About St. Mary Immaculate Conception · Altoona, Pennsylvania
St. Mary Immaculate Conception (commonly known as St. Mary's) is a Roman Catholic parish in Altoona, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Founded in 1860 by German-speaking immigrants who came to work in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops, the parish has served the east side of Altoona for more than 165 years. Today the parish community gathers for daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, monthly First Friday devotions, ongoing religious education, and a strong network of parish committees — including the Christian Mothers, the Cemetery Committee, and the parish's own St. Mary's Camp.
- Established
- 1860
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of her Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Mariusz Gorazd (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a long-standing, family-friendly parish with deep roots in Altoona's east side and a clear devotional identity — Mass is offered six days a week (Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM, plus a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 8:00 AM), First Friday Mass is followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a Holy Hour, and a regular Saturday 3:00 PM confession schedule makes the Sacrament of Reconciliation easy to access. The parish is active in religious education (CCD resumes September 20, 2026 under new DRE Lynn Ostrum), maintains a parish cemetery, and supports ministries such as the Christian Mothers (LCBA #1290), the Parish Life Committee, the Fundraising Committee, and St. Mary's Camp — giving parishioners of every age real ways to serve their neighbors.
Mass times at St. Mary Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:00 PM (St. Mary's Church)
- First Friday of each month at 8:30 AM
- During Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after First Friday Mass (9:30 AM – 10:30 AM)
Adoration times
- First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Holy Hour: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (following the 9:00 AM First Friday Mass)
History of St. Mary Immaculate Conception Parish
St. Mary's was born from the German Catholic community that grew up around the Pennsylvania Railroad shops in 1850s Altoona. After years of being served by Benedictine Fathers who crossed the mountains from St. Vincent Arch-abbey, the German faithful petitioned the Bishop of Pittsburgh in 1855 for a German-speaking pastor. The congregation was formally organized in 1860, the men of the parish built the first frame church on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Fourteenth Street after their railroad shifts, and Bishop Michael Dominec dedicated it on December 18, 1860 under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception. A larger second church was begun in 1871 and completed in 1883, and a full complement of parish institutions — school, convent, rectory, cemetery, Memorial Hall — grew up around it over the following century.
- 1855 — German Catholics petition the Bishop of Pittsburgh for their own parish
- 1860 — Parish organized; first frame church built by the men of the parish after work
- December 18, 1860 — Church dedicated by Bishop Michael Dominec
- 1861 — First baptism recorded: Ann Rose Kiesel
- 1863 — First school classes held in the church basement
- 1877 — Sisters of St. Agnes arrive to take charge of the school
- 1883 — Second, larger church completed (begun 1871)
- 1949 — Memorial Hall dedicated
- 2010 — 150th Anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Adamec
A Chronology of Parish Milestones
The parish's own history page lists a year-by-year timeline of buildings, ministries and improvements — a snapshot of how the community has continuously reinvested in its home.
- 1865 — Construction of the first rectory
- 1867 — First school (small frame structure) built
- 1871 — New, larger school built
- 1876 — Property acquired for convent (Marian House)
- 1879 — Property acquired for parish cemetery
- 1889 — Present school building constructed
- 1895 — Present rectory constructed
- 1900 — Pipe organ installed in the church
- 1996 — Church repainted and redecorated
- 1997 — St. Mary School merges into Altoona Central Catholic School
- 2006 — Church elevator installed for Fifth Avenue access
- 2017 — Church remodel: new flooring, carpet, refinished pews
- 2020 — New roof on Memorial Hall
- 2021 — New church roof
- August 15, 2024 — Dedication and blessing of new outdoor Blessed Mother statue
- 2025 — New sound system installed in the church
First Friday Devotions
In keeping with traditional Catholic piety toward the Sacred Heart, St. Mary's celebrates the First Friday of each month with a 9:00 AM Mass followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a Holy Hour from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. The sacrament of Confession is also offered that morning at 8:30 AM.
