About St. Joseph · Endicott, New York
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse located at 207 Hayes Avenue in Endicott, New York. It is one of three churches in the canonically linked North Endicott Catholic Community, which also includes St. Anthony of Padua and St. Ambrose. Founded in 1918 by 117 Slovak immigrant families, the parish celebrated its centennial in 2023 and today numbers over 1,000 families. It is currently served by pastor Rev. Kenneth R. Kirkman, Deacon William Matts, and pastoral associate Sr. Anisia Muthoni. Worship is celebrated in English, with Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM and Thursday morning Mass at 8:30 AM, alongside a robust Religious Education program and ministries for every age.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Kenneth R. Kirkman
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Joseph's offers Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM and a Thursday morning Mass, weekly confession, and a monthly Eucharistic Adoration on the third Wednesday at 6:30 PM, all grounded in a community that still proudly carries its Slovak-Catholic heritage. Parishioners of every age are served by a Religious Education program (grades 1–8, Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM), Children's Liturgy of the Word for ages 4–8, altar serving for boys and girls in grade 3 and up, a Young Adult Bible Study, and a Lourdes-style Marian shrine that hosts May crownings, pilgrimages and Memorial Day observances. The parish is canonically linked with St. Anthony of Padua and St. Ambrose under the North Endicott Catholic Community, so members can easily take part in a wider calendar of Masses, devotions, and fellowship across all three churches.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 8:00 AM at St. Joseph
- By appointment with Fr. Kirkman (additional communal Reconciliation times are offered at the linked parishes: Monday 8:00 AM at St. Anthony of Padua; Tuesday 11:30 AM and Saturday 3:00 PM at St. Ambrose)
Adoration times
- 6:30 PM – Third Wednesday of each month at St. Joseph
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Parish was born in 1918 when 117 Slovak families in Endicott — mostly workers at the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company who had emigrated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire before and after World War I — decided to build a church of their own. They were aided by Fr. Joseph Martinek, pastor of the nearest Slovak parish, Saints Cyril & Methodius. Before any building existed, the community worshipped in a dance hall above a bar (Kotchicks Hall on Green Street and Hill Avenue), where Latin Masses were celebrated with homilies and singing in Slovak. Cyril Kotek of Moravia loaned a vacant McKinley Avenue lot, and parishioners built a small wooden church there (on the corner of McKinley and Greene, now Watson Boulevard) that seated about 100 with a coal stove and wooden benches. The first Mass was celebrated in 1923 by Fr. John J. Pochily, associate pastor of St. Cyril's; in 1924 the community chose St. Joseph as their patron — "model for workers," as the Litany of St. Joseph calls him — and Fr. John became the parish's first pastor (1924–1928).
- 1918: 117 Slovak families decide to form a parish; aided by Fr. Joseph Martinek of SS. Cyril & Methodius.
- 1923: First Mass said in Kotchicks public hall by Rev. John J. Pochily.
- 1924: Wooden church built on N. McKinley Ave; St. Joseph chosen as patron; Fr. Pochily assigned as first pastor.
- 1927: Eight lots purchased on a north-side hill for the new church; remaining block parcels donated by Endicott Land Company.
- 1928: Fr. Florian Billy becomes pastor (first of three Billy brothers); 15 successive Franciscan pastors will serve 1928–1997.
- 1929/1930: New brick church completed (cost $197,847); dedicated May 1930 by Bishop J. Curley of Syracuse.
- 1941: Lourdes-style Marian shrine completed behind the church.
- 1956: St. Joseph School opens, staffed by Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
- 1996: Interior renovation completed (Vatican II compliance).
- 1998: 75th anniversary celebrated.
- 2002: Third floor and gymnasium added to school.
- 2006: Church hall renovation completed.
- 2009: Grades-1-through-8 school closes; lower floors rented to a childcare business.
- October 2023: Centennial Mass celebrated with Fr. Ken Kirkman and Franciscans of the Immaculate from Mount St. Francis Hermitage.
Architecture & Shrine
The present church was completed in 1929 at a cost of $197,847. It is built on a steel frame over a concrete foundation and is clad in distinctive "Binghamton Tapestry" brick laid in white mortar, with stained glass windows trimmed in stone. The interior was substantially renovated in 1996 in conformance with the Second Vatican Council. Behind the church stands a Lourdes-style Marian shrine (completed 1941), still used today for May crownings, pilgrimages and Memorial Day services — a testament to the Slavic heritage's deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. The Stations of the Cross inside the church retain Slovak-language inscriptions, such as "Jezis nesie kriz svoj" (Jesus carries His cross).
- Steel frame, concrete foundation
- "Binghamton Tapestry" brick in white mortar
- Stained glass windows with stone trim
- 1996 interior renovation (Vatican II)
- 1941 Lourdes-style Marian shrine behind the church
- Stations of the Cross in Slovak (e.g. "Jezis nesie kriz svoj")
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
St. Joseph is served by pastor Rev. Kenneth R. Kirkman, assisted by Deacon William (Bill) Matts and pastoral associate Sr. Anisia Muthoni. The parish shares clergy and staff across the linked North Endicott Catholic Community (St. Joseph, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Ambrose), and the faithful are supported by a Business Administrator, Music Ministry director, Faith Formation coordinator, Youth Ministry coordinator, Pastoral Care, sacristans, facilities team, and parish trustees.
