Archbishop Charles C. Thompson has decreed that the former Our Lady of Providence Church building in Brownstown be able to be sold. In the terminology of the Church’s Code of Canon Law, this is referred to as “relegation to profane but not sordid use.”

Our Lady of Providence Parish was merged with St. Ambrose Parish in Seymour in 2016. This decision was made at the request of the parish of St. Ambrose and after Archbishop Thompson consulted with the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council in February of this year. (Learn more here)

As noted in the decree, the decision concerning the Our Lady of Providence property was spurred by the fact that the church building is not in good repair; inspection by an outside engineering firm of the building in February found significant deterioration of the roof, foundation and exterior masonry; water infiltration has caused additional damage to the interior masonry, plaster and paint; and the merged parish of St. Ambrose has no use for the building.

DECREE

Whereas, on 4 February 2016 by the decree of my predecessor, the Most Reverend Joseph W. Tobin, CSsR, the former parish of the Our Lady of Providence (115 E Commerce St., Brownstown, IN 47220), was merged by extinctive union into the parish of Saint Ambrose (325 S. Chestnut St., Seymour, IN 47274); and,

Whereas the peremptory time limit to appeal this decree has been exhausted and the decree upheld; and,

Whereas the legal and equitable assets and liabilities of the former parish of Our Lady of Providence became assets and liabilities of the parish of Saint Ambrose by virtue of the extinctive union; and,

Whereas the pastor of the parish of Saint Ambrose discussed with the parishioners on the possibility of the reduction to profane but not sordid use of the Church building of Our Lady of Providence over the course of 2023-2025; and,

Whereas, on 21 December 2023, the pastor of the parish of Saint Ambrose, after consultation with both his finance and pastoral council, petitioned me to relegate the church building of the former parish of Our Lady of Providence to profane but not sordid use so that the proceeds of the sale of the church building might be used to fund the ministries of the parish of Saint Ambrose; and,

Whereas, on 25 February 2025, I consulted with the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council on the question of the relegation of the church building of Our Lady of Providence to profane but not sordid use; and,

Whereas, in the consideration of the question of reduction of church building of Our Lady of Providence, I evaluated the following facts concerning the state of the church building of Our Lady of Providence:

• The church building is not in good repair.

• Inspection by an outside engineering firm in February of 2025 found significant deterioration of the roof, foundation, and exterior masonry.

• Additional water infiltration has caused additional damage to the interior masonry, plaster and paint.

• Based upon the report of the engineering firm, the estimated cost for repairs for the roof, foundation, exterior masonry, interior masonry, plaster and paint are estimated between $450,000-$475,000.

• The parish income for Saint Ambrose in the most recent fiscal year of 2022/2023 was $1,087,548; the total parish expenses for that same period were $689,512, while supporting the deficit in income of the parish-supported school in the amount of $144,000.

• The merged parish of Saint Ambrose has no use for this building.

Whereas the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council voted unanimously to recommend that the church building of Our Lady of Providence be relegated to profane but not sordid use; and,

Whereas I have concluded that the economic hardship of repairing the building and its lack of usefulness to the parish of Saint Ambrose constitutes grave cause sufficient in law to support the relegation of the church building to profane but not sordid use;

I, the Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson, D.D., J.C.L.,

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, having in mind my responsibility to best address the spiritual needs of the people of the parish of Saint Ambrose specifically and the needs of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis generally, hereby decree:

1. The church building of the former parish of Our Lady of Providence shall be relegated to profane but not sordid use fourteen days after the date of the promulgation of this decree.

2. The parish of Saint Ambrose, in consultation with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, shall dispose of the church building in a manner that accords with Catholic faith and morals, and with its dignity as a former place of Divine worship.

3. This decree is to be published to the pastor of the parish of Saint Ambrose.

4. The parishioners of the parish of Saint Ambrose are to be given notice of this decree upon its receipt by the pastor of the parish. Copies of this decree are to be made available for inspection at the office of the parish, and the parishioners shall be given notice as soon as is possible after its receipt by the pastor.

5. This decree is to be published in the archdiocesan newspaper, The Criterion.

6. This decree is to be posted to the archdiocesan website.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on 4 March 2025, at the Catholic Center.

Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson, D.D., J.C.L.
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Christopher J. Walsh, Ed.D.
Chancellor