About Saint Joseph · Tonkawa, Oklahoma
St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Tonkawa is a small parish in north-central Oklahoma, currently served as a mission of St. Joseph Church in neighboring Blackwell. Part of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, it traces its roots to 1893 and the opening of the Cherokee Outlet, and was formally dedicated under the patronage of St. Joseph on May 3, 1909, by Bishop Theophile Meerschaert. The parish worships today in its 1926 Gothic-inspired brick church on West North Avenue, offering Sunday and weekday Masses, religious education for children and youth, weekly Bible study, and a strong tradition of lay involvement.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Balaswamy Bathini
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is a small, family-sized parish where everyone knows each other and lay involvement has sustained the community for over a century — from the original 25 families who paid off the 1926 brick church to today's Altar Society, Bible study, and youth group. Worship takes place in a historic, consecrated Gothic-inspired church with a deeply rooted tradition of Catholic education, Marian devotion (including Our Lady of Guadalupe), and care for the local Food Bank through the annual St. Joseph's Table. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed to Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, Bible study on Sunday evenings, and Wednesday youth group.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before all Masses
- By appointment
Parish History
St. Joseph's history stretches back to the 1893 opening of the Cherokee Outlet, when Catholic settler families — Blubaugh, Caughlin, Esch, Fath, Patterson, and Swords — began gathering for Mass in their homes, served by traveling priests from Ponca City, Blackwell, and Sacred Heart Abbey. The community bought a former Methodist wooden church at Grand Avenue and Tenth Street, and Bishop Theophile Meerschaert formally dedicated it to St. Joseph on May 3, 1909. The present Gothic-inspired brick church was built during the Three Sands oil boom years, with cornerstone laid in 1925 and consecration on November 20, 1926 — the building was paid in full before it was unlocked for Mass. Stained glass, a triptych altarpiece, the bell from the first church, and the surrounding trees all date from these early generations of Tonkawa Catholics.
- First Catholic worship in Tonkawa: homes of settler families, 1893 onward.
- First church building: former Methodist church at Grand Avenue & 10th Street, dedicated May 3, 1909.
- Present church: cornerstone October 20, 1925; consecrated November 20, 1926 by Bishop Francis Kelley.
- Father Edward Mallen required the building to be paid off before it was unlocked for Mass.
Architecture & Sacred Art
The 1926 church is Gothic-inspired in style and was built brick by brick with donated labor from about 25 parish families. The triptych altarpiece painted above the original altar depicts the Crucifixion in the center, flanked by the Holy Family on the left and the Women at the Tomb on the right. The bell from the first church was hoisted into the new steeple, where it can still be rung. Stained-glass windows — including the Cameron Foundation's Holy Family window installed in 1977 and sanctuary windows of the Infant Jesus and the Angel Gabriel — were added in memory of beloved parishioners.
- Triptych altarpiece: Crucifixion, Holy Family, and Women at the Tomb.
- Bell from the original 1900s church still in use in the steeple.
- Holy Family stained-glass window donated by the Cameron Foundation of Houston, 1977.
- Sanctuary windows of the Infant Jesus and the Angel Gabriel, donated by the Blubaugh and McWilliams families.
Religious Education & Youth
Religious Education at St. Joseph's is structured around the sacraments and the school year. Children ages 3–6 meet Sundays from 9:30 to 11:00 AM, and students in 2nd through 7th grade meet Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. A year-long Reconciliation/First Communion class is offered for all children in 2nd grade and above, and a year-long Confirmation class is offered for young adults in 6th through 12th grade. Youth in grades 8–12 are invited to the Wednesday evening Youth Group at 6:00 PM during the school year. Enrollment requires the parish's Media Release and COVID-19 Release forms.
- PreK–6th grade RE: Sundays 9:30–11:00 AM (ages 3–6).
- 2nd–7th grade RE: Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 PM.
- First Communion / Reconciliation preparation (2nd grade+).
- Confirmation preparation (6th–12th grade).
- Youth Group (grades 8–12): Wednesdays 6:00 PM during the school year.
- Bible Study (adults): Sundays 6:30 PM, parish hall.
