In 1966 Monsignor McHugh was ninety years of age. He was still functioning as pastor with the help of and assistance of young priests. The church was going through many changes, population in the Missions was steadily increasing but Monsignor’s health was failing. Bishop Hannon died while in Rome and was succeeded by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick who made the decision to divide the Pocono Missions into individual parishes.

Surrounded by those he loved, brother priests and friends, Monsignor McHugh died on the feast of  St. Ann, July 26, 1968 at the age of ninety-two. He served God - his Church - his fellow man for sixty-three years as a priest. It was the end of an era. He was loved by all, Catholic - Protestant - Jew in the Pocono Mountains. His favorite expression was “We are all God’s Children.”

St. Mary of the Mount Church serves 1,068 households in the Borough of Mount Pocono and serves the following geographical areas:  Mount Pocono, Paradise Valley, Swiftwater, Cresco, Long Pond, and Pocono Summit.

Pastor’s Assigned to St Mary of the Mount

1909_~ Father Patrick J. Boland

1912 _~ Father James McHugh (asst. pastor)

1930_~ Father Connell A. McHugh

1934_~ Father William E. Burchell (asst. pastor)

 Father Walter/Wenceslaus Losieniecki (asst. pastor)

1947 _~ Right Reverend Connell A McHugh

1947 _~ Father John J. Purcell (asst. pastor)

1947 _~ Father Francis L. Yashkas (asst. pastor)