Jesus founded the Church on the rock of Peter's confession of faith (Mt. 16:18). He also said that he would be with His Church until the end of time (Mt. 28:20). Since then we have had over 265 popes in succession. It was Pope Pius IX who approved the establishment of the Diocese of Cleveland (1847). Shortly thereafter (1863) the Madison Mission was founded. The Rev. John Tracy, Pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Ashtabula, celebrated the first Mass in Madison. The date was July 15, 1863, and the place was one of a selected group of private homes.
Masses were celebrated monthly, and the Catholic assemblage remained in the status of a Mission connected with Painesville, South Thompson, Jefferson, Willoughby, and Geneva successively until July 22, 1934. During the same year the parish was placed under the patronage of Mary Conceived without Sin, and thus received the title of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
In June 1898 the Mission was removed from the jurisdiction of South Thompson and was served by the Willoughby parish. Rev. Gerald Bergen cared for the Madison Mission. He was replaced by Rev. K. P. Banks in 1902. The congregation number 10 families. Membership grew under the tenure of Rev. Julius Kitter who was followed by Rev. William Moseley who was the last priest to serve the Mission from Willoughby. The Reverend Leo Collins of St. Mary's in Painesville arrived to assist the Mission in 1915. The congregation grew to 75 people and in 1920 Rev. Daniel Gallagher of St. Mary's ministered to the Mission. He was later, pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Geneva.
The Rev. Raymond A. Kathe, pastor of Assumption in Geneva, was the last Mission priest. In 1934 the congregation was assigned the status of an established parish with the Reverend Ludwig Virant being the first pastor. Property was purchased in 1945 on Hubbard Road and it is the site of the present Church building. In 1950 the Rev. John F. Mulholland assumed the pastorate of the parish. Another parcel was purchased in 1952 and in March, 1953 the cornerstone of the church was laid. Status indicated 350 families at the day of Christmas 1953 in the new church. The church was dedicated October 18, 1955 by Bishop Edward F. Hoban.
In 1974, on the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Mulholland died. He had been pastor for 24 years. In 1975, Reverend Joseph Goebel was assigned as pastor. Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Parish Center occurred on April 9, 1978. Of this same year on September 5th, Fr. George Bailey was appointed as Associate Pastor. Then on June 18, 1979, God blessed us with Reverend Harry J. Fagan as our newly appointed parish pastor.
The Parish Center was dedicated in 1980 by Bishop James Griffin. In 1982, Mary's Shrine was moved from St. John's College, Cleveland, to the parish grounds. In 1988, the parish celebrated its 125th Anniversary. In 1994 Fr. Fagan retired to become Pastor Emeritus. On October 18, 1994, Fr. Luigi C. Miola was installed as the 5th pastor. Fagan Hall was dedicated April 28, 1995. On October 14, 1997, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Harry J. Fagan died. He had been pastor for 15 years. Fr. Fagan's Funeral Mass was concelebrated by 4 bishops and an abbot, with about 100 priest in attendance.
The new millennium brought many blessings! On November 24, 2003, Reverend Sean J. Donnelly, MA, D. Min. was appointed as pastor. Our first preistly vocation occurred on May 16, 2009 with Father Kevin Estabrook. We were blessed with two groundbreaking ceremonies, both dedicated by Bishop Richard G. Lennon. The first occurred in 2010 for the main altar and 2011 held the second for the new chapel altar. Additionally, the Church of the Immaculate Conception Church celebrated 150 years on July 21, 2013! As of 2015, our parish community includes 1,110 families and parishoners.