St. Joseph

History: Irish Famine Roots and the Village of Texas

St. Joseph Parish traces its origin to the Irish famine refugees who, beginning in 1847, settled along the Northern Central Railway in what became known as Texas, Baltimore County. Most were tenant farmers from Roscommon County, including displaced Ballykilcline families. They found work in the local limestone and dolomite quarries — the same quarries whose stone later supplied the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, Baltimore's City Hall, and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Between 1850 and 1852 the immigrants themselves built the present church from marble and stone pulled directly from the adjacent quarry. Headstones of original Roscommon‑born parishioners can still be found in the cemetery behind the church. The village of Texas once held more than 100 dwellings, three farms, two churches, a school, a hotel, and McDermitt's Tavern; St. Joseph Parish and School are now its most visible surviving institutions. A parish schoolhouse was erected along Beaver Dam Road before 1877.

The 2024 'Open Wide the Doors' Renovation and Rededication

After a $6.5 million capital campaign titled 'Open Wide the Doors,' the parish completed an 10‑ to 11‑month interior renovation timed to the parish's 170th‑plus anniversary. Workers sourced new stone from the very same Martin Marietta (formerly Beaver Dam) Quarry that supplied the 1852 church and shaped 40 large marble blocks into an arch framing the crucifix above the tabernacle, echoing the original entrance arch. The ceiling was raised to its original height, an interior dome was constructed featuring icons of the four evangelists painted by iconographer Dionysios Bouloubassis, and a stained‑glass window of the Holy Spirit was relocated into the dome. Liturgical art was imported from Oberammergau, Germany, and a 45‑rank, three‑manual pipe organ by the Peragallo Organ Company of New Jersey replaced the aging electronic organ. Archbishop William E. Lori reconsecrated the church on March 21, 2024; the project won the 2024 Building Congress & Exchange 'overall winner for superior craftsmanship' award and the Associated Builders and Contractors' 2024 Project of the Year.

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is pastored by Rev. Msgr. Richard B. Hilgartner Jr. (since 2015), a St. Mary's Seminary alumnus ordained in 1995 for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He was named a Monsignor (Chaplain to His Holiness) in October 2011 and previously served as Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship (2007–2014) and as President/CEO of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (2014–2017). He holds an S.T.L. from the Pontificio Ateneo Sant'Anselmo in Rome. Rev. Leandro Fazolini serves as Associate Pastor. Deacon Michael McKinney is also referenced in parish liturgies. Youth Ministry is led by Doug Payne (also the parish CYO and BSA Troop 497 contact); Julie Culotta directs the Blessed+Broken youth music ministry.

• Rev. Msgr. Rick Hilgartner Jr., Pastor (2015–present)
• Rev. Leandro Fazolini, Associate Pastor
• Deacon Michael McKinney
• Doug Payne, Director of Youth Ministry
• Julie Culotta, Youth Music (Blessed+Broken)

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptism preparation is offered; couples are directed to the Archdiocese of Baltimore's marriage preparation program; Reconciliation is heard every Saturday; Anointing of the Sick is available on request. Following Archbishop Lori's 2025 announcement that the Archdiocese of Baltimore would lower the Confirmation age to 9, St. Joseph is strategically planning to implement the change. First Communion and ongoing Faith Formation are coordinated with St. Joseph School on campus.

St. Joseph School (PreK–8)

Located on the parish campus, St. Joseph School serves students in PreK through 8th grade under the motto 'Building Lives of Purpose Since 1856.' It was named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School, and its PBIS character program received state recognition in 2016 (Bronze), 2018 (Silver), and 2019 (Gold). Core values are respect, serving others, positive attitude, and responsibility. While the curriculum is centered on Catholic values, the school welcomes families and students of all faiths. Inquiries: [email protected] or 410‑683‑0600, Ext. 2529. Website: sjpray.org.

Youth Ministry and Sports

The parish's Youth Ministry, led by Director Doug Payne, gathers middle and high schoolers into small faith groups rooted in three pillars: Discipleship (learning the Church's teaching), Prayer (deepening a relationship with Jesus), and Accompaniment (mentorship and fellowship). The Blessed+Broken youth band (grades 6–12) rehearses Sundays 10:30–11:30 AM under Julie Culotta and serves the 9 AM Mass once or twice a month plus Christmas Eve, Easter, and youth events. The parish fields CYO soccer and basketball teams and hosts BSA Troop 497 for boys in 5th grade and up (Thursday evenings). Camp Smile is the parish's youth service immersion program.

• Blessed+Broken youth band (grades 6–12), Sundays 10:30–11:30 AM
• CYO soccer and basketball
• BSA Troop 497 (Thursdays)
• Camp Smile service immersion
• Middle and high school small faith groups

Mission Statement and Community Identity

St. Joseph Parish describes itself as 'an inviting, diverse, Catholic community actively serving as a beacon of faith, worship, and witness to the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.' Parishioner Johan Vigil Serrano captured the spirit of the renewed space at the 2024 rededication: 'I want to be more a part of it, to help more — and hopefully, forever in my life, to always have a good family to go back to, or come to, at church.' Monsignor Hilgartner hopes the renovated church becomes 'a place of consolation' and 'a place of inspiration.'