At 603 West Second Avenue in the Borough of Parkesburg, Our Lady of Consolation Church anchors a Roman Catholic parish whose history reaches back to St. Malachi Church and whose work extends well beyond the borough. The parish is known for three distinct worship locations, a Spanish-speaking Sunday Mass, formation for children through adults, and ministries that pair parish life with practical service in the Octorara area. Its mission names the community the Joyful Family of God, united in Catholic faith and devoted to bringing love and comfort, teaching by word and sacrament, and keeping the love of Jesus present in the world.
Three Locations, One Parish Family
The parish calls its three-location arrangement a movable feast and says it encompasses roughly 350 square miles. Its reach extends from Honeybrook in the north to Oxford and Unionville in the south, from Coatesville in the east to Paradise and Strasburg in the west. Three places make that geography practical: Our Lady of Consolation is the home church, St. Malachi is the mother church, and the Rev. George P. Schneider Parish Center is where much of the parish's education, youth, social and ministry activity takes place.
- Our Lady of Consolation Church is at 603 West Second Avenue in Parkesburg. It is the parish's home church and the location of most daily Masses, the 5 p.m. Saturday vigil, and the Spanish-speaking Sunday Mass.
- St. Malachi Church is at 76 St. Malachi Road in Londonderry Township, also known as Cochranville. The small church on the hill has been the spiritual root of Catholic life in the area since the nineteenth century.
- The Schneider Parish Center is at 2995 Cemetery Road in Parkesburg. The parish center contains the Early Learning Center and hosts Sunday worship along with religious education, youth programs, choir activity and parish gatherings.
The weekly rhythm is centered on Mass at all three locations. A 5 p.m. vigil Mass is celebrated at Our Lady of Consolation on Saturday, followed by an 8:30 a.m. First Saturday Mass with devotions on the first Saturday of each month. Sunday worship takes place at 8 a.m. at Our Lady of Consolation, 9:30 a.m. at St. Malachi and 11:15 a.m. at the Schneider Parish Center. A 6:30 p.m. Spanish-speaking Mass is also celebrated at Our Lady of Consolation. Daily Mass is held there at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with devotions following the Mass on the first Friday of each month.
Confession and adoration are offered at Our Lady of Consolation from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Greeters and ushers welcome people as they arrive, help direct movement through the church, assist those in need, answer questions and assist with the collection. For worship that cannot be attended in person, OLC Mass videos are available on the parish's YouTube channel.
From St. Malachi's Foundations to the OLC Church
The parish traces its roots to August 12, 1771, when young Thomas Maguire was buried in what is now St. Malachi Cemetery. That burial is regarded as the spiritual foundation for the church that would later develop there. Logs were hauled to the future St. Malachi location between 1792 and 1800, and in 1815 Father Reilly of St. Mary's in Wilmington encouraged local families to combine their resources and talents to build a church.
The Diocese of Philadelphia authorized the erection of a church at Doe Run in 1838. A building was raised on the Maguire farm under John Ferron's direction. On January 1, 1839, Father James A. Miller celebrated the first Mass in the small, unplastered St. Malachi church, which had no seats. Father Bernard McCabe became its first pastor with missions in Coatesville and Parkesburg. The two glass cruciform candlesticks now seen at the altar were gifts from Father Miller.
Confirmation was first conferred at St. Malachi in 1843, and St. John Neumann administered confirmation there in 1854. The Seven Dolors Parish had been established in Parkesburg in 1853, leaving St. Malachi as a mission. A fire destroyed the Parkesburg church in 1871, and both St. Malachi and Seven Dolors became missions of St. Cecilia in Coatesville. Seven Dolors was re-established as an independent parish in 1902, returning the St. Malachi mission to its care.
Father Thomas J. Sullivan became pastor of the Parkesburg parish and St. Malachi in June 1902. The two churches then served only 32 families. Building a new Parkesburg church was a physical undertaking: stones came by rail from a quarry in Pomeroy, were transferred to horse-drawn wagons and were carried up the hill by hand. The present Our Lady of Consolation Church was dedicated on October 8, 1905, by Bishop Edmond F. Pendergast, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia. A fire followed on September 9, 1906. Fewer than 40 families remained, but they supported the reconstruction, and the church was rededicated on October 27, 1907.
Father Simon Carr served from 1924 to 1951, including the time of St. Malachi's centennial celebration in 1938, when a Solemn High Mass and Benediction were celebrated and the Our Lady of Consolation choir sang. Father Francis J. Walsh succeeded him and renewed the buildings, strengthened evangelization and restored some regular Masses at St. Malachi. Father Vincent G. McGartland, appointed in 1963, continued monthly worship there, and the Rev. George P. Schneider began a weekly 10:30 a.m. Mass in 1974. Father Schneider also brought electricity and central heating to St. Malachi and oversaw construction of the parish center that now bears his name.
