Often there were delays in construction of the canal, so the Irish workers used their free time to build a new parish church. Father McDonagh laid the cornerstone on Ascension Day, May 25, 1843. The Irish Canal workers continued to build the church for the next two years — for which there is a commemorative stone in Latin, dated 1844, by the entrance to the church.
Construction delays often occurred during the canal project; therefore, Irish workers used their free time to construct a new parish church. Father McDonagh laid the cornerstone on Ascension Day, May 25, 1843. The Irish workers continued building the church for two more years — as commemorated by a Latin stone near the entrance.