Mass Excursions

St. Michael Parish, Greenfield: ‘faithful, traditional’—and a eucharistic pilgrimage stop on July 12-14

By Natalie Hoefer

When St. Michael Parish in Greenfield was founded in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was running for president, the Civil War had not yet begun and “Little Orphan Annie” (whose real name was Mary Alice Smith) was still a year away from coming to stay at the Greenfield home of then 11-year-old James Whitcomb Riley, the future “Hoosier Poet.”

Nearly 165 years have passed. The current church—the parish’s fourth structure—recently underwent a major renovation, and the school begun in 1953 is still going strong.

Now the parish is eagerly anticipating its next hallmark: serving as a stopping point on the eastern route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on July 12-14.

‘A faithful, traditional parish’

For 26 years, Christie Murphy has called St. Michael Parish home. She also taught one year in the school and has served as executive assistant for Father Aaron Jenkins, the parish’s pastor, since 2017.

“We’re an active parish, and we have a wide diversity of ages,” she says of the faith community’s more than 700 families. “We have a lot of families with young children, families with school-age children, recent empty-nesters and some whose children are long since grown.

“Some families have been here a long time—they grew up here and now their grandkids are going here. But we also have a fair amount of new parishioners due to warehouses opening in the area.”

With roughly 165 students, St. Michael’s pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school is the parish’s largest ministry.

One of its more unique ministries is Seasons of Hope. The six-week program is offered several times a year “to help guide people suffering the loss of a loved one,” Murphy explains. “They reflect on Scripture, share common experiences, do spiritual exercises at home and pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy at the end of each session. It’s Catholic-based, but open to anyone.

“And there’s an offshoot of people who decided to form a group that goes out for dinner once a month. That’s open to anyone, too, even those who haven’t gone through the program. It’s just another way to offer support and companionship for those who’ve lost a loved one.”

St. Michael is also one of only eight parishes in the archdiocese offering the That Man is You! (TMIY), a national Catholic program to help men grow closer to Christ and be the best men they can be for their families.

In its 164 years, the parish has had four churches. Its current one, completed in 1966, recently underwent a major renovation: the reorientation of its sanctuary.

“The altar went from the east side of the church to the west side,” Murphy explains. “Our church is in a small neighborhood, and parking was an issue because the church door faced the street. The entry now faces the parking lot, so the church is easier to enter.

“And we also added a narthex. Now people can talk in the narthex and visit without bothering people praying in church.”

A mural was also painted above the entry into the nave from the narthex “depicting the sacrifice of the lamb with all of the saints around the altar,” she says. “We have a key telling what saints are looking on. It’s very pretty and colorful.”

Another feature to enjoy is a roughly one-mile walking trail that “goes all the way around the campus,” says Murphy. “There’s a field area and a pond. It’s very peaceful and a great place to pray.”

While it’s usually “just parishioners” who enjoy St. Michael’s feast day Mass, dinner, silent auction and raffle event held annually on Sept. 29, Murphy says “a lot of people outside the parish” come to enjoy the Lenten fish fries and the annual Mardi Gras bingo event held on the Friday before Ash Wednesday.

An historic event will take place on July 12-14 as St. Michael hosts the eastern journey of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 17-21.

“It’s super-exciting,” says Murphy. “Our parishioners are thrilled they’re coming.”

All are invited to participate in events at the parish surrounding the pilgrimage. (See below for schedule of events.)

There’s no need to wait for a national event to visit St. Michael Parish in Greenfield, Murphy notes.

“It’s a faithful, traditional parish,” she says. “Everyone is very kind. The people here really love God. Father Aaron is a great pastor and leader, and he encourages us in our faith. It’s a good place to come to worship and find connection with other people.”

For Mass times, go to www.stmichaelsgrfld.org or call 317-462-4240.

Past and present meet in Greenfield

Located along historic U.S. 40 (the National Road dating to the early 1830s) and the birthplace of Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley, Greenfield offers glimpses of the past and experiences of the present to take in before or after worshiping at Mass with the members of St. Michael.

Riley (1849-1916) spent the first 21 years of his life in Greenfield. Most of those years he lived in a home his father built in the mid-1850s along the National Road. The house is now a museum offering tours that give insight into Riley’s life and the environment that inspired so much of his poetry. Currently, tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday, with tickets ranging from free to $4. For hours and more information, go to parksingreenfield.com/riley-home or call 317-462-8539.

The Riley home is close to Greenfield’s charming town square, which includes several antique shops and restaurants. Murphy recommends The Mug for its hamburgers, hot dogs and its use of locally-sourced ingredients; Griggsby’s Station for something a little more upscale; and Greenfield Chocolates, whose chocolatier has won international awards. (“The chocolates are very, very good,” Murphy assures.)

The town square also serves as home of the annual Riley Festival, which runs for four days beginning on the first Thursday of October, to honor the poet’s Oct. 7 birthday. The festival includes entertainment stages and more than 450 exhibitors, craft and food vendors—or test your talent in their poetry, photography and pumpkin carving contests. For more information, go to rileyfestival.com.

For fall or year-round fun, visit Tuttle Orchards, a family-run farmstead spanning four generations. Yes, there are “u-pick” opportunities. But there is so much more: a produce shop, a farm-to-table dining room, greenhouses, flower fields, fruit festivals and other activities that vary by season. But be sure to go on Saturday then worship at St. Michael, because Tuttle’s is closed on Sundays. For more information, go to indianapolisorchard.com (don’t let the web address fool you—Tuttle Orchards is in Greenfield).

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage events at St. Michael Parish, July 12-14

July 12:

• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins at 1 p.m., continuing through the day and night;
• Free dinner from 5:30-7 p.m. open to anyone (registration is required at tinyurl.com/July12Dinner);
• Holy hour from 7-8 p.m., with reflections by Father Roger Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., who is chaplain of the eastern portion of the national pilgrimage;
• Confession beginning at 8 p.m.

July 13:

• Benediction at 8:30 a.m.;
• Mass at 8:45 a.m.;
• Official pilgrims will volunteer at a local food pantry then rest.

July 14:

• Mass at 8:30 a.m.;
• Eucharistic procession from church parking lot through neighborhood (less than a mile) immediately after Mass, ending at about 10:15 a.m.;
• Benediction around 10:20 a.m.;
• Mass at 11 a.m.

(Mass Excursions is a monthly feature highlighting an archdiocesan parish and local attractions, encouraging a trip to the area that includes Mass with the members of that parish. Each month will highlight a parish in a different deanery to showcase faith communities throughout central and southern Indiana. View past features at www.archindy.org/excursions.) †