About St. Elizabeth Of Hungary · Smethport, Pennsylvania
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Smethport, McKean County, in the rolling hills of northern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1868 and named in honor of a daughter of local benefactor Dr. William (John) Keating, it is one of the oldest Catholic congregations in the Diocese of Erie and today also serves the nearby mission church of St. Gabriel the Archangel in Port Allegany. The parish is known for its 1907 brick church, its stained-glass windows donated by founding families, a pipe organ given in part by Andrew Carnegie, and a warmly intergenerational community that gathers for liturgies, fundraisers, and outreach to those in need.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Dougherty
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary offers the rhythms of a small-town Catholic parish with deep roots: weekday and weekend Masses (including the historic Saturday vigil at 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.), Saturday confession at 3 p.m., religious education for children led by Fran Reilly, liturgical music under Steve Eidson, and a welcoming parish hall built in 2014 for gatherings. The parish is also active in service to the wider community, hosting the Second Harvest Food Bank distribution and the annual Saint Elizabeth of Hungary turkey dinner that supports the Christian Community Services Food Bank and Catholic Rural Ministry. Members enjoy seasonal traditions — winter soup luncheons, the summer picnic at Hamlin Lake Park with an outdoor Mass, and the parish Christmas party — that knit generations together.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Of Hungary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (St. Elizabeth)
Adoration times
- First Friday Holy Hour: 8:00-9:00 a.m. (before the 9:00 a.m. Mass)
Parish History
Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church was founded February 15, 1868, through the donation of land by John (Dr. William) Keating and a subscription fund raised by B. D. Hamlin, Henry Hamlin, and other local families. The first pastor was Father Peter Joseph Patterson, with Rev. Richard Flood as the first assigned priest (1874–1876). Bishop Tobias Mullen dedicated the original wood-frame church on April 25, 1876. After a devastating 1904 fire, the parish rebuilt as a community effort and dedicated the present brick church on July 10, 1907, under Father James Dugan. Subsequent decades brought basement renovations, a long period of growth under Msgr. Thomas C. Geddes, an accessible entrance and parking in the early 2000s, and a new parish hall dedicated in 2014.
- Founded: February 15, 1868
- First pastor: Father Peter Joseph Patterson
- First assigned priest: Rev. Richard Flood (1874–1876)
- Original church dedicated: April 25, 1876 by Bishop Tobias Mullen
- Fire: December 23, 1904 (church and rectory lost)
- Christmas Mass the next day held at the Lyceum Theater
- Cornerstone laid: July 10, 1906
- New brick church dedicated: July 10, 1907 under Father James Dugan
- New parish hall dedicated: April 27, 2014
- Historical research by Eileen McKean
Church Building & Architecture
The present church is a brick building completed in 1907, featuring a large white altar and a pipe organ gifted in part by Andrew Carnegie. Its stained-glass windows commemorate many of the donors who rebuilt the parish after the 1904 fire, including several Civil War veterans. Modern improvements include a handicap-accessible entrance and parking lot built in the early 2000s and a fully accessible parish hall — with gathering space, kitchen, and restrooms — dedicated in April 2014.
- Brick construction dedicated July 10, 1907
- Large white altar
- Pipe organ — gift in part from Andrew Carnegie
- Stained-glass windows honoring donors, including Civil War veterans
- Handicap-accessible entrance and parking (early 2000s)
- New parish hall dedicated April 27, 2014 (107 years after the 1907 Mass)
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
The parish is currently served by Rev. Joseph Dougherty as pastor, who also ministers to the sister mission of St. Gabriel the Archangel in Port Allegany. Lay staff includes Skye Peterson (support staff), Steve Eidson (liturgical music contact), and Fran Reilly (religious education leader). The parish draws on a long succession of priests, from the founding era of Fathers Patterson, Flood, Galligan, and Cosgrove, through the rebuilding pastor Father Dugan, the long-tenured Msgr. Thomas C. Geddes, and Rev. Theodore B. Marconi.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Dougherty
- Support Staff: Skye Peterson
- Liturgical Music Contact: Steve Eidson
- Religious Education Leader: Fran Reilly
- Past pastors include Rev. Richard Flood, Father J. J. Galligan, Father Patrick Cosgrove, Father James Dugan, Msgr. Thomas C. Geddes, and Rev. Theodore B. Marconi
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for parish children is coordinated by Religious Education Leader Fran Reilly. Catechetical classrooms have been part of the parish basement since the 1950 remodel, and the parish continues to invest in spaces that serve the formation needs of its families.
