This society was originally called St. Mary's, and in 1844 John B. Lange, George Miller, and I. Afferdick were chosen trustees and purchased the church site on North Salina street and erected a frame edifice. The first pastor was Rev. Adelbert Inama, who was appointed in 1843; he was succeeded by Rev. Theodore Noethen, Rev. P. Flarian Schweninger, O. S. B., Rev. P. Simon Sanderl, and he by Rev. Joseph Raffeiner, under whose administration the church was enlarged to meet the demands of the growing congregation. In 1861 began the administration of that branch of the Franciscan Fathers known as Minor Conventuals; they built the new church in 1865 at a cost of about $125,000, which was consecrated May 3, 1867, by the Rt. Rev. John C. Conroy, then Bishop of Albany diocese. The two towers were finished in 1872, when V. R. P. Fidelis Dehm was pastor. He remained in the church until 1878 and was succeeded by Father Joseph as superior of the Franciscans, who appointed Rev. Father Leonard Erich pastor. He remained until 1880, in July of which year Father Alexis Rossbauer was elected superior and pastor; he remained until 1883 and during his pastorate he erected a school building and introduced steam heat in the buildings at a cost of $40,000. Father Lou. Rich was elected pastor in 1883, and continued to May, 1888, when he was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Louis Miller; the latter acted until 1889, when Rev. Francis Neubauer, D. D., was elected provincial of the order and Rev. Father Bonaventura Zoller was appointed pastor. The church has a school on Townsend street which was built at a cost of $40,000. The society is a very large one.
Submitted 18 July 1998