About Saint Joseph · Garrett, Indiana
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Garrett, Indiana, part of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. The parish traces its roots to 1872, when Rev. August Young first celebrated Mass in a tent for the small Catholic community that had grown up with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Today the parish serves about 300 registered households from its 1929 Italian Renaissance-style church on Houston and Ijams Streets, alongside its parish school (preschool through 7th grade), Calvary Cemetery, and outreach ministries including a soup kitchen and clothes closet.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Dermot Gahan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a tight-knit Catholic community in the heart of DeKalb County, with daily and weekend Mass, Adoration twice a month, Saturday confession, and a full Religious Education program for children and youth. Parishioners of all ages are fed spiritually through Bible studies, a rosary team, and youth and young adult ministries, and are sent out through the parish's soup kitchen, St. Martin's Clothes Closet, and the school — ministries that have served Garrett and the wider county for well over a century.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00–9:30 am
Adoration times
- First Friday 9:30 am
- Second Thursday 7:00 pm
Parish History
St. Joseph Catholic Church was born from a Mass celebrated in a tent in 1872 by Rev. August Young, who became the founding pastor and built the first church, the school (1888), Calvary Cemetery (1879/1897), and Sacred Heart Hospital (1905). As the original SS. Peter and Paul Parish outgrew its 19th-century building, Father Young's successors raised funds for a new church on Houston and Ijams Streets. Bishop John F. Noll dedicated the present Italian Renaissance-style church in 1929, and the parish took the name St. Joseph. The school moved into a new building in 1958 and continues today as a preschool-through-7th-grade program; the church itself was renovated in 2000. In 2022 the parish celebrated its 150th anniversary with a community gathering in Westside Park.
- 1872 — First Mass in a tent by Rev. August Young
- 1879 — Land purchased for Calvary Cemetery
- 1888 — Two-story brick schoolhouse built; Sisters of the Precious Blood begin teaching
- 1893 — SS. Peter and Paul Parish dedicated by Bishop Joseph Rademacher
- 1905 — Sacred Heart Hospital opens (Garrett's first hospital)
- 1929 — New church and rectory dedicated by Bishop John F. Noll; parish renamed St. Joseph
- 1958 — New school building opens
- 2000 — Church renovated: new altar and windows
- 2022 — Parish celebrates 150th anniversary
Mass & Liturgy
The parish offers a full weekly schedule of Masses in English, including a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses (the 8:00 am celebrated Ad Orientem). Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at varying times, and a 1st Saturday Mass is offered at the Mary Altar. On Wednesday evenings the 6:30 pm Mass is celebrated at the St. Joseph Altar and followed by the Litany of St. Joseph.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:30 pm
- Sunday — 8:00 am (Ad Orientem) and 10:30 am
- Monday–Wednesday — 8:30 am
- Wednesday — 6:30 pm (followed by Litany of St. Joseph)
- Thursday — 6:30 pm
- Friday — 9:00 am
- 1st Saturday — 8:30 am at the Mary Altar
St. Joseph School
The parish school was founded in 1888 by Father August Young and was first staffed by the Sisters of the Precious Blood teaching 180 students. By 1905 it had grown to 226 students in grades 1–12, and in 1927 the Sisters of St. Francis of the Sacred Heart took over as educators. The present school building opened in 1958 after the high school was discontinued; the school now serves students from preschool through 7th grade, with a separate building across the street for preschool classes. The school has been awarded a Four-Star School rating by the State of Indiana. Students from Garrett, Auburn, Waterloo, Butler, Huntertown, and the greater Fort Wayne area attend, and students of all faiths are welcome.
- Established 1888
- Currently preschool through 7th grade
- Preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds; kindergarten through 7th grade
- Four-Star School (State of Indiana)
- Open to students of all faiths
- Draws students from Garrett, Auburn, Waterloo, Butler, Huntertown, and greater Fort Wayne
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Religious Education program for parish children on Sundays from September through April, 9:00–10:00 am (between the two Sunday Masses). The parish also offers RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those wishing to learn more about the Catholic faith or to enter the Church. Adult faith enrichment includes Bible studies and a rosary team. The official site invites visitors: 'It's never too late to learn more about God's love.'
