Since the 1880s, St. Mary has been an essential part of the Waverly community by bringing the sacraments and the teachings of the Church to thousands of people. Today, the parish continues its mission of proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ and nourishing souls with the gifts of his presence and his grace. The school opened the fall of 1886, staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The present church incorporates a stone brought all the way from Lourdes, France, by Fr. Joseph Guillot. It was inserted into the south exterior wall of the church, right around the corner from the steeple. It can easily be seen and touched from ground level. The stone is blue granite and was taken from near where the Blessed Mother stood and appeared to St. Bernadette.
