Editing Ellenville, New York (section)

===St. Mary's Church===
Father John Raffeiner was a German priest who ministered to German-speaking Catholics throughout the Diocese of New York well before it was split into the dioceses of Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo, and Newark. Ellenville was one of his less accessible destinations, but he formed a congregation there in 1850. Rev. John Raufeisen became pastor and built a small frame structure known as St. Mary's. Raufeisen also established the Church of Sts. Michael and Wendilinus in Ulster Heights, and the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Woodbourne, where a number of Bavarians had settled. He preached in Bridgeville, Callicoon, Fallsburgh, Grahamsville, Lackawack, Neversink, North Branch, Otisville, Stephen's, and Factories. Raffeiner assisted in establishing [[Rondout, New York#St. Peter's|St. Peter's]] for the German community of Rondout. From 1861 Raufeisen lived in Rondout, where the need was greater, but continued to visit Ellenville.<ref name="Burtsell">Burtsell, Richard Lalor. "The Roman Catholic Church", [[Alphonso T. Clearwater|Clearwater, Alphonso Trumpbour]]. ''The History of Ulster County, New York'', W. J. Van Deusen, 1907 - Ulster County (N.Y.)]</ref>

In 1864, Rev. George J. Veith was appointed pastor of St. Mary's, Ellenville, although he resided in Jeffersonville. In 1871, Rev. Constantine Van Drost became St. Mary's first resident pastor. In 1881,, Rev. Andrew J. Sauer built a new church, dedicated to St. Andrew.<ref name=Burtsell/> In 1903, a dam above the village burst, threatening to carry away St. Mary's, when a floating barge lodged against a tree, diverting the water.