In September 1879, Cardinal Gibbons appointed Reverend Don Luigi Sartori as Pastor of St. Stephen Church. With wonderful support from the parishioners, Father Sartori made plans for a new Church building and on May 25, 1869, amid a great deal of pomp typical of the end of the 19th century, the cornerstone of the present Church was laid.
Our History
The seed of Catholic education began in 1841 in the Bradshaw home of Miss Stephanie Raphel. By 1851, St. Stephen parish was officially recognized as a place of worship. Needing a larger facility for the growing community, the parishioners purchased a two-story frame building. This became the church and school, with all grades occupying the lower floor. For the next 25 years, the thriving community grew steadily and became a closely knit, friendly community with strong ties to the parish and to Catholic education.
The parish’s continued growth dictated the need for a larger church and school. Parishioners toiled for over a year hauling large rocks from the countryside to the current site on Bradshaw Road. This work, begun so humbly with the very essence of what God had created in this beautiful countryside, was to become part of the charisma of St. Stephen School. In 1931, the church was completed and the two-story frame building was moved to the top of the hill and became St. Stephen Elementary and High School. Later, Rev. Vincent Fitzgerald, pastor, renovated the existing building and engaged the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia to teach. On the opening day of school in September 1941, one hundred seventy students crossed the threshold for instruction.
In 1953, a new building was erected. This became the elementary school and the frame building became the high school. In 1963, the school’s 100 year anniversary, St. Stephen School had an enrollment of one thousand students. St. Stephen High closed in 1964 with the opening of the John Carroll Regional Catholic High School. The two-story frame building was later demolished.
Presently, St. Stephen School educates approximately 340 students in Pre-K3 through 8th grade. Though the students, parents, and staff have changed through the years, the school has remained steadfast in its desire to educate the total child in an environment of Christian values, principles, and standards.