About Saint Joseph · Dover, Ohio
Saint Joseph Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Columbus located at 613 North Tuscarawas Avenue in Dover, Ohio, a Tuscarawas County town of roughly 13,000. Founded in 1848 by Fr. John Henry Luhr of Canton to serve Catholic newcomers to the Ohio and Erie Canal corridor, the parish is now in its fourth generation of church buildings and ministers in both English and Spanish to about 830 registered families. Under the long pastoral care of Father Jimmy Hatfield, who has served the parish since his 2010 ordination, St. Joseph is well known in the region as the spiritual home of Tuscarawas County's growing Hispanic community — its 1:30 p.m. Sunday Mass in Spanish regularly draws the largest congregation of any of the parish's four weekend Masses (about 600 people).
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Father Jimmy Hatfield
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a richly multicultural Catholic community in downtown Dover, with four weekend Masses including the region's largest Spanish-language Mass (Sundays at 1:30 p.m., drawing about 600 worshippers). Active outreach to the uninsured, the homeless, and Hospice of Tuscarawas County — plus a 10-year-running weekly soup kitchen in the parish's Family Life Center — make it a parish known as much for service as for liturgy. With about 830 registered families, Parish School of Religion classes for K–8, liturgical ministries open to teens and adults, Bible studies in Advent and Lent, a Lenten parish mission, and an ecumenical Advent lessons-and-carols program, there are many ways for newcomers to plug in.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Sunday 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. (in English and Spanish)
- Additional times: call the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Saturday: Mass is followed by Eucharistic Adoration (per the events/calendar page)
Parish History
The parish was started in 1848 by Fr. John Henry Luhr of Canton to serve Catholics in the Ohio and Erie Canal corridor of what was then Canal Dover. Fr. Peter Muckerheide became the first resident pastor in 1850, succeeded in 1853 by Fr. Dietrich Winands, who built a brick parsonage-and-school in 1857 and a wood-frame schoolhouse in 1866. By 1897 the original building had been outgrown, and a second church was completed in 1898 — its three bells blessed in October 1898 still weighed 2,000, 1,200 and 600 pounds. The Capuchin Franciscan friars staffed the parish from 1886 until 1996, a span of 110 years. As the 20th century wore on, the parish opened a school in 1923–24 (with a gymnasium added in 1928 for the high school), dedicated a new parish hall in 1983, and — after the 1898 church was closed by the Ohio Department of Industrial Relations on Oct. 1, 1962 — built the present sanctuary, dedicated Nov. 27, 1965 at a cost of $450,000. The 15,000-square-foot Family Life Center followed in 2007. In 2023 the parish marked its 175th anniversary with a yearlong program of monthly events culminating in a bilingual Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes on June 25, joined by eight priests who had served the parish, several deacons, and the parish's traditional and Hispanic choirs.
- 1848 — parish started by Fr. John Henry Luhr of Canton
- 1850 — first church completed; Fr. Peter Muckerheide, first resident pastor
- 1853 — Fr. Dietrich Winands succeeds Muckerheide
- 1857 — brick parsonage and school built
- 1886 — Capuchin Franciscan friars take charge; serve until 1996
- 1897–98 — second church built (three bells blessed Oct. 23, 1898)
- 1923–24 — parochial school built; gymnasium added 1928
- 1962 — old church closed for structural repairs
- 1964 — demolition of old church begins (June 17)
- 1965 — present church dedicated Nov. 27 ($450,000)
- 1983 — parish hall dedicated
- 2007 — Family Life Center dedicated
- 2023 — 175th anniversary year concluded with bilingual Mass by Bishop Earl Fernandes
Parish Staff & Clergy
Father Jimmy Hatfield has been the pastor of St. Joseph since 2013 — first as parochial vicar for 18 months after his 2010 ordination, then as pastor. He also serves as pastor of Holy Trinity, Zoar, the parish's northern Tuscarawas County partner under the diocesan Real Presence Real Future reorganization. Father Tomas Carvajal, CR, a member of the Theatine order, is parochial vicar for both parishes, with a focus on ministering to the Hispanic community through the Sunday 1:30 p.m. Spanish Mass and Spanish-language catechesis and sacramental preparation. Supporting the clergy are seven lay staff members in liturgical, educational, administrative and maintenance roles, including a pastoral associate who has worked at the parish for more than 20 years.
