History

St. John's Church and School are located in the Archdoiocese of Indianapolis in Wood Township, Clark County, Indiana.

In the middle of the Nineteenth Century this area attracted many French and German settlers. Most of these people were Catholic; mass and the Sacraments meant much to them and thier main concern was a church and possibly a school.

The first church on the Knobs was near the present St. Mary of the Knobs; a marker stands on the St. Mary's Road indicating the location where it stood in 1823.

In 1855, a Jesuit missionary, Father F.K. Wnninger, told the German people that it would be good for them to build a church nearby where they could use the German language. The French-speaking group would be at St. Mary's. One of the German men, Mr. Herman Peoplllemann, consulted the pastor, Father Rincas, and selected the name of St. John that Baptist for the new parish. Mr. Henry Goedecker donated the five acres of land, and a log church was built just a few feet southwest of our present church. This was in 1861 with the dedication on Sunday, November 3, 1861. this first Mass was celebrated by Father Louis Gueguen, pastor of St. Mary's of the Knobs on November 4, 1861. Father Gueguen cared for the forty-nine families until August 20, 1862 when Father Gabriel became St. John's first pastor. The parish was anxious for a school. Mrs. Agnes Hollrah gave the parish five acres of land that is still being used for our school. A log building was erected; school opened with Father Gabriel teaching from 1862 to 1867. Two Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana came to teach the seventy-five pupils in 1868. A sanctuary and sacristy was added to the church, then came the two story brick rectory in 1868.

Father Gabriel was moved in 1872,a nd St. John's was a gain a mission of St. Mary's, cared for by Father George Ginnsz.

In June 1872, Father Anton Lechner was made pastor. During his stay, Father William Book, the first son of the parish to be ordained, offered his First Mass on November 15, 1873. Father Lechner left in July 1874, succeeded by Father Bernard Brueggemann. In 1877, Father John Gillig came and during his time here he started a mission at St. Mary's, Navilleton. In 1892, he was succeeded by Father Celestine Schwarz. By this time the community was eligible for a post office. Until now mail was picked up at Scottsville, and certainly not everyday. The Post Office was located and operated in a small store owned by Mr. and Mrs. George Koerber Sr. near school - now the present home of John and Bert Craig. Mrs. George Koerber Sr. was made Postmaster of the new Post Office named and registered with the US Postal System as "Starlight" by Father Schwarz, so now we are on the map as Starlight. People worked very hard and were happy. With church, school and daily mail, successful farming and berry growing, the community grew. Now came the time for a new school and convent. Both were framed and finished in 1893. The Franciscan Sisters discontinued teaching and the school was closed a short time until Mrs. Littell from Borden came. Then in the fall of 1900, the Sisters of St. Benedict from Ferdinand, Indiana taught the classes.

In 1904, Father Charles Waggner succeeded Father Schwarz. All was going well for Starlight.

In 1906, another son of the parish, Father Henry Verst, was ordained at the St. Meinrad and celebrated his First Solemn Mass at St. John's on June 17. He died on July 15, 1953 and is buried in our cemetery. Father William Jochum followed Father Waggner in July 1907 and stayed only until September 1907. Then came Father John Loibel, who immediately picked up the work that Father Waggner had started for building a new church.

It was 1911, the Golden Anniversary of the parish, when plans were drawn for the church, and the cornerstone was laid in 1913. In 1914, the present church in all its splendor was dedicated by Most Reverend Joseph Chartrand. In 1916, Father Loibel was followed by Father Richard Hoenig with a stay of about one year.

In 1917 came Father Bernard Reidford, who in 1921 built a new rectory. During the years of the 1920's the annual picnics were our source of income. Debts were kept small.

In 1924, another son of the parish, Monsignor Henry Gessenhues, was ordained and celebrated his First Solemn Mass in Walker, Kansas. Monsignor was a nephew of Father Henry Verst. Father Bernard Reidford was transferred in February 1925. Father Charles Kabey was here until August 1926, when Father George Moss became pastor. Disaster struck the parish on December 8, 1928, when the two room frame school, built in 1893, was destroyed by fire. Then followed the effort to rebuild the school. In September 1929, Father Adam Ebnet came to assume the job; it was done with great success. During the building time classes were held in the convent. The Sisters lived in the home of a neighbor. With the completion of the school, classes were moved in and the convent was remodeled. In July 1937 came father Edward Bauer, who remained with us until 1949. Father Carl Kunkler came in 1950, and he was succeeded by Father Marcellus Fisher, O.S.B. At that time the parish was growing rapidly and the school was becoming too small. A building committee was selected, and a fund was started for a larger building. Father Marcellus was called back to St. Meinrad and Father Charles Noll became Pastor in May 1959. The Building Fund was doing well and permission was granted by most Reverend Archbishop Paul L. Schulte to build. The cornerstone was laid in 1962.

