Parish History

St. Joseph Parish was established February 26, 1949. The first Mass at the new St. Joseph Parish was offered March 13, 1949 at the Broadmoor Theater by Father Joseph B. Gremillion, the first Pastor of the Parish. Mass continued to be conducted at this site for the next thirteen months. At this time there were 235 families in the Parish with Father Gremillion urging those not yet contacted to please register with an usher after Mass.

The ground breaking for the first building of St. Joseph Parish was held Wednesday, July 13, 1949 on the site of Patton and Anniston Streets. The main celebrant was Most Reverend Charles P. Greco, Bishop of Alexandria. The formal dedication and blessing of the new combination church and social hall building of St. Joseph Parish took place Sunday, April 16, 1950 at 11:00 A.M. Also, Bishop Greco blessed a dedicatory cornerstone which bears the inscription "To The Glory of God, The Love of Christ, and The Eternal Life of Souls-1950." A solemn High Mass followed.

The first school building was completed and school opened September 1951 with 102 pupils, four teachers, a kindergarten and three grades. Today there are 550 students in K-3 through eighth grade. We celebrated in grand fashion our 50th anniversary in 2001!

The physical plant of St. Joseph Parish now has 24 permanent structures.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish has been formed from our original borders.  St. Joseph's now has more than 1700 families. The mission and vision of our founding pastor is now carried on by our priests, Father Karl Daigle, Father Richard Lombard, and Fr. Joseph Kallookalam. This is a community of believers convinced that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He suffered, died and rose from the dead for us all. This conviction is seen in the many ministries offered here.

You are most welcome to come worship with us.