About St. Joseph · Milford, Iowa
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a vibrant parish community of more than 700 households in Milford, Iowa, in the heart of the Iowa Great Lakes region of northwest Iowa. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Sioux City, follows the Roman-Latin Rite, and gathers for weekend Mass on Saturday evening and twice on Sunday, with two daily Masses during the week. Beyond the liturgies, the parish is known for a busy calendar of faith formation, music ministry, OCIA (formerly RCIA), Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies, Vacation Bible School, a parish center, and an adjoining Calvary Cemetery.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Brian Hughes
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux City
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is a welcoming parish of more than 700 households that takes the Gospel into every corner of its life — daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, regular Confession, faith formation for children, OCIA classes for adults, Bible studies, a music and liturgy program, Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters chapters, Vacation Bible School, and a strong outreach calendar. A parish center dedicated in 2004 hosts many of these gatherings, an active Catholic school anchors formation for local families, and Calvary Cemetery ties the parish to generations of Iowa Great Lakes Catholics. Whether you are a seasonal visitor to the Okoboji lakes or a year-round resident, the parish makes it easy to plug in.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
- Also available by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 2:00 PM – 5:15 PM (adoration ends prior to 5:30 PM daily Mass)
Welcome and Parish Identity
The parish greets visitors with a warm biblical blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 and describes itself as 'a vibrant parish community comprised of more than 700 households in the Northwest Iowa community of Milford.' It calls itself 'busy, active and vibrant' and committed to proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, inviting newcomers to 'join us in living as a welcoming Catholic community.'
- More than 700 registered households
- Located in Milford, in the Iowa Great Lakes region
- Member of the Diocese of Sioux City, Roman-Latin Rite
Parish History — From St. Patrick's to St. Joseph's
St. Joseph's traces its roots to 1883, when the first Catholics arrived in the territory around Milford. The first Mass was offered in 1884 in the home of Daniel Ryan, five miles southeast of town. The first church was built in the winter of 1890–91 for $1,300, and the parish was originally known as St. Patrick's. In 1909 Bishop Garrigan appointed the Rev. E.C. Meyers as the first resident pastor; he moved the parish north of town onto a two-block cornfield he personally helped pay for, opened St. Joseph's School in 1913, and in 1912 renamed the parish St. Joseph's in fulfillment of a vow from his 1910 Holy Land pilgrimage. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1920, the mortgage was lifted in 1947, and major 21st-century projects include the 2004 parish center and the 2007–08 renovation of the former convent into the rectory.
- First Mass in Milford territory: 1884, in the Daniel Ryan home
- First church built: 1890–91, cost $1,300
- Parish renamed St. Joseph's: 1912
- St. Joseph's School opened: September 8, 1913 (Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration)
- Current church cornerstone: 1920; cost $100,000 (plus $25,000 furnishings)
- Mortgage fully lifted: 1947
- Parish center groundbreaking: August 30, 2003; dedication: November 21, 2004
- Calvary Cemetery addition (1.92 acres): completed November 29, 2005
Clergy and Staff
The current pastor is Fr. Brian Hughes, who was assigned in January 2021. The parish is also served by Fr. David Hemann and supported by a parish business manager (Erin Lorch), Director of Music, Liturgy & Technology and Director of RCIA and VIRTUS (Allison Oyler), Director of Faith Formation and Director of Confirmation (Erin Lorch), Pamela Hanson, Lois Eckard (housekeeper), and other custodial staff. Flanked by a long line of pastors detailed in the parish history, Fr. Tom Flanagan retired in Milford after serving as Pastor from 2010 to 2017.
- Fr. Brian Hughes — Pastor (since January 2021)
- Fr. David Hemann
- Erin Lorch — Parish Business Manager; Director of Faith Formation; Director of Confirmation
- Allison Oyler — Director of Music, Liturgy & Technology; Director of RCIA and VIRTUS
- Pamela Hanson
- Lois Eckard — Housekeeper
- Fr. Tom Flanagan — Pastor Emeritus, retired in Milford (2017)
Faith Formation and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
The parish maintains a formal Faith Formation program for children, with a separate Director of Confirmation. For adults, OCIA classes are held on Tuesday evenings beginning in early September at St. Joseph Parish in Milford, running through the Easter Vigil the following spring. The program is open to catechumens, candidates for full communion, those in mixed-religion marriages planning to marry, and anyone wanting to learn more about the Catholic faith.
- OCIA classes: Tuesday evenings, beginning September 1
- Easter Vigil: Saturday, March 27, 2027 (for the 2026-2027 cohort)
- Contact: Erin Lorch, 712-339-4555
- Open to non-Catholics, un-baptized adults, and mixed-religion couples
Music, Liturgy and Technology
Liturgy and music at St. Joseph's are coordinated by a dedicated Director of Music, Liturgy & Technology. The parish also live-streams Mass online through its website and maintains an active YouTube presence, and publishes a weekly bulletin accessible via the home page (and archived by year going back to 2018).
