About St. Mary · Pine Grove, Ohio
St. Mary's of Pine Grove is a small Roman Catholic parish located about eight miles north of Ironton, Ohio, in the Diocese of Steubenville. It holds the distinction of being the first Catholic church established in Lawrence County, and the much larger parishes of St. Joseph (Ironton) and St. Lawrence O'Toole (Ironton) both originated as missions originally served from Pine Grove. Today the parish is one of four churches of the Lawrence County Catholic Community (alongside St. Ann in Chesapeake, St. Joseph, and St. Lawrence O'Toole) and is pastored by Fr. Wayne Morris, with Sunday Mass celebrated at noon in the country church built in 1916–1917.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Wayne Morris
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
St. Mary's of Pine Grove is the spiritual heart of a small, close-knit rural Catholic community that traces its roots to the very beginnings of Catholicism in Lawrence County — the parish is the mother church from which both St. Joseph and St. Lawrence O'Toole in Ironton grew as missions. Sunday worship at noon in the historic 1917 brick church, preceded by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, makes for an unhurried, country-parish rhythm that still draws the descendants of those original furnace-town families. Joined together with the other three parishes of the Lawrence County Catholic Community under Fr. Wayne Morris and Fr. Peter Afoenyem, St. Mary's offers the rare chance to belong to a living piece of Ohio's Catholic pioneer heritage.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM (30 minutes before Mass)
- By appointment any time
- 45 minutes before any Sunday Mass across the Lawrence County Catholic Community
St. Mary's of Pine Grove — Parish Overview
St. Mary's is the historic country Catholic parish of Pine Grove, Ohio, set about eight miles north of Ironton in the Diocese of Steubenville. It is one of the most southern and western churches in the diocese and one of four parishes that together make up the Lawrence County Catholic Community (with St. Ann in Chesapeake, St. Joseph in Ironton, and St. Lawrence O'Toole in Ironton). The parish is pastored by Fr. Wayne Morris, with Fr. Peter Afoenyem serving as parochial vicar for the community.
- Mother church of Catholic life in Lawrence County
- One of the four Lawrence County Catholic Community parishes
- Sunday Mass at 12:00 PM
- Confession Sundays 11:15–11:45 AM
History of the Parish
Catholic worship at Pine Grove Furnace predates the formal establishment of the parish. Furnace owner Robert Hamilton allowed Catholic employees to use a small log cabin as a chapel by March 1843, and the missionaries from Portsmouth — beginning with Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont — visited the community on horseback several times a year. Thienpont celebrated the first Mass in a purpose-built log chapel in January 1849, and in 1847 three local men donated just under an acre on which the first brick church was raised in 1851. A second brick church followed in 1882, and a parish school educated the children of the congregation for many years. After the 1882 church was destroyed by fire on November 21, 1915, pastor Rev. F. X. Clark immediately set about building the present edifice on land donated by the Hanging Rock Iron Company. It was dedicated by Bishop Hartley on May 1, 1917, seats 250, and remains the parish's home a century later.
- 1843 — log chapel at Pine Grove Furnace in use
- January 1849 — first Mass by Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont
- 1851 — first brick church built; bell 'Mary Gertrude' blessed May 28
- 1882 — second brick church built
- November 21, 1915 — church destroyed by fire during Mass
- 1916–1917 — present church built under Rev. F. X. Clark
- May 1, 1917 — Bishop Hartley dedicates the new church
The Building
The present St. Mary's church is a country brick structure completed in March 1917 and dedicated by Bishop Hartley on May 1, 1917. It was described at its completion as 'as beautiful as any located in country sections,' seats about 250 worshippers, and cost roughly $17,000 to build — leaving the parish with a debt of some $4,000 at the time. The cornerstone, blessed on September 10, 1916, was laid with Bishop Hartley's sermon on the text 'Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church.'
Clergy
St. Mary's is currently served as part of the Lawrence County Catholic Community by Fr. Wayne Morris as pastor and Fr. Peter Afoenyem as parochial vicar. Both priests care for all four parishes of the community: St. Ann, St. Joseph, St. Lawrence O'Toole, and St. Mary.
- Pastor: Fr. Wayne Morris ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Peter Afoenyem ([email protected])
Sacraments
Information about celebrating the sacraments at St. Mary's is published in the parish bulletin. Baptisms are scheduled by contacting the parish office; marriage preparation requires at least six months' advance notice. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is regularly available before Sunday Mass or by appointment.
- Baptism — call the rectory for information
- Marriage — six months' advance notice required
- Reconciliation — Sundays 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM or by appointment
The Lawrence County Catholic Community
St. Mary's is one of four parishes that together form the Lawrence County Catholic Community, sharing priests and supporting one another's ministries. The other three parishes are St. Ann in Chesapeake, St. Joseph in Ironton, and St. Lawrence O'Toole in Ironton. The community publishes a joint bulletin with Mass and confession times, devotions, and announcements for all four parishes.
- St. Ann — 310 3rd Ave, Chesapeake, OH 45619
- St. Joseph — 501 Chestnut St, Ironton, OH 45638
- St. Lawrence O'Toole — 611 Center St, Ironton, OH 45638
- St. Mary — 1059 County Rd 26, Ironton, OH 45638
- Shared pastor: Fr. Wayne Morris
- Shared parochial vicar: Fr. Peter Afoenyem
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the Lawrence County Catholic Community parish office by phone or email, and emergency priest visits are available through the office's after-hours line. St. Mary's is located about eight miles north of Ironton at 1059 County Road 26 in Pine Grove Township.
- Parish office phone: (740) 532-0712
- Emergency line: (740) 532-0712, option 8
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Mailing address: PO Box 499, Ironton, OH 45638
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Emmanuel (Emile/Emil) Thienpont1845–1850
Visiting missionary priest from Portsmouth who said the first Mass at Pine Grove in the log chapel in January 1849; transferred to Steubenville on April 1, 1850.
- Rev. Theophilus Krapf, OFM1850
Franciscan who took over Pine Grove in April 1850 and began the priest's house.
- Rev. P. Eberhard, OFM1850–1851
Franciscan successor; oversaw the building of the first brick church in 1851.
- Rev. John Rauck1850s–1894
Long-serving pastor; in 1891 made 'Titular Rector of the Church of St. Mary at the Furnaces.' Died on All Souls Day, 1894.
- Rev. Matt (M. A.) Smith1891–1902
Young priest from Columbus sent as parish administrator; forced to retire by ill health in June 1902 and died that October.
- Rev. James J. McCann1902–1911
Among the best-remembered pastors of Pine Grove.
- Rev. F. X. (Philip) Clark1911–c.1917+
Cared for the parish through the 1915 fire; built the present church 1916–1917.
- Rev. Otto Trogusby 1943
Pastor at the time of the 1943 diocesan history; reported about 115–120 souls.
- Rev. Otto F. Guentherby 1924
Listed as the then-current pastor in the 1924 Lawrence Register diamond-jubilee article.