St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at 134 E. Bishop ST, Bellefonte, PA 16823-1975 US - Our Church History

Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Bellefonte PA By 1824 the number of Catholics living in Bellefonte had grown sufficiently large to warrant a priest from Bedford (Father Thomas Heyden) to make Bellefonte one of his regular mission stops. Others stops included Chambersburg, MD, and Huntindon, PA. In the early years, Mass was said in the William Welch residence on High Street. The first resident pastor assumed duties in 1828, while our parish was part of the Philadelphia Diocese. Saint John's shared this pastor with Saint Francis Xavior Parish in Clearfield, PA. Neither parish was considered large enough to support a full time pastor. The present property on East Bishop Street was purchased and the construction of the church began. The consecration of the Church took place in 1831. The earliest pastors lived in the sacristy of the Church during their stays in Bellefonte. This first church building served as the parish church until 1889, and as part of the parochial school for another 62 years. One notable visitor to this parish was Bishop John Neumann of Philadelphia, who was later canonized as the first American male saint. In 1861 the Diocese of Harrisburg was formed and Saint John's Parish became part of the newly formed Diocese. Two pastors of Saint John's Parish would become bishops: Most Rev. Louis M. Fink (formerly a Benedictine) and Most Rev. Thomas McGovern. The present church building was constructed from 1884 to 1889, replacing the original worship site. The dedication was held October 13, 1889. At that time an addition was made to the neighboring house, which served as the Rectory. The local contractor, Isaac D. Miller, and his partner, John Wetzel, did the work of building the Church and expanding the Rectory. Rev. O'Reilly was named the first resident pastor in 1828. Rev. Leavy, Rev. Loughrin, Rev. Bergess, Rev. Lampike, and Rev. Lourin followed as pastors and ended their pastorates by 1838. Rev. Timothy Flanigan was pastor from December, 1838 until July, 1840. Rev. P. Nugent was pastor until August, 1842. Rev. P.E. Pendergast was pastor until September, 1845. Rev. H. McLoughlin was pastor until July, 1846. Rev. T. Ahern was pastor until September, 1848. Rev. J.J. Mullen was pastor until June, 1851. Rev. M.A. McCrane was pastor until August, 1852. Rev. J.C. Gilligan was pastor from August, 1852 until April, 1855 and founded the daughter parishes of Immaculate Conception in Lock Haven, PA and Saint Joseph's in Renovo, PA. Rev. C.A. Della Nave was pastor until March of 1857. The Benedictine Fathers administered the parish from March, 1857 until July, 1864. Pastors and administrators include: Fr. Odlo Vougergreen OSB, Fr. P. Otto OSB, Fr. J.B. Mulberger OSB, Fr. P. Thomas OSB, Fr. P. Bernard OSB, Fr. P. Placidus OSB, Fr. P. Amandus OSB, and Fr. Louis M. Fink, who founded the daughter parish of Saint Mary's in Snow Shoe, PA, and help consolidate the daughter parish of Saint Joseph's in Renovo, PA. Father Fink would go on to be a pioneer bishop of the American praeries, first as Bishop of Eucarpis KS and then as Bishop of Leavenwoth KS. Rev. Thomas McGovern was pastor from July, 1864 until November, 1870. He would become bishop of Harrisburg Diocese. Rev. J.J. McIlvaine was pastor from November, 1870 until June, 1873. Rev. M. Powers administered the parish for four months. Rev. C. Kenney was pastor from June, 1873 until August, 1875. Rev. A. J. O'Brien was pastor from August, 1875 until February, 1880, with Rev. T. F. Kennedy as assistant. Rev. Patrick McArdle was pastor from February, 1880 until his death in 1917. During his pastorate the Diocese of Altoona was founded and our parish became part of the newly formed diocese. Fr. McArdle was responsible for the construction of the present English Gothic style Church. Bishop Shanahan of Harrisburg blessed the cornerstone in 1885, and Bishop McGovern of Harrisburg, former pastor of Saint John's, consecrated the church in 1889. In 1890, Fr. McArdle acquired the assistance of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from Scranton to start and staff Saint John Parochial School. These nuns would continue service at the school until 1990. The first church building would serve as part of the school until 1952. Later in 1957, the Altoona Diocese was renamed the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese. Rev. Eugene Downs was pastor from 1917 to 1954 during the expansion of the parochial school. Rev. Msgr. Thomas O'Shea was pastor from 1954 to 1975, during which time a new convent was built (1960). When the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary withdrew from our diocese, the convent began being used for the Pre-School, and later for the expanded seventh and eigth grades. During Msgr. O'Shea's pastorate the present parish plant was established. Msgr. was also responsible for the updating and renovating of the Church's interior in keeping with the guidelines of the Second Vatican Council. He was so well informed and in-the-know, that his renovations have not had to be updated since. Rev. Msgr. Paul Lenz was pastor from 1975 to 1977, during our nation's Bicentennial. He would be called to duties of the National Office for Black and Indian Missions in the United States. Rev. Bernard O'Malley was pastor from 1977 to 1987, during which time the seventh and eighth grades were closed and a Kindergarten established. Rev. Jame H. Conrad was pastor from 1987 to 1992. He saw the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary leave their service of the school and instituted an all laity school faculty. Rev. Martin Cingle was administrator from 1992 to 1993. Rev. D. Timothy Grimme was pastor from 1993 until 2002, the first pastor of the twenty-first century. We celebrated the 110 anniversary of the dedication of the present Church building in 1999. During this present era, our parochial school re-opened the seventh and eighth grades. We have celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of our Diocese in 2001 and we are anticipating the 175th anniversary celebration of our parish in 2003. Preparation for this anniversary have included a Capital Campaign to fund many projects of renovation. Our Church interior was re-painted in 2002, after roof and electrical repairs were completed. A new carpet was laid throughout the church. Purchase of the former Texaco Service Station has provided a new and much needed parking lot adjacent to the Church property. Replacement of the church bell striking system will hopefully be completed before 2003. Presently (2002) our parish boasts of 1,114 families or households. On July 24, 2002, Rev. Neil B. Dadey took over as the present pastor.

(Back)