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History St. Thomas the Apostle Parish was founded in 1816. During a public meeting, on February 2, 1816, the Catholic membership of Bedford County pledged money and materials for the building of a church. A list of donors and donations is on parochial file. The monetary donations ranged from fifty cents to one hundred dollars. Building supplies such as wood and nails were also donated. Father Demetrius Gallitzin, the legendary "Prince Priest of the Alleghenies", was the first priest to minister to the Roman Catholic population of the Bedford area as early as 1795, celebrating Mass and staying in various homes throughout the Diocese. Among these was the Heyden home. Following Father Gallitzin's example and with his help, young Thomas Heyden was sent to Mt. St. Mary's College in Maryland, ordained a priest on May 21, 1821 at the age of 23 and shortly afterwards became the pastor of St. Thomas, serving the parish for nearly 50 years until his death on August 25, 1870. The original church was completed in 1817 and still stands on East Street next to the original cemetery. In 1833 a larger second church was built across the street to accommodate the growing population. It also proved inadequate in size and so the present St. Thomas Church was built in 1868. The original church, or "little church", as parishioners lovingly refer to it, was restored and declared a Community Shrine in October of 1958. The present church located at the intersection of East Penn and South Richard Streets bears the inscription "Built A.D. 1868 By Very Rev. Thos. Heyden, D.D.". Father Heyden's remains repose in St. Thomas' "old cemetery" very near to the original church. The carved wooden altars and figures were imported from Europe, and along with the stained glass windows, have earned St. Thomas Church the reputation of being an "artistic jewel." Our gratitude goes to all of the priests and parishioners who have worked so hard to provide us with a beautiful church. Priests who have served the people of St. Thomas Parish 1821-1870 Very Rev. Thomas E. Heyden 1870-1881 Rev. Andrew J.M. Brown 1881-1890 Rev. Daniel O'Connell 1891-1894 Rev. John Foley 1894-1908 Rev. Dennis Cashman 1908-1917 Rt. Rev. Msgr. William E. Downes 1917-1931 Rev. C.L. McKinney 1932-1953 Very Rev. Francis A. Magee 1953-1956 Rev. Edward J. Davis (Administrator) 1956-1972 Rev. Edward F. McConnell 1972-1989 Rev. Raymond G. Crosser 1989-2003 Rev. John C. Vago 2003-2016 Rev. Donald W. Dusza Our current pastor is Rev. Richard B. Tomkosky. Fr. Rich Interview with Parishioner Lloyd Roach Our 200th Anniversary Celebration in 2016 AUDIO DOCUMENTARY created in honor of the parish's 200th anniversary. Click HERE to hear stories of parish history back to the 1930s, including interviews with Father Crosser and Father Dusza. Thank you so much for all of those who helped us celebrate our 200th Anniversary. Mass was held at noon on May 22nd with Bishop Mark Bartchak celebrating. Father Raymond Crosser was also present. A special thank you to the Adult & Youth Choirs who joined their voices in praise and thanksgiving in our celebration of the Mass. Afterwards, we all enjoyed our 200th Anniversary Dinner at the Bedford Elks Country Club. Corpus Christi Procession: In honor of our 200th year, we had a Corpus Christi Procession from our church to the Little Church on Sunday, May 29 immediately following the 10:30 Mass. 200th Anniversary Parish Recipe Book: Did you get your 200th Anniversary Parish Recipe Book yet? Stop in the Rectory to purchase one for only $10. Elephant Stew! Hmmm Church Pictures: A great keepsake commemorating our 200th anniversary! Please stop by the rectory to purchase them. They are $20.00 each. More about Demetrius Gallitzin
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