About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Conewago, Pennsylvania
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, popularly known as Conewago Chapel, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located in Conewago Township (Adams County), Pennsylvania, about three miles northwest of Hanover. Founded as a Jesuit mission in 1730, it is the oldest Catholic church building in the United States constructed of stone (built 1785–1787) and the first parish church in America dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Raised to the rank of minor basilica by Pope (now Saint) John XXIII on June 30, 1962, the shrine is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg and is celebrated as the "Mother Church of Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna."
- Established
- 1730
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Dwight Schlaline
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
Conewago is one of the oldest continuously active Catholic communities in the United States, and the parish still keeps the rhythm of devotion its 18th-century founders began: a Saturday Vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses, weekday Mass on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, monthly First Friday evening Mass and Holy Hour, and regular Saturday confessions. Families with children can enroll them in parish religious education (CCD) or send them to the parish's co-sponsored Saint Teresa of Calcutta School (PreK–8, Conewago and McSherrystown campuses), while adults seeking the faith join the Christian Initiation (RCIA) team. Visitors and pilgrims are drawn to the shrine's history, its baroque-revival interior, the parish picnic each July at the Basilica Picnic Grove, and the sense of continuity with America's earliest Catholic frontier.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- First Friday of the month: 6:30 PM (with 6:00 PM Holy Hour preceding First Friday Mass)
Adoration times
- First Friday: 6:00 PM Holy Hour (immediately preceding the 7:00 PM First Friday Mass)
Parish History
Conewago Chapel traces its roots to 1730, when English Jesuits from Maryland extended their mission circuit into southern Pennsylvania (some historians place an English Jesuit mission post here as early as 1637). Father Joseph Greaton, S.J., the first priest whose name is recorded at the mission, arrived in Maryland in 1719. By 1741 a combined log dwelling and chapel dedicated to St. Mary of the Assumption had been built, and by 1784 the congregation numbered more than 1,000 — at the time the largest Catholic parish in early America. The present stone church was begun in 1785 with the help of parishioners, completed in 1787 (a month before the U.S. Constitution was signed), and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus — the first parish church in America, and probably in the Western Hemisphere, to bear that title. It remains the oldest Catholic church in the United States built of stone. Among its early priestly sons was the Russian-born Prince-Demetrius Gallitzin, who served here from 1795 to 1799 before founding Loretto, Pennsylvania. In 1834 the Sisters of Charity came from Emmitsburg, Maryland, to open the Conewago Chapel School. In 1851 the church was enlarged with a transept and apse and consecrated by Bishop Francis Kenrick of Philadelphia; the 80-foot spire was added in 1873. The interior received three major artistic commissions — Gephart's 1844 Assumption ceiling, Franz Stecher's 1850 transept and apse murals, and the 1887 Baroque-revival decorative scheme of Lorenzo C. Scattaglia together with Filippo Costaggini's Vision of the Sacred Heart above the altar. Jesuit administration ended on June 3, 1901. The 1937 sesquicentennial, the 1962 elevation to minor basilica by Pope John XXIII, and the 1975 listing on the National Register of Historic Places mark it as a parish of national significance.
- Founded 1730; first stone church completed 1787
- First parish church in America dedicated to the Sacred Heart
- Oldest Catholic church in the U.S. built of stone
- Jesuit administration ended June 3, 1901
- Elevated to minor basilica June 30, 1962 by Pope John XXIII
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1975
Interior Restoration & Conservation Project
Between 2022 and 2023 the parish undertook a monumental interior restoration and conservation with Canning Liturgical Arts of Connecticut. As crews began removing 1960s overpaint they discovered that the original 19th-century decorative scheme — frescoes, trompe-l'œil pilasters, faux marble, gilded garlands, and ceiling coffers — was largely intact underneath, in what the firm described as "the largest paint exposure" it had ever encountered. The project salvaged the historic fabric, repaired cracks throughout the interior, polychromed the saints along the sanctuary wall and the Stations of the Cross, restored the carved-oak frames of the Stations, conserved Stecher's Nativity and Crucifixion transept murals, restored the early-19th-century Carrara marble altar to the sanctuary, and replicated missing sections in keeping with the original decorative program. The result returned the basilica to what Pope John XXIII in 1962 called "among the fairest of the land."
