PASTORS BISHOP JOHN J. RUSSELL. D.D. 1937-45 (deceased) MSGR. WILLIAM J. SWEENEY 1946-67 (deceased) MSGR. MYLES J. MCGOWAN 1967-1987 MSGR. A. THOMAS BAUMGARTNER 1988 to 2006 MSGR. JAMES P. FARMER 2006 to Present MISSION ASSOCIATES MSGR. EDWARD R. BRAHAM (deceased) MSGR. J. LEO MCCORMICK (deceased) ASSOCIATES MSGR. DAVID I. DORSCH 1939-49 (deceased) MSGR. WILLIAM F. DOYLE 1941-45 (deceased) MSGR. JAMES J. CRONIN 1945-64 ARCHBISHOP PHILIP M. HANNON 1946 MSGR. JOHN H. MCCALL 1949-50 (deceased) REV. THOMAS J. BYRD 1950-64 (deceased) REV. JOSEPH MARTELL 1961-68 (inactive) REV. PETER HILTZ 1964-66 (deceased) REV. REGIS F. LARKIN 1964-65 (deceased) REV. CLAUDE M. KINLEIN 1965-71 (deceased) REV. JOHN G. LINK 1965-69 (deceased) REV. ROBERT D. FRANK 1968-74 (inactive) REV. FREDERIC W. MAY 1968-70 (deceased) REV. WILLIAM Q. SIMMS 1971-78 (deceased) REV. WILLIAM P. FOLEY 1974-80 REV. RICHARD E. CHOMA 1978-81 (inactive) REV. THOMAS J. DONAGHY 1981-82 (retired) REV. FRANCIS J. LEFEVRE 1980-87 (inactive) REV. THOMAS RYAN 1982-86 REV. DAVID PIETROPAOLI 1983-84 (inactive) REV. GERALD HYNES, C.P. 1986 to present REV. FRANK J. BRAUER 1986-89 REV. GREGORY SMITH 1987-90 (deceased) REV. DONALD PARSON 1990-95 REV. JAMES HANNON 1995-96 REV. ROBERT JONES, C.S.S.R. 1997-2000 (deceased) REV. PAUL HOLTHAUS 1998 to present REV. JOHN W. ROBBINS 2001 to 2005 REV. MICHAEL DeASCANIS 2005 to present

Historical Photo Gallery

A History of St. Ursula Church

Early Origins

In the early part of the twentieth century, Parkville was a rapidly growing community. Like many areas on the outskirts of Baltimore, families were spreading outward and neighborhood services came with them. By 1894, Parkville had a blacksmith shop, three saloons, a hotel and a general store. Hiss Methodist Church had been established in 1839 and St. John Lutheran Church was founded in 1887. Catholics in the area attended St. Dominic Church in Hamilton by using the trolley that, according to Father Edward Braham, "lurched and swayed like a camel. To miss the trolley meant an intolerable wait. After giving the last blessing of the Mass, Father Manley was accustomed to warn his congregation to make a run for it, should they wish to catch the trolley for the country."

By the 1920's, Rev. John Manley, pastor of St. Dominic's, foresaw the burgeoning of suburbia, and on February 16, 1926, he purchased a piece of land on the west side of Harford Road near Manns Avenue from Abraham Niefeld for $6500 to establish the mission church of St. Ursula. His assistant, Fr. Braham, undertook the task of raising the money for the property. As he began this endeavor, Fr. Braham found that the parishioners were not merely acquaintances, but true friends willing to assist his efforts for God and souls. With the people in the community, he ran a series of successful fundraisers, from Christmas card and bake sales to bridge parties, baby shows and suppers. When the debt was paid, then it was time for a church. Fr. Braham needed to raise an additional $10,000 to build a church. Again, there was a new round of socials and parties to raise money. Through the volunteer efforts of a few local men, a frame hall was constructed on the site. Children immediately began to prepared for their First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

The First Building - a Church/School

On December 4, 1932, Fr. Manley broke ground for the first permanent building to be part of the church and the school. The church was dedicated on July 21, 1933, and Fr. Braham celebrated the first mass in the new church the following Sunday. The St. Ursula Mission was finally a reality!

The mission developed quickly and on June 27, 1937, Fr. Manley released St. Ursula into the hands of its first pastor, Rev. John J. Russell (later Bishop Russell of the Diocese of Richmond, VA), and it became an independent parish. With a $9000 debt and no living quarters, Fr. Russell welcomed the volunteerism of the 700 Catholics of Parkville eager to make their parish a success. They enlarged the existing hall to more than double its size to accomodate the crowds that came to the chicken suppers and the bingo parties.

In April, 1940, Fr. Russell concluded an agreement for the erection and completion of an additional story to the school, and in September, 145 pupils attended the new school under the tutelage of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The sisters commuted from Ilchester that first year until a residence for them could be built.