- Pastor: Rev. Kenneth R. Kirkman
- Deacon: William (Bill) Matts
- Pastoral Associate: Sr. Anisia Muthoni
- Faith Formation: Sally Herceg
- Youth Ministry: Beth DeAngelo
- Music Ministry: Peter
- Pastoral Care: Chris Holmes
- Sacristan: Joseph Gill
- Facilities Management: Neil Newkirk, Steve Caminiti
- Office Administration: Lorraine Mancini, Patricia Newkirk
- Trustees: Diane Julian, Phil Artz
- Deacon (community-wide): Frank Longo
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Joseph's Religious Education Program runs for 24 weeks during the school year for students in grades 1–8, meeting on Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 AM. Additional classes are offered for First Communion and Confirmation preparation. Adult volunteers — catechists, aides, tech support, storytellers, dancers, crafters and actors — are needed to teach, and training is provided through the Southern Region Office of Faith Formation. The Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is offered during Mass on most Faith Formation Sundays for children ages 4–8, who are called forward by Fr. Ken and led to a conference room off the sacristy for an age-appropriate lesson of about 20 minutes before rejoining their families during the collection.
- Religious Education: grades 1–8, Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM, 24 weeks/year
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) for ages 4–8
- Adult catechists and aides needed (training provided)
- Contact: Sally Herceg, [email protected]
Youth, Young Adults & Liturgical Service
St. Joseph welcomes its youngest parishioners into liturgical life through an altar server ministry open to any boy or girl in grade 3 or older who has received First Communion. Young adults (typically college-age and up) gather for a weekly Young Adult Bible Study on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 PM at the St. Joseph Parish Office (enter through the White Chapel Door); on every third Wednesday the study is preceded or followed by Adoration at 6:30 PM and a shared food-and-fellowship meal. The parish also has a dedicated Youth Ministry coordinator (Beth DeAngelo) who supports teens across the linked parishes.
- Altar Servers (boys and girls, grade 3+) — contact the parish office
- Young Adult Bible Study — Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 PM, Parish Office (White Chapel Door)
- Adoration + Food & Fellowship on 3rd Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
- Youth Ministry: Beth DeAngelo
Community & Fundraising
The parish maintains an active presence in the wider Endicott community. St. Joseph's has an account at Roma's Distributing on Nanticoke Avenue in Endicott — parishioners can drop off returnable bottles and cans and credit the account under "St. Joseph's / Sally Herceg" to raise funds for parish programs. The North Endicott Catholic Community also publishes a shared weekly bulletin across St. Ambrose, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Joseph's.
- Bottle/can drive at Roma's Distributing (Nanticoke Ave, Endicott) – account: St. Joseph's / Sally Herceg
- Shared weekly bulletin across St. Ambrose, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Joseph's
- Linked parishes across the North Endicott Catholic Community
The Lourdes Shrine & Marian Devotion
Behind the church stands a Lourdes-style Marian shrine completed in 1941, a reflection of the deep Slavic devotion to the Blessed Mother that the founders brought from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Parishioners continue to gather at the shrine for the May crowning, pilgrimages, and Memorial Day services. The shrine remains an outdoor sacred space that complements the interior Stations of the Cross and continues the parish's century-old tradition of Marian prayer.
- Lourdes-style shrine completed 1941 behind the church
- May crowning held annually at the shrine
- Pilgrimages and Memorial Day services
- Reflection of the founders' Slavic Marian devotion
Visiting & Contact
St. Joseph Church is located at 207 Hayes Avenue in Endicott, NY 13760. The parish office can be reached at (607) 748-0442 or by email at [email protected], with office hours Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (an older bulletin also lists Monday through Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM). Visitors are asked to enter through the back of the church.
- Address: 207 Hayes Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760
- Phone: (607) 748-0442
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: (607) 748-7725
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Office entrance: at the back of the church
North Endicott Catholic Community
St. Joseph is one of three canonically linked parishes that together make up the North Endicott Catholic Community. The community is currently led by pastor Fr. Kenneth R. Kirkman and includes St. Anthony of Padua Church at 300 Odell Avenue, Endicott, and St. Ambrose Church at 203 Washington Avenue, Endicott. This sharing of clergy, staff, and programming across the three parishes expands the calendar of Masses, confession times, Eucharistic Adoration, and fellowship available to all parishioners.
- St. Joseph — 207 Hayes Avenue, Endicott (Sunday 11:00 AM, Thursday 8:30 AM)
- St. Anthony of Padua — 300 Odell Avenue, Endicott (Sunday 8:30 AM, Saturday 5:30 PM, Monday 8:30 AM)
- St. Ambrose — 203 Washington Avenue, Endicott (Saturday 4:00 PM, Tuesday 12:05 PM)
- Shared pastor: Rev. Kenneth R. Kirkman
- Community-wide bulletin, ministries, and faith formation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John J. Pochily1924–1928
First pastor; had celebrated the first Mass in 1923 as associate pastor of St. Cyril's.
- Rev. Florian Billyfrom 1928
First of three Billy brothers to serve St. Joseph's; galvanized local business support, including a matching gift from George F. Johnson.
- 15 successive Franciscan pastors1928–1997
Franciscans led the parish for nearly seven decades; the Franciscan era ended in 1997.
- Rev. Kenneth R. Kirkmanpresent
Current pastor; also leads the linked North Endicott Catholic Community (St. Joseph, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Ambrose).