- Canning Liturgical Arts, conservation firm (2022–23)
- Evergreene Architectural Arts restored Costaggini's 1887 sanctuary painting in 2021
- Original 19th-century decorative scheme recovered under 1960s overpaint
- Carrara marble altar reassembled in the sanctuary
- Stations of the Cross handcarved-oak frames restored
Architecture, Art & Stained Glass
The exterior is Federal style — a simple brownstone (red stone) shell with walls three feet thick, a semi-circular arched doorway, and an 80-foot spire (added 1873) — but inside the visitor enters a Baroque-revival "jewel box." Scattaglia's 1887 trompe-l'œil pilasters in faux marble divide stained-glass windows that glow with Munich glass installed between 1902 and 1914. The lower windows depict the Joyful Mysteries on one side and scenes from Jesus at Cana, preaching, and laid in the tomb on the other; the upper windows honor Jesuit saints (Ignatius, Aloysius, John Berchmans) on one side and St. Patrick with Germanus of Auxerre, Genevieve and Bridget on the other. Above the altar, Filippo Costaggini's 1887 Vision of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary is flanked by Franz Stecher's Nativity and Crucifixion (1850) in the transepts and crowned by his Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the apse semi-dome. The nave ceiling bears Gephart's 1844 Assumption of Mary and three 1850 "Wonders of Divine Love" in the crossing.
- Brownstone construction; 3-ft-thick walls; 2½ stories, 3 bays × 5 bays
- Federal exterior; 80-foot spire added 1873
- Munich stained-glass windows installed 1902–1914
- Three principal mural campaigns: 1844, 1850, 1887
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1975
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for Baptism, Marriage, the Anointing of the Sick, and the Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Parents are asked to call the parish office to begin preparation for a child's Baptism. Couples should meet with the pastor as soon as possible after engagement, since the marriage-preparation process takes at least nine months. The Anointing of the Sick is offered when a parishioner is hospitalized or homebound — the office should be notified directly. Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church contact the parish's RCIA team; meetings are usually held on Mondays at 6:30 PM.
- Baptism of children — call the parish office to prepare
- Marriage — at least 9 months of preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — notify parish office for hospital/homebound visits
- RCIA (Christian Initiation) — [email protected]; Mondays 6:30 PM
Christian Initiation (RCIA) & Religious Education (CCD)
Adults seeking to become Catholic or to complete their sacraments join the parish's Christian Initiation team, coordinated by Kelly and Don Jenkins; the group typically meets Mondays at 6:30 PM. Children not enrolled in Catholic school receive faith formation through the parish's CCD (religious education) program, coordinated by Jessica and Travis Fitzgerald. Both programs reach out by email as the primary contact channel.
- Christian Initiation (RCIA) — Kelly & Don Jenkins; [email protected]
- Religious Education / CCD — Jessica & Travis Fitzgerald; [email protected]
- RCIA meetings: typically Mondays at 6:30 PM
Music Ministry
Liturgical music is led by Jody Richter, Director of Music ([email protected]), who coordinates music for the basilica's weekend and First Friday liturgies and other solemnities.
- Jody Richter, Director of Music
Catholic Schools Affiliated with the Parish
The parish school, Sacred Heart of Jesus School, closed in 2017, and the Basilica Parish became a co-sponsor of the new Saint Teresa of Calcutta School, which serves grades PreK–8 across two campuses. The Conewago Campus (the former Sacred Heart of Jesus School building) houses grades K–3 and is located at 55 Basilica Drive, Hanover (mail should be addressed to 30 Basilica Drive); the McSherrystown Campus houses grades 4–8. The parish is also affiliated with Delone Catholic High School (grades 9–12) in McSherrystown.
- Saint Teresa of Calcutta School (PreK–8): 717-637-3135 / 717-632-8715; stck8school.org
- Conewago Campus (K–3) and McSherrystown Campus (4–8)
- Delone Catholic High School (9–12): 717-637-5969; delonecatholic.org
Cemetery & Burial Plots
The parish maintains a cemetery, and burial plots may be purchased by contacting the parish office to arrange an appointment with Jean. The historic burial ground adjoins the basilica and is part of the registered historic site.
