St Mary Of The Assumption

About

For over 170 years, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish has welcomed people of all backgrounds, nationalities and cultures. Everyone is welcome!

Story

St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, established in January, 1840, is the first Roman Catholic Parish in Phoenixville, PA. Several other parishes in both Chester and Montgomery counties began as satellites or missions from our parish. In 1854, a church bell was cast for St. Mary of the Assumption Church. A year later, on July 4, 1855, Bishop John Neumann came from Philadelphia to bless the bell. It was a hot and rainy day but the summer weather did not stop the many parishioners from witnessing that blessing and hearing the first "official" ring. The original bell remains in our bell tower. It has been rung almost every day since it was first blessed. Bishop Neumann, now Saint John Neumann, had a very special affinity for St. Mary's. He visited on numerous occasions. He prayed with the parishioners, walked where we walk today and officiated at various services. Shortly before he died in 1860, Bishop Neumann returned to our parish to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. We are fortunate to possess a first class relic of Saint John Neumann for veneration by our current parishioners and guests.

Other facts about St Mary's:

-It is the first parish in the United States outside of Philadelphia to hold Forty Hours devotion. It has held these devotions every year since 1857.

- In December, 1890, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary began to teach at St. Mary's School, the first parochial school in Phoenixville. In recent years it was incorporated into Holy Family School.

- The oil painting over the center altar, The Crucifixion, was painted by Rudolph Schmalzl in 1927.

- Throughout its history, St. Mary's has been a welcoming parish. Initially populated mainly by farmers and merchants, the doors quickly opened to the many families associated with the steel mills and other factories in Phoenixville. People of all backgrounds, nationalities and cultures have been and continue to be proud members of this historic parish. We pray that St. Mary's will always be known as the church on the hill where everyone can come and feel at home.

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HOLY TRINITY PARISH
1903 - 2012

During the later portion of the 1800's numerous immigrants came to Phoenixville. Catholic families from Poland were among them. The Phoenix Iron Company was flourishing and offered hard working men good paying jobs. Initially, these individuals attended St Mary of the Assumption Church. Around the turn of the century several Polish families joined together for various cultural and related activities. In 1903 representatives of fifty such families met with Bishop Patrick J. Ryan, DD and received permission to form a new parish. A building previously used by St Mary's was purchased to serve as the first church. The new parish was named Holy Trinity.

During the subsequent decades Holy Trinity Parish grew. In 1907 construction started for a new church across from St. Mary's. The men of the parish worked in shifts to dig the foundation. The blessing of Holy Trinity Church was solemnized on October 9, 1910. In time, various additions were added making Holy Trinity Church a spiritually attractive and welcoming site. A school was added and in June, 1933 the first graduation was held. In 1965 a new school building was blessed.

Toward the end of the 1900's the steel industry in Phoenixville markedly declined. Employment in the entire area diminished. Families were forced to move away and the culture, which formerly bound the community together, began to change. Mass attendance decreased as did the number of available priests. Before the century ended discussions were being held to consolidate the Catholic parishes in Phoenixville. In June 1998 Holy Trinity Parish was 'twinned' with Sacred Heart Parish under one pastor. This arrangement was maintained until July 2012 when Archbishop Chaput merged Holy Trinity Parish with St Mary of the Assumption Parish forming a new parish also called St Mary of the Assumption. Holy Trinity Church was dedicated a worship site for the new parish.

Mission

We, the people of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, in Phoenixville PA, accept our call to serve God. As stewards of the gifts he has given us and led by the Blessed Virgin Mary, we pledge ourselves to follow the mission of Our Lord Jesus Christ in our church and our community.

Through the coordinated efforts of Pastoral council members, pastoral staff, and parish ministry volunteers, we promise to present a warm and welcoming spirit of Christian hospitality toward all.

We vouchsafe to actively participate in liturgical life.
o To pray and celebrate the sacraments together.
o To create programs that meet the worship needs of our parishioners and encourage their participation.
o To strengthen the liturgical experience through music and special events that increase attendance and involvement.

We commit to build, grow and nourish a Christian community that inspires us to live the Word of God in our daily actions and relationships.
o We will strive to better know one another.
o Recognize, accept and utilize the diversity, gifts and talents of our parish members.
o Embrace new, inactive or alienated parishioners and welcome all.

We will create a total parish education methodology that will teach the message of Christ.
o Adult programs for RCIA and Pre-Cana will compliment youth centered programs to meet the needs of our parishioners and the community at large.

With the grace of the Holy Spirit we will support our community’s needs.
o We will actively listen to, hear and respond to the most pressing spiritual and material needs of our community.
o Envision solutions to meet those needs.
o Utilize the best available human and financial resources to put recommended programs into action.

Products

Daily Mass (Tu-F):
8:00AM @ Holy Trinity Church

Saturday Mass:
4:00PM @ St. Mary Church
5:00PM @ Holy Trinity Church

Sunday Mass:
7:30AM @ Holy Trinity Church
9:00AM & 10:30AM @ St. Mary Church

Confession:
Saturday 3:00 to 3:30 @ St. Mary Church

Baptisms
Pre-Jordan Class
PREP Academy
RCIA Program
Pre-Cana Class
Weddings
Funerals

See our web-site & on-line bulletin for more details or call the Rectory @ (610)933-2526.