About St. Joseph · Dexter, Michigan
St. Joseph Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Dexter, Michigan, belonging to the Diocese of Lansing. Founded in 1840, it is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Washtenaw County and today operates two worship campuses: the historic Village Church in downtown Dexter and the larger Country Church three miles north on Mast Road, dedicated in 2008. Under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Brendan J. Walsh and a team of deacons and lay staff, the parish serves as a spiritual home for hundreds of families, offering daily and weekend Masses, the sacraments, faith formation for all ages, charitable outreach, and a vibrant parish life including an annual Festival & Flea Market.
- Established
- 1840
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Brendan J. Walsh
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a warm, welcoming Dexter parish with deep local roots dating to 1840 and a clearly structured life of faith. Parishioners worship at either of two campuses — the historic village church downtown or the 2008 country church north of town — with daily Mass, weekend Masses, a regular Saturday reconciliation window, Eucharistic adoration, and faith formation tracks for children, youth, and adults (including RCIA). A full commission structure — Faith Formation, Spiritual Life & Worship, Charitable Activities & Social Justice, and Parish Life — gives newcomers many concrete ways to get involved, from liturgical ministry (lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, hospitality) to charity drives, the annual Festival & Flea Market, and the Silent Auction.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 – 4:30 PM at the Country Church (Mast Rd), or by appointment
- Tuesday – Friday during scheduled times (see parish bulletin; appointments available)
Parish History
St. Joseph Catholic Parish was established in 1840 as a mission on the corner of Dexter Townhall and Quigley Roads, where the first frame church and an adjacent cemetery were donated by Mr. and Mrs. James Walsh. After the original building burned in 1854, the congregation rebuilt in town at Fourth and 'D' Streets. In 1870 a new cemetery was consecrated on Baker Road on land given by John Costello. For 143 years Catholics of Dexter worshipped at the village church on Dover Street; the new country church on Mast Road was dedicated on March 15, 2008.
- 1840 — Parish begins on mission status; first church at Dexter Townhall & Quigley Roads
- 1854 — Original church destroyed by fire; rebuilt in town at Fourth & 'D' Streets
- 1870 — Baker Road cemetery consecrated on land donated by John Costello
- 2000 — VOICES listening sessions with 300+ parishioners identify growth needs
- 2002 — Parish purchases 46 acres at Mast & North Territorial Roads
- 2005 — Capital campaign groundbreaking on the feast of St. Joseph
- March 15, 2008 — New country church dedicated on the feast of St. Joseph
Our Two Campuses
St. Joseph worships at two locations in the Dexter area. The Country Campus at 6805 Mast Road is the newer home of the parish, with the church, parish office, Faith Formation Wing, Social Hall, Disciple House, and Festival Grounds. The Village Campus at 3430 Dover Street, downtown Dexter, remains in active use for weekday Masses and smaller ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.
- Country Church — 6805 Mast Road (corner of Mast & North Territorial)
- Village Church — 3430 Dover Street (corner of Dover & Fourth)
Our Staff & Clergy
St. Joseph is served by Pastor Fr. Brendan J. Walsh together with a Senior Deacon and three Deacons, plus a lay staff covering faith formation for all ages, finance, music and liturgy, the parish cemetery, and campus maintenance.
- Fr. Brendan J. Walsh — Pastor (ext. 204)
- Senior Dcn. Romolo Leone
- Dcn. Randy Desrochers
- Dcn. Larry Deford
- Dcn. John Goff
- Marinell High — Director of Faith Formation, Adults & RCIA
- Katie Liu — Director of Faith Formation, Children (ext. 207)
- Don Dalgleish — Director of Faith Formation, Youth & Confirmation
- Steve Hinz — Director of Music & Liturgy (ext. 205)
- Lisa Dobis — Finance Manager (ext. 203)
- Laura McKenzie — Administrative Assistant
- Gail Assenmacher — Capital Campaign & Office Assistant
- Darlene Cresson — Faith Formation Secretary
- Liz Neil — Parish Cemetery
- Chris Hollis — Country Church Maintenance
- Erich McElroy — Village Campus Maintenance
Faith Formation for All Ages
The Faith Formation Commission coordinates formation for adults, youth, and children through three advisory teams that meet monthly on the fourth Tuesday at 6:30 PM at the Country Campus.
- Adult Faith Formation & RCIA (Director: Marinell High)
- Children's Faith Formation (Director: Katie Liu)
- Youth Faith Formation & Confirmation (Director: Don Dalgleish)
- Faith Formation Secretary: Darlene Cresson
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Parishioners seeking to learn about or enter the Catholic faith are welcomed through a summer inquiry series, 'Discovering Catholicism…A Journey to the Faith.' Summer sessions meet at the Country Church from 10:00–10:45 AM; the August-through-spring sessions meet in Mary's Room in the Office Wing. Inquiries are directed to Marinell High.
