About St. Joseph · Ironton, Ohio
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a historic parish located on the corner of South Fifth and Chestnut Streets in Ironton, Ohio, and is one of the four parishes that make up the Lawrence County Catholic Community (along with St. Ann in Chesapeake, St. Lawrence O'Toole in Ironton, and St. Mary in Ironton). Founded by German Catholics in 1863–1864, it is one of the most southern and western churches in the Diocese of Steubenville and is often called the "Gem of the Diocese" for its traditional church architecture. The parish is currently pastored by Fr. Wayne Morris, with Fr. Peter Afoenyem serving as Parochial Vicar, and offers a robust daily Mass schedule along with Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration and confessions.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Wayne Morris
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers something rare for a parish: a full daily Mass schedule (Monday through Saturday mornings, plus two Sunday Masses), weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and regular Wednesday confessions — all in a historic building the diocese calls the "Gem of the Diocese." As one of the four parishes of the Lawrence County Catholic Community, it shares a priest team, faith-formation program, prayer line, livestreamed Masses, and a St. Vincent de Paul outreach with its sister parishes, so newcomers plug into a broader Catholic community rather than worshipping alone.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM
- 45 minutes before any Sunday Mass
- Any time by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 2:00 PM – 5:15 PM
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph is one of the four parishes of the Lawrence County Catholic Community, serving Ironton, Ohio and the surrounding area from its location at the corner of South Fifth and Chestnut Streets. The parish is described by the Diocese of Steubenville as the "Gem of the Diocese" — a beautiful example of traditional church architecture — and is one of the most southern and western churches in the diocese. Today the parish is pastored by Fr. Wayne Morris together with Fr. Peter Afoenyem (Parochial Vicar), and shares its Catholic community life with the neighboring parishes of St. Ann (Chesapeake), St. Lawrence O'Toole (Ironton), and St. Mary (Ironton).
- Location: corner of South Fifth and Chestnut Streets, Ironton, OH
- One of four parishes of the Lawrence County Catholic Community
- Patron: St. Joseph; Feast Day: March 19
- Diocese: Steubenville (since November 15, 1944)
Parish History
Founded by German Catholics in 1863, dedicated by Archbishop John Purcell in 1864, and reshaped by the great Ohio River flood of 1937, St. Joseph carries more than 160 years of Lawrence County Catholic history.
Founding and Early Years (1863–1889)
On December 30, 1863, a committee of German Catholics purchased three lots on Third near Adams for $450 from the Iron & Coal Company, whose president was Ironton's founder, John Campbell. Archbishop John Purcell of Cincinnati dedicated the new church on Wednesday, September 21, 1864, with Fr. Louis Schreiber celebrating the first Solemn High Mass. The first resident priest, Fr. G. Ahrens, arrived in November 1866; a rectory was built in November 1868, and the church was enlarged.
- December 30, 1863 — Lots purchased from Iron & Coal Co. for $450
- September 21, 1864 — Church dedicated by Archbishop John Purcell of Cincinnati
- November 1866 — Fr. G. Ahrens becomes first resident pastor
- 1883 — Parish school erected
The Gothic Church and the Floods (1889–1949)
A new Gothic-style church was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1889, at Adams and South Third under Fr. Joseph Schmitt. It survived a damaging flood in 1913, only to be destroyed by the great Ohio River flood of 1937. After the flood, services moved to the high-school auditorium until the present church at South Fifth and Chestnut was completed; Fr. Ambrose Schilling celebrated its first Mass on October 12, 1949.
- Nov. 28, 1889 — Gothic church dedicated under Fr. Joseph Schmitt
- 1913 flood damaged the Gothic church; repairs followed
- Fr. John Schneider served Dec. 4, 1902 – April 22, 1915
- Fr. Francis Gloeckner served May 6, 1915 – Jan. 5, 1939
- 1924 — New St. Joseph School built on S. Sixth between Quincy and Chestnut
- 1937 — Great flood destroys the Gothic church
- Oct. 12, 1949 — First Mass in the present S. Fifth & Chestnut church, Fr. Ambrose Schilling
Diocese of Steubenville Era (1944–Present)
On November 15, 1944, Ironton was transferred from the Diocese of Columbus to the newly formed Diocese of Steubenville. Fr. John Yonk succeeded Fr. Schilling as pastor on June 1, 1954. In 2022, Fr. Wayne Morris was assigned pastor of St. Joseph together with the other three Lawrence County Catholic parishes.
