August 12, 2011
Father Eugene Schmitt named to parishes in Celestine and Dubois
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Father Eugene R. Schmitt, pastor of parishes in Rockport and Chrisney, is being assigned to parishes in Celestine and Dubois. His appointment by Bishop Charles C. Thompson was announced at the parishes affected, during weekend Masses Aug. 6 and 7.
No appointment has been announced for St. Bernard Church in Rockport or St. Martin Church in Chrisney.
Father Schmitt, 49, will succeed Father Attila Fröhlich, currently on a leave of absence, at St. Peter Celestine Church in Celestine and St. Raphael Church in Dubois.
Father Schmitt was born Nov. 5, 1962. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Evansville June 3, 2000.
Father Schmitt’s first assignment was as associate pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville in June 2000. From July to November 2002, he was associate pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Haubstadt, St. Joseph Church in Princeton, and Blessed Sacrament Church in Oakland City.
He was named to his first pastorate in November 2002, at St. Mary Church in Sullivan and St. Joan of Arc Church in Jasonville.
He was appointed to the parishes in Rockport and Chrisney in September 2006.
St. Bernard and St. Martin churches have shared a pastor since 2001, first with Father Ed Schnur, and from 2005 to 2006, with Father Attila Fröhlich.
Deacon Michael Waninger, who was ordained in 2005, is on the staff of both parishes.
St. Bernard, founded in 1850, has 357 families, or 908 total parishioners, according to the 2011 Yearbook and Directory. St. Martin Church, the neighboring parish to the north, was founded in 1866. There are 93 families, or 247 total individual members, according to the diocesan yearbook. The parishes are in the Newburgh Deanery.
Sara Guth is principal of the pre-K-8 parochial school at St. Bernard.
Carolyn Thorpe is the DRE at St. Bernard, with parish catechists serving about 60 students.
Deacon Waninger is DRE at St. Martin, with about 30 students.
St. Peter Celestine Church in Celestine and St. Raphael Church in Dubois have shared a pastor since 2002 — including Father Fred Englert, Father Thomas Kessler, Father Ron Kreilein and Father Attila Fröhlich.
Deacon Michael Seibert, ordained in 2005, serves both parishes.
St. Peter Celestine has 597 families, or 1,310 total members; Glenda Prechtel is the DRE, with 49 catechists and more than 230 students.
St. Raphael has 296 families, or 873 individual parishioners. Lavone Mangin is the DRE, with 26 catechists and almost 200 students.