CHURCHES: The Catholic Church and Catholic Parishes in Blair County, PA Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja jbanja@email.msn.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH (Roman Catholic). - At the village of Newry resides Rev. James Bradley, the patriarch of the secular clergy of the two dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny. Leaving Ireland, his native country, to dedicate himself to the cause of religion in the wilds of America, he emigrated to the United States in 1825, and entered Mount St. Mary's College, Maryland, to complete his studies. Having spent five years there under the spiritual direction of the venerable Simon Gabriel Brute, afterwards Bishop of Vincennes, Mr. Bradley was ordained to the sacred ministry in the church of Conewago, Pa., Sept. 20, 1830, being the first priest ordained by the saintly Bishop Kenrick. In speaking of entering upon the mission, Father Bradley says, "I soon after (ordination) set out from Emmittsburg, with Father Stillenger, for the Pennsylvania mission . . . I offered up my first holy mass in the mission at Bedford on Sunday, and drove the same day thirty miles to Newry, where I said my second mass. I then drove to Loretto, and after spending a few days with Rev. Dr. Gallitzin, I took charge of the Ebensburg congregation." Remaining at Ebensburg about two years, ministering to the spiritual necessities of a very large district, Father Bradley was transferred to Newry, which from the beginning had been embraced within the range of his missionary labors. Writing of the foundation of the town and congregation, Father Bradley has likewise said, "The first settlers of Newry were Patrick Cassidy and Henry McConnell, who emigrated from Newry (County Down), Ireland, and laid out the town and called it Newry, after their native place, about the time that Dr. Gallitzin began his laborious mission at Loretto. It was one of Dr. Gallitzin's stations for sixteen years, or until the number of Catholic settlers increased, and they undertook to build a stone church in 1816. It was dedicated under the patronage of St. Patrick. My predecessors here were Dr. Gallitzin, Fathers McGirr, Kearns (of Chambersburg), Heyden, Archbishop Hughes, and Father O'Reilly. The old stone church was still in use when I came to Newry on the first Sunday of Advent, 1832. The present church was then in process of erection." From that date, a period of half a century, there was no change of pastors until very recently. But with Newry the good priest had many other places to visit. The church edifice, which is constructed of brick, was dedicated by Bishop Kenrick, Aug. 11, 1833. The congregation had mass at that time once in four weeks; then as new missionary centers were formed, and the sphere of Father Bradley's labor was narrowed, the holy sacrifice was offered up twice in a the month, and finally the good pastor's labors were confined, as they now have been for thirty years, to Newry alone. When Bishop O'Connor visited the congregation in 1847 it numbered, as he states in his notes, four hundred souls. About twenty-two years ago Father Bradley built a chapel for week-day masses adjoining his residence. The congregation has continued for many years, as it will in the future, gradually to increase. The people are almost exclusively farmers, and are Irish or of Irish parentage. They have grown up around their common father, who has baptized nearly all, and has watched over them and guided them with a father's care, and they in turn, as is but right, entertain for him sentiments of filial affection. All will unite with them in wishing their good pastor many years of life before he is called to the joy of his Lord. The foregoing article, for the most part, has been copied from Rev. A.A. Lambing's "History of the Catholic Churches in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny," which was published in May, 1880. In the autumn of 1879, however, Rev. J. Ward was appointed assistant to Father Bradley, and remained until March, 1881, when he was succeeded by Rev. Richard Brown, who since June, 1881 (Rev. Father Bradley having become very feeble), has had charge. Africa, J. Simpson, Chapter XII, "Blair Township," History of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883, pp. 55-56. ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. - Catholics were found among the residents of Frankstown before the close of the last century, and it was in behalf of these among others that Dr. Gallitzin asked permission to enter the Pennsylvania mission. It may be that he visited the place as early as 1796. The few scattered families of the neighborhood formed a part of Dr. Gallitzin's missionary field until the arrival of Father Heyden. After Rev. H. Lemcke took up his residence at Ebensburg in 1834, he paid Hollidaysburg a few visits. At length it was transferred to the jurisdiction of Father Bradley, of Newry, a place but three miles distant. The importance of Hollidaysburg, however, which at that time ranked next after Pittsburgh in the western part of the State in business, refinement, and politics, had attracted so large a number of Catholics that a church was deemed necessary. As early as the summer of 1831, Bishop Kenrick had asked the views of Dr. Gallitzin on the propriety of building a church, but it seems that the venerable missionary did not view the matter favorably, for it was not until 1841 that the present church was commenced by Father Bradley. The dedication took place March 17, 1844, Father Heyden performing the ceremony. This edifice is a substantial brick building eighty-seven feet in length by sixty-three in width. There are three altars, that in the centre being an elegant piece of workmanship. Over it is an altar-piece, a crucifixion, a painting of considerable merit. Mr. Hayden Smith was the architect in charge during the building of St. Mary's Church in Hollidaysburg. Father Bradley celebrated mass in the new church on two Sundays in each month for one year from its dedication, after which a resident priest was appointed. Mass was then celebrated on three Sundays in each month until 1853, since which time it has been offered up every Sunday. Rev. R.A. Wilson, D.D., was the first resident pastor. At the end of a year he gave place to Rev. John C. Brady, who remained until the autumn of 1848. The growth of the congregation in the years immediate following the erection of the church was more rapid than was that of any of the surrounding parishes, and from the notes of Bishop O'Connor it is learned that at the time of his first visit, in 1847, it contained seven hundred persons. Father Brady was succeeded, after a short interval, Dec. 20, 1848, by Rev. John Walsh, whose tenure of office was destined to be more prolonged than that of his predecessors. He built a brick residence in 1851. When the Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Cajetan Bedini, visited the United States, he stopped at Hollidaysburg on his way to Pittsburgh, in the beginning of December, 1853, and administered confirmation in St. Mary's church. During the construction of the New Portage Railroad, the labors of Father Walsh were greatly increased. The distance to be traveled, the impassable nature of the roads in the mountains, the number of hands employed on the works, and the frequent occurrence of accidents rendered the duties of the priest a herculean task, and it is a matter of astonishment how one man was capable of performing so arduous a ministry. In May, 1854, a number of Sisters of Mercy from Pittsburgh took charge of the schools, which for some time had been conducted by lay teachers; and the large and elegant convent, school, and academy buildings which yet stand were erected for their reception. In 1868,Father Walsh erected another brick building, the lower story being used for a school, the upper for a hall. At length, after having presided over the congregation for almost thirty years, he was transferred to Altoona, upon the promotion of Father Tuigg to the See of Pittsburgh, in March, 1876. He was succeeded by his brother, Rev. Thomas Walsh, who in 1882 was succeeded by Rev. Father J.E. Reardon, who was born in Ireland, and came to American when a youth. He was educated at St. Michael's Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pa., and ordained to the priesthood in 1872 by Bishop Domenec. He was assistant at St. Patrick's Church, Pittsburgh, from 1872 to 1880, then priest at the Church of the Holy Name, in Evansburg, Pa., until August, 1882, when he was placed in charge of Hollidaysburg parish. The Sisters of Mercy were also transferred to other fields of usefulness in the summer of the same year, and were succeeded in the school and