Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Stommel, Henry, Rev
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Doylestown M-Z


REV. HENRY STOMMEL pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church, at 
Doylestown, was born at Hodgeroth, county of Siegburg, 
Germany, June 23, 1842.  He is the second of a family of 
four children, all of whom except the eldest are residents 
of this county.  Henry Stommel was devoted to the ministry, 
and pursued his preparatory studies in Germany, and later in 
Belgium.  He was ordained at Louvain, in Belgium, September 
11, 1870, by the Rt. Rev. Stein, bishop of Calcutta, India.  
Early in December, 1870, he sailed for Boston, Mass.  Soon 
after his arrival he was appointed assistant pastor of St. 
Boniface church in Philadelphia, by the late Archbishop 
Wood, and on the 9th of October, 1871, he assumed charge of 
St. John's church and the missions at Haycocok.  Since then, 
Father Stommel has continued his labors with signal success. 
Under his direction about twenty parochial buildings have 
been erected, seven churches, school-houses, residences, 
halls, etc., beside the many improvements effected on 
existing buildings.  Among the structures which owe their 
origin to the pastor's enterprising industry are St. 
Joseph's, at Marienstein, St. Lawrence's at Durham, St. 
Rosa's at Piusfield, St. Martin's at New Hope, St. Isedor's 
at Quakertown, in Bucks county; and St. Stanislaus at 
Landsdale, and St. Anthony's at Ambler in Montgomery county. 
Three parochial schools, which are conducted by the Sisters 
of St. Francis, have also been established by Father 
Stommel, at Haycock, Doylestown and Ambler.  His pastorate 
has been marked by unremitting labor, save in 1880, when he 
was absent for three months, visiting Rome and the scenes of 
his early youth in Germany.