Father Victor J. Eschbach was installed in 1993 as the parish grew with young families moving into the area. His tenure included major structural work at St. Malachi, where broken and cracked roof beams required steel braces and a new slate roof. Father John Van de Paer then worked extensively to restore the church's plaster, paint, floors and doors. Between 1993 and 2019, the parish grew from about 850 households to more than 1,100 and from just under 2,000 members to nearly 3,000. The period also brought a preschool and kindergarten, Life Teen, Life Teen Junior Varsity, expanded adult faith formation, bereavement care and a restored church hall.
Father Sean O'Neill was installed as pastor on September 14, 2019. He leads the parish with Deacon Gene Favinger, Director of Religious Education Janice Dagney, Youth Director Adrianna McCaw and Parish Music Director Janeen Walker. Their work carries forward the pattern established by St. Malachi: a small historic church serving as the root of a much larger parish family.
The Joyful Family of God
The mission of Our Lady of Consolation gives the parish a clear identity. Its people are united in the Catholic faith and seek to model the patroness Our Lady of Consolation by bringing love and comfort to others, teaching God's children by word and sacrament, and keeping the love of Jesus present in the world. Catholic teaching and worship are central to parish life, including the Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation, the Rosary, Divine Mercy and preparation for marriage.
The Spanish-speaking ministry is an important part of that identity. Spanish-language Mass is celebrated at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Our Lady of Consolation. The parish also provides a dedicated ministry for Spanish-speaking weddings and quinceañera ceremonies, allowing families to celebrate major sacraments and family milestones in their own language.
Pastoral care extends through the life of the Church. The parish prepares parents and godparents for the sacrament of Baptism, offers a Pre-Cana marriage preparation program, provides funeral guidance and prepares couples for the sacrament of Matrimony. Mass cards are available for an intention honoring a living or deceased person. For those who cannot receive Holy Communion because of illness, weather or another circumstance outside their control, the parish also provides an Act of Spiritual Communion.
Children's Church Through Life Teen
Children and teenagers have distinct places within the life of the parish. The formation pathway begins with Children's Church and PREP, continues through LTJV and One8, and reaches high-school students through Life Teen. The Schneider Parish Center brings these groups together with worship, while trained parish volunteers support the children, families and core teams.
Children's Church and PREP
Children's Church welcomes children ages 4 to 5 and runs concurrently with the 11:15 a.m. Mass at the Schneider Parish Center. Its liturgy-based curriculum introduces the Gospel through age-appropriate learning circles, crafts and activities. Children leave after the Opening Prayer and return for the remainder of Mass. Trained parent volunteers lead and prepare the lessons, all of them screened under the Archdiocese's safe-environment protocols. The program is free, although donations are welcome.
PREP, the Parish Religious Education Program, serves children entering kindergarten through fifth grade. Classes meet from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. at the Schneider Parish Center and combine catechesis with family participation. Activities can include a family visit to a shrine, praying the Rosary and exploring the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The curriculum is designed to bring children into an intimate relationship with Jesus and recognizes that baptized people, including those with disabilities, have a right to catechesis. The parish's Early Learning Center provides a preschool foundation within the same educational network.
LTJV, One8 and Life Teen
LTJV, or Life Teen Junior Varsity, serves students in grades 6 and 7 who are preparing for Confirmation. Its catechetical development uses an interactive format with an emphasis on a personal relationship with Christ and a strong sense of church community among students. Family components are part of the program. LTJV meets Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Schneider Parish Center.
One8 is the eighth-grade Confirmation class. It meets at the same time in the basement conference room of the parish center and combines weekly teaching with ways to connect the faith to home life. Candidates work toward Confirmation through parish worship, service hours, a saint report, required documents and a service project. A retreat and sponsor interviews are also part of the preparation process.
Life Teen welcomes students in grades 9 through 12. The program meets from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Sunday after the 11:15 a.m. Mass at the Schneider Parish Center. It provides a Catholic community for prayer, friendship and deeper relationship with Jesus and the Church. The ministry also leads mission trips in which students perform service such as building wheelchair ramps, improving homes, cleaning and organizing spaces, doing yard work, assisting at soup kitchens, painting and working with children.
Vacation Bible School completes the children's picture each summer at the Schneider Parish Center. It is free for children from preschool age through those who have completed fifth grade. The week combines Bible teaching with games, crafts, snacks and music, creating an informal setting in which younger children can learn about God and meet new friends.
CAFÉ, OCIA and a Life of Prayer
Adult formation takes several forms at Our Lady of Consolation. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, or OCIA, welcomes adults who are preparing to enter the fullness of the Catholic Church, as well as baptized Catholics seeking to receive Eucharist or Confirmation. The process combines prayer, Bible study, faith sharing and the study of Catholic doctrine. OCIA classes meet at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday in the church basement hall.
CAFÉ, Catholic Adult Faith Enrichment, helps adults learn more about their Catholic heritage through Bible study, video presentations and discussion. It meets Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the conference room at the Schneider Parish Center, with a remote participation option. The parish subscription provides access to the video and study materials at no cost to participants.
