St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1903, Marietta, Ohio

August 16, 1749 – Rev. Joseph Peter de Bonnecamp, S.J. offers Mass for Celeron de Brienville and his 300 troops and local Native Americans at the confluence of the Muskingum River and the Ohio River.

 

Early 1800s – Catholic residents meet in the home of Felix McGuire (corner of Hart & 5th Sts.) for Mass, offered by either Fr. Lee or Fr. Russel who would travel to Marietta either by boat or by horseback.

 

1830 – Fr. Russel presents a lecture from the Washington County Courthouse steps.

 

1838 – Rev. James McCaffrey becomes the first resident pastor. Mass is held in the house of John Brough (father of Ohio’s governor in 1863).

 

1849 – Fr. McCaffrey dies of cholera while going to Pittsburgh to get financial help for St. Mary’s Church.

 

Fall of 1849 – April 1850 – Rev. Robert I. Lawrence is pastor.

 

April 1850 – Rev. Peter Perry becomes pastor. Mr. John Burke.

 

Sept. 1855 – Rev. R. P. O’Neil becomes pastor.

 

April 1856 – Rev. R. B. Hardy becomes pastor.

 

March 1857 – Rev. O. A. Walker becomes pastor. John Sheridan, brother of General Phil Sheridan becomes teacher at St. Mary’s School. He earns $15/month.

 

June 1862 – Rev. J. D. Ryan becomes pastor. Fr. Ryan dies while pastor (buried in Sidney, OH).

 

August 1870 – Rev. Charles F. Shelhamer becomes pastor.

 

November 1875 – Rev. P. Thurheimer becomes pastor.

 

September 1878 – Rev. F. J. Campbell becomes pastor.

 

November 1879 – Rev. Jno. B. Kuehn becomes pastor. Fr. Kuehn dies while pastor in July 1892. He is buried in Old St. Mary’s Cemetery.

 

July 1892 – Rev. Francis M. Woesman becomes pastor.

 

1922 – Rev. Herman becomes pastor.

 

1931 – Fr. Robben becomes pastor.

 

1948 – Msgr. Murphy becomes pastor.

 

1968 – Msgr. Robert Punke becomes pastor.

 

1987 – Msgr. Edward J. Kakascik becomes pastor.

 

2003 - Father Mark Moore becomes pastoral administrator.

 

2004 – Msgr. John Michael Campbell becomes pastor.

Done