(Dearborn County, IN) – 2024 marks an important milestone in Dearborn County when St. John the Baptist Church, one of the four campuses of All Saints Parish, celebrates its bicentennial.
This anniversary commemorates the birth of Catholicism in Dearborn County, when Masses and sacraments were celebrated in Dover.
Catholic residents of Dearborn County had to go on pilgrimage to St. John’s for the sacraments.
In the last 200 years, there has been growth and expansion, so much so that there are now seven active church buildings in Dearborn County and thousands of lives that have been touched throughout the years.
Fr. John Hollowell and Fr. Jonathan Meyer are priests in solidum over all seven churches and four total parishes in Dearborn County.
These include the four campuses of All Saints Parish: St. John in Dover; St. Joseph in St. Leon; St. Martin in Yorkville, and St. Paul in New Alsace.
There are three other separates parishes in Dearborn County: St. Lawrence in Lawrenceburg; St. Mary in Aurora, and St. Teresa Benedicta in Bright.
Combined, there are eight weekend Masses, and nine weekday Masses offered to around 2,200 families and countless ministries and events.
These include E6 Catholic Men’s Conference, four summer festivals, Bright Lights Drive Through Christmas Exhibit, St. Lawrence School, ARS Cafe and Meetinghouse, religious education classes, and preschools, just to name a few.
The accomplishments of ancestors and current parishioners of all seven churches will be celebrated in 2024.
A number of events will take place this year, including an inaugural Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles Thompson at the Lawrenceburg Event Center on Sunday, January 21 at 10 am.
Plans are also being made for a special event at each of the seven churches throughout the year.
For more information, please visit dccatholics.com.
