St. Patricks Church at 157 Bridge St, Catskill, NY 12414 US - In the beginning
In the beginning
In the summer of 1853, through the efforts of the Rev. Father Howard of Hudson, the Catholic Church was established in Catskill. Father Howard would visit Catskill to celebrate Mass. The congregation would gather for Mass in a frame building at the rear of the parsonage, on the south side of William Street. In March of 1884 Bishop McNiery appointed Father William J. Finneran to the pastorate of St. Patrick’s. In May of 1885, through Father Finneran’s untiring efforts, ground was broken for a new house of worship and on Sunday, August 23rd of that year, the corner stone for the present church was laid. The first Sunday Mass was celebrated in the new church on April 25, 1886. When Father Finneran passed away in April of 1900, Father William Fitzgerald was appointed to replace him as pastor. In 1903, Father Fitzgerald supervised construction of the present rectory, next to the church at the junction of Bridge and Spring Streets.