About St. Joseph · Hamilton, Ohio
St. Joseph Parish is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Hamilton, Ohio, originally founded in 1865–1867 to serve the city's German Catholic community at the corner of Second and Washington Streets, where the present church stands at 171 Washington St. Today it is one of five worship sites of St. Stephen Parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Butler County Family of Parishes, alongside St. Peter in Chains, St. Julie Billiart, Queen of Peace, and St. Aloysius. The parish is currently pastored by Father Rick Walling (installed July 2022) and offers daily Mass in English, Eucharistic adoration, parish-based outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, and a Knights of Columbus council that meets at nearby Stephen T. Badin High School.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Rick Walling
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the rhythm of a classic Catholic parish — Sunday and weekday Mass in English, Eucharistic adoration, and the sacrament of Reconciliation each week — paired with genuine, hands-on outreach. The parish actively partners with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (a special collection on every fifth Sunday supports local aid) and with the Father Butler 968 Council of the Knights of Columbus, whose members meet at Stephen T. Badin High School. Worshipers are warmly welcomed into fellowship afterward through the monthly Donut Social in the school cafeteria, making it easy for new parishioners and visitors to find community.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Tuesday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Adoration times
- First Tuesday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
St. Joseph publishes a streamlined weekly schedule. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:30 AM, and three weekday Masses are offered: 8:00 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. For information on any of the seven sacraments, the parish office can be reached at 513-863-1424 or [email protected].
- Sunday Mass: 10:30 AM (English)
- Wednesday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Thursday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Saturday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Office hours: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Parish Leadership and the Family of Parishes
St. Joseph is pastored together with four neighboring Butler County worship sites as the St. Stephen Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Father Rick Walling was installed as pastor of St. Stephen Parish in July 2022 and oversees the spiritual care of St. Joseph together with St. Peter in Chains, St. Julie Billiart, Queen of Peace, and St. Aloysius.
- Pastor: Father Rick Walling (installed July 2022)
- Family of Parishes: St. Stephen Parish
- Sibling worship sites: St. Peter in Chains, St. Julie Billiart, Queen of Peace, St. Aloysius
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Parish History
St. Joseph was founded in 1867 to serve Hamilton's German Catholic population, with the cornerstone laid on July 23, 1865 and the church dedicated on September 15, 1867 by Archbishop Purcell. The parish grew out of the older St. Stephen congregation (est. 1832) and was served by a number of diocesan pastors in its first century. As the neighborhood's demographics shifted, the parish adapted, eventually joining the Archdiocese's Family of Parishes model.
- Founded: 1867 (cornerstone 1865)
- Dedicated by Archbishop Purcell, September 15, 1867
- Original purpose: German-language parish
- Land donated by William Beckett and Job Owens
Outreach and Charity
St. Joseph embodies Catholic social teaching through its active partnership with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Knights of Columbus. The parish takes up a special collection on every fifth Sunday of the month to support local Vincentian outreach, and members participate in the Father Butler 968 Knights of Columbus Council, which meets at Stephen T. Badin High School.
- St. Vincent de Paul — special collection every fifth Sunday
- St. Vincent de Paul assistance available by calling the parish office
- Knights of Columbus — Father Butler 968 Council
- Knights meet 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7:30 PM, Badin High School
Fellowship and Community Life
Hospitality is built into the calendar at St. Joseph: the monthly Donut Social gathers parishioners and visitors in the school cafeteria after the last-Sunday-of-the-month Mass for coffee and donuts. The parish welcomes newcomers with online and printable registration forms and asks existing parishioners to keep their contact information current with the office.
- Donut Social: last Sunday of the month after 10:30 AM Mass (school cafeteria)
- New parishioner registration forms available online and at the parish office
Sacraments
St. Joseph celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. For questions about Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, or other sacramental preparation, parishioners are invited to contact the parish office directly.
- Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist preparation
- Reconciliation offered weekly (see schedule above)
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick and pastoral care
- Contact: 513-863-1424 or [email protected]
Visit, Contact, and Location
St. Joseph's church is located at 171 Washington Street in Hamilton, Ohio, at the corner of Second and Washington — the same site where the parish was built in the 1860s. The parish office is open weekday mornings, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and is staffed to assist with sacramental needs, registration, and outreach referrals.
- Address: 171 Washington St., Hamilton, OH 45011
- Phone: (513) 863-1424
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM