Untitled Document

1844	The first Catholic event takes place in Cooperstown when Fr. Michael Gilbride preaches in the Baptist Meeting House.
1847	Portion of the See of New York is declared the Diocese of Albany. The Rt. Rev. John McCloskey becomes its first Bishop. Fr. Gilbride offering the very first Mass in September at the home of a James McNally.
1849	Fr. M.B. Constantine is assigned to serve Cooperstown and surrounding area Catholics. 1849-1850
1850	Fr. M.C. Kenny replaces Fr. Constantine. 1850-1852 It is during his pastorate that the first church is constructed.
1851	The first Catholic church edifice is built on Susquehanna Avenue near the corner of Elm Street.
1852	Father Jonathan Furlong is Pastor from 1852 - 1855
1855	Rev P. Fitzpatrick is Pastor from 1855 - 1860.
1860	Rev William Carroll is Pastor from 1860 - 1863.
1862	About two acres of land are purchased at the west end of town for a cemetery (the Irish Hill Cemetery).
1863	One-half acre of land is purchased (present church grounds) but lost shortly thereafter through foreclosure. A smaller lot on the corner of Elm and Delaware is then purchased. Rev Clark is Pastor from 1863 - 1865.
1865	The Delaware lot proves too small and so with the kind help of Mr. Andrew Shaw the lot is exchanged for the former plot. The deed is conveyed to the Most Rev. John J. Conroy, Bishop of Albany Diocese, in trust for St. Mary's congregation. Rev McCurry is Pastor.
1866	Rev. John J Brennan is Pastor 1866 - 1869.
1867	Bishop Conroy lays the cornerstone for the new red brick church on June 29. The Church is dedicated with a High Mass on December 6th, the first service having been held on December 1st.
1869	Rev M.C. Devitt is Pastor from 1869 - 1878.
1870	The first organ (hand pumped) is installed and played for the first time on Sunday, May 29.
1878	By way of a second certificate of incorporation, signed by Bishop McNierney and pastor Devitt on February 1st,the church assumes the name "Church of the Lady of the Lake." Rev. Martin J Hughes is pastor from 1878 - 1885.
1881	The tower and belfry are added, including a bell weighing some 3,000 pounds.
1883	The excavation below the church, to provide space for a furnace and storage space, is completed.
1885	The parsonage edifice is constructed.
1886	Side galleries are added to the inside of the church. Rev. Daniel O'Connell is pastor from 1886 - 1897.
1889	The old Baptist chapel is purchased by the Catholic Benevolent Society and moved to the area between church and parsonage.
1897	The Rev. Daniel Casey was pastor 1897 - 1899.
	Rev Thomas Early (1899 - 1909) and Altar Boys circa 1899 (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
	St Mary's Church - Turn of the Century (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
1902	The final portion of the church's mortgage and floating dept is paid.
1905	The side galleries are removed. The Gothic top over the sanctuary is installed and the woodwork within the church is completely refinished.
	Inside St Mary's Church - Newly Renovated (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
1909	Rev. Michael Mooney was pastor 1909-1914.
1915	Annual lawn feis, very popular for a time, are being held for the first time. Rev. John C. Carey was pastor 1915 - 1919.
1917	Francis King of Hartwick Seminary is ordained, celebrating his first Mass on June 29. The Holy Name Society is organized.
1919	Two of the Tyrolese stained-glass windows (nearest the altar, one on each side) are installed.
	Rev Crowe was pastor from 1919 - 1933 (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
1920	The Index Cemetery land is purchased.
1926	The Index Cemetery is first used.
1928	The confessional at the rear of the church is installed.
1932	Eight additional Tyrolese stained-glass windows are installed.
	Rev Vincent de Archambault was pastor 1933 - 1939. (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
1939	Rev. Patrick J. Whelan was pastor from 1939 - 1955.
1949	A new electric organ is purchased and installed.
1955	Rev. Robert C Murphy was pastor from 1955 - 1970.
1959	The Meeting Hall (old Baptist chapel) is torn down and the room in back of the altar area is constructed.
1963	The Catechetical Center is constructed and dedicated.
	The Blessed Mother statue outside the church is dedicated on December 8th, 1967 the one-hundredth anniversary. (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
1970	Fr. John Sise is named pastor and he immediately appoints four committees to assist with the observance of Vatican II church renewal edicts.
