Catholics began arriving in what is now the Corry area in 1855, and so Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish was founded by the Diocese of Erie with Father Thomas Lonergan, an Irish-born priest as pastor (1855-1905), serving the immigrant population of the area by traveling on horseback. The first Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, originally located on Fourth Avenue, was dedicated on September 7, 1862. Due to the increasing Catholic population, Father Lonergan built the present Saint Thomas the Apostle Church on West Washington Street. The church was finished and dedicated in December of 1885. The church went through substantial renovations over the years and was rededicated on February 18, 1996.
For many years, Saint Thomas the Apostle Church continued to grow. The parish had a convent of religious sisters who taught in the parish school. In addition, the parish established a mission church, Our Lady of Victory in Spartansburg, to provide for the pastoral care of the community which worshiped there. The parish continued to provide pastoral care for the mission community in Spartansburg until the late 1980's, when the care of the mission was transferred to Saint Elizabeth Church, where it remained until Our Lady of Victory mission church was officially closed.
Priest who served Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish: Rev. Thomas Lonergan (1855-1905); Rev. Michael Tracy (1906-1927); Rev. Francis Graves (1927-1958); Rev. Cyril Cooper (1958-1980); Rev. Richard Mayer (1980-1991); Msgr. John Hagerty (1991-1997); Rev. William Kuba (1997-1998); Rev. Joseph Finucane (1998-2000); Rev. Thomas Brown (2000-2011); Msgr. Casimir Bogniak (2011-2012); Rev. Mark Hoffman (2012-2017); and, Rev. D.G. Davis, III (2017 - 2021); Rev. Matthew J. Strickenberger (2021-2022); in 2023, Rev. Gregory Passauer, Pastor of All Saints Parish in Waterford, was named the Temporary Parochial Administrator for the partnered parishes of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish (Corry) and St. Teresa of Avila Parish (Union City) until a new permant priest is assigned. On July 11, 2023, our new pastor, Rev. Thomas J. Whitman (2023 - present) joined our partnered parishes.
Saint Elizabeth Church was founded at the request of German immigrants, who settled in Corry. Under the patronage of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, the Diocese established the parish; and the church and other buildings were completed prior to a pastor being assigned. With the work completed, Father Francis Winter (1876-1883) was the first pastor. He officiated at the church's first Baptism on September 25, 1876. That year the church had several Baptisms, two Confirmations, five First Communions, and one couple united in Holy Matrimony. And so, the church flourished, growing with new families, served by new pastors, adding new buildings, a cemetery, and, in 1950, a new church building (where the current church stands). Saint Elizabeth Church celebrated 125 years of existence in Corry in 2001. SAINT ELIZABETH CHURCH CLOSED IN 2019, AFTER 143 YEARS IN CORRY.
Priests who served Saint Elizabeth Parish: Rev. Francis Winter (1876-1883); Rev. Anthony Reck (1884); Rev. F.J. Hartman (1885-1889); Rev. Simon Assermacher (1889); Rev. Emil Frank (1890); Rev. Joseph Schroeder (1890-1904); Rev. Joseph Kuntz (1904-1915); Rev. George Krantz (1915); Rev. Joseph Brock (1916-1920); Rev. Vitua Reiser (1920-1933); Rev. Carl Heidt (1933-1951); Rev. Cyril Kronz (1951-1972); Rev. Carl Lippert (1973-1976); Rev. Richard J. Friedrichs (1976-1984); Rev. James P. Ruhling (1984-1985); Rev. Gene Humenay (1985-1987); Rev. Joseph Finucane (1987-2000); Rev. Thomas Brown (2000-2011); Msgr. Casimir Bogniak (2011-2012); Rev. Mark Hoffman (2012-2017); and, Rev. D.G. Davis, III (2017-2019).
In 1998, Saint Elizabeth Parish and Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish which shared the tradition of being founded by immigrant families in Corry's early days became the Corry Catholic Community under the care of one pastor, Father Joseph Finucane (1987-2000), who served the Catholic faithful of Corry. From this point on, both parishes continued to share a pastor.
On September 20, 2016, the Bishop of Erie, The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico, issued a Decree (with an effective date of February 13, 2017) whereby Saint Elizabeth Parish was merged and subsumed into Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish in Corry. The pastoral care of the Catholic faithful in Corry is provided by Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, with Saint Thomas the Apostle Church being the primary church and Saint Elizabeth Church is now a secondary church.
To read the Decree, please click this link: DECREE - Merging St. Elizabeth into St. Thomas the Apostle
On October 30, 2019, the Bishop of Erie issued a Decree effecting the relegation of Saint Elizabeth Church (Corry) to profane but not sordid use.
A farewell Mass was held at Saint Elizabeth Church on it's patron's feast day, November 17, 2019.
On December 1, 2019, Saint Elizabeth Church, having been declared by Decree of the Bishop of Erie (dated October 30, 2019) to be profaned, permanently closed her doors, and all religious services at Saint Elizabeth Church ceased.
To read the Decree dated October 30, 2019, please click this link: DECREE- Relegating St. Elizabeth Church to profane but not sordid use
St. Elizabeth Church and Rectory were sold and the deed transfer was recorded on February 21, 2020.
