About St. Mary · Orbisonia, Pennsylvania
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shade Valley (often called St. Mary Parish, Shade Gap) is a small rural parish tucked into the mountains of southern Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, about three miles south of Orbisonia on State Route 522, opposite the historic covered bridge across Shade Creek. It belongs to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and serves roughly seventy-five Catholic families whose forebears are often buried in the parish's historic cemeteries. The present stone church — whose walls date from the mid-1840s — is one of the oldest Catholic landmarks in this corner of central Pennsylvania. Today the parish is administered by Fr. Antony Sudherson, HGN, a priest of the Heralds of the Good News, with the assistance of Deacon John Roth and Bishop Mark Bartchak of Altoona-Johnstown.
- Established
- 1798
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary's); originally designated by Bishop Michael O'Connor as 'Our Lady of Vallambrosa' (Mission Church of Our Lady of Vallambrosa)
- Rector
- Rev. Antony Sudherson, HGN (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Mary's in Shade Valley is a tight-knit rural Catholic community where many families can trace generations of membership and burials in the adjoining parish cemeteries — a 'heritage parish' experience that is increasingly rare in Pennsylvania. Daily and weekly Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, CCD religious education for children, a lay Finance Council, the parish St. Mary's Guild, and the ministry of lay Eucharistic ministers and altar servers give every parishioner a real role in keeping this 225+ year-old worship site alive. It is also simply a beautiful, time-worn stone church in the foothills of the Alleghenies, still set opposite the historic covered bridge across Shade Creek.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday following the 7:30 AM Mass
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration on select Tuesdays at 5:30 PM followed by Mass at 6:30 PM (e.g., Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 PM Adoration / 6:30 PM Mass — check parish announcements)
Welcome to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shade Valley
The parish's Weebly homepage identifies St. Mary's at 20896 Croghan Pike, Orbisonia, PA 17243-9000, under the pastoral care of Fr. Antony Sudherson, HGN, with Deacon John Roth assisting and Bishop Mark Bartchak presiding over the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The page highlights weekly Mass times (Saturday Vigil at 5:30 PM and Sunday at 7:30 AM) and posts up-to-date announcements such as Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration with evening Mass.
- Address: 20896 Croghan Pike, Orbisonia, PA 17243-9000
- Diocese: Altoona-Johnstown
- Bishop: Most Rev. Mark Bartchak
- Administrator: Fr. Antony Sudherson, HGN
- Deacon: John Roth
A Parish Steeped in Allegheny Mountain Catholic History
St. Mary's traces its origin to 1798, when the missionary priest Fr. Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin — 'Apostle of the Alleghenies' — baptized the Hegie family on their Shade Valley farm. Two Catholic cemeteries on Logan-farm land deeded in 1816 surround the stone church whose cornerstone was laid August 31, 1845. The parish marked its sesqui-centennial in 1948 and its bicentennial on August 16, 1998.
- 1796 — Fr. Gallitzin visits Hegie farm
- 1798 — Hegie family baptized, considered parish's founding
- 1816 — Jane Logan deeds land for church and two cemeteries
- August 31, 1845 — Cornerstone laid by Fr. John C. Brady (23 families)
- September 1847 — Dedication by Bishop Michael O'Connor
- 1942 — Fire from potbellied stove destroys interior and roof
- 1948 — Sesqui-centennial commemorative book published (50 families)
- 1962 — Independent parish established, Fr. John Halka first resident pastor
- August 16, 1998 — Bicentennial celebration
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
St. Mary's is currently administered by Fr. Antony Sudherson, HGN, a member of the Heralds of the Good News from Tamil Nadu, India, who previously served at Our Lady of Victory Parish in State College and at St. Benedict Parish in Johnstown, where he was also chaplain at Conemaugh Memorial Hospital. He is assisted by Deacon John Roth, and the parish is served by the Most Rev. Mark Bartchak as Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown.
