About St. Joseph · Fall River, Massachusetts
St. Joseph Parish is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the North End of Fall River, Massachusetts, founded in 1873 to serve the Irish Catholic families working in the city's textile mills. Its striking Gothic Revival church, designed by celebrated 19th-century church architect Patrick C. Keely and built beginning in 1880, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Today St. Joseph is paired with neighboring St. Michael's Parish under a single pastor, the Rev. Jay Mello, sharing clergy, staff, religious-education programs, and a combined school (St. Michael School). The parish continues to offer daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a robust faith-formation program for grades 1–9, in keeping with more than 150 years of Catholic life on North Main Street.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Jay Mello
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the rare combination of a 150-year-old North End parish rooted in the textile-mill Irish Catholic community of Fall River and a living schedule of devotions for today's faithful. Weekday and Sunday Masses are complemented by weekly Tuesday-night Eucharistic Adoration with Solemn Benediction, Saturday-morning confessions, and a parish-wide religious-education program for grades 1–9 that meets at the St. Joseph Parish Center. Because the parish now shares a pastor and staff with neighboring St. Michael's, members benefit from a combined school (St. Michael School), joint youth group, Confirmation program, and a strong Portuguese-speaking presence — all within a National Register-listed Gothic Revival sanctuary.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday morning: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (some bulletins list 9:30–10:00 AM or 9:30–10:30 AM) at St. Joseph's
- Tuesday evening: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM while CCD is in session (some bulletins list 6:00–7:00 PM or 7:30 PM) at St. Joseph's
- Any time by appointment through the parish office
Adoration times
- Tuesday evenings 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM at St. Joseph's Church, with Solemn Benediction beginning at 7:15 PM (some bulletins list 6:00–7:00 PM with Benediction at 6:45 PM)
- Daily Eucharistic Adoration is also available at St. Michael's Church, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph was founded in 1873 by Fr. William H. Bric to serve the Irish Catholic families who had settled in Fall River's North End to work in the city's textile mills. The parish was carved out of St. Mary's, and within seven years the congregation had outgrown its temporary wooden church near Vestal Street, prompting the building of the present Gothic Revival church designed by Patrick C. Keely. Construction began in 1880; the church was dedicated on May 30, 1885, by Bishop Hendricken. The Sisters of Mercy opened St. Joseph's Parochial School in 1907, and over the decades the parish became known for its Catholic education, sports, and unusually high number of religious vocations. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
- Founded 1873 by Fr. William H. Bric, a native of County Kerry, Ireland
- First Mass celebrated on Low Sunday, April 20, 1873
- Ground broken for present church August 5, 1880; cornerstone laid shortly after
- Church designed by Patrick C. Keely of Brooklyn
- Dedicated May 30, 1885, by Bishop Hendricken
- Rectory built by Fr. Bernard Boylan in 1889
- St. Joseph's Parochial School opened by the Sisters of Mercy, fall of 1907
- Added to the National Register of Historic Places, February 16, 1983
Parish Staff
St. Joseph shares its staff with St. Michael's under Pastor Fr. Jay Mello. The team includes a permanent deacon, a Director of Pastoral Services who serves as the parish office manager, two Directors of Religious Education (one for grades 1–7 and one for the Confirmation program), a parish-school principal, and a music director.
- Rev. Jay Mello — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Paul Levesque — Permanent Deacon ([email protected]); assigned to the parishes by Bishop DaCunha on December 22, 2018
- Mrs. Shanna Lubold — Director of Pastoral Services ([email protected])
- Mrs. Lisa Ouellette — Director of Religious Education, Grades 1–7 ([email protected])
- Mrs. Ana Lucy Mello — Confirmation Coordinator / Director of Religious Education, Grades 8–9 ([email protected])
- Mr. Ryan Klein — Principal, St. Michael School
- Mr. Stephen Tinkham — Music Director ([email protected])
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education is a major priority of the parish. The Faith Formation Program assists parents — the primary educators of their children — in forming young disciples of Jesus Christ. Grades 1–7 meet on Wednesday evenings at the St. Joseph Parish Center (1262 N. High Street), and Grades 8–9 follow a two-year Confirmation program. First Communion requires at least two years of formation and active participation in class and Sunday Mass; Confirmation requires completion of Grade 7 either in Faith Formation or in the Catholic school system prior to enrollment.
