About St. Joseph · Midland, Maryland
St. Joseph is a Catholic church in Midland, Maryland, founded in 1891 as a parish serving the coal-mining communities of the Georges Creek Valley in Allegany County. On January 1, 2016 it was united with St. Michael (Frostburg), St. Ann (Grantsville), and St. Peter (Westernport) to form Divine Mercy Parish, with St. Joseph remaining an active worship site under the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Today the church is best known locally as the home of Divine Mercy's parish-wide Faith Formation program and its youth ministry, which meet in the Education Center on the first floor of the St. Joseph building.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Scott Kady (Administrator, Divine Mercy Parish)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Joseph, Midland offers the warmth of a small coal-country parish with the resources of a four-church Catholic family. Sunday 9:00 am Mass keeps a weekly worship rhythm, and the church is the hub for Divine Mercy's Faith Formation, family-based catechesis, and Youth Ministry (grades 9–12). A committed parish team — including a Director of Mission, Director of Music and Liturgy, deacon, and sacramental-prep coordinators — supports parishioners from baptism through marriage preparation.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation for Divine Mercy Parish is offered Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm at St. Peter, Westernport, and Saturday 4:00–4:45 pm at St. Michael, Frostburg; other times available by appointment through the parish office.
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered across Divine Mercy's churches on a rotating weekly schedule (Mon St. Gabriel 8:00 am; Tue St. Michael 8:00 am; Wed St. Peter 8:00 am and St. Michael 6:00 pm; Thu St. Michael 8:00 am; Fri St. Peter 8:00 am; Thu before First Fri St. Ann 6:00 pm).
St. Joseph, Midland — Parish Identity
St. Joseph is one of the four worship sites that together make up Divine Mercy Parish in the western Maryland mountains. It is a historic coal-country parish founded in 1891 and now part of a four-church family under the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Visitors are welcomed to the 9:00 am Sunday Mass, and parishioners come to Midland for Faith Formation classes, sacramental preparation, and youth ministry.
- Founded June 1891 in Midland, Maryland
- Merged into Divine Mercy Parish on January 1, 2016
- Sunday Mass at 9:00 am
- 19925 Church Street, Midland, MD 21542
History
The parish was founded in Midland in June 1891 — cornerstone blessed June 28, 1891, first Mass Christmas Midnight Mass 1891. Fr. Luigi Sartori became its first resident pastor in 1898, and the parish grew quickly, opening St. Joseph School under the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1899. A devastating fire destroyed the rectory in August 1952, and the original church soon showed its age. Rev. Joseph Fuller began working with Cardinal Shehan and the Archdiocese Building Commission in fall 1963 on a new school, church and rectory; groundbreaking came on Labor Day 1965 and the dedication in October 1967. The school closed in 1972 due to declining enrollment; the sisters' convent was demolished in 1993. The former school was renovated in the 1980s by the St. Joseph Sodality into the parish hall still in use today. St. Joseph marked its centennial in 1991 and its 120th anniversary in 2011, before joining Divine Mercy Parish in 2016.
- 1891 — Parish founded; cornerstone blessed June 28
- 1898 — Fr. Luigi Sartori becomes first pastor
- 1899 — St. Joseph School opens under School Sisters of Notre Dame
- 1952 — Fire destroys the rectory
- 1963 — Rev. Joseph Fuller begins planning new complex with Cardinal Shehan
- 1965 — Groundbreaking on Labor Day
- 1967 — Dedication of new church, school and rectory (October)
- 1972 — School closes due to lack of enrollment
- 1980s — Sodality renovates former school as parish hall
- 1991 — Centennial celebrated with a week of festivities
- 1993 — Convent demolished
- 2011 — 120th anniversary
- 2016 — United with St. Michael, St. Ann and St. Peter as Divine Mercy Parish
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education program for children and youth of Divine Mercy Parish is housed at St. Joseph in Midland. The program is strongly tied to scripture, the sacraments, and Catholic tradition, and partners with parents as the primary educators of faith. Family Faith Formation continues to be a major emphasis: families gather on two Sunday mornings each month, with parents attending one session per month and short parent-formation sessions offered on the same day. Family Masses are celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the 9:00 am Mass, with children and parents encouraged to take part in liturgical ministries.
- Faith Formation for Pre-K through Grade 8
- Sessions meet at the St. Joseph Education Center
- Tuition $40 for one child, $10 per sibling; $5 early-bird discount
- Sacramental Prep fees: $35 each for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Scholarships, fee waivers, and payment plans available
- Family-based sessions for parents and children monthly
- Family Mass on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 9:00 am
Youth Ministry
Senior High Youth Ministry (Grades 9–12) meets at St. Joseph alongside the rest of the Faith Formation program. The ministry gives teens opportunities to explore and question their faith, build positive peer and adult relationships, and prepare to be faithful adults making a difference in the world. Parents are encouraged to support the program with snacks, transportation, and supervision for off-campus activities, and all parents are strongly encouraged to keep VIRTUS clearance up to date.
