About Saint Joseph · Norman, Oklahoma
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Norman, Oklahoma is the oldest Catholic parish in the city, founded in the wake of the 1889 Oklahoma Land Run and dedicated by Bishop Theophile Meerschaert in 1898. Today it is a multicultural, bilingual community of roughly 1,000 registered families — about 600 non-Hispanic and 400 Hispanic — worshipping in a Colonial-style church built in 1949–1951 at 211 N. Porter. The parish, part of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, is led by Father Joseph Irwin (Pastor) and Father Thomas Nallapatti (Associate Pastor), and offers daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, with the Hispanic ministry dating back to the first Spanish Mass celebrated in Norman in November 1994.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Father Joseph Irwin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is the mother parish of Norman — the oldest Catholic community in the city, with 125+ years of continuous worship, Catholic education (the parish ran an elementary school from 1898 and a high school from 1909), and ministry to the University of Oklahoma. It is also the only parish in Norman offering a full weekend schedule of both English and Spanish Masses, making it a genuinely bilingual, multicultural home for Hispanic and non-Hispanic families alike. With daily Mass, multiple weekly confession times, a robust Family Faith Formation program, Discipleship Groups (over 100 parishioners involved), RCIA/OCIA, youth and young adult ministry, and active liturgical ministries, the parish offers a complete Catholic life for every age and stage.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday — 11:00 AM (Chapel Confessional)
- Wednesday — 5:00 PM (Chapel Confessional)
- Thursday — 11:00 AM (Chapel Confessional)
- Friday — 10:30 AM (Chapel Confessional)
- Saturday — 3:00–4:30 PM (Main Church)
Our Sacred Purpose, Core Values, and Priorities
St. Joseph Catholic Church exists, in its own words, 'to proclaim Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of the world. Jesus invites us into relationship with Him, to become His disciples, and to continue His Mission.' The parish describes its core values as Hospitality ('a profound openness to welcome all as Christ'), Reverence ('a deep, abiding belief in the inherent dignity that exists in all of God's creation'), and Charity ('God shows the poor His First Mercy, and so must we'). Its unifying message is 'Go Make Disciples!' and it organizes its life around three priorities: New Evangelization, Hispanic Ministry, and Missionary Outreach.
- Mission: Proclaim Jesus Christ and make disciples.
- Core Values: Hospitality, Reverence, Charity.
- Three Priorities: New Evangelization, Hispanic Ministry, Missionary Outreach.
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, five deacons (one retired), and a full lay staff for faith formation, youth, music, communications, and administration. The staff listing on the parish website includes Father Joseph Irwin as Pastor and Father Thomas Nallapatti as Associate Pastor / Parochial Vicar; Deacon Randy Hearn (also listed as Brad Forshee) as Director of Administration; deacons Angelo Lombardo, Richard Montedoro, Larry Sousa, and Tom March, with Deacon Steve Lewis retired; Itzel Duke as Director of Religious Education; Valentin Danescu as Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Evangelization; Clint Davis (also listed as Mike Evans) as Music Director; Annie Lombardo as Director of Religious Education; Marlene Stapp for Safe Environment; Connie Jackson as Parish Secretary; Oneida Ibarra as Administrative Assistant; and Bella Gutiérrez as Communications Coordinator. A Cemetery Director is also on staff.
- Father Joseph Irwin — Pastor (ext. 303)
- Father Thomas Nallapatti — Parochial Vicar (ext. 305)
- Deacon Randy Hearn / Brad Forshee — Director of Administration (ext. 306)
- Itzel Duke — Director of Religious Education / Family Faith Formation (ext. 308)
- Valentin Danescu — Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Evangelization (ext. 304)
- Mike Evans / Clint Davis — Music Director
- Bella Gutiérrez — Communications Coordinator (ext. 307)
- Oneida Ibarra — Administrative Assistant (ext. 301)
A History of St. Joseph's Parish
St. Joseph's is the mother parish of Catholic life in Norman. Its roots reach back to 1889, when Fr. Ignatius Jean addressed Land Run settlers in the Purcell Town Square; the first church building in Norman was erected in March 1890. The parish was dedicated by Bishop Theophile Meerschaert in 1898 amid a German–Irish naming dispute he resolved by calling it 'the parish of St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's' — a compromise still visible in the present-day foyer icons. Its first pastor, Monsignor John Metter, opened an elementary school in 1898 and a high school in 1909. The current Colonial-style church replaced the original in 1949–1951, dedicated by Bishop Eugene McGinness in February 1951.
- 1889 — Fr. Ignatius Jean speaks to Land Run settlers in Purcell.
- 1890 — First church building erected in Norman.
- 1898 — Parish dedicated by Bishop Meerschaert; school opened.
- 1899 — First First Communion class (5 children, 4 Native American).
- 1909 — High school opened by Fr. Metter.
- 1949–1951 — Old church torn down; current Colonial-style church dedicated Feb 1951.
- 1962 — St. Andrew's (Moore) founded as a mission of St. Joseph's.
- 1966 — University apostolate becomes St. Thomas More parish.
- 1993 — St. Mark's established in Norman.
