Address:
 217 W. Montgomery St.
 Francesville, IN 47946

Phone: 574-946-4906

The Town of Francesville, Indiana was founded in 1853, when the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad was established.  James Brooks, President of the Railroad, wanted to name the area in honor of his daughter, Frances.  The first Catholic families of this area came in attracted by the railway.  Father Burns of Lafayette was the first priest to visit the region, traveling as far north as San Pierre.  The first Mass was celebrated in the home of Patrick Hackett.   Other pioneer names were Patrick Dooley, Daniel Finnegan, Peter Finnegan, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Patrick Gleason, Patrick Hallagan, John Lynch, and Timothy O’Connor.  
 
Father John McMahon, assistant at Saints Mary and Martha Church in Lafayette, often visited as early as 1856, as did Father Burns and Father Anthony King.  Holy Mass on all these occasions was said in the homes of the faithful.  Another early visitor and briefly an Army Chaplain in the Civil War, Father Joseph Stephan, regularly attended St. Francis, coming from San Pierre en route to the orphanage in Rensselaer, where St. Joseph College now stands.  
 
The St. Francis Solano Parish began as a mission before the Civil War.  Two lots were purchased in 1867 for the site of a mission church, and before fall of that same year, a little frame church was completed and dedicated in honor of St. Francis.  The church, sized 20 by 40 feet, had a seating capacity of approximately 75.  The cost, furnished and including the lots, was $1,500.  The first little wooden church was built near the site of the present stone edifice.  Under the pioneer administrations of Fathers Burns and Anthony King, this little frame building was erected and would remain in use until August 15, 1952.  They used the back room of the church not only as a sacristy, but also as lodging, frying bacon and heating coffee to sustain them on their journey via handcar or on horse.  
 
Bishop Henry Luers, in 1867, appointed Father John McMahon pastor of Reynolds, with Francesville and vicinity as his missionary territory.  Father McMahon attended the Francesville mission of twelve families, about twice a month until 1872.  Bishop Dwenger, C.PP.S., in 1876 requested the Franciscan Fathers from Lafayette to take charge of the Reynolds parish, along with the mission of Francesville.  The following Franciscan Fathers served the people from 1876 to 1888: Rev. Dominic Meier, O.F.M. (1876-1880); Rev. Clement Steinkamp, O.F.M. (1880-1883); Rev. Ignatious Wilkens, O.F.M. (1883-1884); Rev. Guido Stallo, Rev. Stephan Hoffman, O.F.M., Rev. Peter Welling, O.F.M, and Rev. Augustine Beyer, O.F.M. (1884-1888).
 
In 1888 the bishop appointed a diocesan priest to care for Reynolds and the Francesville mission.  The record shows the following served: Rev. Mathias Zumbuelte (1888-1889); Rev. John Berg (1889-1893); Rev. George Schramm (1893-1895); Rev. John Blum (1895-1896); Rev. John Kubacki (1896-1900); Rev. George Horstmann (1900-1905); Rev. Julius Seimetz (1905-1910); Rev. Francis Koch (1910-1920); Rev. Peter Schmitt (1920-1924); Rev. Frederick Rothermal (1924-1930); Rev. Victor Magsam (1930-1933).  Various Fathers of the Precious Blood from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer assisted the priests in Reynolds.  
 
Bishop John F. Noll, in July 1933 requested Rev. Felix Seroczynski, pastor of North Judson, to attend the mission of Francesville.  Rev. Louis Bozik, Father Seroczynski’s assistant, took great interest in this mission and in July 1936 regular Sunday Mass was established, instead of once or twice a month.  Occasionally, Rev. Gilbert Esser, C.PP.S., assisted Father Bozik at Francesville.   Father Bozik raised the hopes of the people that they might have a new church, but World War II overshadowed the dreams of the parishioners.  In November 1938 Rev. John Hosinski, became pastor of San Pierre and the mission of Francesville.  Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters from San Pierre came to teach catechism to the children once each week, beginning in 1940.
 
Amid World War II, in 1944, the Lafayette diocese was created.  At that time, the Francesville mission had about 32 families.   In early 1945, Father John Hosinski became the first pastor of Francesville, which became an independent parish.  In November 1947, Rev. Gilbert Esser, C.PP.S., professor at St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, began to assist Father Hosinski by saying Sunday Mass.  
 
Bishop John G. Bennett, in December 1948 appointed Rev. Gilbert Esser, professor at St. Joseph College, administrator of Francesville.  The old church built in 1867 needed repair.  The cost, however, was not in proportion to the value of the building, and it was therefore decided to build a new church.  During the first weeks of 1951, while Father Esser was instructing Neil Lyon in the faith, the two also talked of the new church plans.  Mr. Lyon was experienced in construction designing. Economy was foremost in their minds as they developed a church plan along the old Spanish mission style.  Not with adobe mud, but with modern cement, a durable building could be constructed, pleasing to the eye, yet reasonable in cost.  
 
The plan delighted the people and was approved by Bishop Bennett, who also blessed the cornerstone on October 21, 1951.  At the laying of the cornerstone of this new church, Father Bozik preached the sermon.   Work began in the spring of 1952 under the direction of Father Esser, C.PP.S.  The church was built by Fred L. Vollmer and Sons at a cost of $34,000.  The first Mass in the new church was offered by Father Alvin Burns, C.PP.S., on August 15, 1952.  On October 19, 1952, the new church was dedicated by Bishop Bennett.   
 
Rev. Gilbert Esser, C.PP.S. was succeeded on September 3, 1954, by Rev. Raymond Cera, C.PP.S., who continued the excellent work of his predecessor.  Rev. James Leah, a diocesan priest, was appointed on June 12, 1957, to succeed Father Cera, C.PP.S., and he remained until April 21, 1958.  Rev. Leonard Kostka, professor at St. Joseph College, at the request of Bishop Bennett, succeeded Father Leah as administrator from April 22, 1958, until June 17, 1958.  Bishop John J. Carberry, appointed Rev. Joseph W. Grace as pastor on June 18, 1958, with Francesville as a mission.
 
The first Forty Hour Adoration was observed in August 1959.  The first mission in over 20 years was held in March 1962 and memorial plates in honor of the donors of the stained-glass windows were installed.   The statue of Christ the King arrived in June 1962, with work on the outdoor shrine being completed in October.   The statue was blessed on the Feast of Christ the King, October 28, 1962.  This statue can currently be found at the entrance of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pulaski, where all are welcome.
 
In subsequent generations, many people have heard the Word of God, have worshiped, and have received the sacraments of the Church in Saint Francis Solano Parish. Though parish records from 1967 show 42 families attending, records from 2024 show 9 families attending.  The last Sacrament of Baptism in Saint Francis Solano Church was September 23, 2018. The last Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in Saint Francis Solano Church was May 7, 2005.  On June 7, 2024, Bishop Timothy L. Doherty signed a decree relegating St. Francis Solano Church to profane but not sordid use.  In its time, St. Francis Solano produced a Religious Sister (Sister Eliza Dionysia) and the four sons of Mr. & Mrs. Dooley became priests.
 
All records of baptisms and marriages from 1867 to 1933 should be found at Reynolds.
All records of baptisms and marriages from 1933 to 1936 should be found at North Judson.
All records of baptisms and marriages from 1936 to 1945 should be found at San Pierre.
All records from 1945 on can be found at the Fulton Pulaski Pastorate.