About St. Catherine of Siena · Quarryville, Pennsylvania
St. Catherine of Siena is a Roman Catholic parish in Quarryville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Harrisburg. The parish serves roughly 400 families in the southern end of Lancaster County — a region more often associated with Amish and Protestant communities — and traces its roots back to the Scotch-Irish Catholic immigrants who settled near Drumore Township's iron furnace in the early 1800s. Today the parish gathers at a 7,500-square-foot church built in 1999 on Robert Fulton Highway (Route 222), directly across from Solanco High School, and is staffed by a pastor and three deacons who celebrate Mass in English seven days a week.
- Established
- 1844
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Siena
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Schenck
- Diocese
- Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Siena is a community-minded parish that welcomes everyone to a full schedule of Masses, devotions, and formation. Its ministries reach beyond the parish: a Good Samaritan Group visits the sick and homebound, a vibrant Knights of Columbus council and a Women's Group anchor parish social life, and the parish tithes to support A Woman's Concern (a pro-life pregnancy and parenting center), the Solanco Food Bank, and funds for the poor. Pastor and deacons lead daily and Sunday Mass, weekly confession, Eucharistic adoration, rosary before every Mass, and ongoing adult Bible studies — making it a fitting spiritual home for Catholic families in southern Lancaster County.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Siena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:30 PM – 5:55 PM
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Other Fridays 8:00 – 9:00 AM
- Last Friday of the month: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction following the 9:00 AM Mass
Welcome and Parish Identity
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Harrisburg serving southern Lancaster County from its campus on Robert Fulton Highway (Route 222) in Quarryville, directly across from Solanco High School. The parish describes itself as 'All Are Welcome,' with the tagline 'St. Catherine's' and a community of roughly 400 families. The main office phone is (717) 786-2695 and the parish email is [email protected].
- All Are Welcome
- Parish ID: Diocese of Harrisburg, parish code p096
- Bulletin archive available via John Patrick Publishing
History of the Parish
Catholic life in the Quarryville area began around 1830 when Scotch-Irish immigrant families working at an iron furnace on the Conowingo Creek in Drumore Township gathered for Mass in a grove that is now St. Catherine Cemetery. The first chapel — a simple stone structure roofed with Peach Bottom slate — was dedicated by Bishop Francis Kenrick on May 4, 1844. Bishop John Neumann rededicated and renamed it for St. Catherine of Siena on July 26, 1857, noting the many women in the parish named Catherine. A second church at Third and St. Catherine Streets was dedicated by Bishop Thomas McGovern on November 8, 1896, and served the parish for more than 100 years before the current church opened on July 3, 1999, and was formally dedicated by Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo on October 10, 1999.
- c. 1830 — first Mass celebrated in grove at the future St. Catherine (Dry Wells) Cemetery
- 1844 — stone chapel built; dedicated May 4 by Bishop Francis Kenrick
- 1857 — Bishop Neumann renames the chapel 'St. Catherine of Siena'
- 1868 — Diocese of Harrisburg established; St. Catherine's becomes a mission of Lancaster parishes
- 1896 — second church dedicated at Third and St. Catherine Streets, Quarryville
- 1933 — original 1844 stone chapel razed
- 1999 — current church on Robert Fulton Highway opened and dedicated
- 2005 — community room with classrooms, offices, and kitchen dedicated
- 2019 — 175th anniversary celebrated with Bishop Ronald W. Gainer
Pastor Succession
Before 1930 the parish was a mission served by priests from Lancaster and from St. Joseph's Hospital. Rev. Herman Fischer became the first resident pastor in 1930, followed by Father Arthur Brandt (26 years until his death in January 1960), Father John R. Campion (until 1992), Father Joseph C. Coyne (until his death in July 2001, who launched the building campaign), Father Ronald J. Moratelli, Father Mark Speitel (who led the 175th anniversary in 2019), and the parish's current pastor, Rev. Paul Schenck.
- Fischer (1930–1933), Brandt (1933–1960), Campion (1960–1992), Coyne (1992–2001), Moratelli (2001–c. 2017), Speitel (c. 2017–c. 2024), Schenck (current)
Anointing of the Sick and Pastoral Care
Parishioners wishing to receive the Anointing of the Sick are invited to contact the church office at (717) 786-2695. The Good Samaritan Group extends pastoral care beyond the church walls by visiting the sick and homebound and sending remembrances on birthdays and holidays.