- Burial plots: call the parish office for an appointment with Jean
Parish Staff & Office
The parish staff includes the pastor, a deacon, an office administrator, the Director of Music, and lay coordinators for Christian Initiation and Religious Education. Parish office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM and Friday 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM. Bulletin announcements should be submitted as proofread text (not scanned) by Tuesday at 9:00 AM to the Office Administrator. New parishioners are asked to contact the Office Administrator during office hours to register, and to notify the office of any change of address, phone or email.
- Rev. Dwight Schlaline, Pastor — [email protected]
- Rev. Mr. Christopher Livelsberger, Deacon — [email protected]
- Alison Giampietro, Office Administrator — [email protected]
- Jody Richter, Director of Music — [email protected]
- Kelly & Don Jenkins, Christian Initiation — [email protected]
- Jessica & Travis Fitzgerald, Religious Education — [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–2:00 PM
- Bulletin submissions by Tue 9:00 AM to Office Administrator
Parish Picnic & Community Life
The parish's largest annual community gathering is the Parish Picnic, held on the third Saturday of July at the Basilica Picnic Grove, 3175 Centennial Road, Hanover. It serves as a fundraiser and as a reunion of the wider Conewago community, drawing together current parishioners, school families and descendants of historic Conewago Catholic families.
- Parish Picnic — third Saturday of July
- Location: Basilica Picnic Grove, 3175 Centennial Road, Hanover
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Wappeler, S.J.1741–1748
First recorded pastor of Conewago
- Rev. T. Schneider, S.J.1748–1753
- Rev. Mathias Manners (Sittensperger), S.J.1753–1758
- Rev. James Frambach, S.J.1758–1768
- Rev. James Pellentz, S.J.1768–1800
Longest-tenured early pastor; served during and after the American Revolution
- Rev. Francis X. Brosius, S.J.1800–1803
- Rev. S. Cerfourmont, S.J.1803–1804
- Rev. Louis (Lewis) DeBarth, S.J.1804–1812
- Rev. Adam Britt, S.J.1812–1822
- Rev. Matthew Lekeu, S.J.1822–1843
- Rev. Nicholas Steinbacher, S.J.1843–1846
- Rev. Michael Tuffer, S.J.1846–1847
- Rev. Joseph Enders, S.J.1847–1858
First term; church enlarged 1851 and consecrated by Bishop Kenrick
- Rev. John (B.) Cattani, S.J.1858–1865
- Rev. Simon Dompieri, S.J.1865–1866
- Rev. Alphonse (A.) Charlier, S.J.1866–1868
- Rev. Burchard Villiger, S.J.1868–1869
- Rev. Ignatius Bellwalder, S.J.1869–1871
- Rev. Joseph Enders, S.J.1871–1884
Second term; oversaw 1873 spire and 1887 centennial decorations
- Rev. Patrick Forhan, S.J.1884–1888
- Rev. John B. Mullaly, S.J.1888–1891
- Rev. Thomas W. Hayes, S.J.1891–1893
- Rev. Timothy O'Leary, S.J.1893–1898
- Rev. Daniel (A.) Haugh, S.J.1898–1899
- Rev. William R. (B.) Cowardin, S.J.1899–1901
Last Jesuit pastor; Jesuits withdrew June 3, 1901
- Rev. Hugo A. Loague1901–1902
First diocesan pastor, appointed by Bishop Shanahan
- Rev. E. Halftermeyer1902–1909
- Rev. Germanus Kohl1909–1914
- Rev. Charles Koch1914–1925
- Rev. John F. O'Donnell1925–1947
Long-tenured diocesan pastor spanning the 1937 sesquicentennial
- Rev. Harold E. Keller1947–1953
- Rev. John P. Bolin1953–1966
Largely coincided with the 1962 elevation to minor basilica
- Rev. Thomas J. McGough1966–1980
- Rev. Msgr. George W. Rost1980–2000
- Rev. Lawrence J. McNeil2000–2013
- Rev. James E. Lease2013–2015
- Rev. Joseph Howard2015–2020
- Rev. Dwight Schlaline2020–present
Current pastor; led the 2022–23 Canning Liturgical Arts interior restoration
