About Saint Joseph · Mishawaka, Indiana
Saint Joseph Catholic Church, located at 220 West Fourth Street in Mishawaka, Indiana, is the oldest Catholic parish in the city and belongs to the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. The parish community worships in a striking Gothic-style church built in 1893 and offers a rich liturgical life that includes traditional and Latin Masses, daily Eucharistic Adoration, and a thriving music program. The parish shares Mishawaka Catholic School with the other two Mishawaka parishes (St. Bavo and St. Monica), and it is currently pastored by Father Christopher Lapp. St. Joseph is known for its strong formation offerings — including the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children and an adult 'Exploring Catholicism' series — and for its reverent celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, often offered ad orientem.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Father Christopher Lapp
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
St. Joseph is the spiritual home of a true generational parish community in Mishawaka, where members grow in holiness through the Sacraments and share what they have received. Daily Mass, abundant confession times, and extensive Eucharistic Adoration (including a Tuesday evening Holy Hour with Benediction) make the prayer life here unusually accessible. The parish invests deeply in formation — the hands-on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium program for children preschool through 6th grade, a 7th/8th-grade catechesis class, and the adult 'Exploring Catholicism' series each spring and fall — and shares Mishawaka Catholic School with the city's other two Catholic parishes.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday: 7:30 AM
- Tuesday: 5:30–6:15 PM
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:30–10:15 AM
Adoration times
- Monday–Saturday: 7:30–8:30 AM
- Tuesday: 5:30–6:30 PM (with Benediction)
Parish History
St. Joseph traces its roots to 1848, when the missionary congregation in Mishawaka — originally served by Holy Cross priests traveling north from Notre Dame — was established as a parish under the name Holy Angels. Renamed St. Joseph in 1861 after a fire destroyed its first church, the parish built its present Gothic church in 1893, which is still in use today. The 175th anniversary was marked with Bishop Rhoades on December 10, 2023.
- 1833 — Father Badin visits the Mishawaka area
- 1844 — Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C., begins regular services in parishioners' homes
- 1848 — Parish officially established as the Church of the Holy Angels (Dec. 10)
- 1855 — Frame church built at Grove and Sarah Streets
- 1860 — Church destroyed by fire (suspected arson)
- 1861 (Dec. 8) — New brick church dedicated and parish renamed St. Joseph
- 1893 (Oct. 22) — Present Gothic-style church dedicated by Bishop Rademacher
- 2023 (Dec. 10) — 175th anniversary celebrated with Bishop Rhoades
Architecture & Sacred Art
The 1893 church is a white-brick Gothic structure with limestone trim, rising to a 163-foot spire above a 50-foot ceiling. Notable interior craftsmanship includes the communion rail, pulpit, and altars built by parishioner Mr. Erb and his sons, and a pipe organ built by Mr. Louis H. Vandinter — parts of which were carried over from the previous 1861 church. The original stained-glass windows depict the life of Christ, and a recent capital campaign focuses on repairing the 132-year-old leaking roof that threatens this artwork.
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Materials: White brick with limestone trim
- Dimensions: 151 ft long; 50 ft ceiling; 163 ft spire
- Stained-glass windows illustrating the life of Christ
- Historic pipe organ with parts from the 1861 church
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Joseph is pastored by Father Christopher Lapp, who also oversees Adult Faith Formation and OCIA (Becoming Catholic). Two priests from the University of Notre Dame are in residence and assist with the sacraments. The parish staff includes a Director of Sacred Music, Director of Early Faith Formation, Office Manager/Communications, Facilities Director and Maintenance Supervisor, Parish Bookkeeper, and a Wedding Coordinator.
- Father Christopher Lapp — Pastor
- Father Emmanuel Ojeifo — In Residence / Sacramental Assistance
- Father Thaddeus Atuegwu — In Residence / Sacramental Assistance
- Jerome Cole — Director of Sacred Music
- Pamela Scofield — Director of Early Faith Formation
- Sarah Cohee — Office Manager / Communications
- Scott Buysse — Director of Facilities
- Bryan Chandler — Maintenance Supervisor
- Jeff Deitchley — Parish Bookkeeper
- Mary Ivancsics — Wedding Coordinator
Faith Formation for Children
Weekly religious education classes are offered for children in preschool through 8th grade, with sacramental preparation included. The parish uses the hands-on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) program for preschool through 6th grade, meeting in a specially prepared 'atrium' environment grounded in sacred Scripture and the liturgy. A separate catechesis class is offered for 7th and 8th graders.