- Summer inquiry: Country Church, 10:00–10:45 AM
- Fall/Winter/Spring sessions: Mary's Room, Office Wing
- Contact: Marinell High
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers (EMEs), Altar Servers, Hospitality Ministers, and Mass Captains. Schedules are coordinated through the parish office via Gail Assenmacher.
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers (EMEs)
- Altar Servers
- Hospitality Ministers
- Mass Captains
Music Ministry
The music ministry helps all who worship at St. Joseph grow as disciples of Christ through music, under the direction of Steve Hinz. The ministry supports weekend Masses as well as weddings and other liturgical celebrations.
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Steve Hinz (ext. 205)
- Choir supports weekend and special liturgies
- Wedding music coordinated through the parish
Spiritual Life & Worship Commission
The SLWC plans seasonal liturgical celebrations, oversees the art and environment of the church, and supports the spiritual life of parishioners. It meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Gathering Space of the country church. A separate Country Church Cleaning crew meets every Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM.
- Meets 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 PM, Country Church Gathering Space
- Country Church Cleaning: Wednesdays, 9:00 AM
- Contact: Fr. Brendan Walsh
Charitable Activities & Social Justice
The Charitable Activities & Social Justice Commission (CASJ) follows the parish's mission to be 'salt for our communities in family, work and citizenship,' informing and challenging parishioners to live in justice and charity and standing in solidarity with those on the margins. The commission organizes an annual volunteer calendar of events and ongoing collections such as the 'Moms in Need' collection.
- CASJ 2025 Volunteer Calendar of Events
- Moms in Need Collection
- Mission: solidarity with those on the margins
Parish Life, Festival & Silent Auction
St. Joseph's parish life is anchored by three energetic groups — the Parish Life Commission, the Festival Committee, and the Silent Auction Steering Committee — which together organize social events throughout the year for all ages. The annual Festival & Flea Market is a signature event held on the Country Campus festival grounds.
- Annual Festival & Flea Market (Country Campus grounds)
- Annual Silent Auction
- Parish Life Commission social events
Sacraments
Information for receiving the sacraments at St. Joseph is published on the parish website. Baptisms are celebrated at all Masses on the 2nd and 4th weekends of the month (no Baptisms during Lent); preparation is arranged through the Parish Office. The parish also prepares couples for marriage, brings the Eucharist to the homebound, and arranges the Anointing of the Sick through Fr. Brendan Walsh.
- Baptism — 2nd & 4th weekends at all Masses (no Baptisms during Lent)
- Marriage / Weddings
- Anointing of the Sick (hospital or home)
- Eucharist brought to the homebound
Cemetery
Liz Neil serves as the parish's Cemetery contact. The parish maintains the historic Baker Road cemetery (consecrated 1870) and remembers the original Dexter Townhall/Quigley Roads cemetery, where a 1981 memorial assembled the surviving gravestones of early Irish-settler parishioners on land originally donated by the Walsh family.
- Parish Cemetery contact: Liz Neil
- Baker Road cemetery consecrated 1870 (land from John Costello)
- Old St. Joseph Cemetery at Quigley & Dexter Townhall Roads (memorial created 1981)
Capital Campaigns & Growth
The 2008 Country Church was made possible through a series of capital campaigns beginning in 2003, with parishioners pledging over $3.34 million and an additional 'Called to the Next Step' campaign raising $1.65 million in pledges and $506,125 for art and environment. Subsequent stewardship efforts continued the parish's growth: 'Step Up in Faith' (2009, $2.23 million), 'Continuing the Journey' (2012, $1.97 million), and 'Witness to Hope / St. Joseph Stairway to Unite' (2018–2020, $1.72 million).
- 2003–2006 Capital Campaign: $3.34 million
- 2005 'Called to the Next Step': $1.65 million (+$506,125 art/environment)
- 2009 'Step Up in Faith': $2.23 million
- 2012 'Continuing the Journey': $1.97 million
- 2018–2020 'Witness to Hope / Stairway to Unite': $1.72 million
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 734-426-8483 (fax 734-426-6451). The Country Campus at 6805 Mast Road hosts the parish office, Faith Formation Wing, Social Hall, Disciple House, and festival grounds, while the Village Church at 3430 Dover Street remains active in downtown Dexter.
- Phone: 734-426-8483
- Fax: 734-426-6451
- Country Campus (parish office): 6805 Mast Road, Dexter, MI 48130
- Village Church: 3430 Dover Street, Dexter, MI 48130