About Immaculate Conception · Brookville, Pennsylvania
Immaculate Conception Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Erie. Established in 1852, it serves Catholics across a wide swath of Jefferson County from its church at 129 Graham Avenue, joined in mission with the neighboring St. Dominic worship site in nearby Sigel. The parish is pastored by Rev. William M. Laska, supported by Religious Education Leader Penny Rakovan and parish secretary Chris Koladish. It is a tight-knit small-town parish offering daily and weekend Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a Sunday religious education program for all grades, a Father Ciaiola Scholarship for high school seniors, and the upkeep of five historic Catholic cemeteries.
- Established
- 1852
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. William M. Laska
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie (Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania)
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers the full sacramental life of a small, family-sized Catholic parish — daily Mass in the historic 1870s church, weekend Mass at both the Brookville church and the sister site of St. Dominic, regular Saturday and Sunday confessions, and a parish-wide Religious Education program for every grade that meets Sundays from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. between the Masses. The parish welcomes new members (registration is required to serve as a baptism or marriage sponsor), looks after five historic Catholic cemeteries as part of its ministry, and supports youth through the long-running Father Ciaiola Scholarship. Visitors are greeted with open doors and a personal welcome from the parish office at 129 Graham Avenue.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 p.m. — Immaculate Conception Church, Brookville
- Sunday 8:00 a.m. — St. Dominic, Sigel
- Also by appointment
About Immaculate Conception Parish
Immaculate Conception Parish is the Catholic congregation in Brookville, the seat of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, established in 1852 and now part of the Diocese of Erie. The parish shares its pastoral ministry with the St. Dominic worship site in nearby Sigel. Together the two churches serve Catholics across much of Jefferson County, providing daily Mass in Brookville, Sunday Mass at both churches, sacramental preparation, religious education for every grade, and stewardship of five historic Catholic cemeteries. The parish office sits next to the church at 129 Graham Avenue and is staffed by Pastor Rev. William M. Laska, Religious Education Leader Penny Rakovan, and Secretary Chris Koladish.
- Founded 1852 — Diocese of Erie
- Address: 129 Graham Avenue, Brookville, PA 15825
- Phone: (814) 849-8697 • Fax: (814) 849-5265
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.icbrookville.com
Parish History
Catholic life in Brookville dates to 1831, when John Dougherty became the first practical Catholic in the county seat. Early Masses were celebrated in private homes by visiting priests from Butler, Armstrong, and Clarion counties; Father Dean became the first resident priest in 1847 but stayed only briefly. Under Rev. Thomas Ledewith in 1851 the Brookville congregation organized itself, and in 1852 the cornerstone of the first brick church was laid on a Water Street lot donated by Dougherty. By 1871 a larger church was needed, and on July 21, 1872 Bishop Tobias Mullen laid the cornerstone of the present church, redesigned by Brooklyn architect P.C. Keely to 100 by 50 feet inside. Mass was first celebrated in the new building in December 1877. The parish has been served across the generations by dozens of priests; in the modern era Father Joseph A. Ciaiola's 34-year pastorate (from 1963) left the deepest mark through church and school renovations, the development of mission churches at Sigel and Corsica, and eventual debt relief.
- 1831 — First Catholic settler John Dougherty arrives in Brookville
- 1847 — Father Dean becomes Brookville's first resident priest
- 1852 — Cornerstone of first brick church (Water Street lot)
- 1855 — First church sold at mechanic's lien; bought back by Dougherty and Gallagher
- 1872 — Cornerstone of present church laid by Bishop Tobias Mullen
- 1877 — First Mass celebrated in the new (current) church
- 1963 — Father Joseph A. Ciaiola begins 34-year pastorate
- October 11, 2024 — Bishop Lawrence T. Persico signs decree clarifying parish boundaries, effective December 1, 2024
Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. William M. Laska. Pastoral and administrative support is provided by Religious Education Leader Penny Rakovan and parish secretary Chris Koladish. Members may contact the rectory at (814) 849-8697 or [email protected] for sacramental needs, cemetery matters, religious education registration, or general parish business.
- Pastor — Rev. William M. Laska
- Religious Education Leader — Penny Rakovan
- Secretary / Support Staff — Chris Koladish
Religious Education (Faith Formation)
The parish runs a parish-wide Religious Education program for every grade, meeting Sunday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. between the two Sunday Masses. The program is led by Religious Education Leader Penny Rakovan, who can be reached through the parish office at (814) 849-8697.
