About St. Joseph Catholic Church, Zephyrhills · Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Zephyrhills, Florida, established in 1912 as St. Joseph Mission and now one of the oldest Catholic faith communities in East Pasco County. The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Allan C. Tupa and Parochial Vicar Rev. Msgr. Cesar Petilla, with Deacon David Cardona (retired) assisting. It belongs to the Diocese of St. Petersburg and operates a rich schedule of Masses in English, daily and Sunday, alongside a large network of parish ministries that include youth ministry, faith formation, a food and baby pantry, and outreach to the homebound and imprisoned.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Allan C. Tupa
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Petersburg
Why belong here
St. Joseph Catholic Church offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in Zephyrhills — daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday morning Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions, and a deep bench of ministries for every age and stage. From J.O.E. (Jesus Over Everything) youth ministry for grades 6–12 to OCIA for adults, plus a food pantry, baby pantry, parish nursing program, prison ministry, Catholic Daughters, and a thriving music ministry, there are many ways to belong. As the oldest Catholic mission-turned-parish in East Pasco, it carries more than 110 years of community while remaining active, welcoming, and outward-looking.
Mass times at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Zephyrhills
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (during the Holy Hour)
- By appointment — call 813-782-2813
Adoration times
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Eucharistic Adoration, combined with Confessions as a Holy Hour)
History of St. Joseph Catholic Church
St. Joseph began in 1912 as a Catholic mission serving Zephyrhills and East Pasco County. Over more than a century it grew into a full parish of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The community was shaped by long-serving pastors, including Fr. Abraham as Parochial Administrator. In 2018, Fr. Allan Tupa became pastor and continues to lead the parish today.
Parish Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Allan C. Tupa, with Rev. Msgr. Cesar Petilla serving as Parochial Vicar and Deacon David Cardona (retired) assisting. The staff team also includes a Faith Formation Director, a Youth Ministry Director, and a Director of Music, along with business and administrative support.
- Rev. Allan C. Tupa — Pastor
- Rev. Msgr. Cesar Petilla — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon David Cardona — Retired
- Faith Formation Director
- Youth Ministry Director (Donna Lonergan)
- Director of Music
- Business Manager / Office Staff
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at St. Joseph is a multi-faceted program that serves children, youth, and adults. Children's classes meet on Sundays at 10:15 AM in the Faith Formation Building for grades K–5.
- Children's Faith Formation (grades K–5) — Sundays 10:15 AM in the Faith Formation Building
- Contact: Kathy (parish office 813-782-2813)
J.O.E. Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
J.O.E. — 'Jesus Over Everything' — is the parish's youth ministry for middle and high school students. It meets on Wednesdays during the school year from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in the Parish Center and is led by Donna Lonergan. Separate registration forms are available for middle school and high school students.
- Meets Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 PM, Parish Center
- Led by Donna Lonergan
- Open to grades 6–12
- Email Donna through the parish office: 813-782-2813
OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Adults seeking to become Catholic, or Catholics seeking to complete their initiation sacraments, are welcomed through the parish's OCIA (formerly RCIA) process. Sessions are part of the Faith Formation umbrella of St. Joseph.
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Joseph has one of the widest ministry rosters for a parish of its size, spanning liturgy, formation, fellowship, and direct charitable outreach to those in need. Below is the full list of ministries and organizations as published on the parish website.
- Altar Servers (Adult & Youth)
- Art & Environment
- Baby Pantry
- Bingo
- Bulletin Stuffers / Pew Gardeners
- Card Ministry
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- Church Cleaning
- Coffee & Donuts (Seasonal)
- Craft Club
- Family Faith Formation / Catechists
- Food Pantry
- Gardening Angels
- Gift Shop
- Library
- Liturgical Ministry (Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Sacristans, Ushers)
- Maintenance
- Music Ministry
- Office Volunteers
- Parish Nursing Program
- Prison Ministry
- OCIA
- Thrifty Angel Boutique
- Youth Ministry — J.O.E. (Grades 6–12)
Outreach & Charity
St. Joseph's outreach to the wider East Pasco community is unusually broad, combining material aid, health-related support, and visitation to those who are incarcerated.
- Food Pantry — emergency food assistance
- Baby Pantry — supplies for infants and new parents
- Parish Nursing Program — basic health support and education
- Prison Ministry — outreach to the incarcerated
- Thrifty Angel Boutique — low-cost clothing and goods
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Liturgical life at St. Joseph is supported by a full complement of lay liturgical ministers, a music ministry under a Director of Music, and an Art & Environment team that prepares the church for each liturgical season.
- Liturgical Ministry: Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Sacristans, Ushers
- Music Ministry (Director of Music)
- Art & Environment
Parish Life & Fellowship
Fellowship and community-building groups include long-standing organizations such as the Catholic Daughters of the Americas as well as informal gatherings like seasonal Coffee & Donuts, a parish library, a craft club, and a Card Ministry that reaches out to parishioners who are homebound or in need of cheer.
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- Coffee & Donuts (Seasonal)
- Craft Club
- Card Ministry
- Parish Library
- Gift Shop
- Bingo
Sacraments
St. Joseph celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Preparation for Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage is coordinated through the parish office, while OCIA welcomes adults into full communion with the Church.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- First Eucharist / First Communion — via Faith Formation
- Confirmation — via Faith Formation / Youth Ministry
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Confession / Reconciliation — Saturdays 8:00 AM and by appointment
Visit, Contact, and Office Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Joseph by phone, email, or in person at the parish office. Office hours are limited, so calling ahead is recommended.
- Church address: 38710 5th Ave., Zephyrhills, FL 33542
- Diocese-listed address: 5345 16th Street, Zephyrhills, FL 33542
- Office / Mailing address: 5316 11th St, Zephyrhills, FL 33542
- Phone: 813-782-2813
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday 1:00–4:00 PM; Tuesday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM); Friday and major holidays closed
Diocese & Affiliations
St. Joseph is a parish of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, in the North Tampa Deanery. According to the diocese's current parish directory, it is affiliated for school purposes with Saint Anthony Interparish Catholic School and is part of an interparochial cluster that includes Sacred Heart (Dade City), St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Rita.
- Diocese of St. Petersburg
- Deanery: North Tampa
- County: Pasco
- School affiliation: Saint Anthony Interparochial
- Affiliated parishes: Sacred Heart (Dade City), St. Anthony of Padua, St. Rita
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Abraham
Served as Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph
- Rev. Allan C. Tupa2018–present
Became pastor in 2018; continues to lead the parish today