In the 1840s, Lancaster County became a bustling mixture of German, Swiss, Italian, and Irish settlers seeking refuge from famine and religious persecution in their homelands.

At first, both the German and the Irish Catholics attended St. Mary's Church in Lancaster. However, a significant demographic shift occurred as the non-English speaking Germans, becoming the majority at St. Mary's, yearned to worship in their native language. In 1849, they formally petitioned Bishop Francis Kenrick of Philadelphia to establish a German parish in Lancaster.

A plot of land southwest of St. Mary's was acquired for $260, marking the start of a new parish on what was then Saint Joseph Street. The intial church was modest in size, with a seating capacity of approximately 400. As the years progressed, the German Catholic community grew, prompting the need for a more spacious place of worship and the construction of a larger church in 1885.

Why did the Germans flock to this area? It seems the surroundings reminded them of the charming villages back in Bavaria and Hesse. They even served as an important source of labor for nearby mills and factories. Over time, the region earned the endearing nickname "Cabbage Hill" due to the abundance of backyard gardens growing the German dietary staple.

Today, the liturgy is no longer conducted in German, and Cabbage Hill is now home to a diverse group of nationalities. However, many present-day parishioners can trace their ancestral roots back to the early days of the parish, bearing witness to the rich history that still lives in our community.