Our History

In 1825, the seeds of Catholic faith were first planted in the Ops area when Father Crowley, an elderly Irish priest from Cork, arrived as spiritual shepherd to the newly settled Robinson immigrants. At the time, no priest was stationed locally, and the region—including what would later become Lindsay—was part of the parish of Peterborough. Pastoral care came by way of missionary journeys, and Father Crowley’s visit marked the beginning of the Catholic Church’s presence in the area that would eventually become home to the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish.

In 1830, Father Crowley celebrated the first recorded Mass in the Ops area in the humble shanty of settler John Maloney—marking the founding moment of what would become St. Mary’s Parish. With no church building yet established, early Masses were hosted in the homes of local families, including those of Terence Brady, Patrick Connell, Dennis Twohey, and John Murphy. To support settlement, Father Crowley was granted 200 acres of land (Lot 16, 5th Concession), where a storage house for settlers’ belongings was built near the river’s west bank. The location became affectionately known as “the Priest’s Landing.” Father Crowley, whose health began to decline, retired in 1832 and passed away in Rochester, New York, in 1835. His missionary efforts laid the spiritual foundation for Catholic life in the Lindsay area.

In 1840, Fr. Hugh Fitzpatrick became the first resident priest and began constructing the parish's first church—a log building at the corner of Russell and Lindsay Streets.

The church was completed in 1841, and the first Mass was celebrated on November 1, 1841.

The church moved to its current location on Russell Street East in 1854, where it continued to grow with key milestones, including the establishment of a cemetery, the opening of local schools, and the construction of the convent in 1874.

In 1874, the parish expanded further with the construction of the convent, supporting the growth of religious life and education within the community.

Through the 20th century, the parish experienced many renovations, including the installation of stained-glass windows, the addition of a new pipe organ, and improvements to the church’s heating and lighting systems. St. Mary’s also became a hub for the community, with the formation of groups like the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League (CWL), and the building of local schools like St. Dominic’s and St. Mary’s Separate School.

A significant chapter in our parish history unfolded in 2019, when under the leadership of Fr. Tom Lynch, the St. Mary’s community undertook a complete restoration of the church building. The restoration was a labor of love and dedication by parishioners, and the church was rededicated by Bishop Daniel Miehm after its revitalization.

In 2021, St. Mary’s was entrusted to the care of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), a religious order founded in 1984. Fr. Joseph LoJacono, IVE, became the first pastor from this order, shepherding the parish with a renewed commitment to faith and service.

Today, St. Mary’s continues to flourish under the guidance of Fr. Dominic Clovis, IVE, with Fr. Felipe Preciado, IVE, serving as his assistant. Together, they continue to lead the parish, carrying forward the mission of the Church to nurture faith and serve the community.

St. Mary’s has remained a beacon of light and hope, a place where generations of families have gathered to worship, grieve, celebrate, and grow together. Our parish is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all who have gone before us. We continue to honor their legacy and invite you to be a part of the next chapter in the life of this vibrant parish community.