St. Mary Parish History
June 19, 1853
Cornerstone for the original church placed by Rev. Peter Carbon
Dec. 1853/Jan. 1854
Acquisition of land completed for the original church
September 24, 1854
Original church dedication by (Bishop) St. John Neumann
June/September 1860
Acquisition of two parcels of land for the cemetery
1886
“Difficulties” (of an unknown nature) caused the closing of the church
April 1907
Fire ignited the old shingle roof and threatens the deteriorating church. Neighbors extinguished the blaze with garden hoses
October 1914
Msgr. George Bornemann (of St. Paul Parish, Reading) oversees repairs to the church
August 29, 1915
Original church rededication; Rev. Scott A. Fasig appointed first resident pastor
April 1923
Property at 508 Island Street purchased for a rectory
October 1954
The chapel at Roadside America in Shartlesville opened (open until 1976)
1955
A sacristy, stairway and second entrance were added to the church. Property at Fifth & State Streets purchased for parking
August 1958
Property at 426 State Street acquired as a potential future convent
September 1961: Capital campaign conducted for construction of a new parish hall
June 1962
Groundbreaking for the social hall (first construction project in 109 years!)
August 1963
New parish hall dedicated by Bishop Joseph McShea
1963
Parish given a 3-acre plot on State Street (present site of Weis King’s) for parking and possible site for a new church
1969
Properties on Island Ave. and two sites on State Street sold in order to purchase a 5-acre property at 766 State St. as a rectory and potential new church site
1999
Land on Walnut Rd in Tilden Township donated for the site of the new church
November 1999
Groundbreaking for the new church
December 8, 2000
New church dedication the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
2002
Donation of an additional 5 acres of land for a new rectory site; Construction of a 3,000 square foot pavilion by volunteers of parishioners
October 2003
New rectory construction completed
December 8, 2003
150th Jubilee Year celebration with Bishop Welsh includes the blessing of new rectory
2003
Capital campaign for a new education center and social hall addition to the church
2004
150th Jubilee Year (September 25/26, 2004: Jubilee weekend activities)
2005
Pavilion expanded to include a kitchen and restrooms. First annual Harvest Fest held
Spring 2007
Additional 13 acres of land donated
March 2007
Groundbreaking for a new education center and social hall
September 2007
After weeks of excavation, construction of the new facility began.
August 15, 2008
Blessing of the Religious Education Center
September 6, 2008
First religious education classes held in new facility and blessing of Ave Maria Social Hall
September 2008
Old church and social hall property on State Street was sold
October 2009
Bishop Barres blesses meditation gardens of Stations of the Cross, Rosary garden, and refurbished Sacred Heart Statue
July 2010
Pavilion was enlarged with a concrete pad addition.
Summer 2013
Original church on State Street razed by new owner on Feast of the Assumption of Mary