About St. Joseph · Maximo, Ohio
St. Joseph Parish in Maximo, Ohio, is a small French-Catholic heritage parish in Stark County belonging to the Diocese of Youngstown. Founded in 1850 by French settlers who had originally named the town Strasbourg, the parish today gathers for Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m. in its 1958 church on Easton Street NE. It now collaborates with Regina Coeli and St. Joseph parishes in Alliance, St. Ann in Sebring, and St. Isidore in Harrisburg as the Catholic Community of Eastern Stark County, sharing pastoral staff under Fr. Matt Humerickhouse and Parochial Vicar Fr. Bob England.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew (Matt) Humerickhouse
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Joseph in Maximo is a welcoming, multigenerational French-heritage parish where the patron saint of workers is honored through active lay ministry and community life. Parishioners regularly serve on the Parish Council and Altar & Rosary Society, lead the Stations of the Cross as commissioned Lay Leaders of Prayer, donate to the Alliance Pregnancy Center and the Stark County Humane Society, and gather for an annual Jamboree in July plus monthly events like Family Game Night, Mother/Daughter Brunch, and Trunk or Treat. Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m., weekday Mass on the 2nd–4th Fridays at 8:30 a.m., and First Friday Adoration from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. are rooted in a community that has prayed together continuously since 1850.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation is available by appointment with the pastor (parish is part of the Catholic Community of Eastern Stark County collaborative)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of each month, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
History of St. Joseph Parish, Maximo
St. Joseph Parish was established in 1850 by French Catholic settlers who founded the town of Maximo in 1833, originally calling it Strasbourg. From 1850 to 1857 Masses were said in private homes, served by priests from Louisville, Harrisburg, Canton and Massillon. In 1857 Father Louis Florence D'Arcy acquired land from Peter Anthony Erisey and Father Louis Grevin built the first brick church. The parish operated as a mission until 1905, when Fr. Charles H. Gardner became the first resident pastor. In 2025 the parish proudly celebrated its 175th anniversary.
- 1850: Established as a Mission Church of St. Louis
- 1850–1857: Masses in homes of Jean Pierre Promot and Peter Anthony Erisey
- May 1857: Fr. D'Arcy acquires property from Mr. Erisay
- 1857: Fr. Louis Grevin builds first brick church
- 1905: Becomes an independent parish
- 2025: 175th anniversary celebrated
Parish School
The first Catholic school was erected directly across from the church in 1868 but was closed between 1884 and 1923 due to low enrollment. After reopening in 1923, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine came to teach; they were succeeded by Notre Dame and Franciscan Sisters from Youngstown. In 1955 the Sisters of the Holy Ghost took over and taught until 1970, when the school merged with Sacred Heart of Mary School in Harrisburg. The original school building is now used for religious education classes and parish social events.
- Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (post-1923)
- Notre Dame and Franciscan Sisters
- Sisters of the Holy Ghost (1955–1970)
- School merged with Sacred Heart of Mary after 1970
Our Patron: St. Joseph
The parish takes its inspiration from Saint Joseph, patron saint of workers, fathers, families, and expectant mothers. On Father's Day the parish honors all fathers, and the feast of St. Joseph the Worker (May 1) is observed with the blessing of tools and farm implements — a tradition rooted in the parish's 1833 French farming community. The patron's image is venerated at the outdoor Shrine of Saint Joseph beside the church.
- Patron: Saint Joseph
- St. Joseph the Worker blessing of tools / farm implements
- Outdoor Shrine of Saint Joseph
Ministries and Outreach
St. Joseph is known for its welcoming, hands-on style of parish life. The active Altar & Rosary Society and Parish Council host monthly events such as Family Game Night, Mother/Daughter Brunch, Trunk or Treat, and an annual Jamboree in July. Several parishioners have completed Lay Leader of Prayer training and lead devotions such as the Stations of the Cross. Outreach drives include diaper and wipes collections for the Alliance Pregnancy Center (May and October), a Stark County Humane Society drive in February, and the Giving Tree in December.
- Altar & Rosary Society
- Parish Council
- Lay Leaders of Prayer
- Alliance Pregnancy Center drives
- Stark County Humane Society drive
- Giving Tree
Saint Joseph Cemetery
The parish maintains Saint Joseph Cemetery at 12055 Easton St. NE, Maximo, Ohio — adjacent to the church. The cemetery has been updated over the years, including improvements during Fr. William Bantz's pastorate in the 1990s.
