Immaculate Conception Parish is a Roman Catholic Church of the diocese of Altoona-Johnstown serving the residents of New Germany and the surrounding area. We are situated in Cambria County between the Pennsylvania cities of Johnstown, route 219 South, and Ebensburg, Route 219 North, and four miles from the Pennsylvania towns of Wilmore, Route 53 East, and Summerhill, Route 53 West.
Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, but it has been and continues to be staffed by the Benedictines from Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Saint Vincent Archabbey is the first Benedictine monastery in the United States.
During the mid-19th century, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, the Most Reverend Michael O’Connor, invited Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., and his Benedictine monks, to come from Bavaria to Pennsylvania to provide for the religious needs of the German Catholic immigrants making their homes in the Carrolltown and surrounding areas. In 1848, the Benedictine monks were given the responsibility for all the missions in Cambria County.
Immaculate Conception is the title given to the parish church in New Germany in virtue of the dogma defined by His Holiness, Pope Pius IX, on December 8, 1854. The church here was dedicated the following year, 1855. Even before the definition of the dogma in 1854, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, was proclaimed patroness of the United States under the title “Immaculate Conception”.
Today the parish in New Germany is growing and thriving. From our humble beginnings of home masses in private residences, to our small log cabin church, to our newer structures with additions that seat 200 members, we number 235 families.
As pastor, I invite all to peruse our website to learn more about the Catholic Faith, and to see how we are serving the pastoral, sacramental and spiritual, as well as the social needs of our communities. I also encourage all to visit us along your travels through our area.
Father Joseph C. Nale
Pastor
Address: 1640 New Germany Road, Summerhill, PA 15958
Email: stjic@comcast.net
Rectory: 814-495-5241