- Grades 1–7 classes: Wednesdays 6:15–7:35 PM at the St. Joseph Parish Center (1262 N. High Street)
- Director: Mrs. Lisa Ouellette (508-567-6358)
- Registration: $30 first child, $20 each additional child
- Maximum of 3 unexcused absences per year
- Confirmation Program: Grades 8–9, two-year preparation for the Sacrament
- Confirmation Director: Mrs. Ana Lucy Mello (508-494-3916)
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
- St. Michael School — parish elementary school shared with St. Michael's
Youth and Parish Life
The parishes share a joint Youth Group guided by two husband-and-wife advisor teams, all of whom are parishioners and educators at St. Michael School. Parish life is enriched by an active Parish Activities Committee, liturgical ministries such as lectors, the parish choir under Music Director Stephen Tinkham, and parish-wide communications including a weekly Friday email from Fr. Jay.
- Joint Youth Group — advisors Ryan & Michelle Klein and Michael & Shanna Lubold
- Parish Activities Committee (led by Ana Lucy Mello)
- Music Ministry / Choir — Stephen Tinkham, Music Director
- Lector Ministry
- Weekly 'Emails from Fr. Jay' newsletter (Fridays)
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council (Canon Law 636)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and encourages regular reception of Reconciliation — at least twice a year (Advent and Lent). Parents are invited to bring children for baptismal preparation, and engaged couples are asked to contact the parish office well in advance of their wedding date.
- Baptism — preparation required; contact the parish office
- First Communion — minimum two years of formation
- Confirmation — two-year program in Grades 8–9
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturdays and Tuesdays; by appointment
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick and pastoral visits — contact the parish office
Visiting and Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed by Pastor Fr. Jay Mello, who invites newcomers to introduce themselves after Mass. The parish office is located in St. Joseph's Rectory at 1335 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720, and is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (closed Friday).
- Address: 1335 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720
- Phone: (508) 673-1123
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Religious Education Office: (508) 567-3638 / (508) 567-6358
- Web: https://www.mjfallriver.org/ and http://www.stjosephschurchfr.com/
- Facebook: "St. Joseph's Church" (Fall River)
Architecture and Historic Significance
The church is a large Gothic Revival brick structure about 170 feet long and 78 feet wide, with walls 30 feet high and three broad aisles. The original hard-pine floors and ash-and-black-walnut pews remain, with the original pew numbers still painted at the end of each pew. The church's signature stained-glass windows above the sanctuary depict Old Testament scenes (Abraham and Melchizedek, Abraham and Isaac) and the New Testament Glorification of Joseph and Coronation of Mary. On February 16, 1983, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places — the same day as neighboring St. Patrick's — recognizing both its architectural significance and its role in the life of Fall River's North End.
- Architect: Patrick C. Keely of Brooklyn
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Construction: begun 1880; dedicated May 30, 1885
- Dimensions: ~170 ft long × 78 ft wide; walls 30 ft high
- Three broad aisles with original hard-pine floors
- Ash and black-walnut pews with original pew numbers preserved
- Stained glass: Abraham and Melchizedek, Abraham and Isaac, Glorification of Joseph, Coronation of Mary
- NRHP reference No. 83000720; added February 16, 1983
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William H. Bric1873–1882
Native of Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland; founded the parish, celebrated first Mass April 20, 1873; died of heart disease Aug. 7, 1882, one week before the cornerstone was to be laid; buried in vault under the altar.
- Rev. Andrew J. Brady1880–1885
Native of County Cavan, Ireland; second pastor; completed construction of the new church; died Feb. 18, 1885; his Requiem was the first service in the new church; buried beside Fr. Bric under the altar.
- Rev. Bernard Boylan1885–
Born Wareham, MA, 1853; third pastor; dedicated the church May 30, 1885; built the rectory in 1889.