Two weekly prayer gatherings offer other ways to participate. The OLC Charismatic Prayer Group meets Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. for praise, prayer, Scripture and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. On Monday at 7 p.m., the Rosary and Divine Mercy group gathers in the church for those devotions. Rosary booklets and Divine Mercy pamphlets help newcomers follow along. For fellowship among older adults, Young at Heart brings together people over 50 for social gatherings.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music carries a large part of parish worship. Voices of Praise is the adult choir, while the St. Malachi Adult Choir welcomes singers age 13 and older. Angels Sing is open to children in grades 1 through 6, with junior and senior groups, and sings at the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass. The ministry also welcomes cantors, keyboardists, guitarists, flutists, trumpet players and other instrumentalists, as well as people with audio and visual production experience.
Music Director Janeen Walker leads the parish's choral and music programs. The ministry has presented seasonal concerts, including summer music evenings and Christmas performances featuring adult choirs, youth singers, instrumentalists and soloists. At weddings, the same commitment to worship continues: music selections must be church-approved sacred liturgical music, and secular music is not used during the celebration.
Good Samaritan Meals and Community Outreach
Service to people beyond the parish is part of the mission in practical form. Good Samaritan volunteers deliver hot, homemade meals to families welcoming a new baby, older parishioners and people facing illness or an unexpected crisis. The Health Care Ministry also makes home visits and provides meals and other health services. Bereavement volunteers prepare post-funeral luncheons for parishioners at no cost to the family.
Our Lady of Consolation is one of 11 churches in the Parkesburg Churches Community Outreach coalition. Since 2003, the coalition has coordinated assistance for individuals and families in the Octorara Area School District. Parish volunteers help with:
- the Octorara Area Food Cupboard and an emergency food cupboard;
- Righteous Clothing, a thrift store offering reduced-price clothing, shoes and small household items;
- a furniture ministry that collects and redistributes used furniture and appliances;
- housing and utility needs, including help identifying county and state assistance;
- the Parkesburg Point Christian youth center, which addresses spiritual, emotional, physical and academic needs.
The parish also hosts two Alcoholics Anonymous gatherings each week, one at the Schneider Parish Center on Monday and another in the Our Lady of Consolation church basement on Thursday. Knights of Columbus Council 9727 assists parishioners, non-parishioners, veterans and people with disabilities. Prayer for the sick and for military service is another continuing expression of care within the parish.
Weddings, Funerals and Gatherings
Our Lady of Consolation prepares couples for the sacrament of Matrimony through meetings with the priest, a Pre-Cana program and completion of required documents, including proof of Baptism, freedom and permission to marry, and the marriage license. The Archdiocese requires at least six months of preparation. Weddings may be celebrated at Our Lady of Consolation in Parkesburg or in St. Malachi Chapel in Cochranville. Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. are customary wedding times. Saturday evening and Sunday weddings are not scheduled.
Couples may choose a Nuptial Mass or a Nuptial Ceremony. The parish offers both worship and practical guidance for photography, music and participation by family members or friends who are Catholic priests or deacons in good standing. Photography and video are welcome, but equipment cannot be set up in the sanctuary and drones are prohibited.
The parish also provides funeral guidance, rooted in the belief that the community will not leave people to carry the crosses of suffering and loss alone. Burial plots are available at Our Lady of Seven Dolors and St. Malachi cemeteries, with interest-free payment plans offered for those who purchase plots in advance.
For celebrations beyond weddings, the Schneider Parish Center can accommodate as many as 400 people and suits receptions, corporate events, fundraisers and large gatherings. The OLC Church Hall accommodates up to 150 and has a kitchen with limited cooking capacity for birthdays, showers, anniversaries and smaller parties. Both are available to church members and nonmembers, as well as community organizations. Additional facility rental information covers availability, insurance and permitted use.
Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure
Our Lady of Consolation offers more than 35 ministry opportunities across worship, teaching, music, property care, service, prayer and administration. This reflects the parish's understanding of stewardship: each person receives gifts from God and is invited to cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly and return them with increase. The Pastoral Council advises the pastor on finances, buildings, education and the life of the parish, while the Finance Committee oversees accounting, internal controls and money-counting teams.
Parishioners can contribute through the weekly offertory or electronically by computer, smartphone app or text message. Recurring electronic gifts and a complete giving history are available through online giving. The parish also uses annual appeals and other fundraising to support the upkeep of its three worship locations and the ministries carried out through the parish center.
That combination of history and continuing service gives Our Lady of Consolation a distinct identity: St. Malachi remains the mother church, Our Lady of Consolation remains the home church in Parkesburg, and the Schneider Parish Center remains the gathering place for formation, music and community life. Our Lady of Consolation continues as the Joyful Family of God, rooted in the faith of its founders and bringing love, comfort and the love of Jesus into the lives of families throughout the Octorara area.