St. Mary, Rockport

History:
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Introduction
Beginnings
St. Mary, Rockport
Stone Church
Age of the Streetcar
We Become a Parish
New School
Fr. Calvey
Building Traditions
Altar & Rosary
Calvey Club
Main School Bldg
Depression Years
Youth Organizations
War Years
Post-war Years
Parish Cemetery
Building Years
Aspects of Parish Life
Pastorate of Fr. Kelly
Hunger Center
Changing Needs
R.C.I.A.
Pastoral Council
Reaching Out
Parish Staff
Year of Celebration
Parish Leaders
Daughter Parishes

Other sections:
Calendar
Church & ministry
Scenes
School
Organizations

During the late 1850s, a growing number of German immigrants settled in Rockport Township. St. Mary, Rockport (now Assumption, Brook Park) was established by Bishop Rappe in 1860 to meet the needs of this new population.

Fr. Michael Mueller was St. Mary's first resident pastor, and in 1865 was given the care of St. Patrick's. Pastoral care of the two parishes continued in this way for another 45 years.

The pastors from St. Mary's came to St. Patrick's every Sunday, on holy days and twice during the week. Although not in residence, these men were faithful in their pastoral, sacramental and administrative duties. Parishioners opened their homes to the priests whenever there was a need for them to spend the night there was always a room available for them in the Mangan home on Puritas Springs Road and, later, in the home of William and Martha Code on Riverside (now Rocky River Drive).

In the mid-1870s, during the pastorate of Fr. Patrick O'Brien, the fifth pastor of the two parishes, St. Patrick's did some more construction. The parish had started a school in 1864 - again, resourceful parishioners had not let the lack of a building stand in the way of their progress. Lessons were held in the church or in the home of the lay teacher in charge of the class.

The first school building was begun in 1874; the one-room structure was built on Puritas Springs Road behind the church. A second floor was added the following year to serve as quarters for nuns. The church structure was completed the same year with the addition of a bell tower over the front door. The tower stood empty for eight years, until the Byrne family, founding parishioners, donated church bells, which were installed and blessed on August 26, 1883.

Fr. O'Brien's successor, Fr. Jacob Kuebler, served the two parishes for 16 years, the longest tenure of all the early pastors. He obtained the services of the Sisters of Notre Dame to teach in the school. These sisters had recently arrived from Germany - their accented English coupled with their students' brogue must have made for some interesting lessons. In 1878, the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary (the Blue Nuns) took over the school. These good nuns remained until 1887 when a lay woman again started teaching.

Before his death in 1924, Fr. Kuebler, remembering his time in Rockport Township, recalled his ministry extending "almost as far as Elyria."