The priests, too, needed a residence, and George Clautice donated a little more than three acres of property on the east side of Harford Road at Putty Hill Avenue. In 1941, Fr. Russell, now with two assistants, moved into the completed rectory. The parish continued to grow despite the war, and school enrollment increased. More sisters came to live in the convent. In 1945, Fr. Russell was honored with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor and in December, he was transferred to St. Patrick Church in Washington, D.C. After a brief stay there, he went on to become Bishop of Charleston, SC and later, Bishop of Richmond, VA.

New pastor Rev. William J. Sweeney needed to decide whether to continue plans to erect a new church or to enlarge the school, which already held 542 pupils - about 70 to each classroom. After much reflection, plans were drawn for the school and more fundraisers were held. The new building was blessed by Archbishop Keough before the 11 AM Mass on September 19, 1948.

Parkville continued to experience tremendous growth. By 1952, the number of pupils at St. Ursula had risen to 878. The convent was overcrowded with 14 sisters. The church and hall could not accommodate 3800 parishoners. Early in 1953, plans were drawn for building a convent and church at a cost of $750,000. On May 14, ground was broken for a new convent adjacent to the school at Neifeld Avenue.

A New Church

On the feast of Pentecost, ten days after ground was broken for the new convent, Fr. Sweeney broke ground for the new church. On the feast of St. Ursula, October 21, 1953, the pastor blessed the cornerstones for both buildings, and the convent was opened on December 8th.

Father Sweeney turned his attention to the new church. By September, 1954, the basement church was completed, and he said Mass there on September 26. The altar, crucifix, stations of the cross and statues had been brought from the original church, which was then converted into much needed classroom space. On October 20, Auxiliary Bishop Sebastian consecrated the altars in the upper church, and on October 31, the church was dedicated by Archbishop Keough.

Still the parish grew, and the school again became overcrowded. The now Monsignor Sweeney broke ground for an eight room addition in March, 1959 and the new building was occupied by students on September 3 of that year. By 1962, enrollment swelled to 1,468 students. In 1968, a new auditorium with kitchen, meeting rooms and offices was added.

Monsignor Sweeney did not live to see the completion of the construction. After nine years of heart ailments, he suffered a fatal heart attack on May 12, 1967, and died while en route by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital. He had served as pastor for 22 years.

Msgr. McGowan Years

Fr. Myles McGowan, then pastor of St. Louis Church, Clarksville, was named by Cardinal Sheehan as the new pastor. When he arrived in June, 1967, St. Ursula's was at a critical point. The parish had become so large that a twelve acre site for a new parish had been purchased on Old Harford Road north of Joppa Road. It would become St. Ursula's mission, later the parish of St. Isaac Jogues. With 2,500 families and 10,000 parishoners, St. Ursula was one of the largest in the Archdiocese.

Fr. McGowan undertook the needed improvements to the parish and set about to eliminate the accrued parish debt. By 1973, half the debt was retired and in 1974, an innovative debenture plan was instituted that eliminated the remaining debt and saved the parish $35,000 per year. Yet, none of this would have been possible without the generosity and cooperation of the faithful parishoners.

Spiritually, St. Ursula became a microcosm of the new vision of the Church that was set forth by the Second Vatican Council. Nearly 600 children were enrolled in CCD classes taught by volunteers. A preschool program began in 1972, as did the Summer Bible School. Adult education programs were conducted regularly.

Most significantly, the laity took a more active role in the new liturgy. Lectors read the scriptures, cantors lead the congregation in song. Special Ministers distribute the Eucharist at Mass and Pastoral Outreach volunteers bring the Eucharist and comfort to the sick, the elderly and shut-ins. Several men in the parish completed studies to fill the role of Permanent Deacon. The new Mass in English with the celebrant facing the congregation made the liturgy meaningful to the people, who saw the changes as progressive and relevant.

Msgr. Baumgartner Years (to the present)

In 1987, Monsignor McGowan retired as pastor of St. Ursula with the title Pastor Emeritus. In February, 1988, Rev. A. Thomas Baumgartner became pastor, leading the parish into the 1990's and the 21st Century. Today, Monsignor Baumgartner and his staff continue to serve an active, vibrant parish. Amidst changing demographics and changing needs, St. Ursula continues to live it's mission with strength and purpose with an eye to the future in the 21st Century. The School maintains enrollments between 730 and 750 students and many of her graduates receive scholarships and endowments for high school and college.

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Ursula, the Saint

According to Butler's Lives of the Saints, St. Ursula and the maiden martyrs of Cologne were from the 4th century. They were probably martyred at the hands of the Huns on October 21, 451. Legend has it that Ursula refused to marry their chief, so they were all murdered for their faith. Then the barbarians were dispersed by angels, the martyrs were buried by local citizens and a church was built at the site in their honor by Clematius, a man of senatorial rank.

A more modern day legend surrounds the naming of St. Ursula parish. Nothing is written, only an oral tradition has been passed down. It is said that Father Manley personally chose the name for the parish. But it was not because of devotion to that long-ago martyred saint. His sister's name was Ursula. So says the legend. Let it be written.

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Last Updated: May 23, 2006