Festivities and Fundraisers
Community-building is at the heart of the parish calendar. The annual Jamboree in July is the signature event, and the Altar & Rosary Society and Parish Council host monthly activities to strengthen parish fellowship.
- Annual Jamboree (July)
- Family Game Night
- Mother/Daughter Brunch
- Trunk or Treat
- Monthly Adoration and Rosary
Catholic Community of Eastern Stark County
Since 2013 St. Joseph in Maximo has collaborated with neighboring Catholic parishes — Regina Coeli and St. Joseph parishes in Alliance, St. Ann in Sebring, and St. Isidore (Louisville/Harrisburg) — first informally and now as the Catholic Community of Eastern Stark County. They share pastoral leadership, a unified weekend and weekday Mass schedule, and overlapping lay councils. Fr. Matt Humerickhouse serves as pastor and Fr. Bob England as parochial vicar across the collaborative.
- Regina Coeli Parish (Alliance)
- St. Joseph Parish (Alliance)
- St. Ann Parish (Sebring)
- St. Isidore Parish (Louisville/Harrisburg)
Parish Staff and Contact
The parish is led by Rev. Matthew Humerickhouse (Pastor, email [email protected]) and Rev. Robert England (Parochial Vicar, email [email protected]). Diocesan Pastoral Associates Mrs. Amy Benedetti-Dike and Deacon Greg Wood assist with collaborative-wide ministry. Mr. Roger Herstine serves as CCD Leader, and Mrs. Michelle Biery is Parish Secretary. The parish office is open Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and can be reached at 330-823-7809 or [email protected].
- Pastor: Rev. Matthew Humerickhouse
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Robert England
- Diocesan Pastoral Associates: Mrs. Amy Benedetti-Dike; Deacon Greg Wood
- CCD Leader: Roger Herstine
- Parish Secretary: Michelle Biery
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Louis Florence D'Arcy1857
Acquired land from Mr. Erisey for first church
- Fr. Louis Hoffer1864-1870
From Louisville
- Fr. John B. Buerkel1870-1877
From Harrisburg
- Fr. Joseph Ahern and Fr. James O'Leary1877-1883
From Alliance
- Fr. Francis Senner and Fr. Andrew Suavedet1884-1885
From Harrisburg
- Fr. John P. Kunner, Fr. Joseph Hetet, Fr. Thomas F. McGuire, Fr. Thomas Kolb, Fr. Michael Philippart1886-1905
Served during mission era
- Fr. Charles H. Gardner1905-1907
First resident pastor when parish was formally established
- Fr. Edward T. Calvey1907-1915
- Fr. James Nolan1915-1917
- Fr. Thomas P. Mulligan1917-1918
- Fr. Michael F. Shannon1918-1919
- Fr. Thomas E. McKenney1919-1921
- Fr. Joseph L. Kuta1921
- Fr. Raymond J. Gorman1921-1935
Reopened and expanded the school in the 1920s
- Msgr. M. Willard McMahon1935-1941
- Fr. James P. Peppard1941-1944
- Fr. Gordon Gutman1944-1953
- Fr. William O'Neil1953-1955
During sister-shortage years, arranged busing to Harrisburg school
- Fr. Ralph Friedrich1955-1961
Oversaw groundbreaking (1957) and dedication (1958) of new church
- Fr. Paul J. Dehnke1961-1969
- Fr. Robert Sabatino1969-1973
- Fr. Thomas C. McNally1973-1990
- Fr. William Bantz1990-2002
Led major renovations of church, undercroft, cemetery, and school
- Fr. Thomas Ungashick2002-2011
- Fr. Howard Ziemba2011-2012
- Fr. Patrick Manning2012-2013
Pro-tem administrator
- Fr. Joseph Ruggieri2013-2021
Also served Regina Coeli in Alliance
- Fr. G. David Weikart2021-2025
St. Joseph became a member of the Catholic Community of Alliance, Maximo and Sebring
- Rev. Matthew Humerickhouse2025-present
Installed July 19, 2025; current pastor of the Catholic Community of Eastern Stark County