The History of Saint Malachy Parish Mini-documentary
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In 1869, Saint Malchy Parish was formed with Father John Brassart as pastor. A church building was dedicated on 26. September 1869 which served the parish until 1904, when a new church was built with the Main Altar being donated by the Altar Society. A five acre cemetery was purchased and consecrated in 1893, located three miles west of Brownsburg. Two acres of ground at 56th Street and Highway 267 were purchased in May of 1909, giving Saint Malachy its second cemetery.
Because of World War I, the Annual Parish picnic was not held for the first time since its inception. Our school was dedicated on 9. October 1955, while Father Edward Bauer was serving our parish. The Sisters of Providence from Saint-Mary-Of-The-Woods, in Terre Haute, Indiana, were our faculty.
Father Bauer left Saint Malachy on 5. December 1956 and died six month later. The large debt incurred by the building of the school fell upon the shoulders of Father Maurice DeJean. Father DeJean, beloved by his parishioners, suffered a heart attack in 1960. As a result, Saint Malachy was served by Father George Elford, a young priest, while Father DeJean recovered.
After a few months recovery period, Father DeJean returned to Saint Malachy and Father Elford stayed on as our first Associate Pastor. in 1962, the Labor Day Picnic was discontinued. The tithing method of financing the parish was introduced with outstanding success.
In 1964, father DeJean added three large classrooms, a spacious Parish Hall and Cafeteria to the school. Father DeJean died on 24. January 1965. At the time of his death, his mother indicated that Father DeJean had chosen to be buried in the Saint Malachy Cemetery.
After Father DeJean's death, Father Charles Noll was selected by Archbishop Schulte to become pastor of Saint Malachy. Because of Vatican II, Father Noll was faced with making the necessary changes in the sanctuary of the church in order to carry out the new liturgy. The changes in the ancient liturgy were accepted with reservations by some.
To meet the challenge of operating a parochial school and providing religious education for all children of the parish, Father Noll, along with his Associate Pastor, Father Robert Gilday, formed the Saint Malachy Board of Total Catholic Education.
On 23. February 1975, a new church building was dedicated by Archbishop George J. Biskup. Following the dedication of our church came the erection of the Bell Tower which used the bell from the belfry of our second church. It was also during this period that we expanded our school to include a new Parish Hall and turn our old Parish Hall into classrooms.
In July of 1980, Father William Pappano was assigned to Saint Malachy Parish as our pastor and Father John Hall became our Associate Pastor. Father Pappano adopted the theme "We Are Family" during this time. Father Noll died on 10. May 1981. That same year, our Parish Hall was renamed "Noll Hall" in memory of Father Noll who dedicated over 15 years of his life to the parish community of Saint Malachy.
In July 1984, Father Martin Peter was installed as our pastor by Archbishop Edward O'Meara. His new assistant was Father Elmer Burwinkle, a late vocation, a widow and the father of seven children. After one year at Saint Malachy, Father Elmer was assigned to his own parish. In the summer of 1985, Father Dan Staublin was assigned as our Associate Pastor. Under the leadership of Father Marty, the parish made remarkable progress on a worrisome debt having paid nearly $170,000 on the principal of the debt in just three years, and the parish took pride in our parish spirit and our life giving liturgies. In July 1987, Archbishop O'Meara presented Father Dan Staublin the opportunity to become the Associate Spiritual Director at Saint Meinrad College. In July of 1987 Father Dan Donohoo came to Saint Malachy as our Associate Pastor. During Father Marty's sabbatical, Father Dan Donohoo was assigned as acting administrator of Saint Malachy Parish.
In 1990, Father Wilfred (Sonny) Day was assigned to our parish and in the summer of 1991 a newly ordained priest, Father Vince Lampert became our Associate Pastor. In February of 1994, Father Vince went on to a new assignment as Associate Pastor of Our Lady of the Greenwood in Greenwood, Indiana.
More to come....