About St. Joseph · Kennewick, Washington
St. Joseph Catholic Parish is a bilingual English/Spanish Roman Catholic parish in Kennewick, Washington, established in 1911 and part of the Diocese of Yakima. The parish serves the Tri-Cities community from a large new church dedicated in 2002 alongside the original 1949 chapel, which still hosts daily Mass. With three priests, perpetual adoration, a parish school, and ministries reaching cradle-Catholics, youth, women, and the wider Hispanic community, St. Joseph's is one of the most established Catholic parishes in the lower Mid-Columbia region.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Herrera
- Diocese
- Diocese of Yakima
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is the historic Catholic parish of Kennewick, founded in 1911 and now serving a vibrant bilingual community in English and Spanish. Worshippers can choose from an unusually rich Mass schedule — six Sunday Masses plus daily Masses in two churches — along with perpetual Eucharistic adoration in the Adoration Chapel. The parish also offers a parish school (St. Joseph Catholic School, est. 1964), active youth ministry on Friday nights, the Knights of Columbus Council 8179, the Guadalupana Society, the Women of St. Joseph, a Prayer Chain, and a Funeral Committee, making it a full parish home for families across the Tri-Cities.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel is open 24/7; visitors must call Carol LeCompte at 509-582-5011 to obtain a personal entry code.
Our Parish History
St. Joseph Parish was established in 1911 in the heart of Kennewick, Washington, making it one of the oldest Catholic communities in the Tri-Cities. The original chapel — still lovingly called the 'small church' — was built in 1949 to accommodate the growing parish and remains in use today for daily Mass, surrounded by white statues of the Crucifix, St. Francis, the Virgin Mary, and the Pietà. After more than half a century of continued growth, the parish dedicated its much larger new church on May 12, 2002; this is where most Sunday Masses and major liturgical celebrations are now celebrated.
- 1911 — Parish established
- 1949 — Original chapel (small church) built
- May 12, 2002 — New church dedicated
- Present — Two worship buildings plus Dillon Hall and Holy Grounds Cafe on campus
Our Buildings & Facilities
The parish campus includes two worship spaces, a parish hall, and a cafe. The 1949 chapel ('small church') is used daily and holds devotional statues, while the new church dedicated in 2002 is the principal venue for Sunday liturgy and major events. Dillon Hall, attached to the back of the church, is a large dining area with a stage and full kitchen designed for weddings, baptisms, funerals, First Communions, confirmations, quinceañeras, parish meetings, and other large social events. Holy Grounds Cafe operates inside Dillon Hall on weekday mornings during the school season.
- New Church (dedicated May 12, 2002) — Sunday Masses and major events
- Chapel / 'Small Church' (built 1949) — Daily Mass, statues of Crucifix, St. Francis, Virgin Mary, Pietà
- Dillon Hall — dining area with stage and kitchen
- Holy Grounds Cafe — weekday mornings during school season
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Joseph is currently served by three priests and a team of deacons, with parish office staff supporting day-to-day operations. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. (509-586-3820, [email protected]).
- Pastor: Rev. Jose Herrera
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Ricardo Villarreal
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Christian Melendez
- Deacons: Mike Keolker, Felipe Garcia, Juan Valdivia, William Williams, Gustavo Izquierdo, Cesar Valdivia, Francis
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs an ongoing Catechesis (Religious Education) program for parish children, and offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults exploring the Catholic faith or preparing for full initiation into the Church. (Bulletin references also point to a separate Office of Youth and Office of Religious Education.)
- Religious Education / Catechesis for parish children
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Office of Youth & Office of Religious Education
St. Joseph Catholic School
Established in 1964, St. Joseph Catholic School is a Preschool through 8th-grade Catholic school located at 901 W 4th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99336, a few blocks from the parish church. Accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association, the school is supported jointly by St. Joseph Parish and Holy Spirit Parish in Kennewick and educates students 'in mind, body, and spirit as an image of God in our world.' The current principal is Catherine Valiant.
- Founded 1964; Preschool through Grade 8
- Address: 901 W 4th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336 — 509-586-0481
- Principal: Catherine Valiant
- Accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA)
- Supported by St. Joseph Parish and Holy Spirit Parish, Kennewick
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Joseph's has a wide range of parish ministries in both English and Spanish, including youth ministry, a fraternal order for Catholic men, women's societies, a funeral ministry, a prayer chain, and a perpetual adoration team.
- Youth Ministry / Ministerio Juvenil — Friday Youth Night 7:00–8:30 p.m.
- Knights of Columbus Council #8179 / Caballeros de Colón
- Guadalupana Society / Sociedad de Guadalupanas (Ramon and Viola Mata, 509-586-9995)
- Women of St. Joseph / Mujeres de San José (Leticia Aguilar, 509-870-7016)
- Funeral Committee / Comité de Funeral (Sarah Wright)
- Prayer Chain / Cadena de Oración — parish office 509-586-3820 ext. 103
- Perpetual Adoration team (Carol LeCompte, 509-582-5011)
- Knights of Columbus Choir — 4th Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Mass (dir. Jeff Hylden)
Sacraments & Special Events
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments on a regular basis. Weddings, baptisms, First Communions, confirmations, quinceañeras, and funerals are scheduled through the parish office, with the new church and Dillon Hall both available as venues for these celebrations.
- Baptism
- First Communion & Confirmation
- Marriage / Weddings
- Quinceañeras
- Funerals (Funeral Committee helps with reception)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Joseph's is supported in part by the Knights of Columbus Choir, which sings at the 11:00 a.m. Mass on the 4th Sunday of each month under director Jeff Hylden.
- Knights of Columbus Choir — 4th Sunday, 11:00 a.m. Mass
- Choir Director: Jeff Hylden
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., and can be reached at 509-586-3820 or [email protected]. The church is located at 520 S. Garfield St., Kennewick, WA 99336.
- Address: 520 S. Garfield St., Kennewick, WA 99336
- Phone: 509-586-3820
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.