About St. Joseph · Lancaster, Pennsylvania
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the Cabbage Hill neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Harrisburg. Founded in 1849 by German immigrants as one of the first ethnic parishes in the United States, it is best known for its towering 1880s brick church built in the Neo-Romanesque style with a landmark steeple visible across the city. Today the parish is a multilingual community celebrating Mass in English, Swahili and Burmese, serving Catholics from East Africa, Myanmar and many other backgrounds in southwest Lancaster City.
- Established
- 1849
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Pang S. Tcheou
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a parish where the Eucharist is celebrated in English, Swahili and Burmese each week — making it one of the most intentionally multicultural Catholic communities in the Diocese of Harrisburg. Rooted in 175+ years of Cabbage Hill heritage, the parish combines historic Neo-Romanesque architecture and a working 1891 Carl Barckhoff organ with a vigorous religious education program and a food pantry run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society that directly serves its southwest Lancaster City neighborhood. Visitors find a parish that openly welcomes African, Asian and Latino families alongside lifelong Lancaster Catholics, with daily Mass, weekly Adoration and a regular Saturday confession schedule.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Wednesday 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Friday 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Parish Overview & Cabbage Hill
St. Joseph Catholic Church sits atop Cabbage Hill in southwest Lancaster City, where the parish has been the spiritual, cultural and social hub of the neighborhood since 1849. The parish is a community of many cultures — German heritage at its roots, and today East African, Burmese (Myanmar), Latino and Anglo-American families worshipping side by side. Father Pang Tcheou, the current pastor, has spoken of the parish's unity: 'Even though we might not speak the same language, the unity we have is that we call this our home.'
- 440 St. Joseph Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
- (717) 397-6921
- [email protected]
- Diocese of Harrisburg parish
History of the Parish
Founded in September 1849 when Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick of Philadelphia sent Father Bernard Bayer, a Redemptorist, to organize a parish of more than 200 German faithful. The cornerstone was laid in May 1850; the original brick church (350-seat) was consecrated that December and finished by 1854. The present larger church was built around the old one in the 1880s — a famous engineering feat that allowed Masses to continue without interruption — and was dedicated in 1885 (with construction continuing to 1886). The parish school operated from 1852 until 1991, when it merged with St. Anthony of Padua and St. Mary's to form Resurrection Catholic School.
- 1849 – Parish founded by German immigrants from St. Mary's, Lancaster
- 1850 – Cornerstone laid; original church consecrated in December
- 1852 – First parochial school in Lancaster opens in the church basement (Jacob Teufel, first teacher)
- 1868 – Sisters of St. Francis from Glen Riddle take over teaching
- 1880s – Present brick church built AROUND the old one; dedicated 1885
- 1891 – Carl Barckhoff organ installed (still in use)
- 1923 – Church enlarged and remodeled
- 1991 – Parish school merges to form Resurrection Catholic School
- 2024 – 175th anniversary celebrated with Mass in English, Burmese and Swahili
Architecture & the Historic Carl Barckhoff Organ
The church is built in the Neo-Romanesque / Romanesque Revival style popular in Europe in the late 1800s, reminiscent of an ancient European cathedral. The exterior is pressed brick with a tall landmark tower; the interior features a central nave surrounded by graceful arches supported by 41-foot pillars (six on each side, alternating square piers and round columns with gold acanthus-leaf Corinthian capitals), large stained glass windows, and extensive ceiling and wall murals. The 1891 Carl Barckhoff two-manual tracker organ, commissioned under Father Francis X. Schmidt, is one of only a few large Barckhoff instruments still extant and is still used at Sunday Mass.
- Style: Neo-Romanesque (Romanesque Revival) with Byzantine elements
- Construction: pressed brick, 1882–1886 (enlarged/remodeled 1923)
- Architect (1880s church): William Shickel, New York City
- Principal contractor: Dionysius Rapp
- Interior features: 41-foot pillars, Corinthian capitals, pointed-arch vault, ceiling murals
- Organ: 1891 Carl Barckhoff, Salem, OH — ~30 ranks, two manuals, still in use
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Pastor Father Pang S. Tcheou — a former St. Joseph altar server and 1998 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School — together with Deacon Thomas Owsinski and Father Deogratias Rwegasira, AJ, who is in residence while serving as chaplain of Lancaster General Hospital. Parish staff include the Director of Music, Office Manager, Office Assistant and Bookkeeper.