- Religious Education for all grades
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
- Leader: Penny Rakovan
Sacraments
Information for each of the Church's sacraments is published in the parish bulletin. Baptisms and weddings are scheduled by appointment, with marriage requiring a six-month preparation period. Anointing of the Sick is arranged by calling the rectory when a family member is hospitalized or homebound. Parish membership is required to serve as a sponsor for a Sacrament, to marry in the parish, or to have a child baptized.
- Baptism — by appointment (call rectory)
- Marriage — by appointment; six-month preparation period
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:30 p.m., Sunday 8:00 a.m., and by appointment
- Sacrament of the Sick — call the rectory when hospitalized or shut-in
- Parish Membership — required to be a sponsor, marry in the parish, or baptize a child
Parish Ministries and Volunteer Service
Immaculate Conception's liturgical life is supported by lay volunteers who serve at the altar, proclaim Scripture, greet worshippers, and maintain the church grounds. The bulletin publishes a regular liturgical-assignment schedule so parishioners can sign up for a particular Mass.
- Altar Servers — Saturday 5:15 p.m. (volunteer) and Sunday 10:30 a.m. (Oliver Butcher)
- Lectors — Saturday 5:15 p.m. (Jim Stanley) and Sunday 10:30 a.m. (John Pozza)
- Ushers — monthly published schedule (e.g. May 30: Jim Stanley and Don Jonischek)
Cemetery Stewardship
The parish is responsible for maintaining five Catholic cemeteries across the region and asks visitors to follow published regulations to keep the grounds safe and beautiful. Families placing a monument must contact the Parish Office at least 10 days in advance so that the parish can confirm proper placement and avoid costly mistakes.
- Old St. Mary's Cemetery
- St. Mary's Cemetery
- St. Dominic's Cemetery
- St. Anthony's Cemetery (Conifer)
- St. Ann's Cemetery (Corsica)
- Regulations: no decorative stones, no breakable objects or glass vases, take all trash home, remove flowers/wreaths by the spring cleanup date
Fundraising and Community Events
The parish runs two recurring fundraising traditions. The Father Ciaiola Scholarship is awarded annually to a parish high-school senior; applications are available through the Parish Office and must be returned with required information by the deadline (e.g. June 8 for the 2026 award). The annual Immaculate Conception / St. Dominic Golf Scramble, held at Pinecrest Country Club, brings the two parish communities together for a day of golf, a Chinese Auction, and donated baked goods.
- Father Ciaiola Scholarship — for parish high-school seniors; applications at the Parish Office
- Annual Golf Scramble at Pinecrest Country Club — contact Bob Deter (814-715-2939)
- Flower Calendar memorial program — 2026 calendar posted on parish bulletin boards
Diocese of Erie and Parish Boundaries
Immaculate Conception is one of the parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, whose current ordinary is Bishop Lawrence T. Persico. On October 11, 2024 Bishop Persico signed a decree formally defining and clarifying the territorial boundaries of Immaculate Conception Parish, effective the First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024. The territory extends across much of Jefferson County, from the Little Sandy Creek / Beaver–Ringgold township line in the south to the Jefferson–Elk County border in the north, and reaches west to the Jefferson–Forest and Jefferson–Clarion County borders.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
- Bishop: Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, JCL
- Boundary decree signed October 11, 2024; effective December 1, 2024
- Chancellor: Rev. Christopher J. Singer, JCL
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John O'Neilfrom 1832
First priest to visit Brookville, from Freeport; reportedly baptized the first Catholic child in Jefferson County in 1832.
- Father Dean1847
First priest stationed in Brookville; stayed only a short time.
- Rev. Thomas Ledewithfrom 1851
Residing in Corsica; organized the Brookville congregation and began the first church (cornerstone 1852).
- Father Wienkerearly 1870s
Engaged P.C. Keely of Brooklyn, NY, to redesign the new church, scaling it to its present size; cornerstone laid July 21, 1872 by Bishop Tobias Mullen.
- Rev. Joseph A. Ciaiola1963 – ~1997 (34 years)
Longest-tenured pastor in the modern era. Renovated the church and school, developed mission churches at Sigel (St. Dominic) and Corsica (St. Ann), and pulled the parish and school out of debt. The school eventually closed under his tenure as enrollment fell; honored by the parish through the annual Father Ciaiola Scholarship.