- Father Jimmy Hatfield — Pastor
- Father Tomas Carvajal, CR — Parochial Vicar (Hispanic Ministry / Theatine)
- Ms. Brenda Stilgenbauer — Pastoral Associate
- Ms. Cindy Teynor — Director of Religious Education
- Mrs. Cathy Bambeck — PSR Secretary
- Ms. Sonia Ixcoy — Hispanic Ministry
- Mr. Jeremiah Jones — Director of Music
- Mrs. Jodi Lindberg — Bookkeeper
- Mr. Russ Clay — Cemetery and Maintenance
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The parish celebrates four weekend Masses — Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. in Spanish. The 1:30 p.m. Sunday Mass in Spanish is the largest by attendance (about 600 worshippers). Confessions are heard Saturday 3:15–3:45 p.m. and Sunday 12:30–1:15 p.m. (in English and Spanish). The site invites callers to check the bulletin for Holy Day schedules and the Parish Office for additional confession times.
- Saturday Mass — 4:00 p.m. (English)
- Sunday Mass — 8:30 a.m. (English)
- Sunday Mass — 11:00 a.m. (English)
- Sunday Mass — 1:30 p.m. (Spanish)
- Confessions — Saturday 3:15–3:45 p.m.
- Confessions — Sunday 12:30–1:15 p.m. (English and Spanish)
- Adoration — Saturday following Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (P.S.R.) offers Catholic religious education for students in kindergarten through eighth grade on Sunday mornings from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., with sacramental preparation for First Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation woven into the curriculum. Spanish-language catechesis is overseen by Father Tomas Carvajal, CR and supported through the Hispanic Ministry office, so sacramental preparation is available in both English and Spanish.
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry is one of the defining ministries of St. Joseph's. The parish serves as the spiritual home for many of Tuscarawas County's Hispanic residents — including significant Guatemalan and broader Central American communities drawn to the area by the poultry industry — and has welcomed las Posadas, a Hispanic Tres Reyes / Epiphany celebration on Jan. 8, an annual retreat for Hispanic men, a parish 2025 'Share the Journey' prayer service of solidarity, and bilingual funeral luncheons that longtime parishioners describe as effective evangelization.
Liturgical Ministers
The Liturgical Ministers page invites parishioners to serve the Mass in several roles. Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Eucharist at Sunday and special Masses and visit homebound parishioners and local nursing homes. Lectors proclaim Scripture. Altar Servers are open to young men and women beginning in the fifth grade who have received First Eucharist (adults are also welcome). Sacristans assist with the logistical preparation of the liturgy, and Greeters/Ushers welcome and seat worshippers, take up the collection and maintain good order at Mass.
- Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Altar Servers (open to teens in 5th grade and above after First Eucharist; adults welcome)
- Sacristans
- Greeters / Ushers
Pastoral Commissions & Family Life
Pastoral Commissions work closely with the Pastoral Council to carry out the work that keeps the parish healthy and growing; parishioners are encouraged to serve on one or more of the commissions. The Family Life Committee in particular organizes programs and activities that encourage fellowship and unity among parishioners and help families grow spiritually in the modern world.
- Pastoral Commissions
- Family Life Committee
- Pastoral Council
Music Ministry
Music is led by Director of Music Jeremiah Jones. The parish maintains both a traditional choir and a Hispanic choir, which sing at Sunday liturgies and special services including the 2023 bilingual 175th-anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes and the bilingual 'Share the Journey' solidarity prayer service.
Family Life Center
Completed in 2007 and located on the parish grounds, the 15,000-square-foot Family Life Center is two stories with a basement and includes eight meeting rooms. It is the site of weekly Soup Kitchen meals, parish youth group meetings, scout gatherings, civic events (including the Dover Rotary Club's annual Christmas party), and many funeral luncheons and wedding receptions. The Center can seat approximately 100 people and can be rented by parishioners and private parties; contact the Parish Office for availability and rental guidelines.
