Saint Mary's Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

In 1852, Altoona was a small village of approximately 2,000 people. The expansion of the railroad shops drew a large number of working people to Altoona where the prospect of permanent employment was quite promising. Included in this number who located here were Catholics of German and Irish birth and descent. The first parish organized in 1852 was St. John’s Parish (now the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament) which served the needs of the early settlers. At regular intervals (usually monthly) the Benedictine Fathers would travel to Altoona from St. Vincent Arch-abbey in Latrobe to minister to the German parishioners at St. John’s. They crossed the mountains walking and making use of any means of transportation available to them. They ministered liturgically and sacramentally in the German language.

 

As the number of German Catholic immigrants increased, in 1855 a small group of them petitioned the bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese, of which Altoona was then a part, for a German speaking pastor so that they might establish a parish of their own. In 1860 the German Congregation of the Roman Catholic Faith of Altoona, as it was legally called, was organized.

 

As is always the case, it was quite a problem to gather sufficient funds. Nevertheless, a site was chosen on the East side of town at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Fourteenth Street (then called Rebecca and Caroline Streets), the church was planned and the actual construction began early in 1860 with all the labor being performed by members of the parish. After their day’s toil in the railroad shops, the men would come directly to the church site, excavate for the foundations and perform whatever other tasks were laid out for them. The women would bring the men their meal and then the following day would haul away the dirt and debris of the previous day’s work.

 

The first church was a frame building, 70 feet in length and 40 feet in width. On December 18, 1860 the new church was dedicated by the new Bishop of Pittsburgh, Bishop Michael Dominec and it was placed under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of her Immaculate Conception. Today the parish is generally known as St. Mary’s. The first church building was soon too small for the growing congregation and the construction of a new and larger church was completed in 1883. It was 120 feet in length and 50 feet in width.

 

A Chronology of Events in the Growth and Life of St. Mary Parish

1861- August 26 - The first baby was baptized – Ann Rose Kiesel

1863- The first school was inaugurated in the church basement

1865- The construction of first rectory

1867- The first school, a small frame structure is built.

1871- The construction of a new and larger school

1876- Property is acquired on which to build a convent (Marian House)

1877- The Sisters of St. Agnes come to Altoona and take charge of the school

1879- Property is acquired for parish cemetery

1883- New church is finally completed (begun in 1871)

1889- Construction of present school building

1895- Construction of present rectory

1900- Pipe Organ is installed in the church

1949- Memorial Hall is opened and dedicated

1996- The church is repainted and redecorated

1997- St. Mary School joins with McNelis, Mt. Carmel, and St. Therese Schools to form the new Altoona Central Catholic School

2006- Elevator installed in the church giving easy access from Fifth Avenue

2010- 150th Anniversary Mass Celebration - Bishop Joseph Adamec Celebrant

2017- Church remodel - New Flooring, carpet, and re-staining of pews

2020- New Roof on Memorial Hall

2021- New Church Roof