Mass Excursions

Holy Name of Jesus Parish is ‘a stable, powerful source’ in ‘a beautiful little town’

By Natalie Hoefer

Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove began through a “train” of events. It was founded in 1908, the same year an influx of Big Four (now Amtrak) employees and their families moved to the 2-year-old city as the conglomerate’s massive locomotive repair shops opened.

The shops have dropped from a high of 5,000 employees to about 450 as of 2021.

But Holy Name is flourishing.

116-year-old parish with 100-year-old school

“The parish has been a really stable, powerful force in the [Indianapolis] southside Catholic community,” said Father Robert Robeson, the parish’s pastor. “There’s a great love for the Catholic faith and a desire to live the Catholic faith. You see it in the individuals.”

The worship space reflects that love. Built in 1954, the church exterior “is a classic example of Art Deco architecture,” he said. “The interior is beautiful, all stone and marble, and a huge, white marble corpus over the altar. Often when I walk through the church, there’s someone in there praying or walking the Stations of the Cross at all hours of the day.”

The parish is also known for its traditional organ music, Father Robeson noted. Holy Name’s annual Christmas Concert in December—featuring the organ and adult and youth choirs—is a popular annual tradition celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

But the parish’s oldest and largest ministry is its school, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

“I’ve never been in a parish where you can talk to someone in their 90s who went to Holy Name School,” said Father Robeson. “Our teachers are almost all members of the parish. They all take very seriously their role as ministers.”

Students worship at adoration once a week and at Mass several times a week. And if you worship at the parish’s 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, you’re likely to see a photo shoot of Father Robeson with school children afterward.

“We have regular pushes at the school for kids and their families to go to Mass,” he said. “Then after, I get my picture taken with all the kids from particular classes at that Mass.”

Father Robeson also lauded the parish’s Men’s Club and Altar Society.

“The Men’s Club has all kinds of events and fundraisers,” he said. “I can always call on them whenever I need help.

“And the Altar Society does a lot to reach out to the larger community. Their summer rummage sales and Christmas Bazaar in November are always a big hit in the community.”

He called Holy Name “very integrated with the Beech Grove community,” including the assistance offered by the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society and “school- and parish-organized cleanup activities” in conjunction with city efforts.

“Beech Grove is a beautiful little town. I don’t think a lot of people know much about it,” said Father Robeson. “We’re just five or six blocks from the Main Street corridor. There are places to shop and eat there.”

While Napoli Villa Italian Restaurant has been known for more than five decades in Beech Grove and Indianapolis, he more often frequents

5th Avenue Bar and Grill. The one exception is the first weekend in October, when he prefers the authentic German food at the parish’s annual Oktoberfest.

Father Robeson invites all to come worship at Mass at Holy Name.

“I do think the church itself is worth seeing,” he said, adding that it’s accessible via the parking lot door from 6:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. “We always welcome visitors. It’s a wonderful place to worship.”

Holy Name Church is located at 89 N. 17th Avenue in Beech Grove. For Mass times, go to www.holyname.cc or call 317-784-5454.

Pray, shop, eat, create, bowl, repeat

The best time to visit or worship at Mass in Holy Name’s beautiful church is the first weekend of October during the parish’s Oktoberfest or for its annual Christmas Concert, which will be held this year at 5 p.m. on Dec. 11. ($5 tickets can be purchased at the door.)

Make your trip even more spiritual by visiting the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center on the beautiful grounds of the Sisters of St. Benedict Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove. Take in the peaceful, 30-acre grounds, including a 3-acre nature garden, rosary walk and labyrinth. Or plan ahead and grow spiritually from one of Benedict Inn’s many offerings, whether a program of a few hours, a day of quiet reflection or a multi-day retreat. Either way, stop by the Shop INN-Spired gift shop, open weekdays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. (call 317-788-7581 for weekend hours). Go to www.benedictinn.org for more information on retreats and the grounds.

Before or after Mass at Holy Name, take a stroll down Beech Grove’s Main Street. It currently boasts three antique shops, a coffee house, tea house, boutique, musical instrument shop, brewery and six restaurants.

Main Street is also home to Beech Grove Clay Works. Call at least two weeks in advance to reserve a spot in a Saturday, 5:30 p.m. four-to-eight persons “pop-up” class to enjoy two hours at a pottery wheel—no experience needed! The cost is $30 per person (you must be at least 12 years old) plus $5 for each item glazed and fired at their studio. Their number is 317-373-4616.

Not much for getting your hands dirty? Visit Beech Grove Bowl instead. In February, it was named Indy’s Best Bowling Alley in a local television station poll, with positive comments about the calzones as well. Come any time—it’s open 24/7. Call 317-784-3743 for more information. †