About Saint Joseph · Ada, Oklahoma
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Latin-rite parish in Ada, Oklahoma, belonging to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Formally established in 1902 from roots that reach back to 1894, the parish today serves a diverse Catholic community in Pontotoc County with a bilingual (English/Spanish) Sunday Mass, weekday Masses at its 1300 East Beverly church, and outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, a prison ministry, and the Teen 3:16 youth group. It is currently twinned with the mission parish of St. Francis Xavier in Sulphur, sharing its pastor. The parish is also well known for its long-running annual Smorgasbord community dinner, which has been feeding neighbors since 1950.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Jaroslaw "Jarek" Topolewski
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a bilingual Catholic home for the Ada area, with weekday and Sunday Masses, regular Confession, a Thursday evening Holy Hour, and faith formation for every age — from RCIA on Wednesdays, to First Reconciliation and First Communion classes, Confirmation for grades 6–8, and the Teen 3:16 youth group. Parishioners serve neighbors through St. Vincent de Paul, a prison ministry led by Deacon Dennis Fine, Knights of Columbus Council, the Parish Council, and the beloved annual Smorgasbord community dinner, making it a welcoming parish for both longtime Catholics and those new to the faith.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday — after 6:00 p.m. Mass at St. Francis Xavier, Sulphur
- Tuesday — after 12:00 noon Mass at St. Joseph, Ada
- Wednesday — after 12:00 noon Mass at St. Joseph, Ada
- Thursday — after 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph, Ada
- Saturday — 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph, Ada
- Sunday — 8:30 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. at St. Joseph, Ada
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at 580-332-4811
Adoration times
- Thursday — 7:00 p.m. Holy Hour in the chapel
Our History
St. Joseph Church has had a unique history. Founded in 1902 from Catholic roots reaching back to 1894, the parish grew from house Masses in the homes of Jerry Cragin and Mrs. Gray, to the Moose Hall, to a frame store building, and then in 1916 to a stone-faced concrete-block church at 213 S. Hope Street. Benedictine priests from Sacred Heart Abbey near Konawa took over in 1917 and staffed the parish for most of the 20th century. After Father Maurice Costello, O.S.B., oversaw a parish hall and growth in the late 1940s, Father John Bloms, O.S.B., broke ground on the current parish plant in 1953 and on the present soaring church in 1962; Bishop Victor Reed consecrated the new church on May 7, 1963. In 1987 the parish celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 1300 East Beverly church.
- 1894 — Four Catholic families travel 13 hours to attend Mass together
- 1902 — Parish established; first Mass by Fr. F. Hall of Ardmore in Jerry Cragin's home
- 1916 — Stone-faced concrete-block church built at 213 S. Hope Street
- 1917 — Benedictine priests from Sacred Heart Abbey (Konawa) take pastoral care
- 1935 — Fr. Hildebrand Brunnett, O.S.B., appointed Pastor with Coalgate and Lehigh as missions
- 1948 — Fr. Maurice Costello, O.S.B., arrives and founds the Smorgasbord in 1950
- 1952 — Fr. John Bloms, O.S.B., becomes pastor; new parish plant groundbreaking May 4, 1953
- 1962 — Ground broken for current church April 15; Midnight Mass 1962 celebrated in the new church
- May 7, 1963 — Church consecrated by Bishop Victor Reed
- 1987 — 25th anniversary of the present church at 1300 East Beverly
- 1999 — Fr. Ray K. Ackerman appointed, transitioning parish from Benedictine to archdiocesan clergy
About Us & Parish Staff
Saint Joseph is served by Pastor Father Jaroslaw 'Jarek' Topolewski (who also pastors St. Francis Xavier in Sulphur), Deacon Dennis Fine (RCIA and Prison Ministry), a Music Director, Office Manager, Bookkeeper, youth leader, Knights of Columbus liaison, and prayer-request coordinator. The parish office at 1300 East Beverly is open Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Pastor — Rev. Jaroslaw 'Jarek' Topolewski
- Deacon — Dennis Fine (RCIA & Prison Ministry)
- Office Manager — Julie Welch
- Music Director — Rudy Lupinski
- Youth Group (TEEN 3:16) — Becca Howe
- Bookkeeper — Janell Clausen
- Knights of Columbus — Nick Cheper
- Prayer Request Ministry — Dana Belcher (580-421-1921)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Director of Religious Education plans and implements programs to meet the spiritual and educational needs of parishioners of all ages. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion on Sunday mornings after Mass (for children age 7 by April 1), with an interim class for those who have received First Communion but not yet Confirmation. Confirmation preparation meets after Mass for students in grades 6, 7, and 8.
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (Sundays after Mass, ages 7+)
- Interim Class — post-Communion, pre-Confirmation (Sundays after Mass)
- Confirmation Class — grades 6, 7 and 8 (Sundays after Mass)
- Adult Faith Formation / Religious Education program
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the John Bloms room. Inquirers and candidates preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist should contact Deacon Dennis Fine at 580-279-4700.
- Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. — John Bloms room
- Contact: Deacon Dennis Fine — 580-279-4700
Youth Ministry
St. Joseph's youth ministry is led by Becca Howe and is known as Teen 3:16 (drawing on John 3:16). Separate Junior High and Senior High groups meet; check the bulletin for the next gathering dates. Confirmation preparation for grades 6–8 also meets on Sundays after Mass.
- Teen 3:16 Youth Group — Becca Howe
- Junior High Youth
- Senior High Youth
- Confirmation Class (grades 6–8)
Outreach & Charity
The parish's outreach reflects its small-town Catholic heart: St. Vincent de Paul assists neighbors in need; the parish runs a Prison Ministry under Deacon Dennis Fine; the Knights of Columbus Council provides service and fellowship; and the legendary Smorgasbord fundraiser feeds hundreds of community members each November, drawing both Catholics and non-Catholics from across Ada.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — feeding, clothing, housing, and helping those in need
- Prison Ministry — Deacon Dennis Fine
- Knights of Columbus — Nick Cheper (parish liaison)
- Annual Smorgasbord — turkey dinner with dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cheesy grits, Swedish meatballs, tamales, and dessert; held in early November since 1950
Parish Life & Organizations
Beyond the ministries, parish life centers on the Parish Council (the consultative body that meets the first Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the John Bloms room), the Finance Council (which oversees parish income, expenditures, and budget), the Music Ministry under Rudy Lupinski, and a Prayer Request Ministry coordinated by Dana Belcher for parishioners and friends in need of intercession.
- Parish Council — meets 1st Monday at 5:30 p.m., John Bloms room
- Finance Council — parish income, expenditures, budget
- Music Ministry — Rudy Lupinski
- Prayer Request Ministry — Dana Belcher (580-421-1921, [email protected])
- Maintenance / Buildings & Grounds
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Couples are asked to contact the Pastor at least six months before a wedding. Families seeking Baptism should call the parish office. First sacraments for children are prepared through the Religious Education program on Sunday mornings; adults prepare through RCIA on Wednesday evenings.
- Baptism — contact Parish Office (580-332-4811)
- Marriage — contact Pastor at least 6 months in advance
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — Sunday mornings after Mass
- Confirmation — grades 6–8, Sundays after Mass
- RCIA — Wednesdays at 7 p.m., John Bloms room
- Funeral Mass — schedule with Parish Office and Pastor before selecting a date
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the Parish Office
Visiting & Contact
St. Joseph's parish office at 1300 East Beverly is open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors and parishioners can call 580-332-4811 or email [email protected]. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1585, Ada, OK 74820.
- Address — 1300 East Beverly, P.O. Box 1585, Ada, OK 74820
- Phone — 580-332-4811
- Email — [email protected]
- Office hours — Mon–Thu, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Website — http://www.stjosephada.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. F. Hall1902
Offered the first Masses in Ada, traveling from Ardmore; celebrated in the home of Jerry Cragin.
- Rev. Theophile Caudronc. 1916
Directed the Extension Society purchase of Lots 1 & 2 of Block 3 of the Ford addition; oversaw the building of the first stone-faced concrete-block church at 213 S. Hope Street in 1916.
- Benedictine priests from Sacred Heart Abbey (Konawa)1917–c. 1999
Took over pastoral care; succession included abbey priests through much of the 20th century.
- Rev. Hildebrand Brunnett, O.S.B.1935–1939
Appointed Pastor on Jan 1, 1935, with Coalgate and Lehigh as missions.
- Rev. Bernard Mazurowski, O.S.B.1939–1943
Pastor.
- Rev. Philip Berning, O.S.B.1943–1947
Pastor.
- Rev. Maurice Costello, O.S.B.1948–1952
Awakened parish spirit, solidarity and growth; built new parish hall; founded the famous annual Smorgasbord in 1950.
- Rev. John Bloms, O.S.B.1952–1954 (first stint)
Broke ground for the new parish plant May 4, 1953; first Mass in the new parish hall at Midnight Mass 1953.
- Rev. Edward Bock1954
Assigned Pastor of St. Joseph on May 31, 1954.
- Rev. Blaise Schumacher, O.S.B.1956–1959
Pastor.
- Rev. Dennis Statham, O.S.B.1959–1961
Pastor.
- Rev. John Bloms, O.S.B.1961–c. 1963 (second stint)
Returned to build the new church; ground broken April 15, 1962; church consecrated by Bishop Victor Reed on May 7, 1963.
- Rev. Ray K. AckermanJune 1999
First archdiocesan priest assigned; previously Associate Pastor at St. Philip Neri, Midwest City, and President of Mount St. Mary High School.
- Rev. George J. Pupius1999–2001
Veteran priest (ordained 1963) who served St. Joseph late in his 55-year career; died Nov. 23, 2018.
- Rev. Rusty Hewes2005–2015
Appointed pastor.
- Rev. Billy Lewis2015–2018
Succeeded Fr. Hewes.
- Rev. Aaron Foshee2018–July 2024
Convert who came into the Church at Easter 2000; ordained June 27, 2015; reassigned in July 2024 to St. Joseph's Old Cathedral in downtown Oklahoma City.
- Rev. Jaroslaw "Jarek" Topolewski2024–present
Current pastor; also serves St. Francis Xavier in Sulphur as a linked parish.