St. Louis Catholic Church

The first priest to reside full time in Batesville was Fr. Bernard Holthaus, O.S.F. assigned here in 1873. At once he set about building a rectory just east of the new church and finished it in 1876. Apparently, the same H. Weber who had done the masonry work on the church was hired again for the parsonage despite the earlier complaints, while J. B. and G. Holtel from Oldenburg did the carpenter work. The cost of the rectory was $9,000.00.
 
Fr. Bernard had a second bell installed in the stubby tower of the church. It weighed 708 pounds, was manufactured by the Buckeye Bell Foundry of Cincinnati and cost $276.12. Hanging it cost $35. and drayage from the depot was 50¢.
 
In 1875 Fr. Holthaus had the church interior frescoed by A. Mahler of Cincinnati for $60 00!

1866 - 1868      Franciscans from Oldenburg said Mass here under
                         the direction of Nicholas Wachter, OSF
1868 - 1869      John Paul Gillig, First Pastor
1869 - 1872      Louis Haverbeck, OSF
1872 - 1873      Clement Steinkamp, OSF
1873 - 1876      Bernadine Hoithaus, OSF
1876 - 1877      John B. Schroeder, OSF
1877 - 1878      Nicholas Holtel, OSF
1878 - 1879      Martin Bauer, OSF
1879 - 1884      Leonard Nurre, OSF
1884 - 1886      Philibert Allstaeter, OSF
1886 - 1890      John By. Wellinghoff, OSF
1890 - 1890      Williams Gausepohl, OSF
1890 - 1891      David Kersting, OSF
1891 - 1895      John Cap Heitman, OSF
1895 - 1897      Clement Steinkamp, OSF
1897 - 1897      Gregory Fangmann, OSF
1897 - 1903      Barth Weiss, OFM
1903 - 1906      Francis Sol. Schaefer, OFM
1906 - 1912      Clementine Broermann, OFM
1912 - 1912      Stephen Hoffmann, OFM
1912 - 1915      Angelus Hafertepe, OFM
1915 - 1916      Urban Freundt, OFM
1916 - 1924      Adalbert Rolfes, OFM
1924 - 1926      Andrew Henze, OFM
1926 - 1928      Ildephonse Gast, OFM
1928 - 1939      Fridolin Schuster, OFM
1939 - 1940      Antonine Brockhuis, OFM
1940 - 1945      Mathias Heile, OFM
1945 - 1948      Symphorian Weiner, OFM
1948 - 1954      Friedbert Adams, OFM
1954 - 1960      Victorian Ostmeyer, OFM
1960 - 1971      Stephen Schneider, OFM
1971 - 1978      John Turnbull, OFM
1979 - 1984      Robert Hoffer, OFM
1984 - 1993      Ric Schneider, OFM
1993 - 2001      Bill Farris, OFM 
2001 - 2002      Robert Weakley, OFM
2002 - 2006      Daniel Mahan
2006 - 2009      Dennis Duvelius
2010 - 2010      Bernard Varghese, OFM Cap (Temporary Administrator)
2010 - 2014      Randall Summers
2014 - Present Stanley Pondo

The dedicated work the Sisters of St. Francis were doing with the children of the parish was not overlooked. It would have been impossible to operate a Catholic school without their life of sacrifice and everyone realized this. Their living quarters in what is now (1968) the Janitor's home left much to be desired for community living. 
  
Shortly after the blessing of the new school in 1923, plans were drawn up again by  architect Howard McClory. In 1927 construction was started on the new convent under Fr. Ildephone Gast, O.F.M., Pastor. Before the work could be finished, Fr. Ildephonse was transferred and Fr. Fridolin Schuster, 
O.F.M., took his place, continuing the work. The well-planned Sisters' dwelling was completed then, and occupied in 1928.

Ordained