4.12 Goshenhoppen (Berks County, Penn.), 1825 - 1953

This subseries consists of the records of the House at Goshenhoppen in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Materials include a diary, financial journal, correspondence, photographs, ephemera, newsclippings, histories, and publications.

Between 1741 and 1889, Jesuits served the Catholics of northeastern Pennsylvania from the Goshenhoppen House, with its seat at the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Churchville, Pennsylvania (which has since been renamed Bally). From that location, its residents traveled to the private homes of German Catholics in Berks, Northampton, Lehigh, and Bucks counties. Augustine Bally, S.J., Superior of Goshenhoppen between 1838 and 1882, helped establish parochial schools, confraternities, and sodalities in this region. In 1889, the Maryland-New York Province transferred the pastoral care of the missions of Goshenhoppen to the Diocese of Philadelphia.

For more information, see Background on the House at Goshenhoppen and Superiors of Goshenhoppen.

The following churches were served by the Jesuits of Goshenhoppen:

- Most Blessed Sacrament Church (Churchville/Bally, Penn.), 1747-1889 (Seat of the Goshenhoppen House; Alternative name: St. Paul’s Church)

- St. Peter’s Catholic Church (Reading, Penn.), 1752-1889 (Alternative name: St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church)

If these churches are active, sacramental records may be available to genealogists by consulting the churches or their successors directly. Researchers also should consult the Archdiocese of Philadelphia particularly if the church is now inactive.

**Please note: the finding aid contains Scope and Contents notes for each folder. This folder-level description has been imported from an older finding aid. Researchers may encounter outdated or potentially offensive terminology and occasional inaccuracies. If you would like to notify Special Collections of any issues that need correcting, please contact us.**

Most materials dated 1900 and later have not been digitized. Materials dating 1900-1939 are available for research use at the Booth Family Center for Special Collections. All materials dated 1940 and later are restricted.

Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject. Materials in this subseries are from the original MPA placed on deposit at Georgetown in the 1970s, the MPA Addenda, and the Maryland Province Collection.