- Rev. Antony Sudherson, HGN — Parish Administrator
- Deacon John Roth
- Most Rev. Mark Bartchak — Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown
Religious Education — CCD Program
The parish supports parents as primary educators of their children with a CCD religious education program for youngsters who do not attend Catholic schools. Classes are held at St. Mary's on Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 AM, immediately after the 7:30 AM Mass. The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown reminds parents that access to such programming is offered through high school graduation, and families who need transportation help can contact the parish office (Callista).
- Sunday morning CCD: 8:30–9:30 AM (after 7:30 Mass)
- Diocesan-supported parish-based program
- Transportation assistance available through parish contact
Parish Life — Guild, Finance Council and Ministry Corps
The St. Mary's Guild, established during Fr. David Becker's pastorate, has functioned as a kind of parish council and has organized projects including parish dinners. A Parish Finance Council provides stewardship oversight. Lay ministers of the Eucharist and a mixed-gender corps of altar servers assist at liturgies, reflecting post-Vatican II developments.
- St. Mary's Guild (parish council + dinners)
- Parish Finance Council
- Lay ministers of the Eucharist
- Altar servers (boys and girls)
The 1980s Renovation and 1983 Consecration
By the late 1970s, the time-worn church needed updating both from natural decay and because of new directives from the Second Vatican Council. The breakthrough came in 1981, when Philip Franklin 'Pete' Oppel of Shippensburg died and left $225,000 to the parish. Renovation work began in October 1982 and was completed in June 1983; Bishop James J. Hogan, Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown, came on June 19, 1983 to consecrate the church and altar, with an open house held one week later. A plaque in the vestibule commemorates Pete Oppel's gift.
- Sept 1981 — Philip F. 'Pete' Oppel estate gift of $225,000
- Oct 1982 — Renovation begins
- June 1983 — Renovation completed
- June 19, 1983 — Bishop Hogan consecrates church and altar
- One week later — parish open house
The Building, Grounds and Cemeteries
The present sanctuary retains its original limestone walls cut by Michael Krugh and Michael Fogal, with interior plastering done by Andrew Hegie. The surrounding stone wall was built by Ettore DeVecchis of Mount Union to replace the original white picket fence. Two Catholic cemeteries adjoining the church were provided for in Jane Logan's 1816 deed and contain generations of parish families.
- Original stone walls from the mid-1840s
- Two Catholic cemeteries (per the 1816 Logan deed)
- Stone wall by Ettore DeVecchis of Mount Union
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Mary's at 20896 Croghan Pike, Orbisonia, PA 17243-9000, by phone at (814) 447-3172 (with additional numbers 814-447-9030 and 814-542-4582), or by fax at (814) 447-9030. Email is [email protected]. The official website — http://stmarysinshadevalley.weebly.com — carries current announcements, Mass and Adoration times, history pages, a photo gallery, religious education information, and a contact form.
- Address: 20896 Croghan Pike, Orbisonia, PA 17243-9000
- Phone: 814-447-3172 (alt. 814-447-9030, 814-542-4582)
- Fax: 814-447-9030
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmarysinshadevalley.weebly.com
- Located 3 miles south of Orbisonia on PA Route 522, opposite the covered bridge across Shade Creek
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Halka1962–1964
First resident pastor after Bishop J. Carroll McCormick established St. Mary's as an independent parish; oversaw construction of the Parish Hall ($35,000).
- Fr. Albert Anselmi1977–c.1983
Arrived May 20, 1977; simultaneously served as chaplain of St. Dismas Parish at the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon; hosted Bishop Hogan's 1983 consecration of the renovated church.
- Fr. Timothy Swope1983–1986
Also served as SCI Huntingdon chaplain like his predecessor.
- Fr. Cletus Adams1986–1988
- Fr. David Becker1988–1998
Steered the parish through financial difficulty by establishing a Parish Finance Council and the St. Mary's Guild.