- 1994 — First Spanish Mass in Norman held at St. Joseph's (November).
- 1995 — All Saints School moves from St. Joseph's to St. Mark's.
- June 12, 2019 — 125th anniversary Mass with Archbishop Coakley.
Family Faith Formation & Religious Education
Family Faith Formation is built on four dimensions: monthly parent sessions, parents teaching the faith at home, monthly family events with parents and children, and participation in Holy Mass. The program serves children in sixth grade and younger, with bi-monthly supplemental sacramental-preparation classes for second graders (First Confession / First Holy Communion) and sixth graders (Confirmation). Beyond sixth grade, the parish provides a youth-group setting up through 12th grade so young people can continue to grow in their faith.
- Monthly parent sessions
- Parents teaching at home
- Monthly family events
- Sacramental prep in 2nd grade (First Confession / First Communion) and 6th grade (Confirmation)
- Director: Itzel Duke (ext. 308)
Discipleship Groups (Catholic Christian Outreach)
Discipleship groups meet in the parish almost every day of the week using Catholic Christian Outreach materials. Each small group meets weekly with a trained leader; lessons and discussion help participants hear the truth about Jesus, develop a deep and lasting relationship with him, grow in love and understanding of the Catholic Church, and equip them to transmit the faith to others. Over 100 parishioners have been or currently are part of a discipleship group. New groups are forming often; contact Itzel Duke at the parish office.
- Uses Catholic Christian Outreach curriculum
- Small weekly groups with trained leaders
- 100+ parishioners have participated
- New groups forming often — contact the parish office
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
The parish supports youth ministry (grades 7–12) and young adult ministry. St. Joseph's hopes to develop more events and activities for young adults and currently links them to archdiocesan opportunities such as the SEEK Conference, the Steubenville Adult Conference, the National Catholic Singles Conference, and the Spiritual Life Center. Discernment resources listed include the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Vocations office, FIAT Ministries, and the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious. Liturgical ministry (Lector, Usher, Communion Minister, Choir) is another avenue for involvement.
- Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Evangelization: Valentin Danescu (ext. 304)
- Conferences: SEEK, Steubenville Adult, National Catholic Singles, Spiritual Life Center
- Liturgical ministry: Lector, Usher, Communion Minister, Choir
OCIA / RCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
OCIA (formerly RCIA) is the process by which adults are prepared for initiation into the Catholic community. Adult inquirers, Catholics seeking Confirmation, and Catholics wishing to update their faith all attend. Classes meet once a week from September through May, 7:00–9:00 PM, at the Parish Center (421 E. Acres). To register, call the Parish Office at 405-321-8080 or email Deacon Tom March; Spanish-speakers may email Itzel Duke. Small-group facilitators, hospitality coordinators, and sponsors are needed and training is provided.
- Sept–May, 7:00–9:00 PM, Parish Center, 421 E. Acres
- Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or faith updating
- Contact: Deacon Tom March (English) / Itzel Duke (Spanish)
Hispanic Ministry & Bilingual Life
St. Joseph's is the only parish in Norman that celebrates both English and Spanish Masses every weekend. The Hispanic ministry was launched in November 1994, when Deacon Angelo Lombardo and his wife Annie gathered nearly 400 signatures on a petition to Archbishop Coakley and helped organize the first Spanish Mass in Norman, attended by about 60 people. Twenty-five years later, about 600 people attend the parish's two Sunday Spanish Masses, and Hispanic families make up roughly 400 of the parish's 1,000 registered families. The parish provides Online Giving ('Donaciones en Línea'), Spanish-language sacramental preparation through Itzel Duke, and ongoing Hispanic ministry as one of its three stated parish priorities.
- First Spanish Mass in Norman: November 1994
- Today: ~600 worshippers across two Sunday Spanish Masses
- About 400 of 1,000 families are Hispanic
- Online Giving in Spanish: 'Donaciones en Línea'
Visiting & Contact
The parish church stands at 211 N. Porter, Norman, OK 73071. The parish office is one block away at 421 E. Acres St, PO Box 1227, Norman, OK 73071, and is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (office hours quoted on the staff page as 8:00 AM–4:30 PM). The main phone line is 405-321-8080. The parish is also active on Facebook at facebook.com/stjoes/. The website is at stjosephsok.org.
- Church: 211 N. Porter, Norman, OK 73071
- Parish Office: 421 E. Acres St, PO Box 1227, Norman, OK 73071
- Phone: 405-321-8080
- Website: stjosephsok.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjoes/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John (Ignatius) Jean1889
One of the first priests to celebrate Mass in Cleveland County; addressed Land Run settlers in the Purcell Town Square.
- Father John Metterearly 1890s–early 1900s
First pastor of St. Joseph's; previously pastor at St. Mary's Purcell, serving Norman before the parish was built. Opened the elementary school in 1898 and the high school in 1909. Made a monsignor by Bishop Meerschaert before age 30. Later clashes with the Benedictine sisters led to their withdrawal from the school.
- Father Joseph Duffy1960–
Warned parishioners that 'the winds of change are everywhere.' Revamped the choir, began construction of a new church hall, and improved sisters' housing.