St. Benedict Cathedral Centennial Mass
Jim and Theresa Phipps wouldn’t have missed the Centennial Mass celebration for their parish, St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, for anything in the world - not when so much of their life together revolves around what they call their St. Ben’s parish family.
And so, the Phipps family not only attended the Mass, whose principal celebrant was Bishop Charles C. Thompson, they got involved as well. Jim and Theresa brought up the gifts along with their daughter Olivia, an 8th grader at St. Benedict Cathedral School, while their son Noah, a sophomore at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, was an altar server, and their adult daughter Lindsey helped in the nursery.
The Phipps’s are a prime example of what makes St. Benedict a parish worth celebrating – and that’s precisely what hundreds of parishioners and other guests gathered to do at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2.
“What a great celebration,” Bishop Thompson remarked at the beginning of the Mass, noting that those gathered were “not only celebrating what St. Benedict Cathedral Parish means to the Diocese of Evansville, but also its connectedness to the Archabbey of St. Meinrad.”
Bishop Thompson was joined by concelebrants Bishop Emeritus Gerald A. Gettelfinger; Benedictine Father Gregory Chamberlin, pastor of St. Benedict Cathedral; and Benedictine Father Justin Duvall, archabbot of St. Meinrad Archabbey, who served as homilist. A number of priests, deacons and religious were also in attendance for the Mass, which was followed by a brunch in the nearby school building.
In his homily, Father Duvall said the monks of St . Meinrad Archabbey are privileged to have been associated with St. Benedict since its inception, and to have shared in the lives of generations of believers.
“The same faith in Christ that sustained those generations of parishioners in the past still unites the parish of St. Benedict here and now,” Father Duvall told the congregation, “and that same strength will strengthen generations to come.”
Father Duvall went on to say that “over the last 100 years, a long procession of people has passed through this neighborhood, but the Catholic faith has remained constant.”
“The times have changed (and) the people have changed along with them,” he said. “And through all those years, the Catholic faith that stood in the beginning has sustained the people of St. Benedict’s.”
Theresa Phipps has been a parishioner her entire life - 45 years. She has served as parish secretary for the past six years, and she said her two youngest children (Olivia and Noah) have “practically lived” at the parish after school since she started working there.
When she refers to St. Benedict as her parish family, she truly means it. She said Father Gregory is like a “big grandpa” to her children.
“Everyday after school I usually go and talk to him, and it’s fun because he’ll ask me about what I did (at school) and I’ll ask him about what he did that day,” said Olivia. “It’s like he’s part of our family.”
Theresa said she was especially moved by the heartfelt singing at the Centennial Mass; Jim Phipps said he was impressed when “the sisters from Ferdinand were recognized during the ceremony and those who taught were invited to stand.” He said it was amazing just how many stood to be recognized.
At the conclusion of his homily, Father Duvall said the parish of St. Benedict is flourishing, and will continue to flourish, due to the faith of its people.
“What lies ahead remains beyond our limited sight,” he said. “The future belongs to those who believe, and the gift of faith makes it bright with the promise of God’s unfailing presence.”
One hundred year ago, six and one-half acres of land along Lincoln Avenue were purchased to form St. Benedict parish. Benedictine Father Martin Hoppenjans, the first pastor, arrived Nov. 6, 1912, and the first Mass was held at the Poor Clare Monastery on Dec. 1.
The following year, Benedictine Sister Benedicta Schnell became the first principal of St. Benedict School, with classes held in a private home on Kentucky Avenue and in the basement of the nearby Little Sisters of the Poor building.
In 1928, the current church building was dedicated by Benedictine Abbot Athanasius Schmidt, and 71 years later, on April 11, St. Benedict Church was consecrated as the diocesan cathedral.
