Only one church was built in 1905. It was Saint Patrick Church at McCool Junction in York County. This town was platted during the last months of the year 1886, and was named McCool Junction for two reasons. First, the two railroads formed a juncture in the town, and secondly, the two-word title avoided confusion with the existing town of McCook.
Amond the first Catholics to settle here were the families of Thomas J. Clark, James Conroy, Bert DeBoer, Patrick Doughtery, John Eagen, Harlan Ellis, Patrick Feeney, Joseph Finney, N.N. Flynn, John Green, Thomas Henehan, Frank Layton, Con McMahon, James McGowan, Michael McMullen, Richard Matthews, John Mohatt, Anna Neville and Thomas Rea.
Although the Catholics were few in number, they decided to build a church in 1905. The cornerstone was blessed on May 17 and the building was dedicated by Bishop Bonacum on September 14, 1905. It was named in honor of Saint Patrick. The first pastor was Father Patrick Healy who was responsible for McCool and Fairmont, but in 1909 changed residence to Aurora.
Judging from a book published in 1913, Old Settlers in York County, the Catholics were influential in improving the community. "The village formerly had a saloon, but by the efforts of the good people of the place, greatly assisted by the Catholic Church, rid themselves of the saloon, and the village has been built up and improved until it is one of the nicest places in the country."
Other priests who served McCool Junction from Aurora were Fathers William McKenna 1911-1914, Rev. Michael A. O'Boyle 1914-1915, Rev. Edward Hagan 1915-1919, and Rev. Paul Donovan 1919-1920. They were followed by two administrators who had their residence in York. Father John A. Hayes 1920-1928, and Father Patrick O'Leary 1928-1930.
For the next three years, Father John Kean attended from Friend. His successors were Father Luke L. Mandeville 1935-1960 and his assistants from York, Rev. Denis Barry 1935-1936, Rev. Richard Brombach 1936-1937, Rev. Albin Pulokas 1937-1938, Rev. Henry Gozanski 1938-1940, Rev. Henry Pekalski 1940-1941, Rev. Robert Trausch 1945-1951 and Rev. Clarence Reisdorff (March to June 1960), Rev. Clement Green 1960-1966, and Rev. Joseph Rawley Myers 1966-1968.
On June 19, 1968, Bishop Glennon P. Flavin designated McCool as a mission of Grafton under the pastorship of the Crosier Fathers. Father Joseph P. Cain, OSC was in charge from 1968-1972, and Father Urban Schmitt, OSC from 1972-1994. In 1994-1998 Father James Divis began administering Saint Patrick Parish from Saint Joseph Parish in York, but the parish was still a mission of Grafton. Father Mark Pfeiffer was assigned in 1998-2005. In 2005-2008 Rev. Stephen Cooney from Exeter served, as Saint Patrick's was now a mission to Exeter. Rev. Thomas Kuffel was assigned from Exeter 2008-2014. In 2014 Saint Patrick was now a mission to York and had Rev. James Reinert until 2020. Rev. Dennis Hunt was also an In Residence Priest from York 2014-2017. From January-June 2020 Rev. Denton Morris was appointed temporary Parish Administrator. 2020 until the present are Rev. John Sullivan from York and Rev. Janusz Marzynski (senior parochial vicar from York).
The parish is justly proud of the former members who chose to serve God in the priesthood and the religious life. The Very Rev. James D. Dawson, V.G. was ordained to the priesthood June 9, 1954. Four of the young women of the parish joined t Ursuline Sisters in York, Sister Mary Annunciata Layton, Sister Margaret Mary Mohatt, Sister Marcella Donovan, and Sister Henrietta Finney. Sister Francis de Sales Finney received the habit as a Benedictine in 1939. Sister Mary Kathryn Neville is a member of the Cloistered Benedictine Order of Perpetual Adoration and Father Eric Clark was ordained to the priesthood in 2014.