academy by the Sisters of St. Joseph from Ebensburg. The congregation of St. Mary's, like the town in which it is situated, has fallen from its former prosperous condition, and will not number more at present than it did thirty years ago. (Compiled from Father Lambing's "History of the Catholic Church in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny," which work we have been permitted to examine through the courtesy of H.A. McPike, Esq., editor of the Cambria Freeman.) Africa, J. Simpson, Chapter XIII, "Borough of Hollidaysburg," History of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883, pages 91-92. ST. MICHAEL'S (GERMAN) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. - Among the early residents of Hollidaysburg were a number of Catholics, natives of different parts of Germany. They were regular attendants at St. Mary's Church, but deplored the necessity of listening to words spoken in a language not their own. Finally, Messrs. Joseph and John Baroner, Sr., the Meintels, the Fuchs (Fox), Greneders, Leib, W. Rauch, J. Zanker, J.Heilmeier, and many others, numbering in all some eighty families, established a German congregation and built a church edifice of their own. The corner-stone of their house of worship was laid on the 27th day of November, 1862, and in less than a year the completed structure was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Michael Domenec, Bishop of Pittsburgh, who also appointed the first pastor in the person of Rev. George Kirchner. The building occupies a commanding site. Its dimensions are seventy-five by forty-three, and its tower or steeple, one hundred and twenty feet in height, contains a chime of bells. In addition, this congregation possesses a spacious school building and residence for their pastor, situated near the church. Rev. George Kirchner labored zealously among his flock, and filled the position of pastor for nearly five years, after which he was transferred to Pittsburgh. The second pastor was Rev. John B. Schmidt. Rev. J. Rosswog, his successor, remained about nine months. Mr. Rosswog was succeeded by the Rev. George Allman, who was born in Germany, but completed his studies and was ordained in this country. He was beloved here by all classes. The next pastor, Rev. Julius Kuenzer, was also a native of Germany. His literary abilities were of a high grade. He was unexcelled in profane and ecclesiastical history, and well versed in all matters pertaining to theology. Rev. Francis J. Kaib, the present pastor, began his pastoral labors here on the 1st day of December, 1878. He is a native of America, born at Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb. 24, 1850. Under his careful management many improvements have been made, and the beauty and value of the church property increased. The old school building has been superseded by a new and elegant one. Mrs. Barbara Zanker, wife of Joseph Zanker, an old citizen of the town, but now deceased, gave to the pastor, towards erecting the new school building, four thousand dollars. Work was commenced on the building in April, 1879, and it was completed and ready for occupancy the following October. It is a commodious structure, measuring sixty feet in depth, twenty-six feet in width, and about twenty-eight feet in height. Besides this improvement, there now stands in the place of the old school building a neat brick dwelling for the good teachers, the Sisters. It is twenty-one feet front, thirty-three feet deep, two stories high, and complete in its arrangements. The Sisters have brought the school to a high grade, teaching in both German and English, reading, spelling, writing, grammar, arithmetic, geography, Bible history, and catechism to an average of ninety to one hundred children. Thus has the congregation prospered under the present pastor. He is a young and active man, and is considered an able speaker in both the German and English languages. He has gained the friendship and respect of all classes in Hollidaysburg, and under his care and teaching St. Michael's congregation has gained such a degree of prosperity that it is now one of the best in the Catholic diocese of Pittsburgh. Africa, J. Simpson, Chapter XIII, "Borough of Hollidaysburg," History of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883, page 93. ST. JOHN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. - The first mass said in Altoona is believed to have been at the house of Mrs. Catharine Lynch. Prior to 1852 services were of a transient nature, and held at the houses of the faithful few then living here. The early membership of this church was largely augmented by those engaged in building the Pennsylvania Railroad, so that the Catholic population rapidly increased.