Parish Life, Service & Traditions
Lay involvement has always been the backbone of St. Joseph's. The St. Joseph's Altar Society — the women's organization — has held continuous fundraisers to refurbish the rectory, purchase vestments, and meet parish needs. In the 1960s and '70s parish bingo, originated by LaUna Levings and Virla Smithheisler, made St. Joseph's the only bingo parlor in Tonkawa. The parish hall has hosted St. Patrick's Day ham dinners, pre-Christmas turkey dinners, summer ice-cream socials, and youth gatherings from across north-central Oklahoma. The annual St. Joseph's Table dinner, introduced by Rose Cadle in the 1990s, raises money for the local Food Bank.
- St. Joseph's Altar Society — women's fundraising group.
- Parish Hall dinners: St. Patrick's Day ham, pre-Christmas turkey, ice-cream socials.
- St. Joseph's Table dinner — annual fundraiser for the Food Bank.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations — introduced by Hispanic parishioners.
- Sodality of Our Lady — teenage religious-social group founded in 1955.
School (1948–1963)
In 1948 Father Stephen Leven founded a Catholic school for grades K–8, staffed by the Felician Sisters and built largely with donated local labor. The three-classroom building (plus a library and lobby) opened with 54 students, including 13 kindergartners — at the time, the only kindergarten in Tonkawa. The school also served hot lunches to public elementary pupils until the Tonkawa High School cafeteria was built. An infirmary from the former WWII German POW Camp north of the city was moved onto the grounds to house the sisters. The school closed in 1963; the building is now used as an artist's studio.
- Founded 1948 by Father (later Bishop) Stephen Leven.
- Staffed by the Felician Sisters; housed in a former POW-camp infirmary.
- Only kindergarten in Tonkawa at its founding.
- Closed in 1963; building is now an artist's studio.
Buildings, Cemetery & Facilities
The parish campus includes the 1926 consecrated brick church, the two-story former rectory (now the Mission House, with chapel, RE classrooms, RE director's office, and a small apartment for the pastor), a Parish Hall in the finished church basement, and the former school building (now an artist's studio). The south lawn has been paved for a parking lot with designated handicapped spaces, and additional lots east of Tenth Street have enlarged overflow parking. The original 1900s-era wooden church still stands as a private residence.
- 1926 brick church with Parish Hall in the basement.
- Two-story Mission House (former rectory): chapel, RE classrooms, pastor's apartment.
- South-lawn paved parking with handicapped-designated spaces.
- Overflow parking lots east of Tenth Street.
- Original 1900s wooden church still standing as a private residence.
Contact & Visit
St. Joseph's Catholic Church welcomes visitors at 320 West North Avenue in Tonkawa. Sunday Mass is at 11:00 AM, with weekday Masses Monday–Wednesday at 8:15 AM. To reach the parish office, call 580-628-2416, or contact Robyn at 580-761-6937. Mail can be sent to PO Box 525, Tonkawa, OK 74653, or emailed to [email protected]. The parish invites new and returning Catholics alike to discover its worship, formation, and community life.
- Address: 320 West North Avenue, Tonkawa, OK 74653.
- Mailing: PO Box 525, Tonkawa, OK 74653.
- Phone: 580-628-2416.
- Parish contact (Robyn): 580-761-6937.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: stjosephtonkawa.org.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Renier Sevensearly 1900s
Pastor of St. Mary's, Ponca City; served the Tonkawa mission and oversaw the purchase of the former Methodist church at Grand Avenue and Tenth Street.
- Father Edward Mallen1920s
Led construction of the present Gothic-inspired brick church (cornerstone 1925, consecrated 1926); required the building to be paid for before it would be unlocked for Mass.
- Father (later Bishop) Stephen Levenfrom 1948
Established the parish K–8 school in 1948 staffed by the Felician Sisters; brought street preaching to Tonkawa; started a USO for soldiers at the local POW camp; first native Oklahoman ordained a bishop.
- Archbishop Victor Foley
Former pastor of St. Joseph's who later became Archbishop; present for the 1977 Golden Jubilee concelebrated Pontifical Mass.
- Father Martin Reid1977–1989
Oversaw further stained-glass window installations and interior work during the Golden Jubilee era.
- Father Elmer Robnett
Promoted youth activities; hosted summer ice-cream socials on the south lawn and gatherings of Catholic youth from across north-central Oklahoma.
- Rev. Balaswamy Bathinicurrent
Present pastor, serving St. Joseph, Tonkawa as a mission of St. Joseph, Blackwell, per the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.