- Nov. 15, 1944 — Ironton transferred to the new Diocese of Steubenville
- June 1, 1954 — Fr. John Yonk becomes pastor
- 2022 — Fr. Wayne Morris assigned pastor of the four Lawrence County parishes
- 2025 — St. Joseph designated a Jubilee Church for the Ordinary Jubilee
Clergy and Parish Staff
St. Joseph is served by a shared priest team with the other Lawrence County Catholic parishes, supported by a central parish office.
- Fr. Wayne Morris — Pastor ([email protected]); assigned 2022
- Fr. Peter Afoenyem — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Nancy Rudmann — Office ([email protected])
- CJ Monnig — IT ([email protected])
- Cara Nelson — Finance ([email protected])
- Jane Rudmann — Catechetical Leader, 740-516-0994
Sacraments
The parish follows standard diocesan preparation and notice requirements for the sacraments. Arrangements are made through the parish office at (740) 532-0712.
- Baptism — Call the rectory for information
- Marriage — Six months' advance notice required
- Confession — Wednesday 6:00 PM, 45 minutes before Sunday Masses, or by appointment
- Confirmation — Diocesan preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / emergency priest services — (740) 532-0712, option 8
Ministries and Outreach
St. Joseph parishioners participate in a shared set of ministries with the other Lawrence County Catholic parishes, including outreach to the poor through St. Vincent de Paul, ongoing faith formation, a parish prayer line, and livestream Masses for the homebound.
- St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) — third-Sunday collection benefiting the local poor; remainder supports Community Mission Outreach in Chesapeake
- Faith Formation / Catechetical Leader — Jane Rudmann
- Prayer Line — Jane Cooley, 304-638-4809 / [email protected]
- Liturgical ministry schedule (Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, etc.)
- Ironton Catholic Schools / School Advisory Board
- Livestream Masses — youtube.com/@lawcocatholic
Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass schedule, the parish hosts weekly Eucharistic Adoration and maintains a Rosary devotion at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine on the parish campus.
- Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, 2:00 – 5:15 PM
- Rosary at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine (parish grounds)
- Prayer Line — 304-638-4809
Lawrence County Catholic Community
St. Joseph is one of four parishes that together form the Lawrence County Catholic Community (LCCC), a single pastoral team serving St. Joseph, St. Lawrence O'Toole, and St. Mary in Ironton, and St. Ann in Chesapeake. The community shares a pastor, parochial vicar, office staff, bulletin, faith-formation program, livestream, and outreach efforts.
- St. Joseph — 501 Chestnut St., Ironton, OH 45638
- St. Lawrence O'Toole — 611 Center St., Ironton, OH 45638
- St. Mary — 1059 County Road 26, Ironton, OH 45638
- St. Ann — 310 3rd Ave., Chesapeake, OH 45619
- Central office: (740) 532-0712 — [email protected]
- Shared livestream: youtube.com/@lawcocatholic
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. G. AhrensNovember 1866 –
First resident priest of St. Joseph; previously served as a mission from St. Mary's of Pine Grove.
- Fr. Joseph Schmitt
Pastor when the Gothic-style church at Adams & S. Third was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1889.
- Fr. John SchneiderDecember 4, 1902 – April 22, 1915
Died in office; served through the 1913 flood which damaged the Gothic church.
- Fr. Francis GloecknerMay 6, 1915 – January 5, 1939
Died in office; served through the 1937 flood that destroyed the Gothic church.
- Fr. Ambrose Schillinguntil 1954
Pastor who celebrated the first Mass in the present S. Fifth & Chestnut church on October 12, 1949.
- Fr. John YonkJune 1, 1954 –
Succeeded Fr. Schilling as pastor.
- Fr. Wayne Morris2022 – present
Assigned in 2022 as pastor of St. Joseph and the other three Lawrence County Catholic parishes (St. Ann, St. Lawrence O'Toole, St. Mary).