- Anointing of the Sick available by request
- Good Samaritan Group — visits to the sick and homebound
- Birthday and holiday remembrances to parishioners who are homebound
Parish Ministries and Groups
St. Catherine's supports a range of parish ministries and community outreach. A Parish Council helps guide parish life. The Pro-Life Ministry is linked directly from the parish homepage. A vibrant Knights of Columbus council and the St. Catherine's Women's Group sponsor social events and liturgical support. Religious Education is coordinated by Mrs. Diane Dalgaard and includes high school and middle school youth groups and adult Bible studies.
- Parish Council
- Pro-Life Ministry
- Knights of Columbus council
- St. Catherine's Women's Group
- Adult Bible studies (with a recent parish-wide consecration to Mary)
- High school youth group
- Middle school youth group
- Religious Education (Coordinator: Diane Dalgaard)
Outreach and Charitable Giving
The parish tithes to support several local ministries. Outreach partners include A Woman's Concern — a pro-life pregnancy and parenting resource center — and the Solanco Food Bank, alongside funds for the poor distributed within the parish community. The pastor has also been active in the ecumenical Solanco Pastors Fellowship, working alongside other area clergy in support of the wider community.
- A Woman's Concern (pro-life pregnancy and parenting center)
- Solanco Food Bank
- Funds for the poor
- Solanco Pastors Fellowship (ecumenical community collaboration)
Facilities, Saints, and Relics
The 1999 church complex sits on Robert Fulton Highway and includes the worship space, a separate rectory, a community room (dedicated in 2005) with classrooms, offices, and a fully equipped kitchen for social gatherings. The bell from the 1896 Third Street church was moved to the new site. Following the 2019 'Bringing Out the Saints' enhancement, statues of the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. John Paul II stand in the sanctuary; the statue of St. John Paul II is accompanied by a relic, and the parish safeguards twenty relics of saints in all.
- 7,500-square-foot worship space (400 seating, +100 overflow)
- Separate on-site rectory
- Community room with classrooms, offices, and equipped kitchen (dedicated 2005)
- Original 1896 church bell relocated to the new building
- Statues of Mary, St. Joseph, St. Catherine, and St. John Paul II
- Twenty relics of saints, including a relic of St. John Paul II
Bulletin, Live-Stream, and Online Resources
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin (archived via John Patrick Publishing) and live-streams the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass on YouTube. The homepage also links to the Diocese of Harrisburg Youth Protection Program and to EWTN for praying along with the daily Mass from home.
- Weekly bulletin archive (John Patrick Publishing, church-bulletin.org/?id=256)
- Live-stream of 10:30 AM Sunday Mass on YouTube
- Diocese of Harrisburg Youth Protection Program link
- EWTN Daily Mass link for prayer at home
Visit, Contact, and Directions
The church is located one mile south of Quarryville on Route 222 (Robert Fulton Highway), directly across from Solanco High School. On-site amenities include parking, restrooms, the social hall, and an assistive listening system. The parish office can be reached at (717) 786-2695 (fax 717-786-0374) or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 955 Robert Fulton Hwy., Quarryville, PA 17566-9543
- Phone: (717) 786-2695; Fax: (717) 786-0374
- Email: [email protected]
- Parking, restrooms, social hall, and assistive listening available
- One mile south of Quarryville on Route 222, across from Solanco High School
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard McCabec. 1830–1840s
Pastor of St. Malachy's, Doe Run; offered the first monthly Masses to the Drumore-area Catholics in a grove and in Bernard McCaffrey's farmhouse.
- Rev. Jeremiah Looney1890s
Purchased the two lots on Third and St. Catherine Streets that became the site of the 1896 church.
- Rev. Anthony F. Kaul, V.F.late 1890s
Pastor of St. Anthony's, Lancaster, who oversaw fundraising for and completion of the 1896 Quarryville church after Looney's transfer.
- Rev. Herman Fischer1930–1933
First resident pastor of St. Catherine of Siena.
- Rev. Arthur Brandt1933–1960
Served 26 years until his death in January 1960.
- Rev. John R. Campion1960–1992
Succeeded Father Brandt.
- Rev. Joseph C. Coyne1992–2001
Launched the drive for a larger church; served until his death in July 2001; co-dedicated the new church October 10, 1999.
- Rev. Ronald J. Moratelli2001–c. 2017
Continued parish growth; co-dedicated the community room July 16, 2005.
- Rev. Mark Speitelc. 2017–c. 2024
Lancaster native, McCaskey HS and Elizabethtown College graduate, ordained 2008; led the 175th anniversary in 2019, the 'Bringing Out the Saints' project, adult Bible studies, and a Marian consecration.