Saint Mary Catholic Church was founded on May 15, 1831 by Irish Immigrants who settled in the Tiffin area. The Most Reverend Edward D. Fenwick, O.P. D.D., the "Apostle of Ohio", the first Bishop of Cincinnati, and founder of St. Mary Parish, appointed Father Quin first pastor of Tiffin on January 1, 1831. He was given charge of all the Catholics in northwestern Ohio, and arrived in Tiffin on May 15, 1831. After Sunday services were over, fervent pioneer Catholic men gathered with Father Quin and drew up plans for the future; the discussion topic was the building of a church on the acre of land in Tiffin, bought almost two years previous by Bishop Fenwick. It must be borne in mind that the congregation numbered but few families and single individuals. They were poor in this world's goods, and money was scarce.

The pioneer men and women of St. Mary Parish were people of deep abiding faith. With the assurance of faith, they knew God would be with them to assist them in the solution of the problem of their temporary needs, (provide a home for the new pastor and means for his support) as he had been in their spiritual needs.

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