About Immaculate Conception Catholic Church · New Germany, Pennsylvania
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the small unincorporated village of New Germany in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, between Johnstown, Ebensburg, Wilmore, and Summerhill. It belongs to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown but, since its 19th-century founding, has been served by Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe — the first Benedictine monastery in the United States. The parish grew from German-Catholic immigrant beginnings, beginning with Mass in private homes and a small log church, and today offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic adoration, sacraments, and a beloved annual July 4th parish picnic that draws people from across the region.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Nale
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a tight-knit, growing Benedictine-served parish where generations of Cambria County families have worshipped since the 1850s. Visitors can expect the warmth of a small rural community with a faithful liturgical life — daily and weekend Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration on Thursdays, confession before every weekend Mass, ministries for lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, greeters, altar servers, choir and cantors, plus outreach to the sick and homebound. Add in the famous annual July 4th parish picnic and a clear devotion to the Blessed Mother under her title of the Immaculate Conception, and it's an easy parish to make your spiritual home.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 15 minutes before weekend Masses (Saturday 4:00 PM and Sunday 7:00 AM at Immaculate Conception)
Adoration times
- Thursdays from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Exposition & Adoration at Immaculate Conception)
Parish History
Immaculate Conception Parish grew out of the 19th-century German Catholic immigration into Cambria County. After Bishop Michael O'Connor of Pittsburgh invited Archabbot Boniface Wimmer's Benedictine monks from Bavaria, the monks took responsibility for the missions of Cambria County in 1848. Mass was first celebrated in the homes of New Germany's Catholic families; a small log-cabin church followed, and finally the present structure, dedicated on December 8, 1855, by the Very Rev. Clement Staub, O.S.B., taking the title of the Immaculate Conception defined as dogma by Pope Pius IX just a year earlier.
- Dedicated December 8, 1855, by Very Rev. Clement Staub, O.S.B.
- Title taken from the 1854 dogma of the Immaculate Conception
- Continuous Benedictine staffing from Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe
Benedictine Heritage
Although Immaculate Conception is a parish of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, it has been — and remains — staffed by Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the first Benedictine monastery in the United States, founded by Archabbot Boniface Wimmer in 1846. This gives the parish a distinctive monastic liturgical character and connects it to the wider network of Saint Vincent parishes across western and central Pennsylvania.
- Staffed by monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe
- Tied to the Bavarian Benedictine mission that arrived in 1846
Mass & Liturgy
Immaculate Conception offers a full weekly schedule of Masses, weekday and Sunday, including the Saturday vigil and an early Sunday Mass. Weekday Masses are celebrated at 7:45 AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The Saturday vigil Mass is at 4:00 PM and the Sunday Mass is at 7:00 AM. (The companion parish, Saint John the Baptist in Summerhill, also offers Masses — Sat 5:30 PM and Sun 8:30 AM — listed on the same website.)
- Mon 7:45 AM
- Wed 7:45 AM
- Fri 7:45 AM
- Sat 4:00 PM (vigil)
- Sun 7:00 AM
Parish Ministries
Immaculate Conception offers a wide range of lay ministries for registered parishioners — men, women, and teens — who wish to serve the Church. Sacramental and liturgical ministries include altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors/readers, ushers and greeters, collectors, and ministers to the sick and homebound who bring Holy Communion to those unable to attend Mass. Music ministries include an adult choir and cantors who lead the congregation's worship.
- Altar Servers — men, boys, and girls of all ages
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors / Readers
- Ushers and Greeters
- Collectors
- Communion to the Sick and Housebound
- Adult Choir
- Cantors
Community Life & Annual Picnic
A signature event of parish life is the annual July 4th picnic, which the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has highlighted as a beloved tradition drawing local families and friends who travel from far and wide to enjoy food, games, and community. Beyond the picnic, the parish's ministries — from altar serving to choir to visiting the homebound — give plenty of ways to belong.
- Annual July 4th Parish Picnic
- Faith-formation through ministry involvement
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently served by Rev. Joseph Nale as pastor, with Rev. Donald Dusza serving as parochial vicar and Deacon Richard Golden assisting. The pastor and parochial vicar together also serve the parishes of Saint John the Baptist (Summerhill), Saint Bartholomew (Wilmore), and Most Holy Trinity (South Fork). The shared parish office is staffed at 538 Main Street, Summerhill.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Nale
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Donald Dusza
- Deacon: Deacon Richard Golden
- Parish office: 538 Main Street, Summerhill, PA 15958 — phone 814-495-5241
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office at 814-495-5241 or by email at [email protected]. The office is at 538 Main Street, PO Box 248, Summerhill, PA 15958. Immaculate Conception Church itself is at 1640 New Germany Road, Summerhill (in the village of New Germany). To bring Holy Communion to a homebound relative, or to schedule a wedding or funeral, call the parish office.
- Phone: 814-495-5241
- Fax: 814-495-9522
- Email: [email protected]
- Immaculate Conception Church: 1640 New Germany Road, Summerhill, PA 15958
- Parish office: 538 Main Street, PO Box 248, Summerhill, PA 15958
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Clement Staub, O.S.B.1855 (dedication)
Dedicated the original Immaculate Conception church at New Germany on December 8, 1855
- Rev. Urban Bayer, O.S.B.November 1868 – April 3, 1870
Attended the New Germany mission from St. Joseph's, Johnstown
- Rev. Eric T. Vogt, O.S.B.1998–2002
Benedictine of Saint Vincent Archabbey; pastor of Immaculate Conception, New Germany, and Saint John, Summerhill
- Rev. Leon H. Hont, O.S.B.2012–2021 (retirement)
Benedictine of Saint Vincent Archabbey; pastor of Saint John, Summerhill and Immaculate Conception, New Germany
- Rev. Joseph Nale2021–present
Current pastor; listed by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, New Germany, Most Holy Trinity (South Fork), Saint Bartholomew (Wilmore), and Saint John the Baptist (Summerhill)