- CGS Level 1 (ages 3–6) — Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays
- CGS Level 2 (ages 6–9) — Sundays and Wednesdays
- CGS Level 3 (ages 9–12) — Sundays and Wednesdays
- 7th/8th grade catechesis — Sundays 10:45 AM–12:15 PM
- Sacramental preparation integrated into both programs
- Director: Pamela Scofield ([email protected])
Adult Faith Formation & Becoming Catholic
The parish hosts 'Exploring Catholicism' each Fall and Spring — typically a 7-week series of opening prayer, lecture, Q&A, and closing prayer, aimed at fostering an intentional community of love through deeper knowledge of Christ and His Church. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is coordinated through the pastor for those exploring or preparing to enter the Catholic Church.
- Exploring Catholicism — weekly Fall and Spring series (e.g., Spring 2026: Tuesdays 6:35–8 PM in the school cafeteria)
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — coordinated by Father Christopher Lapp
- Topics for 2026: Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Didache, Barnabas, Papias, The Shepherd of Hermas, First Apology, Dialogue with Trypho, Canon of Scripture
Music & Sacred Liturgy
Music is integral to worship at St. Joseph. The Adult Choir leads congregational hymnody and choral music rooted in chant and polyphony (Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods) at the 9:15 AM Sunday Mass. The Gregorian Chant Schola — or a cantor — chants the Latin propers of the Mass (Introit, Offertory, Communion) at the 11:15 AM Mass, with parts of the Ordinary sung in Latin to follow the Second Vatican Council's call in Sacrosanctum Concilium §54.
- Adult Choir — 9:15 AM Sunday Mass, Labor Day through Memorial Day
- Gregorian Chant Schola — chants the Latin propers at 11:15 AM Mass
- Cantors at the Saturday 4:30 PM and 11:15 AM Masses
- Director of Sacred Music: Jerome Cole
Mishawaka Catholic School
Mishawaka Catholic School is one school jointly operated by the three Mishawaka parishes — St. Joseph, St. Bavo, and St. Monica — each of which hosts a campus. The St. Joseph Parish campus hosts the primary grades (3–5), and all three pastors are actively involved in the school community.
- St. Joseph Campus (primary grades 3–5): 574-255-5554
- St. Monica Campus / School Administration: 574-255-0709
- School Fax: 574-255-6381
- Website: mcmish.org
- Email: [email protected]
Visiting & Contact
St. Joseph Catholic Parish is located at 220 West Fourth Street in Mishawaka, Indiana. The parish offices are in the white house at the corner of Fourth Street and Spring Street. Office hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 7:45 AM–2:45 PM, Thursday 7:45 AM–1:00 PM and 3:00–5:00 PM, and Friday 7:45 AM–noon. The main phone line is 574-255-6134.
- Address: 220 West Fourth Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544
- Phone: 574-255-6134
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office location: white house at Fourth & Spring Streets
Restoration Campaign
As the oldest active Catholic church in Mishawaka, St. Joseph has been working to complete a capital campaign to address its 132-year-old leaking roof, which threatens the stained-glass windows, sacred art, and remarkable interior architecture. The parish community has prayerfully and sacrificially responded to this urgent preservation need.
- 132-year-old roof repair
- Preservation of original stained-glass windows depicting the life of Christ
- Protection of sacred art and Gothic interior
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Henry Koenig1859–1860s
Built the second (brick) church on Third and Spring Streets and renamed the parish from Holy Angels to St. Joseph upon its 1861 dedication.
- Rev. August Bernard Oechteringfrom May 17, 1867
Found the parish indebted for $3,000; paid off the debt, purchased the Fourth and Mill Streets property for $3,200 in 1869, and broke ground for the present Gothic church in 1891.
- Msgr. Curt Suelzer1944–1977
One of the longest-tenured pastors in parish history (33 years).