- Dedicated 2007
- 15,000 square feet, two stories plus basement
- Eight meeting rooms
- Seats ~100
- Available for rental (wedding receptions, funeral luncheons, showers, anniversaries, graduation parties)
- Home of the weekly St. Joseph Soup Kitchen
Outreach & Charitable Works
Outreach is central to the parish's identity. A weekly Soup Kitchen — observed in 2023 as marking its 10th anniversary — serves anyone in need of a meal or anyone who simply doesn't want to eat alone. The parish also supports the work of Hospice of Tuscarawas County, ministers to those experiencing homelessness, and continues the legacy of the uninsured clinic Father William Arnold helped start in the parish building in the 1990s (the clinic later outgrew the space and moved to a Dover office building where it remains an important community resource).
- St. Joseph Soup Kitchen (weekly at the Family Life Center)
- Support for those experiencing homelessness
- Outreach and care for the working uninsured (clinic legacy)
- Hospice of Tuscarawas County involvement
- Funeral luncheons and parish hospitality as outreach
- Hosts Alcoholics Anonymous of Tuscarawas meetings
Annual Devotions & Parish Celebrations
St. Joseph's calendar is rich with both longstanding devotions and newer cultural celebrations. The annual Mass for the Feast of St. Joseph (the parish's patron) is celebrated in March, and the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker is observed on May 1. Hispanic traditions are firmly woven in: the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on or near Dec. 12, Las Posadas at parishioners' homes leading up to Christmas, and a Tres Reyes / Epiphany celebration on Jan. 8.
- Feast of St. Joseph (March, parish patron)
- Feast of St. Joseph the Worker (May 1)
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12)
- Las Posadas (in homes leading up to Christmas)
- Tres Reyes / Epiphany celebration (Jan. 8)
- Easter Egg Hunt (April)
- Annual parish retreat for Hispanic men
- Bible studies in Advent and Lent
- Lenten parish mission
- Ecumenical Advent Lessons and Carols
- Annual parish picnic (September)
- Annual parish festival — third weekend in July on parish grounds (75th anniversary in 2023)
Bulletin
The parish Bulletin page links to the current weekly bulletin and an archive of past issues going back to 2015. The bulletin carries Holy Day schedules, ministry and commission meeting dates, and announcements — and is the recommended source for the parish's most up-to-date schedule.
Get Involved
Newcomers are invited to make St. Joseph their spiritual home through one of several doors: enrolling in the Parish School of Religion, joining a Liturgical Ministry, serving on a Pastoral Commission or the Family Life Committee, singing with the choirs, helping at the weekly Soup Kitchen, or supporting funeral and outreach hospitality. Liturgical Ministry is open to adults, and Altar Servers are welcomed beginning in fifth grade after First Eucharist.
- Join a Liturgical Ministry
- Serve on a Pastoral Commission
- Help with the weekly Soup Kitchen
- Sing in the traditional or Hispanic choir
- Volunteer through the Family Life Committee
- Register a child in P.S.R.
Visiting & Contact
St. Joseph is located at 613 North Tuscarawas Avenue, Dover, Ohio 44622, with the parish office reachable at (330) 364-6661 and [email protected]. Tuscarawas Central Catholic (TCC) Elementary School (K–6) sits across the street from the church, and the Family Life Center (with event-rental availability) is on the parish grounds. The parish Facebook page is linked from the website.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Henry Luhr (of Canton)1848–
Started the parish from Canton; no resident priest yet.
- Fr. Peter Muckerheide1850–
First resident pastor; served when first church was completed in 1850.
- Fr. Dietrich Winands1853–
Succeeded Muckerheide; in 1857 built a brick parsonage and school at his own expense.
- Capuchin Franciscan friars1886–1996
Branch of the Franciscan Order staffed the parish for 110 years.
- Father William Arnold1996–2009
Began celebrating Spanish Masses for new Guatemalan immigrants; helped set up a clinic for the working uninsured.
- Father Matthew Hoover2009–2013 (approx.)
Succeeded Father Arnold; later assigned as pastor of Columbus Immaculate Conception.
- Father Jimmy Hatfield2010–present
Served as parochial vicar 18 months after 2010 ordination; pastor of St. Joseph since 2013; also pastor of Holy Trinity, Zoar.