderson. A proposed canal, natural gas pipeline, and railroad boom brought great numbers of Irish, German and Polish immigrants to the area between the mid and the late 1800s. Many of them were Roman Catholics.
Masses for the growing Catholic population were initially celebrated in a log tavern located near the corner of what is now 9th Street and Central Avenue, but were eventually moved a couple of blocks to the southeast to the city burying ground at Fletcher Street and 10th Street. The congregation also celebrated open air Masses in an undeveloped prairie southeast of town beyond 16th Street between about between circa 1840 and 1858. Although the cornerstone and foundation of the first St. Mary’s church was laid in 1858, construction was delayed by the Civil War and the church was not completed until 1864. The first small brick church was located on the site of the current church.
In 1870, due to growth of the congregation, the lot on the southeast corner of 11th Street and Fletcher Street was purchased for $1,000 with plans of erecting a new and larger church building. Building designs were developed and about $12,000 was raised for the construction of the church over the next five years.
On Sunday, July 4, 1875, the congregation gathered at the site of the planned church to lay the cornerstone. The event drew delegations of Catholics from throughout Indiana, including Indianapolis, Union City, Logansport, Kokomo, Vincennes and Fort Wayne, nearly doubling the population of Anderson during the event.
Construction was completed and the new church was dedicated on May 29, 1877. The building faced Fletcher Street and measured approximately 100 ft by 40 ft, with a 160 ft tall steeple tower which was taller than the current church’s steeple. Father Weichman was the first resident priest. During the week, the interior of the church was divided into a three-room schoolhouse by hanging curtains. Lay teachers taught St. Mary’s parochial school from 1860 until five sisters from the Holy Cross Order arrived in 1875/1879 and took over teaching responsibilities.
The congregation quickly outgrew the church and another building was needed. The cornerstone of the current church was laid on July 9, 1893. Following construction, at a cost of approximately $41,000, it was dedicated by Bishop Joseph Rademacher on October 6, 1895. Father D.J. Mulcahy served as pastor and Father Moran as the first assistant. The former Fletcher Street church was then renovated for primary use as a school.
Between 1879 and the early 1900s the school expanded to serve grades one through twelve and gradually outgrew the old church building. St. Mary’s school building was constructed circa 1923. Following the opening of the new school the old church was eventually razed. The current school annex is located roughly where the old church stood.
In 1911, Father Mulcahy died, and Father Mongoven served as pastor until his death in 1917. Father Travers, later Monsignor Travers, then became pastor and stayed until his retirement in 1955. During his tenure he was responsible for the development of the convent on Pearl Street. Father Francis Kienly followed Msgr. Travers as pastor.
In the 1950s, Bishop Emeritus William Higi left St. Mary’s High School (currently Holy Cross School’s North Campus) in his junior year to become a priest.
In 1966 the Holy Cross Sisters left Anderson and the shortage of nuns to assist with teaching and financial difficulties forced the closing of the High School portion of St. Mary School.
Father Joseph Ruffing came to St. Mary’s as co-pastor in 1971 and remained pastor when Father Kienly retired in 1976. The original convent on Pearl St. was remodeled to serve as the rectory and the old rectory was torn down. Additional land was acquired to the north and south of the school to be used as parking lots and playgrounds for students.
Father Robert Williams came to St. Mary’s as pastor July 3, 1984, and redecoration project was completed in 1985. Father Williams assumed the pastoral responsibilities for both St. Mary’s and St. Ambrose in Anderson in 2008. In 2013 Monsignor Robert Sell became the senior pastor for both St. Mary’s and St. Ambrose.
In 2017 St. Mary School and St. Ambrose School were rededicated as Holy Cross school, honoring the legacy of the nuns who had dedicated themselves to parochial education in Anderson and to unify the education program between the two parishes.
Between 2017 and 2019, significant maintenance was performed on the exterior of the church to in part rectify some water intrusion and normal wear of the building’s masonry, roofing and storm water guttering.
The current pastoral staff came to St. Mary’s in August 2020 as part of the Lafayette Diocese Uniting in Heart initiative, joining St. Mary’s, St. Ambrose and St. Mary’s Alexandria into a combined pastorate.
Sources:
Fredericks, Wanda, 1966, The growth of the Catholic Church in Anderson, Indiana, in Relation to National, State, and Local History.
Jackson, Stephen T., July 5, 2015, Laying of St. Mary’s Cornerstone Brought Thousands to Anderson, Herald Bulletin.
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