About St. Benedict · Carrolltown, Pennsylvania
St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church in Carrolltown, Pennsylvania, is the first parish in the United States established by the Benedictine Order. Founded on the missionary work of Father Henry Lemke, O.S.B., who laid out the town of Carrolltown in 1837 and invited Father Boniface Wimmer and eighteen Benedictine monks from Germany in 1846, the parish has served as a center of Catholic life in northern Cambria County for more than 170 years. Today it is part of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, with Mass celebrated in English in a historic church featuring a 172-foot bell tower, Bavarian stained-glass windows from 1925, and relics of the True Cross, St. Benedict, and St. Scholastica. The parish runs an elementary school, a religious-education/CCD program, an RCIA, and a strong devotional life rooted in the Benedictine tradition (prayer, gracious hospitality, and works of charity).
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- Saint Benedict (parish dedicated December 25, 1850); also dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (December 8, 1872)
- Rector
- Father Michael Gabler, O.S.B.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Benedict's offers a deep, traditional Catholic life rooted in the first Benedictine foundation in the United States, where Gregorian chant, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and a long devotional rhythm (Holy Hour on Tuesdays and Fridays, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, the daily Rosary, weekly Bible Study) shape parish life. The parish combines that monastic heritage with vibrant community programs: an elementary school, a CCD religious-education program, the RCIA process, and a long list of lay organizations (Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, Cemetery Association, MOMS Group, Home School Association, Adult Choir, Children's Choir, and more). Visitors, returning Catholics, and inquirers are warmly invited by the pastor and parishioners to come and 'See Christ in others and be Christ to others.'
Mass times at St. Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:00 PM (Church)
- Friday during Lent 5:45 PM and 7:15 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: Holy Hour after Mass, followed by Adoration, with Benediction at 3:55 PM
- Friday: Holy Hour after Mass, followed by Adoration until 6:30 PM
Parish History
St. Benedict's is the first parish in the United States established by the Benedictine Order. It was founded by Father Henry Lemke, O.S.B., the German-born missionary who laid out the town of Carrolltown in 1837 at the invitation of Prince Gallitzin, and who invited Father Boniface Wimmer and eighteen Benedictine monks from Metten, Germany to settle here in 1846. The first church was completed and dedicated in honor of Saint Benedict on December 25, 1850, and the parish was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on December 8, 1872. The Carrolltown monastery, built in 1865, served as a center of Catholic missionary work in Cambria, Blair, Clearfield, and Center Counties until it was closed in 1962. A rectory was added to the church building in 1972. The parish school and convent date to 1870, the brick school was blessed in 1878, and the sisters from St. Scholastica Convent made Carrolltown the Mother House of what became the Benedictine Sisters of the Pittsburgh Diocese from 1871 to 1889.
- Founder: Father Henry Lemke, O.S.B. (1795–1848+)
- Benedictines arrive September 30, 1846
- Church dedicated December 25, 1850
- Parish dedicated to Sacred Heart December 8, 1872
- Carrolltown Monastery closed 1962
Church Architecture & Devotional Heritage
The signature feature of St. Benedict's is the 172-foot bell tower with its 9-foot cross, erected in 1872. A four-faced clock was added in 1899 and placed in service at 5:00 PM on June 13, 1900. The bells, blessed on September 22, 1872, are dedicated to the Sorrowful Mother, Saint Joseph, Saint Mary Magdalene, and Saints Francis and Henry. In 1925, the Art Glass Firm of Bavaria, Germany, installed the stained-glass windows depicting the life of Christ and Saint Benedict, and the original Bavarian-imported altar statues are now arranged at the back of the church. The parish is blessed to hold relics of the True Cross, Saint Benedict, and Saint Scholastica.
- Tower: 172 feet (1872)
- Four-faced clock installed 1899, in service June 13, 1900
- Bells blessed September 22, 1872
- Stained-glass windows from Bavaria (1925)
- Relics of the True Cross, Saint Benedict, and Saint Scholastica
Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Father Michael Gabler, O.S.B. and is supported by a dedicated staff managing parish administration, religious education, music, and facilities. The parish school is staffed by lay teachers and one religious, with Jeffery Maucieri serving as principal.
