St. Ambrose Parish was founded on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, 1958. The orginal membership was composed of 400 German, Polish and Italian families who gathered for the first parish Mass on August 17th in Black Junior High Middle School's auditorium. At the time, Pius XII was our Holy Father, the Most Reverend Wendelin J. Nold was our Bishop and Monsignor Victor A. DiPrimeo our Pastor. The congregation continued to meet in the Public school until a temporary church (our present Auditorium) was built on the ten acre tract of horse pasture with a home (our present Rectory) previously purchased by the Diocese in 1952.
The first potion of our school was built in 1960. The construction of the first "permanent" church (which is now the Gym) and the Junior High portion of the school began in 1964 and was completed on January 10, 1965. St. Ambrose church is one of the first churches in the Archdiocese designed to incorporate the new liturgical directives of Vatican Council II. The architects were the well known father and son team of Maurice and Charles Sullivan, with Robert Rambusch as their Liturgical Consultant. The facility was dedicated on Sunday, February 7, 1965.
The present 1,000 seat tabernacle, complete with offices, meeting rooms, and chapel, was designed by Chris DiStefano and was completed in 1995. It was dedicated on December 7, 1995, the feast of St. Ambrose, by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza. It continues to serve as the center of our faith community.
Pastors who have served:
Msgr. Victor Drimeo 1958 - 1972
Msgr. James Madden 1972 - 1974
Rev. Joseph K. Schneider 1974 - 1980
Rev. William Bartnitsky 1980 - 1993
Rev. Joseph A. Gietl 1993 - 2000
Rev. Benjamin Smaistrla 2000 - present