About Saint Joseph · Crescent Springs, Kentucky
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Crescent Springs, Kentucky, belonging to the Diocese of Covington. Founded in 1916 by Catholic families along the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, it has served the Crescent Springs and Villa Hills communities for over a century, celebrating its centennial in 2016. Today the parish operates a parish school (St. Joseph Catholic School, home of the Cavaliers), a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, and a wide range of ministries from OCIA and religious education to outreach and the Knights of Columbus-affiliated Holy Name Society. Worship is offered in English with daily and weekend Masses, and the parish grounds include a historic church whose sanctuary was recently renovated and re-consecrated on April 5, 2025.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Eric L. Boelscher
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a 1,400-family faith community with deep roots — over a century of Catholic life in Crescent Springs and Villa Hills — and a living parish campus that includes St. Joseph Catholic School, a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, daily and weekend Masses, and OCIA for those exploring the faith. Members are invited into a wide range of ministries, from the Holy Name Society (men), Friends in Faith (women), and Knights and Dames of the Altar Server Fraternity, to Christian Outreach, Respect Life, Bereavement, Jail Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Rose Garden Mission, so there is a place to serve for every age and interest.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 9:30 am
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesdays from 7:15 am to 8:45/9:00 pm in the main church
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week (exterior door unlocked 6:00 am – 9:00 pm; keypad access 9:00 pm – 6:00 am available from the parish office)
Parish History
St. Joseph was founded in 1916 by Catholic families in the small railroad community of Crescent Springs, who as early as 1909 had begun organizing a committee and petitioning the Bishop of the Diocese of Covington for a church of their own. The first church was dedicated on Sunday, September 3, 1916, followed by the now-traditional chicken dinner that opened a century of parish hospitality. The school opened a year later under the Sisters of St. Benedict, and the parish grew from a rural farming community into a 1,400-family faith community in the heart of Northern Kentucky suburbia — celebrating its centennial in 2016 with a commemorative Mass, dinner, and the book "St. Joseph Parish, Crescent Springs, Kentucky, 1916-2016: The First 100 Years." Most recently, on April 5, 2025, the Bishop presided at the Consecration of the Altar in the newly renovated sanctuary.
- Founded 1916 — dedicated September 3, 1916
- School opened September 1917 under the Sisters of St. Benedict
- Centennial celebrated in 2016 with a 30-page history book
- Altar Consecration in the renovated sanctuary: April 5, 2025
- First 100 Years book by Sarah Barlage Bilott, Susan Barth, Barb Fritz, and others (~$5, over 100 photos)
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School is the parish's flagship educational ministry, located next door at 2474 Lorraine Court, Crescent Springs, KY 41017, and known as the home of the Cavaliers. The school shares in the evangelizing mission of the Church, "working to build the kingdom of God through nurturing faith, inspiring learning, fostering service, and forming leaders to serve the common good." According to its current school profile, enrollment is 464 students served by 47 staff members, with bus transportation provided by the Kenton County School District and school hours from 7:10 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. The principal is Mrs. Ellen Beiersdorfer (school profile page), with the parish website listing Mr. Timothy Mains as school principal — both names appear in current parish materials.
- Home of the Cavaliers
- Address: 2474 Lorraine Court, Crescent Springs, KY 41017
- Enrollment: 464 students; Total Staff: 47
- Bus transportation: Kenton County School District
- School Hours: 7:10 a.m. – 1:55 p.m.
- Principal (school site): Mrs. Ellen Beiersdorfer
- Principal (parish site listing): Mr. Timothy Mains
- Mission: lifelong learners pursuing moral, spiritual, academic, and physical development
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Joseph begins in the home and extends through the parish's school, religious education programs, and adult initiation. Deacon Henry (Rev. Mr. Hudson Henry) welcomes inquirers and those seeking to complete their Sacraments of Initiation through the parish OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, which runs each year — current invitations are open for the 2026-27 cycle. Ms. Tina Klare serves as Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE), overseeing the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP), Sunday School, RCIA support, and seasonal faith series, retreats, and days of recollection for parishioners of all ages.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — contact Deacon Henry, 859-341-6609 x4022, [email protected]
- Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) — catechist opportunities available
- Sunday School and RCIA classes
- Seasonal Faith Series, Retreats, and Days of Recollection
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Ms. Tina Klare
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish offers a deep bench of ministries covering spiritual life, corporal works of mercy, parish life, education, and liturgical service. Outreach efforts send monetary donations to Food for the Poor in Haiti, provide Thanksgiving food bags through local agencies and residents, and supply a Giving Tree in December. The Christian Outreach Committee coordinates support to local non-profits, while the Respect Life Committee keeps issues of life — from conception to natural death — in the forefront of parish conscience. Other named ministries include Walking with Mom's in Need, Rose Garden Mission, St. Vincent de Paul, Jail Ministry (with Catholic Charities), Bereavement, Prayer Chain, Homebound and Hospitalized Ministry, Young Families Baptismal Preparation, and Marriage Preparation and Mentoring.
