About St. Joseph · Alliance, Ohio
St. Joseph Parish in Alliance, Ohio is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Youngstown (parish code 501), rooted in the Irish, German and French Catholic families who settled in the city between 1850 and 1854. Today it is led by Father Matt Humerickhouse (Pastor), Father Bob England (Parochial Vicar), Deacons Randy Smith and Greg Wood, and Diocesan Pastoral Associate Amy Benedetti-Dike. As part of 'Operation Nexus,' St. Joseph Alliance collaborates with Regina Coeli Parish (Alliance), St. Joseph Parish (Maximo), St. Ann Parish (Sebring) and St. Isidore Parish (Louisville) for shared worship, formation and fellowship. The parish gathers for Sunday Mass at 11:00 a.m., offers Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dominic Chapel from Monday morning through Thursday midnight, and maintains a long tradition of outreach through the Knights of Columbus and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Established
- 1854
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew (Matt) Humerickhouse
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Joseph Parish welcomes those who wish to put down roots in a historic Catholic community in Alliance — one whose patron saint is invoked as protector and guide toward Jesus Christ. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, ongoing Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dominic Chapel from Monday morning through Thursday midnight, and sacramental preparation through OCIA (formerly RCIA) and the K-8 PSR program. A vibrant lay life surrounds the parish: the Knights of Columbus Council #558, the St. Vincent de Paul Society (which provides emergency utility assistance to Alliance neighbors), a Catholic Women's Club shared with Regina Coeli, a Men's Fellowship Group, and parish relic veneration of Blessed Stanley Rother, St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta and Blessed Solanus Casey. Visitors and newcomers find a parish that is both prayerfully traditional and actively engaged in the wider Alliance community.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30 p.m. — St. Joseph Church, Alliance
- Saturdays 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. — Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dominic Chapel — Monday 9:00 a.m. through Thursday midnight
Our Parish
St. Joseph Parish (parish code 501) is a Catholic community of the Diocese of Youngstown located at 427 E. Broadway St. in Alliance, Stark County, Ohio. It belongs to the Stark 1 Deanery and now collaborates with Regina Coeli Parish (Alliance), St. Joseph Parish (Maximo), St. Ann Parish (Sebring) and St. Isidore Parish (Louisville) under the umbrella of Operation Nexus — a partnership designed 'to build bridges, heal old divisions, and foster true unity among all of our worship sites through shared prayer, collaborative service, and community celebration.'
- Parish established 1854
- Stark 1 Deanery, Diocese of Youngstown
- Collaborates in Operation Nexus
Our Patron — St. Joseph
The parish takes its name from St. Joseph, foster-father of Jesus. According to the parish's own description, 'God delegated Joseph to protect, guide and direct the Christ Child. In the same way, God delegates the church through the medium of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to guide and direct the Eucharistic Body of Christ into the hearts of the Faithful. Our parish calls on Saint Joseph to protect, guide and direct our hearts towards Jesus Christ.'
- Patron: Saint Joseph
- Feast day celebrated March 19
Parish History
Catholic life in Alliance began as early as 1848, with visiting priests saying Mass in the homes of Irish, German and French railroad laborers. By 1858 about thirty Catholic families lived in the city. Father E.W.J. Lindesmith of St. John's, Canton rented Lamborn Hall on Main Street in 1859 for regular worship; Fathers Hannin, Brown, Hoffer and Ludwig carried the mission forward. A small frame church dedicated to St. Joseph was built in 1862 at Market and Linden. Father Francis Maitrier became Alliance's first resident pastor in 1866. A permanent Gothic-style church was dedicated October 20, 1881 by Cleveland Bishop Richard Gilmour; the old church became the first parish school. The parish acquired the nearby Academy of Alliance College around the turn of the century and welcomed Dominican Sisters as teachers. By 1940 the original church was razed for a new Romanesque building, completed February 2, 1941. The parish school merged with Regina Coeli's in 1973, and in the mid-1990s parishioners themselves funded and volunteered the stabilization of the sinking sanctuary foundation.
- 1848 — earliest recorded Catholic service in Alliance
- 1859 — Lamborn Hall rented on Main Street
- 1862 — first frame church dedicated to St. Joseph
- 1866 — first resident pastor (Father Francis Maitrier)
- 1881 — Gothic-style church dedicated by Bishop Gilmour
- 1940–1941 — current Romanesque church completed
- 1973 — parish school merged with Regina Coeli's
- 1990s — parishioner-funded foundation stabilization
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph Parish is currently served by two priests, two deacons and a team of lay staff. The parish office is staffed by Parish Secretary Barb Rogel and is located in the Schwartz Center behind the church.