In 1961, our Centennial Year, another priest from our parish, Father Bernard Koopman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koopman, was ordained at St. Meinrad and celebrated his First Solemn Mass on May 14, 1961. Also at the present time we have seven nuns from the parish. They are Benedictine Sisters Josepha Book, Mary Ann Kruer, Geneva Stumler, Sharon Bierman, Anita Eberle, Kathy Huber, Marynoll Sister Rosemary Huber, and Dominican Sister M. Joseph Fosskuhl and Lavona Bierman.

Father Noll was succeeded in 1964 by Father Bernard Vogas, who was our pastor until 1970.

Father Wilfred Day was made Administrator in the fall of 1970. He also taught at Our Lady of Providence High School. Funds were started for a gymnasium during his time here. Father Melvin Bertrand came from July 1974 until May 1976. The gym was dedicated on February 22, 1975.

In 1976, we were honored with the fifth priest from the parish. Father Conrad Cambron, son of Mrs. Mary Cambron, was ordained at St. Meinrad. His First Solemn Mass was celebrated on May 25, 1976.

In July 1976, Father Richard Smith was assigned to St. John's. In 1979, St. John's held their first Strawberry Festival, which has since grown into a two-day affair and also has become a great source of income for the parish. These festivals have grown each year and are still our main source of income for upkeep of the property.

In the fall of 1984, we saw the need of more classrooms following the adopted Prime Time for schools. Pledges were made, and in the spring of 1985, four classrooms were added to the school. One was made ready for the 1985-86 school year. Father Smith was very proud of the new addition. In Kindergarten through Grade Six there were ninety four students and one hundred and fifty-eight families in the parish.

A very, very sad blow came to St. John’s on August 31, 1985. At 4:30 a.m. our rectory caught fire and our pastor lost his life. Two other priests, Father William Fisher and Father Kenneth Smith, also were killed. Our parish was devastated. Losing three priests was a hard blow to the archdiocese. On November 2, 1986 we celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the founding of our parish with hope and confidence in the future.

After the fire our good Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara sent Father John Meyer to us as our Administrator. We moved along slowly but with his guidance and a good building committee, we rebuilt a residence for the priests. The new building included a Parish Center. The Center has offices for the pastor, D.R.E., and secretary. The large meeting room was dedicated to Father Richard Smith. The Center’s full basement provides meeting space for larger group activities such as the Senior Citizens’ functions, Men’s and Lassies’ Club meeting, etc.

In July 1989 Father John Meyer was sent to St. Catherine’s in Indianapolis, and Father John Beitans, came to us from St. Ann’s in Indianapolis.

With the leadership of Father Beitans, St. John’s continues to grow. With move-ins and young people building and staying here in the area, we have continued to make this a very inviting community.

Our parish grew to 198 families. We are still operating a public school with Sister Mary Carol Messmer, O.S.B., as principal. We had grades 1 through 6 with approximately 70 pupils. St. John’s elementary school was closed in 1991.

The large area farms provided employment for migrant workers. Father worked hard helping them with their religion. In July 1990, our parish was given a grant from the Eli Lilly Foundation to help the Spanish-speaking people to live their Faith and thrive here. Sister Alice Marie, a Benedictine Nun, was available to live here at St. John’s. Sister spent 15 years in Cali, Columbia and spoke fluent Spanish. Father and Sister helped the Spanish speaking workers attend mass and receive sacraments.

We have about 40 men, women, and children who are beginning to become a part of the community as well.

After a rest from building during the years following the fire, we began to do repair work on the church. Under the guidance of Father Beitans a new ramp to the church was built to make the building accessible to the handicapped. Renovating the inside of the church included a new paint job, refinished pews and kneelers, bathroom facilities, new altar and new carpet throughout.

August 2001 – Six fruitful years have blessed us in many ways for which we are thankful, changes must be expected, our Pastor, Father John Beitans, was moved to St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis and Father Michael Kelley was sent to St. John’s and we are doing well here at Starlight. The community is growing very fast with building and move-ins we have grown here at the Parish also. We are now operating a Day Care Program in the School Program for about 80 children. An extra source of income is Strawberry Festival in May. Everyone pitches in and makes it successful.