- Father Michael Gabler, O.S.B. — Pastor
- Lois Bridgman — Secretary
- Annette Kelly — Religious Education
- Fred Sutton — Sacristan
- Jeannine M. Cymbor — Business Manager
- Denise N. Bailey — Choir Director & Organist
- Adam Orosz — Maintenance
- Jeffery Maucieri — Principal
Sacraments & Sacramental Life
Anointing Masses are celebrated periodically and listed in the parish bulletin. The parish supports the full sacramental life of the Church, including preparation for Baptism and Marriage (arranged through the parish office), First Penance and First Communion, Confirmation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those entering the Church.
- Anointing Mass (periodic)
- Baptism
- Marriage
- First Penance / First Communion (CCD)
- Confirmation (CCD)
- RCIA
Religious Education & School
Saint Benedict School is a parish elementary school staffed by lay teachers and one religious. Students not attending the parish school are enrolled in the parish CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, and the parish runs an active Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) process for adults. The school office can be reached at 814-344-6512.
- St. Benedict Elementary School
- CCD / Religious Education program
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation
- School staffed by lay teachers and one religious
- Jeffery Maucieri — Principal
Parish Organizations & Societies
Parish life at St. Benedict's has always been built on lay societies and confraternities — the Rosary Society (1849) and the Altar Society (1850) were the parish's first organizations. Today the parish supports a broad portfolio of groups for men, women, youth, music, and service, including the Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus, St. John Society, Legion of Mary, Sacred Heart League, Cemetery Association, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Parish Gardeners, MOMS Group, Home School Association, Adult Choir, and Children's Choir.
- Rosary Society (founded 1849)
- Altar Society (founded 1850)
- Holy Name Society
- Knights of Columbus
- St. John Society
- Legion of Mary
- Sacred Heart League
- Cemetery Association (since 1945)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- MOMS Group
- Home School Association
- Adult Choir
- Children's Choir
Parish Cemetery
Father Lemke donated ten acres to the parish for a church and cemetery. The cemetery was laid out and blessed in 1854, after the original burial ground had to be cleared of trees, stumps, and rocks to make room for horses and wagons. Graves around the church were moved to the new cemetery, and the old cemetery's center contains a section for Benedictine monks and sisters, with Father Lemke's grave at its center marked by a monument. A Cemetery Association has maintained the grounds continuously since 1945.
- Cemetery laid out and blessed in 1854
- Old cemetery center reserved for Benedictine monks and sisters
- Father Lemke's grave marked with a monument in the center
- Cemetery Association organized 1945
Parish Council, School Council & Finance
The pastor is assisted by a Parish Council with five standing committees — Finance, Liturgy, Evangelization, Buildings and Grounds, and Education — and a separate School Council, supported by a corps of Eucharistic Ministers. The parish relies on financial stewardship from parishioners and visitors (checks payable to 'Saint Benedict Church' or online donations), and operates SCRIP fundraising in the Church Hall most weekday mornings.
- Parish Council (Finance, Liturgy, Evangelization, Buildings and Grounds, Education)
- School Council
- Eucharistic Ministers
- SCRIP sales Monday–Friday morning, Church Hall
Contact, Office Hours & Location
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The church, office, school, and Church Hall are located at 100 Main Street, Carrolltown, PA 15722. Phone (parish office): 814-344-6548. School office: 814-344-6512. Church Hall: 814-344-8770. Parish Fax: 814-344-8656.
- Parish Office — 814-344-6548
- Parish Fax — 814-344-8656
- School Office — 814-344-6512
- School Fax — 814-344-8530
- Church Hall — 814-344-8770
- Email — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Henry Lemke, O.S.B.1837–c.1848
Founder of Carrolltown and the parish; invited Father Boniface Wimmer and eighteen Benedictine monks from Germany in 1846; sold 298 acres and the log buildings to the Benedictines and donated land for the church.
- Benedictine pastors (O.S.B.)1848–1962
Benedictine monks from St. Michael Abbey administered the parish from the Carrolltown monastery until the monastery was closed in 1962; the monks served as missionaries across Cambria, Blair, Clearfield, and Center Counties.
- Father David Cronauer
Referenced as anniversary pastor 'Fr. David Cronauer' in parish bulletin context.
- Father Jude
Referenced on the parish history page as 'Pastor, is assisted by Eucharistic Ministers, a School Council, and a Parish Council' — pastor name noted during that period.