Sacred Heart Church at 139 3rd St NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663-3900 US - St. Francis de Sales at Newcomerstown

Bishop Hartley of Columbus had been for some years desirous of a parish in Newcomerstown, when, in 1917, Father Arthur Zuber, assistant priest at Sacred Heart parish, Coshocton, was directed to take a census of the Catholic population of that town. The resulting count was 70 Catholics in Newcomerstown, “20 American, 35 Hungarian, and 15 Italian.” After this census was completed, property was sought for a future church. The acquisition was difficult, as anti-Catholic sentiment in the town was very strong. Finally, though, Mr. Prosper Royer of Coshocton purchased a former grocery store at the southwest corner of State and Chestnut Streets, deeding it to Bishop Hartley in March of 1918. The first mass in the remodeled store was celebrated on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 1918 by Father Zuber. Father Slattery, the pastor of Coshocton was too ill to celebrate the mass, but was in attendance, and gave the sermon for the occasion. After this first mass, the regular schedule was mass on the fourth Sunday of each month. Father Slattery celebrated mass in Newcomerstown regularly, until, on the 23rd of April, 1919, care of the mission was turned over to the Capuchin friars of Dover, Ohio. Father Alexius Staab, O.M.Cap., visited the mission from April until July of that year. Father Theodore Schillo, O.M.Cap., pastor of Roswell and Sherrodsville, carried the additional responsibility of pastor of Newcomerstown from July of 1919 until February of 1920. The third friar in charge was Father George Karlin, who first came to Newcomerstown February 22, 1920. He celebrated his last mass in Newcomerstown July 24, 1920. After that date, he was transferred to work in Pittsburgh, and the friars no longer came to Newcomerstown. Father Slattery, still the pastor of Coshocton, concerned about the neglect of the Newcomerstown mission, received permission from Bishop Hartley to return for the regular scheduled mass, which he celebrated from February 13 through May 8, 1921, on the second Sunday of each month. Father Cornelius Powers was appointed first resident pastor of St. Francis de Sales parish on July 10, 1921. Five lots and a house were purchased on the west side of River Street, south of State Street. The front parlor of the house was then used as a chapel for mass, with the remainder of the building serving as the priest’s residence. From 1928 to 1948 the pastors of Newcomerstown also had care of the mission of St. Therese in Wainwright. Groundbreaking for the present St. Francis de Sales church was held October 19, 1937; the building was dedicated on March 15, 1938. In 1951, a house was acquired across River Street, to serve as the new parish rectory. The original rectory was torn down at this time. Nearly thirty years after the construction of the church, ground was broken for the parish hall in September of 1968; dedication was the following year. Earlier, in 1964, the house to the north of the new hall had become available, and was purchased to serve as the parish rectory. This house underwent major remodeling in the last months of 1993, to make it accessible to the wheelchair of the new pastor, Father Edward Keck. The church and hall were remodeled in 1995, to improve appearance, liturgical appropriateness, and accessibility.

(Back)