- Religious Education Leader: Fran Reilly
- Catechetical classrooms housed in the church basement since 1950
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation through the parish program
Liturgical Music
Liturgical music at St. Elizabeth is organized by Steve Eidson, building on a long tradition that traces back to the 1907 dedication, when visitors were especially impressed by the sounds of the new pipe organ — a gift in part from Andrew Carnegie.
- Liturgical Music Contact: Steve Eidson
- Pipe organ from 1907 dedication era, gifted in part by Andrew Carnegie
Parish Events & Fellowship
St. Elizabeth's calendar is filled with seasonal gatherings that bring parishioners and neighbors together. The Women's Fellowship Group hosts Winter Soup Luncheons each Thursday in January, February, and March. The Summer Parish Picnic at Hamlin Lake Park combines a Saturday evening outdoor Mass with a dinner and family games. The Parish Christmas Party draws over 100 parishioners and friends for a catered dinner, door prizes, children's prizes, and group caroling.
- Winter Soup Luncheons (Women's Fellowship Group fundraiser) — Thursdays 11 a.m.–1 p.m., January–March, $5 per person
- Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Dinner — early November, free turkey dinner for the community; freewill donations benefit the Christian Community Services Food Bank and Catholic Rural Ministry
- Summer Parish Picnic — August at Hamlin Lake Park, with Saturday evening outdoor Mass
- Parish Christmas Party — catered dinner, door prizes, children's prizes, group caroling
Outreach & Community Service
The parish is an active hub for food assistance in the Smethport area. Every other month, the parish sponsors and staffs a Second Harvest Food Bank distribution — held in the parish parking lot or the Smethport Fire Hall during construction — that serves up to 80 families with surplus produce and grocery items. The annual Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Dinner in November reflects the parish's namesake, who fed the hungry in her own community; donations from the dinner go to the Christian Community Services Food Bank and Catholic Rural Ministry.
- Second Harvest Food Bank distribution every other month (serves up to 80 families)
- Annual Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Dinner (early November) — free to all, donations benefit Christian Community Services Food Bank and Catholic Rural Ministry
- Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) participation — diocese-wide annual campaign
Catholic Services Appeal (CSA)
The Catholic Services Appeal is the Diocese of Erie's annual fundraising campaign that unites the faithful across all 13 counties in a shared mission of faith and service. St. Elizabeth of Hungary parishioners are invited to pledge through the parish office. CSA funds are placed in a designated account used solely to support diocesan programs and ministries.
- Annual diocesan-wide fundraising campaign
- Parish goal coordinated through the parish office
- Supports diocesan ministries and outreach across 13 counties
Visiting & Contact Information
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish is located at 307 Franklin Street in Smethport, PA 16749. The parish can be reached by phone at (814) 887-9254 or by email at [email protected]. The Diocese of Erie also lists a mailing address of 210 W. Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749. The parish maintains an active Facebook page for community updates.
- Physical address: 307 Franklin St., Smethport, PA 16749
- Mailing address: 210 W. Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749
- Phone: (814) 887-9254
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stelizabethsmethport.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stelizabethofhungary/
- Accessible entrance and parking on site
Related Resources & Local History
The parish points visitors to local archives and historical projects for deeper background on Saint Elizabeth's and the wider Smethport community.
- Planet Smethport Project — a project of the Smethport Hamlin Memorial Library
- Smethport History Website — historical pages on the church's early days, including the 1904 fire and the 1906–1907 rebuilding
- Historical Information supplied by Eileen McKean
- Diocese of Erie parish listing (eriercd.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Peter Joseph Patterson
First pastor of the newly incorporated parish (founded Feb. 15, 1868).
- Rev. Richard Flood1874-1876
First priest assigned to the church.
- Father J. J. Galliganfrom 1880
Born in Ireland in 1848; entered Allegany Seminary (now St. Bonaventure) in 1872 and was ordained July 1877; served in Erie and Titusville before moving to Smethport.
- Father Patrick Cosgrove1899-1905
Pastor at the time of the December 23, 1904 fire that destroyed the church.
- Father James Dugan1905-1914
Led the rebuilding; cornerstone laid July 10, 1906; new brick church dedicated July 10, 1907.
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas C. Geddes
Long tenure described as 'a period of growth, peace, and renewal' for the parish.
- Rev. Theodore B. Marconi
Succeeded Msgr. Geddes; guided the parish into its modern era.
- Rev. Joseph Doughertycurrent
Current pastor; also serves St. Gabriel the Archangel, Port Allegany.