A small frame church, 24x26 feet, was built at Garrett and was opened for divine service, on June 29, 1876, the Feast of  Ss Peter and Paul, the first pastor being Rev. August Young.  This replaced a tent, which had served as a space for Mass, since the founding of Garrett in 1875.  As a result of rapid growth of the community, additions were made in 1886 increasing the capacity to 300 people. Again, in 1893 another addition was completed, expanding capacity to 500.  This building, which was situated at the southwest corner of Houston and Peters Streets, was formally dedicated by Bishop Rademacher, as SS Peter and Paul Church on September 16, 1893.  

A school was constructed a hundred feet south of the church on Peters Street in 1888, and it soon had it’s four rooms filled with 180 students being taught by five Sisters of the Precious Blood from Ohio.  In 1905 the school was doubled in size to eight rooms to accommodate grades 1-12 and reported 226 students taught by seven Sisters of the same community.  These Sisters remained at the school until 1926.  In 1927, the Sisters of St Francis of the Sacred Heart, who already staffed the Sacred Heart Hospital, took over the school.

Father Young, a very active member of the new community of Garrett, on January 10, 1897, facilitated the purchase of seven and a half acres of land on the edge of Garrett from the Baltimore Land and Improvement Company for the sum of $750.  After completion of laying out roads and walkways,  Calvary Cemetery was made available for burial use by both Catholics and Protestants.  The total sum
expended was $3,000.

Father Young purchased a large home at the corner of Houston and Ijams Streets in 1902 and opened the first hospital in Garrett.  In 1904, the first portion of a new Sacred Heart Hospital was built.  Additions were made in 1918.  It was staffed by the Sisters of St Francis of the Sacred Heart.  Father Young retired from active ministry in 1919 and lived in the hospital until 1925 when he died and was buried in Calvary Cemetery.

In 1919 Father F.A. King became the second pastor.  He began at once to accumulate a fund with which to build a new church.  He purchased the land at the south east corner of Houston and Ijams Streets for a new church and rectory.  Father King died in April 1927 and left his successor, Father John G. Bennett, a large amount of money to build the new rectory and church.  Father Bennett had the rectory built in 1928 at a cost of $17,000 and the church in 1929 at a cost of $102,000.  The church was dedicated by Bishop Noll on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1929.  At that time it was said that both buildings were of a very beautiful Romanesque style.  With the building of the new church, the church and parish name was changed from Ss Peter and Paul to St Joseph.

Father Bennett served the St Joseph community until 1945 when he was appointed as the first bishop of the new diocese of Lafayette in Indiana.  He was succeeded as pastor by Father Leon P. Pisula who served St Joseph Church until 1967.  It was under his leadership that a new school was opened for the school year of 1958-1959.  The new school featured six classrooms and a gymnasium. The total cost of the school was $248,319. A complete list of pastors of Ss Peter and Paul and St Joseph Church and those who entered religious life are listed below.

More recent improvements and expansions have been completed. Father Thomas Lombardi initiated the ministries of the soup kitchen and clothes closet, as well as adding air-conditioning and an elevator.

During the remodel of the church. Father James Shafer remodeled Bennett Hall and continued the parish expansion with added acres in Calvary Cemetery and the expansion of the Pre-School updating the air-conditioning and reinforcing the stained glass windows in the church.

All of the building up, expansions, and improvements have been made possible through the generosity of its parishioners. This parish is made up of a community of parishioners who demonstrate their love of Christ through their generous efforts of time, talent, and treasure to continue St. Joseph parish and build the kingdom of God.

Shepherds of our Parish                               Years Served       

August Young                                                  1876-1919

Fx King                                                             1919-1927

John Bennett                                                    1927-1945

Leon Pisula                                                      1945-1967

Robert Hoevel                                                 1967-1975

Donald Isenbarger                                          1975-1978

Adam Schmidt                                                 1978-1983

Edward Krason                                               1983-1986

Gary Sigler                                                       1986-1994

John Vrabley                                                   1994-1996

Thomas Seidel                                                 1996-1997

Thomas Lombardi                                          1997-2007                          

Thhaddeus Uwakwe                                      2007-2009

Andrew Nazareth                                          2009-2016

James Shafer                                                   2016-2023

Dermot Gahan                                                2023-2024

Brian Isenbarger                                            2024-present

Boys of the Parish in the Priesthood        Ordained

Very Rev. Msgr. John A. McCarthy            June 17, 1911

Very Rev. Msgr. John Bapst                         May 21, 1921

Rev. Anthony Palaszal, C.PP.S                     May 5, 1921

Rev. John Minnich                                        May 19, 1951

Rev. James Shafer                                         May 31, 1975

Rev. James Sapp                                            June 29, 1986

Girls in the Sisterhood

Gretrude Biedrzycki, Sister M. Cassimira, C.PP.S.

Nellie Dolan, Sister M. Bede, C.PP.S.

Rosalia Fetter, Sister M. Anna Rita, O.S.F.

Wilma Heinlen, Sister M. Emmanuel, O.S.U.

Agnes Paluszak, Sister M. Cecilia, C.PP.S.

Helen Paluszak, Sister M. Philomena, C.PP.S.

Florence Sapp, Sister M. Priscilla, O.S.F.