Conewago is the Mother Church of Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna. The eminent York Historian, Anna Dill Gamble (1877-1956), said that there is a reason to believe that English Jesuits established a mission post in the Conewago region as early as 1637. Father Joseph Greaton, SJ, the first priest whose name we know, attended the early Catholic settlers there. He arrived in Maryland in 1719 and was assigned to the mission territory of Northern Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania.
Conewago Chapel was founded in 1730 (per Papal Bull of St. John XXIII-see below); by 1741 a combination log dwelling and the chapel had been built known as St. Mary of the Assumption. By 1784 the Conewago congregation had grown to over a thousand members, the largest Catholic parish in early America. With the active help of parishioners, a new church, the largest Catholic church structure within the new nation, was started in 1785 and completed in 1787. It became the first church in America dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and probably the first parish church in the Western Hemisphere bearing this title. Today, it is the oldest Catholic church building in the United States built of stone.
The Russian prince, Demetrius Gallitzin, spent his early years in the priesthood at Conewago. In 1799 he set out to evangelize west of the Susquehanna and founded the Catholic settlement of Loretto, Pennsylvania, where he became known as “the Apostle of the Alleghenies.”
In 1834, the Sisters of Charity came from Emmitsburg, Maryland to open the Conewago Chapel School. They left in 1851 and the Sisters of Saint Joseph took their place. The Sisters of Saint Joseph founded the McSherrystown Novitiate and Academy of Saint Joseph on August 31, 1854.
Fr. Rev. Francis P Kenrick, Bishop of Philadelphia, consecrated the church on August 15, 1850.
In 1851, the church was enlarged with the addition of the transept and the apse. The church was consecrated on August 15, 1851, by Bishop Kenrick.
Fr. Rev. Francis P Kenrick, Bishop of Philadelphia, consecrated the church on August 15, 1850.
In 1851, the church was enlarged with the addition of the transept and the apse. The church was consecrated on August 15, 1851, by Bishop Kenrick.
In 1873 the steeple was added.
The Jesuit Fathers had charge of Conewago from its beginnings until June 3, 1901, when they withdrew and Bishop John W. Shanahan appointed the first pastor from among the priests of the diocese.
In 1902 a new school was built. For years the Sisters of Saint Joseph had been coming from McSherrystown each day to teach at the Chapel School and at the Irishtown and Mount Rock Schools. In 1932 the outlying schools were closed and parochial education was centered in the renovated school at Conewago. At about the same time a convent was provided for the teaching sisters.
In 1902 a new school was built. For years the Sisters of Saint Joseph had been coming from McSherrystown each day to teach at the Chapel School and at the Irishtown and Mount Rock Schools. In 1932 the outlying schools were closed and parochial education was centered in the renovated school at Conewago. At about the same time a convent was provided for the teaching sisters.
Bishop George L. Leech in 1937 on the occasion of the sesquicentennial of the building of the present church declared, “Conewago belongs to America, not merely to a parish or a diocese because it was the gateway through which passed the saintly founders and zealous missionaries who carried the light of the true faith eastward and westward into the frontiers of our land, long generations before the founding of our beloved nation.”
In the early 1950’s, the school was expanded and a parish hall was built. The school name was changed from Conewago Chapel School to Sacred Heart School. Additional classrooms were added in 1964. In the early 1960’s the church was refurbished.
In the early 1950’s, the school was expanded and a parish hall was built. The school name was changed from Conewago Chapel School to Sacred Heart School. Additional classrooms were added in 1964. In the early 1960’s the church was refurbished.
On July 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII, now Saint John XXIII, raised this church to the honor and dignity of a Minor Basilica had these words to say of the ancient shrine in a document issued on June 30, 1962: “Blessed in the sight of heaven is the place called Conewago, famous, above all else, as the seat of the first church in the United States, and perhaps in all North America, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and as a cradle of fervent Catholic Life. The church is counted among the fairest of the land. The faithful of America to this shrine of religion to share in the sacred rites and to “drink deep from the foundation of salvation.’” (Isaiah 12, 3).
The church’s Sesquicentennial in 1937 and the elevation of the church to the rank of a Minor Basilica in 1962, celebrate the antiquity, the magnificence and the importance of Conewago to the Church and to the nation.
The parish celebrated the Bicentennial of the church’s construction in 1987. Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Pio Laghi celebrated Mass, which was followed by a formal dinner in the parish hall.
In 2000, the new parish social hall (with kitchen and gymnasium space) was dedicated. The former hall was then converted into classroom space.
In 2017, Sacred Heart School closed and the Basilica Parish became one of the sponsor parishes of the new St. Teresa of Calcutta School.
The church’s Sesquicentennial in 1937 and the elevation of the church to the rank of a Minor Basilica in 1962, celebrate the antiquity, the magnificence and the importance of Conewago to the Church and to the nation.
The parish celebrated the Bicentennial of the church’s construction in 1987. Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Pio Laghi celebrated Mass, which was followed by a formal dinner in the parish hall.
In 2000, the new parish social hall (with kitchen and gymnasium space) was dedicated. The former hall was then converted into classroom space.
In 2017, Sacred Heart School closed and the Basilica Parish became one of the sponsor parishes of the new St. Teresa of Calcutta School.
History of Our Pastors
1741-1748 Rev. William Wappeler
1748-1753 Rev. T. Schneider S.J.
1753-1758 Rev. Mathias Manners S.J.
1758-1768 Rev. James Frambach
1768-1800 Rev. James Pellentz S.J.
1800-1803 Rev. Francis X. Brosious
1803-1804 Rev. S. Cerfourmont
1804-1812 Rev. Lewis DeBarth
1812-1822 Rev. Adam Britt S.J
1822-1843 Rev Matthew Lekeu S.J.
1843-1846 Rev. Nicholas Steinbacher S.J
1846-1847 Rev. Michael Tuffer S.J.
1847-1858 Rev. Joseph Enders S.J.
1858-1865 Rev. John Cattani S.J.
1865-1866 Rev. Simon Dompieri S.J.
1866-1868 Rev. Alphonse Charlier S.J.
1868-1869 Rev. Burchard Villiger S.J.
1869-1871 Rev. Ignatius Bellwalder S.J
1871-1884 Rev. Joseph Enders S.J
1884-1888 Rev. Patrick Forhan S.J
1888-1891 Rev. John B. Mullaly S.J
1891-1893 Rev. Thomas W. Hayes S.J.
1893-1898 Rev. Timothy O’leary S.J.
1898-1899 Rev. Daniel Haugh S.J.
1899-1901 Rev. William R. Cowardin S.J.
1901-1902 Rev. Hugo A. Loague
1902-1909 Rev. E. Halftermeyer
1909-1914 Rev. Germanus Kohl
1914-1925 Rev. Charles Koch
1925-1947 Rev. John F. O’ Donnell
1947-1953 Rev. Harold E. Keller
1953-1966 Rev. John P. Bolin
1966-1980 Rev. Thomas J. McGough
1980-2000 Rev. Msgr. George W. Rost
2000-2013 Rev. Lawrence J. McNeil
2013-2015 Rev. James E. Lease
2015-2020 Rev. Joseph Howard
2020-Present Rev. Dwight Schlaline
