Thank you for visiting the St. Joseph Catholic Church website!

Here at St. Joseph Church, we promote stewardship by encouraging parishioners to acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God.  We provide opportunities through our many ministries to express our gratitude to Him by using our marvelous gifts of time, talent and financial resources to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.  This message is conveyed in the parish Vision Statement:

To develop a parish whose culture enables each person to embrace the Biblical Mandate:  "Not  to be served but to serve"  (Mark: 10:45), to love the Lord with all his/her heart, soul and being and to love others in truth, justice, and charity.

St. Joseph is a diverse parish of Catholics who are united in their Catholic beliefs.  Our desire is that all parishioners, as members of the body of Christ, will feel personally connected to the parish, thereby growing in love of God and each other.  If you are a member of the parish but have not been attending Mass, please know that you are missed and we encourage you to join us in the celebration of the Eucharist as well as other activities.

Advocacy for People with Disabilities

The Diocese of Harrisburg is committed to working toward full participation of people with disabilities and their families in all aspects of the life of the Church.  The Diocesan Office of Ministry for People with Disabilities initiated the Parish Advocacy Program in 2007 to enable parishes to better respond to the gifts and needs of their parishioners with disabilities. 

Fran Stringer has been appointed by Monsignor Lyons to serve as our Parish Advocate.  A Parish Advocate works with the pastor and also the Office of Ministry with People with Disabilities in the diocese.   This person strives to assist parishioners with disabilities to become full participants in the life of the church – spiritually, physically and socially. 

If you or someone you know is limited in participation at St. Joseph Parish and this could be improved by special accommodations please let Fran know how we might work with you to remove roadblocks to full inclusion in our parish life.  She can be reached by calling the Parish Office at 637-5236.   Please leave your name, contact information and the most convenient time for a call back.  

St. Joseph Parish has enlisted Parish Giving to provide its members with the opportunity to use Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) as an alternative method for giving. 

Click on Parish Giving logo above to register for the program.

Parish Giving allows participants to donate a recurring contribution that is automatically transferred from your checking or savings account, or even credit card, on a monthly basis, and you select your own billing date. This Program can be utilized for your Sunday contributions, as well as any Holy Day Collection and all diocesan collections.

The use of EFT is not only time saving and convenient for you, but also allows our Parish to realize a more consistent level of support. By signing up for Parish Giving, you will know that you are doing your part to support the Parish even at times you are not able to be physically present to celebrate with the Parish Community.

Dear Volunteers,

150th Anniversary of the Diocese of Harrisburg

1868 – March 3 – 2018 Theme: “Ad futuram rei memoriam” “For a Lasting Remembrance” (Taken from the Papal Bull establishing the Diocese) On March 3, 1868, Pope Pius IX, accepting the recommendation of the Bishops of the Second Plenary Council of the United States of America, issued a decree establishing the Diocese of Harrisburg.  We...

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Diocesan History

On March 3, 1868, Pope Pius IX, accepting the recommendation of the Bishops of the Second Plenary Council of the United States of America, issued a decree establishing the Diocese of Harrisburg: “Wherefore, in keeping with the counsel of the aforementioned Cardinals, and exercising Our Full Apostolic Authority, We hereby establish and constitute in the City of Harrisburg a new Episcopal See,...

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"Men from St. Joseph Holy Name Society took time recently to place flags at the gravesites of 250 veterans buried in St. Joseph's cemetery. This was done in preparation for the annual Wreaths Across America program, where evergreen wreaths are placed on veteran's grave sites in honor of their patriotic service.  Pictured are: Randy Hartlaub, Jim Martin, Dick Arigo, Peter Schulze, Will Smith, and Dan Mlinek. Deacon Tom is not pictured."

We are starting a new column from SJS alumni giving testimonials about how attending St. Joseph school has impacted them.

Why Saint Joseph’s school worked for me:

-Loved wearing uniforms because I didn’t have to figure out what to wear each day. (It also taught me appropriate attire for appropriate settings)

-Learned not only academics but the work ethic and critical thinking necessary to be successful

-Enjoyed community atmosphere where I felt safe and loved by peers and faculty 

-Respect, responsibility and discipline were an integral part of the learning experience 

-basketball program was competitive, fun and coached very well

Andy Redding 

Saint Joseph graduate 1998

Delone Catholic graduate 2002

Penn state BS finance 2006

Current occupation- Business owner

Deacon Tom Aumen, St. Joseph's parish, attended the annual gathering of Global Fellows, a Catholic Relief Services (Baltimore) outreach ministry for Priests and Deacons.  More than 80 Global Fellows from across the U.S. attended the 3-day gathering. Deacon Tom was selected three years ago to travel to Greece and Serbia as part of a fact-finding mission for CRS on the plight of refugees.  Shown in the picture: Deacon Tom, Mikaele Sansone (Director of CRS Clergy Outreach), and Deacon John Devlin (Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD).  Deacon Devlin last year represented CRS on a mission to Egypt to explore the effectiveness of their agricultural program.

As part of their spiritual journey for CRS, Global Fellows gather for a pilgrimage through the streets of Baltimore, witnessing to their faith, and to the mission of CRS.

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A Breakfast gathering of clergy and laity of the Adams Christian Prison Ministries, held recently at the Gribbin Parish Center. The ACPM is the umbrella organization for all spiritual programs offered at Adams County prison. Several members of St. Joseph's (Mike Staub, Craig Redding, Fr. Morelli, Fr. Ignatio, Fr. Gotwalt, and Deacon Tom) participate in programs at the prison. The men of the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society prepared the breakfast and cleaned up afterward. The Knights, as well, sponsored the Breakfast.

Parish staff enjoy a Thanksgiving breakfast of fellowship and gratefulness.  Pictured (l. to r.) Pam McMaster, Auggie Perez, Fr. Ignatio, Veronica Braithewaite, Sheri Golden, Helen Smith, Gloria Ernst, Fr. Morelli, and Principal Terry Golden.  Missing are: Msgr. Lyons, Deacon Shultis, and Stacey White. Deacon Tom is taking the picture.