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is currently led by Fr. Mariusz Gorazd, who serves as Administrator. The Director of Religious Education for the 2026–2027 year is Lynn Ostrum, who can be reached through the rectory office for questions about Religious Education or Sacramental Preparation. The parish also has lay leaders who chair its various ministries and committees.
- Rev. Mariusz Gorazd — Administrator
- Lynn Ostrum — Director of Religious Education (2026–2027)
- Terry Carnicella — President, Christian Mother's LCBA #1290; Chair, Fundraising Committee; Chair, St. Mary's Camp Committee
- Debbie Bartley — Chairperson, Parish Life Committee
Activities, Committees & Ministries
The parish's 'Activities and Committees' page lists the lay-led groups that keep parish life running. In addition to CCD/Religious Education, parishioners can connect with the Christian Mothers, the Parish Life Committee, the Cemetery Committee, the Fundraising Committee, and St. Mary's Camp. The Schedules page also links to a Lector Schedule and a Eucharistic Minister schedule, indicating a strong liturgical-volunteer culture.
- Christian Mother's LCBA #1290 — President: Terry Carnicella (814-502-8366)
- Parish Life Committee — Chair: Debbie Bartley (814-934-9335)
- Cemetery Committee — contact via the Rectory (814-942-2416)
- Fundraising Committee — Chair: Terry Carnicella (814-502-8366)
- St. Mary's Camp — Chair: Terry Carnicella (814-502-8366)
- Lector Ministry (schedules posted)
- Eucharistic Ministry (schedules posted)
St. Mary's Camp
St. Mary's Camp is one of the parish's distinctive ministries — a parish-owned camp used for community and recreational events. The camp committee, chaired by Terry Carnicella, organizes and facilitates events there, and inquiries can be directed through the church rectory.
Christian Mothers LCBA #1290
The Christian Mothers is the parish's longstanding women's organization, affiliated with the LCBA (Ladies Catholic Benevolent Association) as Branch #1290. It is one of the central parish-life groups at St. Mary's and is led by President Terry Carnicella.
Cemetery Committee
St. Mary's has maintained a parish cemetery since 1879, when the first cemetery property was acquired. The Cemetery Committee oversees this ongoing ministry of the parish; parishioners can contact the rectory for current information.
Religious Education (CCD) & Sacramental Preparation
St. Mary's parish school — once a fixture of the parish from the 1860s — became part of the new Altoona Central Catholic School in 1997. Today, faith formation for parish children is provided through the parish CCD program, with Religious Education set to begin on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Lynn Ostrum, the new Director of Religious Education for 2026–2027, also coordinates Sacramental Preparation; the parish welcomes new volunteers, teachers, subs and mentors.
- Religious Education resumes Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Director of Religious Education: Lynn Ostrum
- Contact the rectory (814-942-2416) for CCD or Sacramental Prep questions
- Volunteer opportunities: teachers, substitutes, mentors
Altoona Central Catholic School
In 1997, St. Mary School joined with McNelis, Mt. Carmel and St. Therese Schools to form Altoona Central Catholic School, a consolidated Catholic elementary and middle school that draws on the traditions of the parish schools that served the early Catholic communities of Altoona. The consolidation was a diocesan response to changing demographics and a smaller pool of religious sisters available to staff parish schools.
Mission Statement
The parish's published mission statement reads: 'Inspired by the example of our patroness, Mary, the Immaculately Conceived Mother of God, we the people of Saint Mary/Immaculate Conception Parish strive to say "yes" to God in all aspects of our daily lives, and to help others — the members of our parish, our Diocese, our neighborhoods and the City of Altoona — say "yes" to God's will for them. We commit ourselves to saying "yes" to God through prayer, service, and social opportunities that build up the spiritual and temporal welfare of all our brothers and sisters in this community, and wherever the need for our help exists.'
Contact & Office
The rectory is the central point of contact for the parish. The parish email is the diocesan address listed in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown parish directory.
- Address — 1405 5th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602
- Rectory phone — 814-942-2416
- Parish email — [email protected]
- Administrator — Rev. Mariusz Gorazd