- Senior High (Grades 9–12) at St. Joseph
- Themes relevant to teens' lives and Catholic identity
- Service projects and occasional off-campus activities
- VIRTUS training required for adult volunteers
Sacramental Preparation
Sacramental preparation at Divine Mercy Parish is woven into the Religious Education and RCIA programs. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in parish-based workshops, while Confirmation preparation is a two-year process within the Religious Education curriculum (or part of RCIA for adults). Parents of children to be baptized must complete a preparation session before scheduling the baptism.
- First Reconciliation — sacramental prep workshops
- First Eucharist — sacramental prep workshops
- Confirmation — two-year program; also part of RCIA
- Baptism — call parish office; parent prep session required
RCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the path for unbaptized adults and for children of catechetical age seeking Baptism, as well as for Catholics seeking Confirmation and First Communion. The program is part of the wider Faith Formation offerings coordinated through Divine Mercy Parish.
- For unbaptized adults preparing for initiation
- Includes Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion
- Confirmation preparation for already-baptized adults
Marriage Preparation
Divine Mercy Parish treats marriage as a covenant and a liturgical act, ideally celebrated within the Eucharistic Liturgy. Couples are asked to contact the parish office at least six months — ideally six to nine months — before the desired wedding date and to schedule an appointment with Fr. Ed or Deacon Harold Bradley. A recent baptismal certificate (within six months) is required, and marriage preparation is required by the Archdiocese of Baltimore — typically a Pre-Cana program or an Engaged Encounter weekend retreat. Weddings at St. Gabriel require the marriage license from the Garrett County Clerk's Office (301-334-1937).
- Initial appointment required with pastor or deacon
- Baptismal certificate dated within 6 months
- Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter required
- Marriage license from Allegany or Garrett County Clerk
- At least 6 months advance contact with parish office
Staff & Leadership
Divine Mercy Parish is led by an Administrator (the pastoral leadership role formerly titled Pastor) supported by an associate pastor, deacon, and a team of lay staff. Music and liturgy, faith formation, mission outreach, finances, and youth ministry each have a dedicated coordinator working across all four worship sites.
- Rev. Scott Kady — Administrator
- Fr. Eric Gauchat — Associate Pastor; Catholic Healthcare Minister
- Deacon Harold Bradley
- Ms. Margaret (Margie) Meyers — Director of Mission
- Mr. Edward Jones — Business Manager
- Mrs. Virginia Gostomski — Bookkeeper
- Mrs. Alison Lyons — Director of Music and Liturgy / Administrative Associate
- Sara Vance — Coordinator of Religious Education for Children and Youth
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a visible part of parish life at Divine Mercy. On the third weekend of each month the parish collects food and shelf-stable snacks for students at local elementary schools. Fr. Eric Gauchat serves as Catholic Healthcare Minister, visiting the hospital and area nursing homes to bring the Anointing of the Sick and pastoral care.
- Monthly Food Collection — 3rd weekend/Sunday for area schools
- Catholic Healthcare Ministry visits to hospital and nursing homes
- Anointing of the Sick available through Fr. Eric Gauchat
Music & Liturgy
Music and liturgical ministry across Divine Mercy's four churches is coordinated by the Director of Music and Liturgy, who also serves as the parish's Administrative Associate. Family Masses on the 3rd Sunday at the 9:00 am St. Joseph Mass especially invite children and parents to volunteer in the liturgical ministries.
- Director of Music and Liturgy: Alison Lyons
- Family Masses 3rd Sunday of each month
- Altar Servers needed at all four churches — training offered for children and adults
Facilities & Campus
St. Joseph's current campus dates to the 1967 dedication of the new church, school and rectory complex. When the school closed in 1972, the building was repurposed: in the 1980s the St. Joseph Sodality renovated the former school into the parish hall, which continues in use today. The convent was demolished in 1993. The first floor of the church building now houses the Education Center used for parish-wide Faith Formation and Youth Ministry.
- Current church building dedicated October 1967
- Former school converted to parish hall in the 1980s by the St. Joseph Sodality
- Education Center on first floor used for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
- Convent demolished 1993 after sisters' departure
Getting Involved
Parishioners are invited to share their time and talents as catechists, aides, altar servers, musicians, sodality members, food-collection volunteers, and more. The parish specifically notes that adult altar servers are welcome so that parents and children can serve together, and that all volunteers working with minors must complete VIRTUS training and background checks per Archdiocese of Baltimore policy.
- Catechists and aides for Faith Formation
- Altar servers (youth and adult)
- Music ministry
- Food Collection volunteers
- Sodality and parish-hall stewardship
- VIRTUS training required for those working with children and youth
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Luigi Sartori1898–
First pastor of St. Joseph; expanded parish with St. Joseph School (1899) under the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
- Rev. Joseph Fuller1963–
Began work with Cardinal Shehan and the Archdiocese Building Commission in fall 1963 on the new school, church and rectory; groundbreaking Labor Day 1965, dedication October 1967.
- Rev. Edward S. Hendricks2016–
Founding pastor of Divine Mercy Parish when St. Joseph merged with St. Michael, St. Ann and St. Peter on January 1, 2016.