* Services were held more frequently by Rev. John Welsh [sic] and others from neighboring stations. In 1852 the church in Altoona now known as St. John's was organized. Rev. John Walsh, deceased, then in charge of St. Mary's Church, Hollidaysburg, purchased (in 1852) two lots, upon which was erected a small frame building, but sufficiently large to accommodate the congregation, at that time not large. It was dedicated the following year, and the services of the church held therein. In fact, it was occupied long before it was finished. It was not seated for nearly two years later. The members were poor, and the church edifice progressed slowly both in building and its interior finishing. Truly the early history of this church is one of small beginnings. As yet, it had no resident pastor, and the venerable Father Bradley, pastor at Newry, attended regularly to the spiritual wants of the people for the greater part of 1863. In 1854, Rev. John Tuigg was installed as pastor of St. John's, the first resident priest. He was a most zealous worker in this vineyard; self-sacrificing and practical, he tided the congregation through their early struggles, and left them a strong parish, with a large congregation and a commodious church. The brick addition, which had been built when the first frame building had become too small for the growing congregation, likewise soon became too cramped to accommodate it. It was then resolved to build anew. About the year 1871 the present capacious edifice was commenced, and the persevering efforts of the energetic pastor (Father Tuigg), ably seconded by his faithful congregation, were rewarded in the completion of the structure in 1875. It was dedicated on June 24th, the feast of St. John, for whom the church was named, by the Right Rev. M. Domenec, the late bishop of the diocese. The church is located on Thirteenth Avenue, near Thirteenth Street. It is worthy of mention that the old pioneer frame church was entirely enclosed by the walls of the present edifice, and that its use was continued until the very last, when it was torn down and passed by piecemeal through the large windows of the new church. The plans for the new church were drawn by James Bowman. The lamented Rev. John Walsh, who succeeded Father Tuigg in March, 1876, served as pastor until his death, in June, 1880. The present pastor, Rev. Thomas Ryan, was for a number of years in charge of the Gallitzin Church, in Cambria County. July 18, 1880, Rev. John Tuigg, bishop of the diocese of Pittsburgh, administered the sacrament of confirmation at St. John's, at the close of which he installed Father Ryan as pastor of the church. His assistants were at first Revs. M.M. Sheedy and James A. Nash; at the present time (Oct. 1, 1881) he has but one assistant, Rev. T. Brierley. The present membership of St. John's is over four thousand. *Among the early and pioneer members of St. John's may be named Mrs. Catharine Lynch, John Hatton, Sr., and his wife, Joseph and Miss Eliza Boone, Mrs. John P. Hodnett, Mr. and Mrs. John Holton, Mrs. and Mrs. Thomas Lynch, Mr. and Mrs. Myles Doran, Thomas Farrell, Sr., and Peter Lee. Africa, J. Simpson, Chapter XXI, "City of Altoona," History of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883, pages 178-179. ST. MARY'S (ROMAN CATHOLIC) CHURCH. - This, the German Church of the Catholic faith in Altoona, was organized in 1860. It is impossible to present a full list of the original members, but among them were the following: George Street, T.W. Rauch (deceased), John Nagle, Francis Geoerger, Bernard Wiessel, Francis X. Berloeb (deceased), Mangus and FedaliasBener, Nicholas and Bernard Kurtz, Isadore Eger, Nicholas Oehringer (deceased), Lawrence Kimmell, Matthias Maintel (deceased), Kasinger Rigel, Casper Baumgartner, Michael Donner, Wolfgang Weiss, Joseph Mayer (deceased), John Klein, Adam Klessius (deceased), Peter Schmidt, John Judith, Joseph Schell (deceased), Martin Martel, Conrad Bender (deceased), Mrs. Caroline