- Outreach Committee / Christian Outreach — Haiti (Food for the Poor), Thanksgiving food bags, Giving Tree
- Respect Life Committee — Right to Life support
- Walking with Mom's in Need
- Rose Garden Mission
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Jail Ministry (Catholic Charities partnership)
- Bereavement Committee
- Prayer Chain — contact Connie Neiheisel (text 859-630-4674, [email protected]) or Angela Finke (859-341-8838)
- Homebound and Hospitalized Ministry
- Young Families Baptismal Preparation
- Marriage Preparation and Mentoring
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond liturgical service, parishioners gather as the Holy Name Society (men), Friends in Faith (women), the Knights and Dames of the Altar Server Fraternity/Sorority (for adults interested in service and social events), and the parish-wide Hospitality team (coffee and donuts). Fundraising and community traditions include the annual St. Joseph Summer Celebration — held the first weekend of August with live music, carnival rides, games, a Bid-n-Buy auction, the Noll Family chicken dinner, beer, and free parking — and the Holy Name Society Lenten Fish Fry on Fridays during Lent at Noll Hall (5:00–8:00 pm). Gift-card rebates also raise funds for the parish year-round.
- Holy Name Society (men) — Lenten Fish Fry Fridays at Noll Hall
- Friends in Faith (women)
- Knights and Dames of the Altar Server Fraternity/Sorority
- Hospitality — coffee and donuts, evangelization, greeters
- St. Joseph Summer Celebration (annual festival, first weekend of August)
- Gift-card rebate / Scrip fundraising
Liturgical Life & Music
St. Joseph invites parishioners to serve in many liturgical roles, with the parish choir and music ministry directed by Music Director Ms. Regina Rancourt. Liturgical volunteers include altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, ushers, greeters, sacristans, gift-bearer families, liturgical church-decor teams, and church cleaners. The parish gathers around the Mass schedule above and the perpetual Adoration Chapel, making daily prayer a hallmark of parish life.
- Music Director: Ms. Regina Rancourt
- Altar Servers (incl. Knights and Dames of the Altar Server Fraternity)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors, Ushers, Greeters
- Sacristans, Gift Bearer families
- Liturgical church decor
- Church cleaners
Parish Leadership & Staff
St. Joseph is led by Pastor Rev. Eric L. Boelscher and Deacon Rev. Mr. Hudson Henry, supported by a full staff and Parish Council (Pastoral and Finance). The parish is part of the Diocese of Covington, and the Pastor, Deacon, Principal, and Finance Chair serve as ex officio members of the Parish Council alongside elected mission chairs for areas including facility development. Day-to-day operations are run by the parish secretary, business manager, facilities manager, music director, CRE, and school principal.
- Pastor: Rev. Eric L. Boelscher
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Hudson Henry
- Parish Secretary: Mrs. Susie Alcini ([email protected])
- Business Manager: Kristin Maly
- Facilities Manager: Mr. Charlie Barnes
- Music Director: Ms. Regina Rancourt
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Ms. Tina Klare
- School Principal (parish listing): Mr. Timothy Mains
Visit, Register & Contact
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed. To register as a parishioner, complete the New Parishioner Registration Form and email it to Parish Secretary Mrs. Susie Alcini at [email protected], mail it to 2470 Lorraine Court, drop it off at the parish office, or place it in the weekend collection. Parish Office Hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed Saturday and Sunday). The main phone line is (859) 341-6609, and Deacon Henry can be reached at extension 4022 or [email protected] for OCIA inquiries.
- Address: 2470 Lorraine Court, Crescent Springs, KY 41017
- Phone: (859) 341-6609
- Parish Secretary email: [email protected]
- Deacon Henry (OCIA): 859-341-6609 x4022 — [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9–5; Fri 9–4; closed Sat/Sun
- New Parishioner Registration Form available on the parish website
Getting Involved
The parish website groups volunteer opportunities into Education, Corporal Works of Mercy, Spiritual Life, Liturgical Life, and Parish Life. The page emphasizes that "St. Joseph Parish has many opportunities to serve Christ and others…there are areas of engagement for all ages and interests." Anyone interested in serving is encouraged to contact Susie Alcini at the parish office to be matched to a ministry that fits their gifts.
- Education — PREP Catechist, Sunday School, School Grandparents' Group, Lunch/Recess Volunteers, School Safety, RCIA/class support
- Corporal Works of Mercy — Bereavement, Christian Outreach, Homebound/Hospitalized, Baptismal Prep, Marriage Prep, Walking with Mom's in Need, Rose Garden Mission, St. Vincent de Paul
- Spiritual Life — Prayer groups, Bible study, Seasonal Faith Series, Retreats and Days of Recollection
- Liturgical Life — Altar Server, EMHC, Lector, Usher, Greeter, Choir, Sacristan, Gift Bearer, Decor, Cleaners
- Parish Life — Hospitality, Evangelization, Coffee & Donuts, Groundskeeping, Office fill-in, Clerical/Data Entry, Fundraising, Holy Name Society, Friends in Faith, Knights and Dames, Vacation Bible Camp