About St. Joseph Church · Force, Pennsylvania
St. Joseph Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the Bennetts Valley area of Force, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Erie. The parish was established in 1906, though Catholic life in the valley dates back to 1872 when the area's first Catholic church, St. Cecelia, was built by early settlers. Today the parish is led by Pastor Rev. Mark J. Mastrian and offers daily and weekend Masses, a religious education program, a parish cemetery, and the everyday rhythms of a Sacrificial Giving parish rooted in rural Elk County.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Mark J. Mastrian
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Joseph Parish welcomes all practicing Catholics in the Bennetts Valley area to register as members — a step that connects them to parish mailings, envelope giving, and the Sacrificial Giving life of the community. Membership is the gateway to the parish's sacramental life here: serving as a baptism or marriage sponsor, having a child baptized, or enrolling a child in Faith Formation all require registration. It is a tight-knit rural parish where weekend Mass, the weekly Tuesday rosary, and Faith Formation classes build up the whole family in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.
Mass times at St. Joseph Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday from 4:45–5:15 p.m.
History of St. Joseph Parish
Catholic life in Bennetts Valley began in 1872 with the building of St. Cecelia Church, the valley's first Catholic church, served by a traveling priest, Fr. James Brennen, with laymen leading prayer on Sundays without a Mass. By 1902 the faithful of Jay Township had built Our Lady Help of Christians in Byrnedale, and in 1906 — the parish's official founding year — St. Joseph Church in Force and St. Stanislaus Church in Tyler were both constructed. Father Joseph Orlando shepherded both Byrnedale and Force from the founding until 1921. After Father Francis Robaczewski (first pastor of St. Stanislaus until 1911), twelve more priests served St. Joseph over the years, until the church closed in 1969. The parish was later re-established and today continues the Eucharistic life of the valley under the Diocese of Erie.
- 1872: First Catholic Church in Bennetts Valley — St. Cecelia
- 1902: Our Lady Help of Christians, Byrnedale (Jay Township)
- 1906: St. Joseph Church, Force founded
- 1906: St. Stanislaus Church, Tyler founded
- Father Joseph Orlando — Pastor of Byrnedale & Force, until 1921
- Father Francis Robaczewski — first pastor of St. Stanislaus, until 1911
- Twelve subsequent pastors served St. Joseph through 1969
Parish Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph Parish is led by Pastor/Administrator Rev. Mark J. Mastrian. Parish operations are supported by a small team including the parish secretary, faith formation leader, and liturgical music contact, along with lay leadership through the Pastoral and Finance Councils.
- Pastor/Administrator: Rev. Mark J. Mastrian
- Parish Secretary: Barbara (Barb) Allegretto — (814) 787-4151 ext. 3
- Faith Formation Facilitator: Emily Luchini — (814) 787-4151 ext. 5
- Domestic Administrator: Miriam Pane
- Liturgical Music Contact: Michael Klender
- Pastoral Council President: Bryan Chiappelli
- Finance Council Moderator: Leon Calliari
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education Program exists for faith formation — the ongoing development of the whole person into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ, beginning in the waters of Baptism and oriented toward eternal life. The program provides a solid, age-appropriate foundation in the faith for students of the public schools, who are encouraged to begin Religious Education classes in the first grade. Classes meet in the parish's Faith Formation building on Sundays following the 9:15 a.m. Mass.
- For students of public schools, beginning in 1st grade
- Classes meet Sundays after 9:15 a.m. Mass in the Faith Formation building
- Faith Formation email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation Facilitator: Emily Luchini
Parish Life & Devotions
Beyond the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, the parish gathers for the recitation of the Rosary each Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Church. In November, a Book of Remembrance is placed in the back of the church for parishioners to write the names of their beloved dead, and the book is displayed throughout the month so that all those named are included in the parish's prayers for the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls.
- Tuesday Rosary — 6:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Church
- Book of the Beloved Dead — throughout November
- Baptismal Training Sessions — periodic classes (next: Nov. 25, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Marys Church)
Sacraments & Parish Membership
Parish membership at St. Joseph is required for several key sacramental moments: serving as a baptism or marriage sponsor, having a child baptized, getting married in the parish, or enrolling a child in the Faith Formation program. All practicing Catholics in the Bennetts Valley area who consider themselves members of St. Joseph should register by contacting the parish office to arrange a meeting. The parish describes itself as a Sacrificial Giving parish, committed to serving the Lord with God-given time, talents and treasures.
- Register by calling the parish office — (814) 787-4151
- Membership required for baptism, marriage, sponsorship, and Faith Formation
- Registered members receive envelopes and periodic parish mailings
- Sacrificial Giving parish — time, talents, and treasures
Parish Cemetery
The parish maintains a cemetery for the community, with seasonal cleanups scheduled annually. Parishioners are reminded to remove old or faded flowers and decorations from their loved ones' graves before cleanup begins; any items left behind will be discarded.
- Seasonal cemetery cleanup of old/faded flowers and decorations
Contact & Visit
St. Joseph Parish sits along Bennetts Valley Highway in Force, Pennsylvania. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and can be reached by phone, fax, or email. Faith Formation has its own dedicated email address for inquiries about religious education.
- Physical Address: 17764 Bennetts Valley Highway, Force, PA 15841
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 124, Force, PA 15841-0124
- Phone: (814) 787-4151
- Fax: (814) 787-4478
- Office Email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Website: www.stjosephforce.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Orlandountil 1921
Served as Pastor of both the Byrnedale (Our Lady Help of Christians) and Force (St. Joseph) churches.
- Twelve subsequent pastors1921–1969
After Father Robaczewski (first pastor of nearby St. Stanislaus, Tyler), twelve more priests served St. Joseph over the years until the church closed in 1969.