St.
Joseph’s German Catholic Church,
on East State street next to the Buhl Hospital, is one of the largest
church edifices of the county. The organization of the German Catholics
is of comparatively recent date. The cornerstone of the church was laid
by Bishop Mullen in July, 1892, but the
building was not dedicated until May, 1898, Bishop
Fitzmaurice presiding at the ceremony. Father
Helstern was the first pastor of this parish, but it was largely
due to the zealous labors of the present [1909] pastor, Father
S. Assenmacher, who took charge in 1895, that the handsome
building was completed and the parish given lasting vitality and power.
He is a native of Germany, and the first five years of his work in
America were spent in Clearfield county, this state. A parochial school
is conducted in connection with the church.
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County,
pages 273-274.
St. Joseph
Church
- Former Pastors
View memorial to former
pastors given by the children at St. Joseph's School.