Schenk, Joseph Stehle, Adam Gable (deceased), George Wachter, George Schmidt (deceased), Leonard Soller, etc. Prior to 1860 the German-speaking Catholics worshiped [sic] with the English in St. John's Church, the former having at irregular intervals the ministrations of the Benedictine Fathers Clemens, Manus, Wendelin, and others, in the German language, whenever they visited the place. In 1860, however, the German Catholics formed a separate congregation with a resident priest, Father Charles Schuller. He was succeeded in order by Fathers Michael Bierl, George Kircher, F. Rottensteiner, John Rosswog, and Fra. Deuermeyer. Rev. John A. Schell, the present pastor, took charge in 1871. The corner-stone of St. Mary's was laid in 1860, and the church was in course of erection until 1874, when Father Schell brought it to its present shape. Although still unfinished, it has been in use by the congregation almost from the first, and its early completion is intended. It is located on Fifth Avenue, corner of Fourteenth Street. The congregation is in a very flourishing condition, and numbers nearly two thousand. St. Mary's has a cemetery of its own, and there is a beneficial society connected with the church of over one hundred members, of which Joseph Betzendroffer is president. Africa, J. Simpson, Chapter XXI, "City of Altoona," History of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883, page 179. ST. LUKE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. - Missionaries of the Catholic Church visited the valley as early as 1799, and said mass at the houses of the McClains and the McMullens. One of the most active of these visiting priests was Father Leonard Bradley, who came from Bedford. Father Demetrius A. Gallitzin was on of the contemporary priests, and continued his visits until 1827, when he was relieved by Father Heyden, who formed a parish of the families living along the eastern base of the mountain. In 1840, Father Bradley came on to this field of labor, and dedicated a small frame house of worship near Laurelville, erected that year, as St. Luke's Church. He visited the church once a month until 1853, when the families residing in the valley were attached to the parish of Altoona. After eight years a resident priest was placed over the church at Tyrone borough, and St. Luke's has since belonged to that parish; but in the spring of 1877 a priest's house was built at Laurelville, when Father Edward McSweeny took up his residence there, the church still being a part of the parish of Tyrone. The priest's residence was not long continued, and at present only occasional mass is said in the valley. Africa, J. Simpson, Chapter XXVI, "Tyrone Township," History of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883, pages * * * PASTORS OF THE PARISHES AND MISSIONS OF THE DIOCESE OF ALTOONA IN BLAIR COUNTY Wolf, George A., "The Catholic Churches in Blair County," Blair County's First Hundred Years, 1846-1946. Altoona, PA: Blair County Historical Society, The Mirror Press, 1945, pp. 188-190. Courtesy of the Blair County Historical Society, 3419 Oak Lane, P.O. Box 1083, Altoona, PA 16603. NEWRY St. Patrick's Founded 1816 Number of souls: 907 Attended from Loretto, 1816-1831 Rev. John O'Reilly, 1831-1832 Rev. James Bradley, 1832-1883 Rev. Richard Browne, 1883-1883 Rev. Ferdinand Kittell, 1884-1887 Rev. J.A. Canevin, 1887-1891 Rev. E. Dumphy, 1891-1892 Rev. Thomas Walsh, 1892-1897 Rev. Robert Waters, 1897-1902 Rev. Michael J. Canole, 1903-1907 Rev. William S. Davies, 1907-1912 Rev. Roger S. O'Donnell, 1912-1935 Rev. Edward J. Hickey, 1935-1937 Rev. Jeremiah P. Flynn, 1937 - SINKING VALLEY St. Luke's Founded 1840 Attended from Newry, 1840-1853 Attended from St. John's, Altoona, 1853-1858 Attended from St. Matthew's, Tyrone, 1858-1877 Rev. Edward McSweeny, 1877-1877 Attended from St. Matthew's, Tyrone, 1877-1912 HOLLIDAYSBURG St. Mary's Founded 1841 Number of souls: 758 Attended from Newry, 1841-1844 Rev. Robert A. Wilson, D.D., 1844-1845 Rev. John C. Brady, 1845-1848 Rev. John Walsh, 1848-1876 Rev. Thomas Walsh, 1876-1882 Rev. John E. Reardon, 1882-1885 Rev. Hugh Haggerty, 1885-1887 Rev. Ferdinand Kittell, 1887-1889 Rev. James Donnelly, 1889-1892 Rev. David J. Walsh, 1892-1893 Rev. Cornelius Sheehan, 1893-1900 Rev. Patrick Vereker, 1900-1922 Rev. Michael V. Munley, 1922-1945 (Rev. John R. Reichert, Adm. 