History of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
On January 8, 1954 the Most Rev. Emmet M. Walsh, D.D., Bishop of Youngstown, established Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Austintown and named the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew A. Prokop its first pastor, effective January 15th. A ten acre site on Norquest Blvd. had been purchased by the Diocese of Youngstown as the site for the new church prior to the erection of the parish.
As preparations continued for financing and constructing a new parish plant, Msgr. Prokop offered the first Masses for the new Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioners on January 17th in the auditorium of the old Fitch High School, which later became the Middle School. More than 2,000 people attended the three auditorium Masses that Sunday January 17, 1954.
Masses continued to be held every Sunday in the Fitch auditorium until December 8, 1954, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at which the first Mass was offered in the auditorium of our present school. Msgr. Prokop offered the first Mass in the completed church in the lower portion of the complex on Palm Sunday, March, 1955, and offered the first Mass in the present church on April 23, 1959.
As preparations continued for financing and constructing a new parish plant, Msgr. Prokop offered the first Masses for the new Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioners on January 17th in the auditorium of the old Fitch High School, which later became the Middle School. More than 2,000 people attended the three auditorium Masses that Sunday January 17, 1954.
Masses continued to be held every Sunday in the Fitch auditorium until December 8, 1954, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at which the first Mass was offered in the auditorium of our present school. Msgr. Prokop offered the first Mass in the completed church in the lower portion of the complex on Palm Sunday, March, 1955, and offered the first Mass in the present church on April 23, 1959.