One last project accomplished under Father Sweeney’s time at St. Joseph was the building of a new rectory. As previously mentioned the 10-acre site of St Joseph was part of a 300-acre estate that was the former home of Maryland governor Kent and the Archdiocese purchased the property from the governor’s nephew, John Kent Roberts. The farmhouse that was on the property, after some renovation, became the rectory for the priests.
Over the years, the previous occupants who were there (snakes) had become rather numerous and the house had to go. A construction company was hired to tear down the building and clean off the area. Then some of the men of the parish went to work. Rudy Proctor put the bricks on the house. Al Davis (now a Deacon) painted the rooms, Leo Newman and John Klucik did the roofing. From the demolition of the old residence and the completion of the new rectory, Father Sweeney lived in a small trailer.
Soon after completion of the rectory, Father was able to move into his new home. but he then received word that he was being transferred to a new parish in Damascus. Father Sweeney was pastor to St Joseph parishioners from 1981 to 1989. His associate priest was Father Paul Mast (1982-1987).