St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Phoenixville, PA

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.