1938-1944) Rev. Raymond E. Cupples, Adm., 1944- ALTOONA Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (known as St. John's Church and Pro-Cathedral until 1924) Founded 1851 Number of souls: 2978 Attended from Hollidaysburg, 1851-1853 Rev. John Tuigg, 1853-1876 Rev. John Walsh, 1876-1880 Rev. Thomas Ryan, 1880-1883 Most. Rev. John Tuigg (in residence) 1883-1889 Rev. Edward A. Bush, 1890-1894 Rev. Morgan M. Sheedy, 1894-1939 (Rev. James A. Melvin, Adm. 1924-1938) Rev. Ildefonze J. Denny, 1938- TYRONE St. Matthew's Founded 1853 Number of souls: 980 Attended from St. John's, Altoona, 1853-1858 Rev. Patrick M. Sheehan, 1858-1861 Rev. John C. Farren, 1861-1889 Rev. Ferdinand Kittell, 1889-1891 Rev. Dennis Gallagher, 1891-1894 Rev. Thomas W. Rosensteel, 1894-1901 Rev. Philip Bohan, 1901-1904 Rev. Gregory M. Kelly, 1904-1912 Rev. Jeremiah F. Louney, 1912-1930 Very Rev. James A. Tolan, 1930- ALTOONA Immaculate Conception Founded 1860 Number of souls: 3,350 Rev. C. Schuler, 1862-1862 Rev. J.M. Bierl, 1862-1862 Rev. George Kircher, 1863-1864 Rev. Anthony Rottensteiner, 1864-1866 Rev. Jacob L. Roswogg, 1866-1869 Rev. Joseph Deuermeyer, 1869-1870 Rev. John A. Schell, 1870-1891 Rev. Dominic Zwickert, 1891-1913 Rev. George J. Bock, 1913-1939 Rev. Matthias Pfeil, 1940-1940 Rev. J. Donald Wagner, 1941- WILLIAMSBURG St. Joseph's Founded 1860 Number of souls: 308 Attended from St. Mary's, Hollidaysburg, 1860-1921 Rev. James Padden, 1921-1922 Rev. Ildefonze J. Denny, 1922-1925 Rev. Joseph P. Brett, 1925-1927 Rev. John A. Sostaric, 1927-1932 Rev. Anthony C. Choby, 1932-1932 Rev. Ferdinand Kreutzkampf, 1932-1943 Rev. Stephen E. Milcic, 1943- HOLLIDAYSBURG St. Michael's Founded 1863 Number of souls: 840 Rev. George Kircher, 1863-1868 Rev. J.B. Schmitt, 1868-1870 Rev. Jacob L. Roswogg, 1870-1870 Rev. George P. Alltmann, 1870-1874 Rev. Julius Kuenzer, 1874-1878 Rev. Francis J. Kaib, 1878-1886 Rev. Julius Holtappel, 1886-1887 Rev. Lawrence Boell, 1887-1891 Rev. John B. Heine, 1891-1897 Rev. J.A. Erhart, 1897-1898 Rev. Joseph J. Vogt, 1898-1901 Rev. George J. Bock, 1901-1913 Rev. John J. Ergler, 1913-1939 Rev. John F. Cullinan, D.D., 1939- ALTOONA St. Mark's Founded 1889 Number of souls: 2,305 Rev. Nicholas J. O'Reilly, 1890-1911 Rev. James B. Egan, 1911-1924 Rt. Rev. Monsignor Peter Fox, 1924-1943 Rev. John J. Daley, Adm. 1943- ALTOONA Sacred Heart Founded 1890 Number of souls: 1,755 Rt. Rev. Monsignor Thomas P. Smith, V.G., 1890-1928 Rt. Rev. Monsignor Jerome L. McQuillen, 1928- BELLWOOD St. Joseph's Founded 1900 Number of souls: 246 Attended from St. John's, Altoona, 1900-1902 Attended from Holy Rosary, Juniata, 1902-1912 Rev. Joseph A. Howard, 1912-1918 Rev. Charles E. Haley, 1918-1923 Rev. John V. Byrne, 1923-1926 Rev. Michael F. Brett, 1926-1932 Rev. Joseph P. Brett, 1932-1936 Rev. George A. Donovan, 1936-1940 Rev. Michael E. Smith, 1940- JUNIATA Holy Rosary Founded 1901 Number of souls: 821 Rev. George Kim Bigley, 1902-1912 Rev. Cornelius L. McKinney, Adm, 1910-1911 Rt. Rev. Monsignor Bernard Conley, 1912-1943 Rev. Frances A. McNelis, D.D., 1943- ALTOONA Our Lady of Mount Carmel Founded 1905 Number of souls: 5,645 Rev. Raphael Penta, 1905-1906 Rev. William Cavallo, 1906-1909 Rev. Nicholas Capaldo, 1908-1909 Rev. Jerome N. Zazzara, T.O.R., 1939-1939 Rev. Angelo Placentini, T.O.R., 1939-1944 Rev. John Flannelly, T.O.R., 1944- ALTOONA St. Leo's Founded 1911 Number of souls: 1,284 Rev. Michael J. Canole, 1911-1932 Rev. John E. O'Connor, 1932-1943 Rev. John P. Manning, 1943- ALTOONA Sts. Peter and Paul's Founded 1911 Number of souls: 500 Rev. Julius Langer, 1911-1918 Rev. Joseph A. Wozny, 1918- CLAYSBURG St. Anne's Founded 1918 Number of souls: 160 Attended from Newry, 1918- LAKEMONT St. John the Evangelist's Founded 1921 Number of souls: 490 Rev. Leo G. Bailey, 1921- ALTOONA Our Lady of Lourdes Founded 1923 Number of souls: 1,566 Rev. Joseph H. Farran, 1923-1935 Rev. James F. Hanlon, 1935-1935 Rev. Roger S. O'Donnell, 1935-1940 Rev. Philip J. O'Donnell, 1940- ELDORADO St. Rose of Lima's Founded 1924 Number of souls: 655 Rev. John J. McAllister, 1925-1944 Rev. William M. Griffin, 1944- ALTOONA Assumption Chapel Founded 1925 Number of souls: 480 Attended from Our Lady of Mount Carmel ALTOONA St. Therese's Founded 1927 Number of souls: 638 Rev. Thomas W. Kelley, 1927- The total Catholic population of Blair County [in 1946] is 26,666.