History of our Parish

HISTORIC TIME-LINE OF THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
IN SOUTHERN HARRISON COUNTY, INDIANA

Our Tri-Parish of St. Joseph, Most Precious Blood, and St. Peter, was once the "Indiana Territory" of a New Nation. There were few overland routes through the wilderness of the "Great West", and travel was mostly by water. For this reason, the early Catholic Churches in this portion of the "Indiana Territory" were built close to the major navigable streams, such as the Ohio River, Mosquito Creek, Big and Little Indian Creeks and Buck Creek.

In 1789, John Carroll was made Bishop of the "Whole United States". The "Whole" consisted of the thirteen States of the Eastern Seaboard and all the territory west to the Mississippi. To aid in ministering to Catholics who were settling in this vast midland wilderness, Bishop Carroll accepted the services of many Missionary priests and assigned them to work in the Territory that was to become the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky and the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana.

This portion of Indiana (Harrison County), because of its proximity to Bardstown, and because it was on the route to Vincennes, became the '"unofficial" responsibility of the Bardstown priests. It was not until 1834, when Vincennes became a Diocese that the Tri-Parish area came under the administration of what was to become the Indianapolis Archdiocese of today.

Writings and verbal communications show that Mass was being offered in the homes of Catholics within the bounds of our present parishes, as early as the mid 1700's.

In 1820 St. Michael's was begun by the John Jacob Miller family two miles southeast of Dogwood, Indiana.

St. Michael
Dogwood, Webster Township, Harrison County

Two miles southeast of Dogwood, Indiana, the first church of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis was built. Named St. Michael it had its beginning as a parish in the family of John Jacob Miller, a Pennsylvania Catholic, who staked a government grant on the banks of Buck Creek· in 1814.

Indiana was not yet a State, but the news Mr. Miller received from friends traveling the Vincennes Trace (now Highway US 150) told him he had made a wise choice for land and that it would soon be a part of the Union.

Among the friends he had met on the flatboats of the Ohio, were priests fleeing Europe and seeking out the Catholics of the "wilderness". It is assumed that since Mr. Miller's vocation was that of a "Dyer" those of the Clergy, who wore black by custom, were among his customers. For these reasons, Mr. Miller knew that his friends traveling westward, would seek him out, so when he built his cabin on the new land grant he set aside one room as a chapel. He and his guests could stay and Mass could be offered. Mr. Miller's Chapel became a regular stop on the "Western Mission Trail", and in 1820, permission was granted by the Diocese at Bardstown to establish a Mission at Dogwood. The name selected was that of St. Michael the Archangel, for Mr. Miller was determined that this Parish would announce the establishment of the Catholic Faith in Indiana.
In 1833 the first Mass was offered at Buena Vista in the home of Mr. Stoeth, between the years 1833 to 1838. In 1849 a log church was built near this spot by Father J.P. Dion, then pastor at St. Mary's, Lanesville. With no resident pastor, the zeal of the parish sometimes lagged, but in 1857, Father Alphonse Munschina, who had become pastor at Lanesville, rekindled the first of faith and with the cooperation of the parishioners built a frame church to replace the log one. Perhaps the stirring event of a meteorite falling here on the afternoon of March 28, 1859, helped the rekindling for newspaper accounts of Father Munschina's pastorate.  It was noted that, "He directed the spiritual life of St. Peter's for 20 years and the parish grew. The log church was retained until the middle of 1899, when a frame church was built by Father Joseph Gerdon, then pastor at New Middletown.

In 1848 the first Mass was offered at Corydon at the home of George Wahl.

In 1849 the log cabin church was built at Buena Vista and named St. Peter.

In 1859 a meteorite fell in the proximity of St. Peter's church.

In 1872 the Sacred Heart of Mary was built at Laconia, Indiana.

In 1884 Father Peckskamp recognized a need for a more modem church located on a more accessible road and St. Peter's was rebuilt at the present site.

