A Log Chapel on West Franklin Road
St. Philip Catholic Church traces its beginnings to 1847, when a small log chapel was raised on West Franklin Road in what is now Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Father Roman Weinzapfel guided the construction, and the small congregation of Catholic settlers chose St. Philip the Apostle as their patron. The chapel was dedicated on September 12 of that year.
By 1857 the parish numbered about seventy families. In 1860, using bricks fired on site and lumber cut from timber in the immediate area, a larger brick church was completed to replace the original log chapel. The parish continued to grow, and by the late twentieth century the worship space needed to expand once more. The present-day church was completed in 2000, with contemporary furnishings accented by timber cut and milled from the surrounding countryside - a deliberate echo of the builders who shaped the first two churches on the same hill. Today the parish serves more than seven hundred households along St. Philip Road South, on the south side of Mt. Vernon.
The Weekly Mass and Confession Rhythm
Weekend Masses are celebrated on Saturday at 4:00 pm, and on Sunday at 7:30 am and 9:30 am. Weekday Masses follow a regular cadence: 7:45 am on Monday, 6:00 pm on Tuesday, 7:45 am on Wednesday, 6:00 pm on Thursday, and 7:45 am on Friday. The Friday Mass and the Tuesday morning Mass are school Masses, with St. Philip Catholic School in attendance. A Saturday morning Mass is offered at 7:45 am, and on First Saturdays this Mass is celebrated in Latin. Holy Day Masses are scheduled at 7:45 am and 6:00 pm, with any adjustments noted in the bulletin.
Confession is heard on Sunday from 8:30 to 9:15 am, on Wednesday from 8:15 to 9:00 am, and on Thursday from 5:00 to 5:45 pm, and by appointment through the parish office. As a working policy, the parish notes that weekday Masses and confessions are cancelled in the event of a funeral, severe weather, or a school closing; a two-hour weather delay at the school does not affect the Mass schedule.
Adoration Around the Clock and First Fridays
The parish chapel offers 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration. In the main church, additional adoration is offered on Sunday from 8:45 to 9:30 am, on Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, and on Saturday from 3:15 to 4:00 pm. The First Friday of each month is marked by an extended devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On the eve of First Friday, the parish keeps a Holy Hour from 11:00 pm to midnight with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, and Consecration prayers, in keeping with the practice of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.
Sacraments From Baptism to Anointing
Parents are asked to call the parish office to schedule a baptism. Godparents must be confirmed, practicing Catholics, and a first-time parent attends an instruction session before the child's baptism takes place. First Reconciliation for second graders is part of the parish's preparation program, and First Holy Communion classes are coordinated by Deacon Charlie Koressel. Confirmation is presented as one of the Sacraments of Initiation, together with Baptism and the Eucharist, completing the grace of Baptism through a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Couples preparing for marriage meet with Fr. Nick Biever, ideally at least six months before the desired wedding date. Anointing of the Sick is offered to those in need of healing or near the end of life, and the priests bring Communion and Anointing to the homebound and to those in local hospitals. Adults who wish to become Catholic enter the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, with classes on Sunday mornings from 10:30 am to noon.
CCD, Children's Liturgy, and Vacation Bible School
The parish religious education program, called CCD, meets on Sunday mornings at 8:15 am from October through April. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade use the Word of Life program from the Augustine Institute, while students in ninth through twelfth grade follow the Real + True program through FORMED, the parish's online Catholic study and media platform. Parents can enroll children through Deacon Charlie Koressel.
A separate Children's Liturgy of the Word gathers children ages three through first grade during Sunday Mass, so that they can hear the Mass readings at their own level. The program is coordinated by Missy Beach. Each summer the parish hosts Vacation Bible School for children entering kindergarten through fifth grade. The 2026 program runs the mornings of June 15 through 19. Older students and adults are needed as volunteers each year to make the week possible, and the program has been recognized by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in their Vocations Newsletter.
Unite High School, Zeal Middle School, and the Summer Mission Trip
Middle school students meet at Zeal on Sundays from 6:00 to 8:00 pm for games, witness talks, and small group time, while high schoolers come together at Unite on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm with additional Sunday gatherings. The Director of Youth Ministry, Mary Weger, coordinates both groups. Unite evenings often spill into the wider community: in summer the high schoolers have played kickball at the Creamery Road field, and they meet for occasional coffee hours at local shops.
Each summer Unite teens go on a High School Mission Trip; the 2026 trip is scheduled for June 21 through 26. The parish is also sending six young adults to World Youth Day in 2027, traveling with sixty other pilgrims from the Catholic Diocese of Evansville.
Men's and Women's Groups, and the Welcome Weekend
Men gather through several avenues. The Forge Men's Group meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month after the 6:00 pm Mass in the lower level of the church, led by Brian Thompson. A separate Men's Club meets on the fourth Monday evening of each month. Mornings with Mary, the parish women's group, gathers on the first Saturday of each month after the 7:45 am Mass for tea, coffee, a guest speaker, and fellowship. Other faith and fellowship options include Adult Bible Study, the Good Shepherd Prayer Apostolate, the Prayer Network, and Rosary Makers.
For those looking for a longer retreat, both men and women can take part in a Welcome Weekend - an overnight experience built around the question of what is missing in life and how to respond to it. The women's Welcome Weekend is held in the spring, and the men's is held in late January. The Marys Helpers assist with parish work in many quiet ways, while the Little Flowers Girls Club gathers girls of the parish, and the Quilters meet regularly to sew together for parish needs.
Funeral Dinners, St. Vincent de Paul, and Grief Support
Funeral Dinners is a longstanding parish ministry that coordinates the provision of a meal for bereaved families after a funeral liturgy, with parishioners providing food and labor. The St. Vincent de Paul conference serves neighbors in need with practical assistance. Seasons of Hope, the parish's grief support group, meets on Wednesday evenings for anyone walking through the loss of a loved one. The parish partners with the Diocese of Evansville on initiatives such as Hearts and Hands, and the Knights of Columbus council hosts regular parish bingo nights and supports many parish needs.
School, Cemetery, and the Land
St. Philip Catholic School shares the parish campus. The school is led by Principal Kellie Kelsey and governed by a School Board that advises the pastor and principal on the spiritual and academic program in line with diocesan policy. The school serves as a backbone for many parish activities: school Masses are a regular rhythm of the week, and school families make up much of the Vacation Bible School volunteer base. The Giving Tree endowment program supports the school's long-term growth through online and direct giving.
A Cemetery Board oversees the parish cemetery. The Building and Grounds committee, along with a Lawn Crew, Church Cleaners, and Snow Removal volunteers, cares for the campus through the seasons.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Ryan Hilderbrand and Parochial Vicar Fr. Nick Biever. Four deacons assist with the work of the parish: Deacon Matt Bohleber, who also serves as Director of Parish Operations; Deacon Charlie Koressel, Director of Parish Ministries; Deacon Bob Martin O.P.; and Deacon Josh Reising. The parish staff includes Mary Weger, Director of Youth Ministry, and Tim Fox, Director of Sacred Music. Kellie Kelsey serves as the school principal. Parish office hours run Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, and online giving is available through PayPal or by direct deposit.