Parish History
Learn how St. Bernard’s grew from a little mission church in New Bloomfield to a vibrant parish community with over a thousand members.
First Contact
On August 16, 1798 Perry County had its first contact with the Catholic Church. On that date Franciscan Father Stanislaus Cerfoumont bought property in Perry County. Father Cerfoumont was a zealous missionary priest, living for a time at Conewago Chapel, near Hanover, where the Jesuits had made a foundation. At times Father Stanislaus said Mass at Carlisle.
With James Keenan, a Catholic, who lived in Juniata Township, Perry County, Father Stanislaus contracted to buy a tract of 150 acres of land, containing buildings, barns and stables. The purchase price was thirty pounds, gold and silver, which may have been worth $150.00. The plot of land was in Juniata Township, which lies directly north of the town of New Bloomfield. It was most likely Father Cerfoumont’s purpose to establish a Catholic settlement there in Juniata Township, much like the one that was founded around Conewago chapel by the Jesuits. But it remained a dream; no establishment was made then or since.
In 1907 Bishop John Shanahan sent Fathers George Brown and William O’Callaghan through Perry County and the adjacent counties to find any Catholic that may live there. They found a few Catholics scattered through the hills, but they were so few and they had been so long without the Catholic Church that no beginning was then made.
Mass in New Bloomfield
In 1923 Bishop McDevitt sent Monsignor Schmidt to take the census on the West Shore opposite Harrisburg. At that time only part of Perry County around Marysville was visited. But except for a Mission Church started at Enola and later at New Cumberland, no other beginning was made.
While Father Francis Welsh was pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Carlisle, Father Schmidt, the Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and his assistant, Father Schott offered to say Mass on Holy days of obligation at New Bloomfield. A place was found in Carson Long Military Academy. The first Mass was said there on the Holy days of 1937. Prior to that year, the students at Carson Long Military Academy would go to St. Patrick’s Carlisle, for Sunday Mass whenever they found it possible. The people of the area attended Mass rather infrequently at Carlisle, while those in Newport area went to Lewistown.
In 1942 (Father Schmidt became Pastor in Carlisle, December 1940) there were about twenty-four Catholic boys at Carson Long Military Academy. There, on the Campus of the school, on May 3, 1942 he offered the first Sunday Mass. For three years the Sunday Mass was discontinued during the summer months. But in 1945 he started Sunday Mass throughout the year.
Establishing a Church
Because of the small number of people it was rather difficult to obtain from the Bishop of Harrisburg the necessary permission to go ahead with the building of a church. A very modest plain church was spoken of, but Father Schmidt preferred to build something that would be of some distinction.
The Church was named in honor of St. Bernard in memory of the father of Father Schmidt, Bernard Schmidt. St. Bernard was born in 1091 in France, died in his own country August 20, 1153. He was a priest of the Cistercian Order, a great Saint and Doctor of the Church.
The cornerstone was placed on Sunday, October 5, 1947. It was blessed by Monsignor Schmidt with the permission of the Most Reverend Bishop.
At that time there were some 153 souls who belonged to this mission parish. The building was dedicated by the Most Reverend George L. Leech, Bishop of Harrisburg on May 13, 1948, at which time Monsignor Schmidt celebrated as well the thirtieth anniversary of his ordination, May 8, 1918.
Missionaries
Monsignor Schmidt left the Parish of St. Patrick’s, Carlisle, on October 11, 1957 to become Director of the Mission Board of the Diocese in Harrisburg. At that time the Reverend Bernard V. Mattern became pastor of St. Patrick’s Church and in charge of the Mission at New Bloomfield.
In late 1965, the Glenmary Fathers and Brothers were given pastorate of Saint Bernard’s. These home missionaries faithfully served the parish for the next ten years. Their zeal in evangelization allowed the parish to grow spiritually and in numbers. For a time they lived behind the old mission church in a trailer.
A small cape-cod style home was built adjacent to the Church to serve as the parish house and rectory for the pastor. It was dedicated on September 27, 1970, with Most Reverend Joseph T. Daley and Monsignor Schmidt celebrating the Mass of Thanksgiving.