- Pastor: Rev. Pang S. Tcheou
- Deacon: Deacon Thomas Owsinski (also Director of Religious Education)
- In Residence: Rev. Deogratias Rwegasira, AJ
- Director of Music: Jacqueline Owsinski
- Office Manager: Amanda Peralta
- Office Assistant: Claire O'Neill
- Bookkeeper: Eric Smith
Multicultural Community: Swahili & Burmese Ministries
St. Joseph is widely recognized as one of the most intentionally multicultural parishes in the Diocese of Harrisburg. In September 2019 the parish hosted the first regular Swahili Mass in the diocese, drawing more than 250 worshipers — many from Harrisburg, Allentown, New Jersey and Maryland — and is now celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays at 9:00 AM in the Lower Chapel. The parish also welcomes a Burmese (Myanmar) Catholic community that gathers at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, supported by Deacon Thomas Owsinski and lay leader Raymond Mang, with visiting Burmese priests such as Father Anthony Twawug Min Piang (Diocese of Kalay) celebrating Holy Mass and the sacraments.
- Swahili Mass for East African Catholics — first in the Diocese of Harrisburg (launched 2019)
- Burmese community at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass with visiting Myanmar priests
- Father Deogratias Rwegasira, AJ (Tanzanian-born, Apostles of Jesus) — founder of the Swahili ministry
- Deacon Thomas Owsinski and Raymond Mang — bridge-builders for the Burmese community
Faith Formation & OCIA (RCIA)
St. Joseph's family-focused religious education program, directed by Deacon Thomas Owsinski, has more than doubled its enrollment in recent years and serves children and families of the parish's many language communities. Adults interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA), with summer inquiry sessions advertised on the parish homepage. Catechesis aims to deepen initial conversion through prayer, study, liturgical celebration and pastoral accompaniment for catechumens and candidates.
- Director of Religious Education: Deacon Thomas Owsinski
- Family-focused religious education program (enrollment doubled in recent years)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist
- Summer OCIA inquiry sessions
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Joseph centers on the historic 1891 Carl Barckhoff two-manual tracker organ, considered one of the treasures of the parish and still in liturgical use at Sunday Mass. Director of Music Jacqueline Owsinski directs the parish's music program, and choirs accompany the multilingual liturgies — including a Swahili choir and the Burmese community's participation in the 10:30 AM Mass. Sunday Masses are also livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
- Director of Music: Jacqueline Owsinski
- Historic 1891 Carl Barckhoff tracker organ
- Sunday Mass livestream on YouTube
- Multilingual hymns in English, Swahili and Burmese
Outreach & Social Ministry
Ministry to the poor is a central focus of the parish, which sits in southwest Lancaster City. The parish food pantry — recently revamped with parishioner engagement — is run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and St. Joseph partners with the Southwestern Lancaster Coalition, which rents part of the parish convent for neighborhood work. Father Tcheou has described the parish as 'aware of and concerned for the needs of our neighbors.'
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — runs the parish food pantry
- Southwestern Lancaster Coalition — partner for neighborhood improvement (rents part of the convent)
- Parish food pantry with active parishioner engagement
- Hospital chaplaincy presence through Father Deogratias Rwegasira at Lancaster General Hospital
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Those interested in sacramental preparation — Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders or sacramental reconciliation — are invited to contact the parish office at (717) 397-6921. The Burmese Catholic community particularly notes the importance of Sacramental Reconciliation, which is offered in English on Saturdays and is supported as Burmese-speaking priests are available.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion and ongoing Mass schedule)
- Penance / Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM and by appointment
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations support)
- OCIA / RCIA for full initiation of adults
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard Bayer, C.Ss.R.1849–
Redemptorist priest sent by Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia to organize the new parish.
- Rev. Francis X. Schmidt
Mid/late-19th-century pastor who commissioned the Carl Barckhoff organ.
- Rev. Henry Christ
Served a 40-year pastorate; the parish school was later named in his honor.
- Rev. John G. Allen1986–1992
Departed St. Joseph's in 1992 after the closing of the parish school.
- Msgr. Thomas Smithafter 1992
Successor to Fr. Allen.
- Rev. Allan Wolfe
Former pastor; now pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Chambersburg (as of 2024).
- Rev. Philip Burger
Native son of the parish (altar server as a boy); now pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Abbottstown (as of 2024).
- Rev. Pang S. Tcheoucurrent
Current pastor; 1998 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School and former St. Joseph altar server.