Our faith community welcomes you! St. Joseph Community was established over 150 years ago, and continues to be a growing and thriving community where over 1,900 families call it their faith home. Throughout our website you will find information about programs, outreach, prayer, leadership, our 150+ year of history, and so much more.
Pastor's Welcome
Dear Friend in Christ,
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our parish family of Saint Joseph Community.
Having been a parish now for over 150 years, it’s hard to sum up in a small article or website all that happens here at our parish. So I’ll begin with what matters most to me as a Catholic, namely encountering Jesus so I can grow in my faith - especially through the Sacraments.
I can honestly say to you our liturgical staff and volunteers put so much into helping people grow closer to God when they celebrate the Sacraments. Each time I offer Mass and hear our vibrant music, see the care that goes into preparing the sanctuary, I really feel so uplifted. Here at St. Joseph Community we also journey with couples as they prepare for their child’s baptism; engaged couples are supported and helped through the engagement process; and the community is there for the sick and suffering or when people suffer loss. I think you’ll find how we celebrate the Sacraments at St. Joseph Community really helps people on their faith journey.
Our Masses are at the heart of our parish activity for it is where we gather as the people of God and encounter God on our altar. But our faith also takes root in our hearts here at St. Joseph Community. As one parishioner who has been here for over 30 years reminded me, St. Joseph Community is truly much like a family. People care for one another. They are quick to volunteer and help out. They pray for one another. You truly feel welcomed whether you have been here a week or over 50 years. I certainly have always felt welcomed from day one as Pastor.
What you’ll also find is that while Mass is the core of our identity, it leads us as a community to strive to provide many areas of ministry for the people of God. We have a vibrant faith formation program and will be further enhancing this program with the hiring of a Youth Minister in Summer 2019. We have ministry to the sick and homebound. We have service organizations such as the Knights of Columbus and Loaves & Fishes. Throughout the year we have parish events such as an annual Harvest Festival and Lenten Fish Fries just to name a couple. Furthermore, we have an amazing school, with over 230 children in preschool through the eighth grade. St. Joseph School has been around for over 60 years, and prepares the next generation not just for their earthly vocations, with an excellent curriculum and dedicated teachers, but for what we are all called to: sainthood, by helping them grow in holiness.
Truth be told, if you blink you’ll miss a lot that goes on at St. Joseph Community. I could not be happier to serve as Pastor at this amazing parish. The great people and experience of being at St. Joseph Community, has truly made me a better person, and priest, and has helped me on my own faith journey. I’m sure you will find the same happens to you if you when you encounter St. Joseph Community.
God Bless,
Fr. Paul Kammen, Pastor