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Welcome!Area farm and village families founded St. Mary’s in 1853. Early parishioners worshipped in a converted schoolhouse at the corner of Poplar and Collins Streets. The first permanent church, built northwest of Oxford in 1867, now the intersection of Locust and Withrow Streets, was destroyed by fire in 1917. To serve a growing number of urban families and students at Miami University and Western College, parishioners built the present church in 1920 on High Street near the center of town.
The church’s stained-glass windows were installed during construction. The three-sanctuary oil on oak triptychs were added in 1953. The main altar motif depicts Mary’s cooperation in God’s work of redemption through representations of the Annunciation and the Coronation of Mary. The center crucifixion scene, side statue carvings, and vestibule statuary of St. Isidore (patron of farmers) and St. Thomas Aquinas (patron of scholars), were executed by Robert Keopnick of the Dayton Art Academy. Frank Francois, a Cincinnati bronze craftsman, produced the bronze work and chandeliers, and the simple Head of Christ stations were carved by Ferdinando Stufflesser from Bolzano, Italy.
In 1952, St. Mary’s purchased adjoining uptown property on Poplar Street behind City Hall. The present Parish Center was built in 1966 as a catechetical center and to serve as a weekend chapel. The center’s additional worship space provided relief to a growing overcrowding in church and need for a mass at the Town Hall Auditorium. Miami students in the Housing and Interior Design program submitted proposals for the present parish center arrangement in 1988. Parish and area craftsmen renovated the space.
On May 1, 1942, Fr. Lawrence Kroum, pastor of St. Mary Church, moved into the newly built rectory. Seventy-four years later (August 2016) the original windows have been replaced! This continues our efforts to improve and preserve the fabric of our parish property.
The new windows are much more energy efficient, and a great noise barrier. Our 95 year old church building and 74 year old rectory are a gift from our parents and grandparents. We try to preserve them as part of our parish legacy.
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