Parish History

For more than two centuries, the Catholic faith has been part of the story of Princeton. What began in 1795 with Mass celebrated in the home of a local Catholic family grew from a small missionary community into the vibrant parish we know today.

The history of St. Paul Parish is a story of generations of faithful people: missionary priests traveling to serve a scattered Catholic population, pastors and religious sisters building churches and schools, and parishioners whose faith, generosity, and service allowed the community to grow and flourish. Buildings have risen and changed, new parishes have been formed from our community, and ministries have evolved to meet the needs of each generation, but the celebration of the Eucharist has remained at the heart of parish life.

As we look toward the future, we remember with gratitude the people and moments that have shaped St. Paul Parish since those first Masses in Princeton more than 230 years ago.

1795–1840s | The Missionary Beginnings & First Masses

• 1795: Rev. Anthony Schmidt celebrates the first recorded Mass in Princeton in the home of a faithful Catholic, followed by visits from missionary priests like Rev. LaGrange, Rev. Malou, and Rev. Hugh McGuire.

• Early 1800s: Rev. John Rogers offers Mass in James Boyle’s old farmhouse—recognized as the first Mission Church in Princeton.

1850–1861 | Establishing the First Resident Parish

• 1850: Archbishop John J. Hughes of New York appoints Rev. John Scollard as the first resident pastor. Services temporarily move to Cook’s Hall on Nassau Street before land is acquired on Campbell’s Tract to build a modest church with a basement school and rectory.

• 1857: Rev. Alfred Young (Princeton Class of 1848) takes over, sells the old property, acquires the current site at 214 Nassau Street, builds a frame church, and plots the cemetery. He joins the Paulist Fathers in 1861.

1867–1899 | Growth, Brick Construction & The Sisters of Mercy

• 1867: Rev. Thomas R. Moran begins a 30-year tenure, overseeing the construction of a brick church and rectory, plus a school and convent.

• 1878: The Sisters of Mercy arrive in Princeton to staff the school. Rev. Moran is later named Monsignor (1892) and Vicar General of the Diocese of Trenton (1895).

1900–1948 | Expansion & The Centennial Milestone

• 1900–1925: Five successive pastors (Reverends Burke, Leahy, Fitzgerald, Kelly, and Callahan) make individual additions to the church building.

• 1925: Rev. Patrick J. Clune constructs the historical school building before retiring in 1935.

• 1945: Fr. John F. Walsh leads the community in celebrating St. Paul Parish's 100th Anniversary and the 150th Anniversary of the Catholic faith in Princeton.

1950–1969 | A New Campus & Vatican II Reforms

• 1950–1957: Under the leadership of Rev. Edward C. Henry (later Monsignor), the present convent, rectory, and church are built. The church is formally dedicated on March 24, 1957.

• 1960s: Msgr. Henry implements the early liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

1970–1994 | Institution of Permanent Diaconate Program & Diocesan Expansion

• 1970: Msgr. John J. Endebrock establishes the Deacon Internship Program and forms the parish's first Parish Council.

• 1979: Rev. Evasio DeMarcellis succeeds him, strengthening religious education and overseeing the establishment of two new parishes (St. David the King in West Windsor and Queenship of Mary in Plainsboro) transferred to the newly formed Diocese of Metuchen.

1995–2020 | Sesquicentennial, School Expansion & Facility Modernization

• 1995: The parish celebrates its 150th Anniversary and the 200th Anniversary of the Princeton Catholic Foundation.

• 1997–2011: Msgr. Walter E. Nolan serves as pastor during a significant period of growth and community building at St. Paul Parish. Known for his warmth and gift for storytelling, Msgr. Nolan oversees the completion of a major addition to St. Paul School, as well as the growth and expansion of parish life through new ministries, expanded outreach, and increased opportunities for parishioners to become involved. He transforms the former church basement into a vibrant center of parish life, with offices, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and an auditorium that create new space for people to gather and build community. He also establishes ParishFest, beginning a beloved tradition that brings the entire parish together in celebration.

• 2011–2020: Msgr. Joseph N. Rosie serves as pastor during a period of continued growth and renewal at St. Paul Parish. During his tenure, the former convent is transformed into the Parish Center, the rectory is renovated, the Mercy Chapel is established, and St. Paul School expands its early childhood program and is recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School.
  
  Msgr. Rosie also introduces traditions that bring the faith beyond the walls of the church, including the live Stations of the Cross through Princeton, the St. Francis Blessing of Animals, and a Corpus Christi Eucharistic procession. In the final months of his pastorate, as the COVID-19 pandemic prevents the faithful from gathering for public worship, St. Paul begins livestreaming Mass, with photographs of parishioners filling the pews as a memorable sign of a community remaining united in prayer.
  
  

2020–Present | Modern Leadership & Continuation of Faith

• Late 2020–2024: Rev. Miguel Valle shepherds the parish from the end of 2020 until January 2024.

• January 2024–Present: Rev. Christopher J. Dayton was appointed parish administrator and officially assumed the role of pastor in July 2024, leading St. Paul Parish into its next chapter.