About St. Joseph · Everson, Pennsylvania
St. Joseph Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish in the borough of Everson, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Greensburg. Founded in 1887 by Polish immigrants settling along Jacob's Creek, it is the oldest Polish Catholic parish in the Diocese of Greensburg and the third oldest in Western Pennsylvania. Since June 23, 2013, St. Joseph has been partnered with neighboring St. John the Baptist Parish in Scottdale, sharing clergy, staff, and faith formation under one pastor. The parish is celebrated as the spiritual home of Father Justin Figas, OFM Conv., founder of the nationally broadcast Father Justin Rosary Hour and a candidate for sainthood.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Very Rev. Paul A. Lisik
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the warmth of a small, historic Polish-rooted parish where generations of families have worshipped in the same red-brick Gothic church since 1892, paired since 2013 with St. John the Baptist in Scottdale for shared worship and ministries. Daily Mass, weekend confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, religious education for every age, a parish school (Sts. Joseph & John School), and a music ministry led by Jane Scott make room for both cradle Catholics and newcomers. Father Lisik and an experienced lay staff keep the parish a true 'place to believe, belong, and become.'
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Daily, before and after Mass
- Sunday at St. Joseph: 8:00–8:30 AM
- Saturday at St. John the Baptist (Scottdale): 3:15–4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Friday (First Friday) 8:30–9:30 AM at St. John the Baptist, Scottdale
Parish History (1887–2022)
St. Joseph was founded on September 15, 1887, by Polish immigrants who had settled along Jacob's Creek and organized the first of their mutual societies under the patronage of St. Joseph. Fr. Alexander W. Szmigiel, a recently ordained priest educated in Poland, Rome, and Belgium, celebrated the parish's first Mass on August 21, 1887, and became its first pastor; he served until his death in 1901. The first wooden frame church at Vance and Painter Streets was replaced in 1892 by the present red-brick Gothic church, cornerstone laid by Bishop Phelan and dedicated by the Very Rev. Regis Canevin on May 14, 1893. On September 9, 2012, Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt led a Concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving for the 125th anniversary. The parish has been partnered with St. John the Baptist, Scottdale, since June 23, 2013.
- Founded September 15, 1887 — first pastor Fr. Alexander W. Szmigiel
- First baptism: Thomas Stochowiak, September 11, 1887
- First marriage: Michael Baran & Elizabeth Behrin, September 12, 1887
- Present church built 1892–1893; red-brick Gothic; $8,000
- 125th anniversary Mass led by Bishop Brandt, September 9, 2012
- Partnered with St. John the Baptist, Scottdale, June 23, 2013
- 135th anniversary celebrated in 2022
Becoming Catholic (RCIA) & Faith Formation
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) welcomes both the unbaptized (catechumens) and the already-baptized (candidates) into the Catholic faith, walking through the stages and liturgical rites of the Church in the midst of the parish community. Regional Faith Formation for children, youth, and adults is coordinated by Mary Allison through the shared Pastoral Center.
- RCIA for unbaptized catechumens and baptized candidates
- Regional Faith Formation for all ages, directed by Mary Allison
- Contact the Pastoral Center at 724-887-6321 to inquire about Becoming Catholic
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at the linked parishes is directed by Jane Scott, supporting Sunday Masses, holy days, weddings, funerals, and the parish's seasonal devotions. The Director coordinates cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists to lift the assembly's worship in both churches.
- Music Director: Jane Scott ([email protected])
- Supports weekend Masses at St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist
- Provides music for weddings, funerals, and holy days
School (Sts. Joseph & John)
St. Joseph Parish has operated a school since 1888 — staffed first by lay teachers (1888–1898), then by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (1898–1920), and afterwards by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit until the school closed in 1990. Today the parish works with Sts. Joseph & John School (sjjschool.org), which continues the Catholic educational mission rooted in the founding parish.
- School opened in 1888, one year after the parish was founded
- Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth: 1898–1920
- Sisters of the Holy Spirit taught there until closure in 1990
- Peak enrollment: nearly 600 students
Parish Staff & Pastoral Center
Day-to-day operations of the partnered parishes are coordinated through the Pastoral Center at 416 Broadway Avenue, Scottdale, PA 15683, open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (closed Friday). Father Lisik pastors the parishes together with an experienced lay staff handling parish business, faith formation, music, and facilities.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Paul A. Lisik
- Business/Pastoral Associate: Dianne Figg
- Business Manager: Chris Whoric
- Administrative Assistant: Jill Skowronek
- Regional Faith Formation Director: Mary Allison
- Music Director: Jane Scott
- Maintenance: Bill Thompson
- Office Phone: 724-887-6321 / 724-887-6714 — Fax: 724-887-6324
Partner Parish — St. John the Baptist, Scottdale
On June 23, 2013, the Diocese of Greensburg formally joined St. Joseph in Everson with St. John the Baptist in Scottdale to form a single pastoral community. The two parishes keep their individual heritages — including St. Joseph's Polish roots — while sharing clergy, staff, faith formation, and a common mission: 'We will become a vibrant partner parish where all feel loved and welcomed.'
- Partnership established June 23, 2013
- Shared pastor and lay staff
- Sunday Mass split: 8:30 AM at St. Joseph; 10:30 AM at St. John the Baptist
- Saturday Vigil at St. John the Baptist
Facilities, Bulletin & Practical Information
Major campus improvements completed around the 135th anniversary year include a 12-space parking lot on the former convent site, perimeter walls, concrete sidewalks, new heating systems, new church signage, repaired church-to-school steps, and a new air-conditioning system. Bulletin items are due Mondays at noon. The mailing address for parish business is c/o 416 South Broadway, Scottdale, PA 15683.
- St. Joseph Social Hall: 724-220-5321
- St. John the Baptist Social Hall: 724-887-7013
- Bulletin deadline: Mondays at noon
- Mailing address: c/o 416 South Broadway, Scottdale, PA 15683
- Improvements: parking lot, walls, sidewalks, heating, signage, A/C
Father Justin Figas — Parish Son & Candidate for Sainthood
Perhaps the most famous vocation nurtured at St. Joseph is Father Justin Figas, OFM Conv., raised in this Polish community before becoming a Conventual Franciscan priest. From Buffalo, New York, he founded the Father Justin Rosary Hour (Godzina Rozancow Ojca Justyna), a weekly broadcast heard across the United States and Canada. His cause for canonization in the Roman Catholic Church is presently open.
- Nurtured in faith at St. Joseph Parish
- Founded the Father Justin Rosary Hour from Buffalo, NY
- Broadcast weekly throughout the U.S. and Canada
- Cause for canonization is open
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Alexander W. Szmigiel1887–1901
Founding pastor; educated in Poland, Rome, and at the seminary in Louvain, Belgium; ordained at St. Vincent Seminary; died in office at age 39.
- Father Justin Figas, OFM Conv.n.d.
Parish son, not pastor; founder of the Father Justin Rosary Hour, broadcast throughout the U.S. and Canada; cause for sainthood opened.