Sacred Heart of Mary Laconia, Boone Township 1872 - 1922

The Mission was founded by Rev. Alphonse Munschina while he was pastor at Lanesville. When Father Munschina took charge of Lanesville in 1854, he had two Missions: St. Michael's Dogwood and St. Peter's Buena Vista. In 1872, he established the third, Sacred Heart of Mary at Laconia. It became known simply as "St. Mary". He retained charge of this Mission only a year or two, when Father Francis Xavier deLangie gave up his pastorate at Frenchtown, Indiana, to become the pastor at Laconia. He built a Sacristy at S1. Mary's and resided at the church for three years. In 1880 he moved to New Middletown and served the church from there until 1882. When he left the Indiana diocese the responsibility of St. Mary's then reverted to Frenchtown. By 1884 New Middletown again assumed charge of S1. Mary's and it remained a Mission of Most Precious Blood and then St. Peter's until 1922, when it was closed and the congregation joined St. Michael at Dogwood.

In 1873 the first Mass was offered at the home of Anthony Kannapel in New Middletown.

In 1880 the first church dedicated at New Middletown to The Most Precious Blood of Jesus.

Most Precious Blood
New Middletown, Webster Township

The parish of Most Precious Blood had its beginnings in the home of Anthony Kannapel, where Father Francis Xavier deLangie offered Mass during the years 1873 to 1880. Father deLange was pastor at Frenchtown until 1877, when he relinquished that charge to become the first resident pastor at Laconia, and then in 1880 built the first church at New Middletown dedicating it to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Father deLangie's "new" church was fifty feet long and twenty-six feet wide and faced south toward the town. Father thought that a bell was important, and in 1882 he installed a 440 pound bell, which still hangs in the belfry of the present church used today. This pioneer priest also built a rectory on the west side of the church, near where the present church stands. He relinquished Laconia and moved to New Middletown. On November 1, 1982, Bishop Francis S. Chatard came from Indianapolis to bless the church and new bell. At the same time he placed Laconia, Buena Vista and Dogwood under deLangie's jurisdiction.

In 1893 St. Joachim was built at Locust Point and was a Mission of Most Precious Blood.

St. Joachim
Locust Point (Bridgeport) Posey Township

George and Catherine Bower (Bauer) of Locust Point deeded eight acres of land in 1870 to be used for a Catholic Church and cemetery. Records show that Mr. Bower also left fifty dollars in the bank (no name given) at six percent interest, to be used for the upkeep of the Bowers' gravesites.
It is believed that Father J.P. Dion built the church at Locust Point in 1870 but the Archives of the Indianapolis Diocese credit Father August Perkskamp, then pastor of New Middletown, with building St. Joachim's Church in 1893 and marks this as the beginning of it as a Mission. If Father Dion built a church here, then it was during or prior to the time that he was a pastor at St. Croix.
It can be assumed that due to the proximity of Locust Point to the Ohio River, and the fact that it was a favorite flatboat stop and fueling spot for river packets, that priests traveling this MidAmerica Highway did indeed say Mass and administer the Sacraments to Catholics here long before 1870.
Church records show that St. Joachim was still a Mission of Most Precious Blood in 1903 when Father Will Gerdon listed a parish here of approximately 46 souls.
In 1896 construction was begun on St. Joseph at Corydon on the corner of Mulberry and High streets. That structure was used for many years. St. Joseph was listed as a Mission of Most Precious Blood.

St. Joseph Corydon,
Harrison Township

The history of Catholicism in Corydon begins in uncertainty, according to Father James Holland who composed a history in 1923. It is known that Father "Horseback" Neyron of St. Mary's in New Albany visited Catholics in the Corydon area about twice a year as early as 1843. No records remain as to who these Catholic families were. From 1843 to 1895 Corydon was considered a Mission Station of St. Croix, Lanesville, Frenchtown, New Albany and finally New Middletown. In 1893 Father Joseph Gerdon, pastor at New Middletown, with the help of several Corydon businessmen, J. J. Bulleit, L. Gerhring, E. Jaegers, and J. Rucker, secured a lot and funds to build a church. Construction began at the northeast comer of High and Mulberry Streets in October 1896. That original structure was used as a church, then as a cafeteria and church hall by the school and congregation until February of 2009 when the present parish hall and school addition were completed. In April of 2009 the old church was razed.

