St. Maurice Catholic Church
Napoleon, Indiana
St. Maurice Catholic Church is a small, rural catholic community that has humble beginnings
and a rich heritage of faith. Twenty families of faith founded our parish, and today over 170 households
continue their legacy. As pastor of St. Maurice, I am excited to be a part of such a lively parish with
a rich heritage. The legacy that has been handed over to us by those who have gone before us serves both
as encouragement and a calling. With faith and the grace of the Holy Spirit, may we continue to answer the
call our Lord has set before us, so that the light of Christ that shone in our founding members may continue
to burn brightly in our family of faith.
Saint Maurice, Martyr of the Theban Legion
(circa A.D. 287)-Our Parish Patron
Augustus Maximian Herculius marched an army against a number of Gauls, called Bagaudae, who had risen in revolt. Among those recruited to squash the revolt was a unit of soldiers from Upper Egypt who were Christians.
In preparation for the battle and hope for success, Maximian ordered the whole army to join in sacrifices to the gods. The unit of soldiers from Upper Egypt, led by St. Maurice, refused to join in these sacrifices. Upon repeated orders and continuous refusals, Maximian ordered that every tenth man be put to death. With the encouragement of their officers, Maurice, Exuperius and Candidus, the soldiers stood firm and would rather suffer the penalties than participate in something that would deny their faith in the one true God.
The Theban Legion numbered about 6,600 men. While the number of soldiers who died that day is in dispute, one historical fact does remain and that is St. Maurice was one of the martyred. St. Maurice is the patron saint of Savoy and Sardinia and several towns, as well as the patron for infantry soldiers, sword-smiths, weavers and dyers, and against cramps. His Feast Day is September 22.
Directions
Click for full size map!
From Indianapolis:
- Take I-74 E
- Take exit 134A for IN-3 S toward Greensburg
- Turn right at IN-3 S
- Turn left at N Broadway St
- Turn left at E 10th St
- Turn right at N Lincoln St
- Turn right at IN-46
- Turn left at US-421
- Turn left at IN-229
From Cincinnati:
- Take I-74 W
- Take exit 149 for IN-229 toward Batesville
- Turn left at IN-229
- Turn left at IN-46
- Turn right at 300 E
- Continue on IN-129
- Turn right at IN-48
- Slight right at US-229
From Louisville:
- Take I-64 E
- Take exit 5A-B on the left to merge onto I-65 N toward Indianapolis
- Take exit 50A for US-50 E toward N Vernon
- Turn right at US-50 E
- Turn left at N Michigan Rd
- Turn left at US-421
- Turn right at IN-229
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