- Weekly live-streamed Masses via the parish website and YouTube
- Weekly parish bulletin (archived online back to 2018)
- Bp. Barron's daily reflections linked from the home page
Parish Organizations and Outreach
The parish calendar shows a robust lineup of lay-led organizations and recurring events: the Catholic Daughters of the Americas meet monthly on the fourth Tuesday evening; the Knights of Columbus meet monthly on the fourth Thursday evening; Bible Study is offered Wednesday mornings at 8:15 AM and Friday mornings at 8:00 AM; Alcoholics Anonymous meets in the parish facility on Monday evenings at 8:00 PM; and the parish hosts an annual Vacation Bible School.
- Catholic Daughters — monthly meeting, 4th Tuesday 6:00 PM
- Knights of Columbus — monthly meeting, 4th Thursday 6:00 PM
- Bible Study — Wed 8:15 AM & Fri 8:00 AM
- Alcoholics Anonymous — Mon 8:00 PM (hosted)
- Vacation Bible School — week-long summer program
Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery is the parish's own burial ground, originally four acres purchased from John Guthrie in 1898 under Father L.J. Kirby. A 1.92-acre addition adjacent to the north was completed on November 29, 2005; the land was purchased from Marjorie Bever, cleared of trees in 2006, and seeded in the spring of 2008. In fall 2009, 50 Black Hills spruce trees — a gift of Pheasants Forever — were planted on the grounds, and a new two-rail white fence was installed at the south entryway in August 2008.
- Original four acres purchased in 1898
- 1.92-acre addition completed November 29, 2005
- 50 Black Hills spruce trees planted Fall 2009 (gift of Pheasants Forever)
- New white two-rail fence installed August 2008
Sacraments
The parish's Sacraments page serves as a hub for information on the seven Catholic sacraments. Routine sacramental celebrations include weekly Confession (Saturday and Sunday), wedding nuptial Masses (regular Saturday-afternoon weddings appear on the parish calendar), daily and Sunday Mass, OCIA for adult initiation, and preparation for First Communion and Confirmation. Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting the parish office.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist
- Marriage — Saturday nuptial Masses regularly scheduled
- Reconciliation — Sat 3:15–3:45 PM, Sun 8:15–8:45 AM, by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Staying Connected
Parishioners can stay in touch through the weekly bulletin (archived on the website back through 2018), the online calendar of events, the parish's Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels, live-streamed Masses, and direct email and phone contact via the parish office.
- Parish Bulletin — archived online from 2018 through 2026
- Facebook, Instagram, YouTube presence
- Live-streamed Sunday and daily Masses
- Parish Business Manager / office: 712-338-2274, [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. M.K. Morton1882–1887 (missionary)
Said first Mass in Milford territory in 1884 in the home of Daniel Ryan.
- Rev. Luke Carroll1887–1895
Based in Ruthven; served Milford as a mission.
- Rev. P. McCauley1895–
Assigned to Milford with Spirit Lake, Lake Park and Spencer as missions; transferred within a short time.
- Rev. P.A.R. Tierneylate 1890s
Cleared the parish debt and dedicated the first church.
- Rev. L.J. Kirby1897–c.1902
Purchased four acres from John Guthrie in 1898 that became Calvary Cemetery.
- Rev. M.J. Quirkc.1902–c.1903
- Rev. M.J. Heatheringtonc.1903–1908
Served Milford every second Sunday.
- Rev. B.A. Hunt1908–1909
- Rev. E.C. Meyers1909–
First resident pastor since the church was built; changed the parish name from St. Patrick's to St. Joseph's; oversaw school opening in 1913.
- Father Gretemanmid-20th century
Parish families grew to roughly 200 during his tenure; mortgage completely lifted in 1947.
- Father Joseph Fitzpatrick1967–
- Father James Fandel
- Msgr. A.J. (Joe) Elbertuntil September 1987
Served summer months for many years; died in office.
- Father Roger Augustine1987–July 1988
Succeeded Msgr. Elbert.
- Father Richard Remmesuntil 1991
- Father John Vakulskas1993–1998
Redecoration of the church completed in 1994.
- Father Jim BruchJuly 1998 – June 2005
Groundbreaking for new parish center on August 30, 2003.
- Msgr. Ken SeifriedJuly 2005 – July 2009
Calvary cemetery 1.92-acre addition completed November 29, 2005.
- Fr. Brian DannerJuly 2009 – August 2010
- Fr. Tom FlanaganAssociate July 2009 – August 2010; Pastor August 2010 – June 2017
Retired in Milford.
- Fr. Francis MakwinjaNovember 2011 – 2017
From Malawi; later assigned as pastor in Larchwood, Iowa.
- Fr. Shinoj Pafter 2011 – 2017
Reassigned to the Carroll area in 2017.
- Fr. Shane Demansummer 2008
Summer helper; Sioux City native and Heelan High School graduate.
- Fr. Tim JohnsonJuly 2017 – January 2021
- Fr. Brian HughesJanuary 2021 – present