1976	"Our Lady of the Lake" Parish Club is organized.
	May 1st, 1977 First Communion with Father Sise. (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
1978	A more open confessional is constructed in the room to the right of St. Joseph's altar.
	1991 - Fr. John Roos is named pastor and appoints a Parish Council to assist with church functions, spiritual, social and economic.
2000	Fr John P. Rosson is appointed on 21 June 2000 and installed as Pastor on 8 September 2000, Nativity of Mary with 10 priests concelebrating Mass of Installation. Fr. Jeffrey Sturmer, Diocese of Buffalo, preached the homily at Installation.
2000	Capital Campaign - "Together in Faith" is lauched with a St. Mary's goal of $307,000 to be divided 60/40 between Diocese and parish.
2000	Dec 3rd , St Mary's WebSite www.stmaryscoop.org is created.
	May 19th, 2001 First Communion with Father John P. Rosson. (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
	October 26, 2001 Special Blessing for a Firefighters newborn at the Mass with NYC Fireman from the World Trade Center Disaster
	October 2001 - Parish Mission entitled "Symbols of Faith" with Father Kevin MacDonald CssR.
	Father John R. Sise died March 19 2002. He served as pastor of St. Mary’s for twenty-two years from 1970-1992. Fr. Sise was buried from St. Mary's, Saturday, March 23rd after being waked in the Church.
	May 2002 - First Communion with Father John P. Rosson (click on thumbnail picture for larger view)
	June 2002 - The first issue of St Mary's Newsletter "THE WINDOW" is published.
2002	October 2002 - Parish Mission "Journey to God" with Father Kenan Peters, CP.
2003	15 August 2003 The newly installed air conditioning system ran for the first time at the wedding of Thomas Rupert Payne and Kelliann Marie Harrison, celebrated at 3 PM by Father John P. Rosson, a day after the largest blackout in United States history.
2003	29 August 2003 Fr. John P. Rosson left for Fall sabbatical at Hawkstone Hall, Shrewesbury, England after a Farewell Mass celebrated by Archbishop Peter Sarpong of Ghana. Archbishop Peter baptized Megan Susie Hughes, daughter fo Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Hughes.
2004	Lent 2004: Parishioners of St. Mary's collected food donations totaling $7,000.
2004	Parish Mission: Back to the Basics: "Know Jesus, Love Jesus, Pray with Jesus" was the focus of the 2004 Parish Mission which was conducted Nov 29th - Dec. 1st. Fr. Angelo Camacho, OP was the Mission Director. 175 persons shared in the Mission. The highpoint of the Mission was the 88 anointings of the sick.
	September 11th 2005 Special Dedication to commemorate the 5th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. A New flagpole was dedicated in honor of Henry J. Nicols.
	2006 Food Drive for Lent
2006	St Mary's Christmas Eve 2006
	2007 - Chris Gentile star athlete, was killed en route to Holy Thursday Mass. 900 attended his funeral at the Cooperstown High School Gym.
	2007 May 28: Vandals broke the outdoor statue of Mary on Memorial Day. A sign indicated "We Forgive" was placed in the niche.
	2007 September 16: The Statue of Mary was repaired and rededicated.
2007	Despite a beautifully decorated Church at Christmas, Fr. John Rosson, pastor, lost his voice on Christmas Eve., facing 5 Masses to offer. Christmas Eve: 4PM, 6:30 PM, 9PM Christmas Day: 9 AM, 11 AM
2008	Patricia A. Taugher was buried from St. Mary's on Feb 16th, one month shy of her 95th birthday. Pat founded the Bereavement Committee of St. Mary's.
2009	The St. Mary's website undergoes a complete redesign with the coming of new Webmaster James McCaffrey.