In 1905 St. Peter's priests were responsible for the Mission at Laconia, Dogwood and Point.

In 1915 St. Peter becomes a Mission of Most Precious Blood. Father James Manning received permission to move pastorate to Corydon when ground for a rectory was donated.

In 1916 St. Joseph was named pastorate with missions of Most Precious Blood, St. Peter, St. Michael and Sacred Heart of Mary.

In 1917 World War I began and St. Joseph was left without a priest. St. Joseph was taken care of by a priest of New Albany and Jeffersonville and Most Precious Blood was cared for by a priest of St. Peter.

St. Joseph Church Corydon, Indiana

The first Catholic Church in Corydon was dedicated in 1896. It was built by Father Joseph Gerdon then pastor of New Middletown. Until 1916 it remained a mission and was cared for at times by the pastors of Most Precious Blood, St. Peter, St. Mary of New Albany, St. Augustine of Jeffersonville, St. Mary of Lanesville, St. Bernard of Frenchtown and Holy Cross of St. Croix. In 1916 Father James Manning was appointed pastor of Most Precious Blood. Soon after coming to the parish and after being urged on by the businessmen of Corydon, Father moved the residence to Corydon. At that time Most Precious Blood and St. Peter were assigned to St. Joseph as missions, a relationship that exists to this day. The Missions of St. Joachim and St. Michael were not being used any more on a regular basis, so they were closed. Both buildings have since been taken down.

In 1922 Sacred Heart of Mary closed.

In 1923 Most Precious Blood was threatened by fire, but saved by parishioners and town people. The last Mass was offered at St. Joachim.

In 1926 Father Joseph Trible began annual church picnics held in the spring and fall to raise funds to offset the loss of fire with no insurance available to churches. The picnic was held at Most Precious Blood.

In 1927 Most Precious Blood was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt by the summer of 1929 with the building as it appears today.

In 1928 St. Michael was officially closed, however, as late as 1949 Rome was still counting Dogwood as a Mission of Frenchown.

In 1930 Assistant Pastors resided at St. Peter or at Most Precious Blood with pastorate at St.
Joseph, Corydon.

In 1947 Father Richard Hillman, who had been the administrator for a number of years, was appointed pastor. Father George Todd came the following year. Together the two worked for the establishment of a school to serve the three parishes.

In 1938 The Sisters of Providence from Holy Trinity in New Albany came each Sunday to St. Joseph for religious study and First Communion preparation.

In 1941 St. Joseph was struck by fire, destroying the Sacristy, vestments and other church valuables, plus inflicting heavy smoke damage to the whole interior. Mass was held in the Corydon Grade School Auditorium.

In 1952 construction was begun on the two story building that would house a school on the second floor and a church and hall on the first.

In 1953 St. Joseph School opened with three Sisters from the Order of St. Benedict at Ferdinand, Indiana and one lay teacher.

In 1961 Father Ernest Strahl was appointed pastor of the Tri-Parish, with Father Thomas Williams as assistant pastor. Father Stahl remained as the Tri-Parish pastor until 1989 when he retired.

In 1986 construction of the new St. Joseph Church was completed. The new church was dedicated on August 24, 1986 by Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara.

In 2008, St. Joseph opened a parish hall for the tri-parish.  It has since been the host of many church and school events, besides being used by the Harrison County community at large.

Since 1970 the pastor of St. Joseph has administered to the Tri-Parish alone, assisted on weekends and special occasions by the priests of St. Meinrad Archabbey.

Since 1989, our Catholic community has been ministered to by:

1989 - 1993 Father Harry Tully

1993 - 1994 Father Pius Pfeiffer

1994 - 1998 Father Ernie Waechter

1998 - 2000 Father Mauro Rodas

2000 - 2005 Father Louis Manna

2005 - 2010 Father Dan Atkins

2010 - 2019 Father Rob Hankee

2019 - Present Father Kyle Rodden