- Rev. Matthew (Matt) Humerickhouse — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Robert (Bob) England — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Randy Smith ([email protected])
- Deacon Greg Wood — Diocesan Pastoral Associate ([email protected])
- Amy Benedetti-Dike — Diocesan Pastoral Associate ([email protected])
- Matt Zeni — Coordinator of Religious Education / Director of PSR and Adult Education
- John Zamarelli — Music Director
- Ellen Stevens — Parish Bookkeeper
- Barb Rogel — Parish Secretary
- Daniel Stauffer — Head of Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Joseph Parish, in collaboration with its Operation Nexus partners, offers a complete faith formation program for children and adults.
- PSR / Traditional Catechesis (CCD), Grades K-8 — Sundays 9:30–10:45 a.m. at St. Joseph Parish, Alliance
- Middle School Ministry / Confirmation Preparation, Grades 6-8 — Sundays 8:45–9:55 a.m. at Regina Coeli
- Intergenerational Catechesis, Grades K-8 — families meet one Monday evening per month at Regina Coeli
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, beginning in October with reception at the Easter Vigil
- Vacation Bible School — held in the Alliance area each summer
- Adult Bible Study — ongoing groups, alternating monthly, reflecting on upcoming weekend readings
Ministries & Outreach
The parish maintains an active network of prayer and outreach ministries, several of which are organized jointly with the other Operation Nexus parishes.
- Knights of Columbus Council #558
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — offers financial assistance for water, gas, and electricity bills to Alliance residents (call the parish to make an appointment)
- Catholic Women's Club (in partnership with Regina Coeli)
- Men's Fellowship Group
- Lay Leaders of Prayer — lay men and women commissioned to lead currently scheduled acts of worship, Communion services, and emergency Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest, under the direction of the pastor and for renewable three-year terms
- Community meals and parish picnics in Alliance
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation and celebration are available to all parishioners and those seeking to join the Catholic Church. Baptisms and weddings are arranged by appointment through the parish office.
- Baptism — by appointment
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — through PSR program
- Confirmation — Grades 6-8 preparation program
- Marriage — by appointment; call the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- OCIA — for adults entering or completing initiation in the Catholic Church
Parish Councils & Committees
Lay leadership at St. Joseph Parish is organized through the Parish Advisory Council and the Financial Advisory Board, with additional standing committees. Two parish representatives (Suzie Dennis and Christy Ballor) sit on the Representative Parish Council, and two (Tom Brown and Michelle Sams) on the Representative Finance Committee of the wider Operation Nexus grouping.
- Parish Advisory Council — Chair: Christy Ballor; members Chris Cook, Suzie Dennis, Jim Edwards, Lynn Raber, Christine Robenstine
- Liturgy Committee — Chair: Linda Schneider
- Membership Committee — Chair: Suzie Dennis
- Parish Facilities Committee — Chair: Jim Edwards
- Safety Committee
- Financial Advisory Board — Chair: Michelle Sams; members Tom Brown, Jim Edwards, Leann Laure, Christine Robenstine
- Trust Committee — Chair: Jim Edwards; members Brad Siefke, Lynnette Treece
- SVdP representative: Larry Gatts; Knights of Columbus #558 representative: Joe Kisik
St. Joseph Cemetery
St. Joseph Cemetery is an extension of the local Catholic community and 'a place of prayerful remembrance for the living.' It reflects the parish's 'trust in his [St. Joseph's] protection and intercession' and is part of the diocese's ongoing cemetery ministry.
- St. Joseph Cemetery — parish cemetery and ministry of prayerful remembrance
Relics on Display
The parish lovingly displays relics of four modern blesseds and saints as a sign of devotion and as an aid to prayer for the parish's protection and intercession.
- Blessed Stanley Rother
- Saint John Paul II
- Saint Teresa of Calcutta
- Blessed Solanus Casey
Contact & Visiting
The parish office is located in the Schwartz Center behind St. Joseph Church at 427 E. Broadway St., Alliance, OH 44601. Beginning in 2026, office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The parish can be reached by phone at 330-821-5760 or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 427 E. Broadway St., Alliance, OH 44601
- Phone: 330-821-5760
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: Schwartz Center (behind the church)
- Office Hours (2026): Mon.–Thu. 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father E.W.J. Lindesmith1858–1859 (mission from St. John's, Canton)
Rented Lamborn Hall on May 9, 1859, establishing the community's first regular place of worship; later returned as resident pastor.
- Father Edward Hannin1859–1862
Purchased two lots at Market and Linden and built the first small frame church, dedicated to St. Joseph in 1862.
- Father Patrick Brown1862–1864
Attended Alliance as a mission from St. John's, Canton.
- Father Louis Hoffer1864
Brief mission care from St. John's.
- Father Frederick Ludwig1864–1865
Brief mission care from St. John's.
- Father Francis MaitrierAugust 1865–1866
Attended Alliance from Harrisburg; became the parish's first resident pastor in 1866, serving nearly two years before transfer.
- Father E.W.J. Lindesmithafter 1866
Returned as resident pastor after his early missionary work in Alliance.