Missionaries
Monsignor Schmidt left the Parish of St. Patrick’s, Carlisle, on October 11, 1957 to become Director of the Mission Board of the Diocese in Harrisburg. At that time the Reverend Bernard V. Mattern became pastor of St. Patrick’s Church and in charge of the Mission at New Bloomfield.
In late 1965, the Glenmary Fathers and Brothers were given pastorate of Saint Bernard’s. These home missionaries faithfully served the parish for the next ten years. Their zeal in evangelization allowed the parish to grow spiritually and in numbers. For a time they lived behind the old mission church in a trailer.
A small cape-cod style home was built adjacent to the Church to serve as the parish house and rectory for the pastor. It was dedicated on September 27, 1970, with Most Reverend Joseph T. Daley and Monsignor Schmidt celebrating the Mass of Thanksgiving.
Entering the Diocese
In 1975, The Glenmary Fathers were recalled from the parishes they staffed in Pennsylvania. Saint Bernard’s Parish became a financially independent parish in the Diocese of Harrisburg. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales accepted responsibility for the parish’s spiritual care when Father John Heenan, OSFS, served as Pastor from 1975 to August 1979. Father Hugh McKenna, OSFS, served as pastor for one year 1979-1980. He was succeeded by Father Anthony Larry, OSFS, who served as Pastor from August 1980 to August 1990. Upon Father Larry’s transfer, Father R. Douglas Smith, OSFS, was appointed Pastor by his community and served St. Bernard’s for one year, August 1990 to August 1991. The Parish family rejoiced to have Father Anthony Larry again return to Saint Bernard’s as Pastor. Father Larry remained as pastor from August 1991 to August 1998. It was then that the Provincial Superior of the Oblate Fathers informed the Diocese of Harrisburg that they could no longer spiritually care for the parish by supplying pastors.
In August 1998, Bishop Nicholas Dattilo appointed the first diocesan priest as Pastor of St. Bernard’s in thirty-three years when he named Father Robert F. Sharman to be the parish priest.
Continued Growth
Throughout the years Saint Bernard’s experienced continued growth. The existing church and hall on McClure Street became inadequate for worship and social gathering. A Parish Building Committee was formed and, with the help of an architect, developed plans for a new church complex on 20 acres of land in Centre Township. With the approval of Bishop Dattilo, a loan was secured from the diocese and a contractor was hired to build a new church, as phase one of our building program. The parishioners also contributed over $600,000 in a capital campaign to make the church a reality.
New Construction
On December 16, 2001, Bishop Dattilo gathered with the parish family and formally broke ground for the new parish complex. Construction began immediately and, over the course of eighteen months, the church was constructed.
In a spirit of joy and thanksgiving, more than 400 parishioners and guests celebrated with Bishop Dattilo the Mass of Dedication for the new church on May 24, 2003.
Adding to the Parish Complex
With the dedication of the church, the parish lost no time in completing the necessary buildings for our parish complex. The rectory was built in 2006 and dedicated by Bishop Rhoades in May of that year. The Bishop Rhoades returned again in 2008 to dedicate our new education building, named in honor of our founding pastor, Monsignor Joseph Schmidt. The parish complex grew again with the completion of a social hall in the basement of the church. It was named in memory of Bishop Nicholas Dattilo and dedicated in 2009. Added to the property were a much needed three-bay garage in 2010 and a parish picnic pavilion in 2011. Since then, a Stations of the Cross walk was made and our parish garage was enlarged to house additional machinery. The 75th anniversary of our parish was celebrated in October 2023.
Adding to the Parish Complex
With the dedication of the church, the parish lost no time in completing the necessary buildings for our parish complex. The rectory was built in 2006 and dedicated by Bishop Rhoades in May of that year. The Bishop Rhoades returned again in 2008 to dedicate our new education building, named in honor of our founding pastor, Monsignor Joseph Schmidt. The parish complex grew again with the completion of a social hall in the basement of the church. It was named in memory of Bishop Nicholas Dattilo and dedicated in 2009. Added to the property were a much needed three-bay garage in 2010 and a parish picnic pavilion in 2011. Since then, a Stations of the Cross walk was made and our parish garage was enlarged to house additional machinery. The 75th anniversary of our parish was celebrated in October 2023.
See More Photos
View our photo gallery for a collection of historic and recent photos of our parish.