- Religious Education — Sundays Sept–Apr, 9:00–10:00 am
- RCIA for adults
- Bible studies
- Rosary team
Outreach & Charity
St. Joseph is well known in DeKalb County for its outreach to those in need, anchored by the St. Martin de Porres Center. The parish soup kitchen serves carryout dinners every Monday and Thursday from 4:00–6:00 pm, and St. Martin's Clothes Closet at 308 S. Peters Street is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 am to noon and Thursdays from 4:00–6:00 pm. The parish also takes pride in being the starting place of St. Martin's Healthcare, which provides medical and dental care for the uninsured and underinsured.
- St. Martin de Porres Center (soup kitchen) — Mon & Thu, 4:00–6:00 pm
- St. Martin's Clothes Closet — Tue & Wed 9:00 am–noon, Thu 4:00–6:00 pm
- St. Martin's Healthcare (founded from parish) — medical/dental care for uninsured/underinsured
Liturgical Ministries & Music
The parish welcomes lay involvement in the liturgy through altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers, and supports separate children's and adult choirs through its music ministry. A homebound ministry brings Communion to parishioners who cannot attend Mass. The parish also hosts community cultural events such as a Eucharistic Art Show linking artistic expression with the National Eucharistic Revival.
- Altar servers
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Children's music ministry
- Adult music ministry
- Homebound ministry
Parish Life & Other Groups
Beyond its school and outreach ministries, the parish supports a Knights of Columbus men's council and both youth and young adult ministries. The parish's calendar also lists school and community events, and the parish regularly brings Mass to residents of Miller's Merry Manor in Garrett on the last Thursday of each month at 10:30 am.
- Knights of Columbus
- Youth ministry
- Young adult ministry
- Mass at Miller's Merry Manor — last Thursday of the month, 10:30 am
- Parish calendar of events
Sacraments
The parish website directs those interested in scheduling Baptisms and Weddings to contact the Parish Center. First Communion and Confirmation are received through the parish Religious Education program. Reconciliation is heard every Saturday morning, and Anointing of the Sick can be arranged by contacting the parish office.
- Baptism — contact Parish Center
- Wedding — contact Parish Center
- First Communion / Confirmation — via Religious Education
- Reconciliation — Saturday 9:00–9:30 am
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Parish Center
Parish Staff & Leadership
The current pastor listed on the parish website is Fr. Dermot Gahan (previously chaplain at the University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne). The parish office can be reached at (260) 357-3122 or [email protected]. Pastors who shaped the parish include the founding pastor Rev. August Young (died 1926), Rev. Francis A. King, Rev. John G. Bennett, and more recently Fr. Brian Isenbarger, who was featured in the 'Our Local Parish' podcast series before Fr. Gahan's assignment.
- Fr. Dermot Gahan — current pastor
- Parish phone — (260) 357-3122
- Parish email — [email protected]
- Pastors in memory: Rev. August Young (founder), Rev. Francis A. King, Rev. John G. Bennett, Fr. Brian Isenbarger
Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery was established by Father August Young, who in 1879 purchased land several blocks west of the church and acquired eight acres for the cemetery in 1897. The cemetery has been open to burial for both Catholics and Protestants from its founding, and Father Young himself was laid to rest there after his death in 1926.
- Land purchased 1879; eight acres acquired 1897
- Open to both Catholics and Protestants
- Father August Young buried here (d. 1926)
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at Mass, to receive Reconciliation, to spend time in Adoration, or simply to stop by the Parish Center during office hours. The parish can be reached by phone at (260) 357-3122 or by email at [email protected], and is located at 300 W. Houston Street, Garrett, Indiana 46738, on the corner of Houston and Ijams Streets.
- Address — 300 W Houston St, Garrett, IN 46738
- Phone — (260) 357-3122
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — stjosephgarrett.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. August Young1872–1926
First priest in Garrett; celebrated first Mass in a tent in 1872, built the first church, founded the school (1888), Calvary Cemetery (1879/1897) and Sacred Heart Hospital (1905). Died 1926.
- Rev. Francis A. Kingafter 1926
Succeeded Father Young; raised funds for a new church and acquired the Houston & Ijams land.
- Rev. John G. Bennettafter King
Moved forward the actual plans for the rectory and new church dedicated in 1929.
- Fr. Brian Isenbarger
Featured as pastor of St. Joseph's in the 'Our Local Parish' podcast series, having previously served as Parochial Vicar at St. Vincent's.
- Fr. Dermot Gahanpresent
Currently listed as pastor on the parish website.