About St. Joseph · Norwich, Connecticut
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Polish-American Roman Catholic parish at 120 Cliff Street in Norwich, Connecticut, founded in 1904 by Rev. John Ambot to serve Polish immigrants who had previously worshipped at St. Mary's. Today the parish is pastored by Msgr. Leszek T. Janik and is part of the Joint Norwich Catholic Cluster alongside Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Mary parishes in the city. Sunday Mass is celebrated bilingually in Polish and English, and the parish remains a living center of Norwich's historic Polonia community on the city's east side.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- St. Joseph (husband of the Virgin Mary, foster father of Jesus)
- Rector
- Msgr. Leszek T. Janik
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich (Bishop Daniel R. Cote)
Why belong here
St. Joseph's offers something increasingly rare in New England: a Sunday Mass celebrated bilingually in Polish and English, preserving the devotions, hymns and cultural traditions of Norwich's historic Polish community. The parish is small and personal, with a long-standing school heritage and an active outreach through St. Vincent de Paul Place to help neighbors in need. For Polish-American Catholics, returning visitors, or anyone drawn to the beauty of a traditional ethnic parish, St. Joseph's is a welcoming spiritual home rooted in more than a century of faith on Cliff Street.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm (temporarily suspended beginning January 24, 2026)
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Parish was established in 1904 when Rev. John Ambot gathered Polish immigrants from St. Mary's into their own national parish on Cliff Street. Under successive Polish-American pastors the parish grew a convent and school (1911), and in 1925 built a new school under Rev. Stanislaus A. Iciek that taught in both Polish and English. The original church was replaced by the present 1962 structure, and the parish continues to emphasize Polish liturgical traditions.
- Founded 1904 by Rev. John Ambot
- Convent and school added 1911 under Fr. Ignatius Maciejewski
- New school built 1925 under Rev. Stanislaus A. Iciek
- Current church building constructed 1962
- Operated by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
Pastor and Parish Staff
St. Joseph is currently pastored by Msgr. Leszek T. Janik. The rectory office is staffed by parish secretary Karen Morrison. Office hours are Monday and Tuesday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, and Friday 9:30 am – 12:30 pm, with phone (860) 887-1565.
- Msgr. Leszek T. Janik — Pastor
- Karen Morrison — Secretary
- Rectory phone: 860-887-1565
Joint Norwich Catholic Cluster
St. Joseph's is one of three parishes in the Joint Norwich Catholic Cluster, alongside Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Mary in Norwich, CT. The cluster shares pastoral and administrative resources while each parish retains its own identity and liturgical traditions.
- Sts. Peter and Paul, Norwich
- St. Mary, Norwich
- Cluster website: jnccfaith.org
Polish Heritage and Cultural Life
From its founding in 1904, St. Joseph has been the spiritual anchor of Norwich's Polish-American community. Bilingual Polish-English Mass, Polish hymns, and traditional devotions remain central to parish life. The parish also takes part in the wider civic life of Polonia in Norwich, including collaboration with the Polish Citizens' Club and community events such as the annual Parish Bazaar.
- Sunday Mass in Polish and English
- Annual Parish Bazaar
- Continued Polish liturgical traditions
Outreach and Charity
St. Joseph's cooperates with St. Vincent de Paul Place to minister to the impoverished communities of greater Norwich, continuing a long tradition of Polish-American parishes serving the material as well as spiritual needs of their neighbors.
- Cooperative ministry with St. Vincent de Paul Place
Parish School Heritage
A parish school has been part of St. Joseph's since 1911, when it was placed under the care of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. A new school building was constructed in 1925 under Fr. Iciek, offering instruction in both Polish and English and serving generations of Polish-American children in Norwich.
- School established 1911 (Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth)
- New school built 1925 under Rev. Stanislaus A. Iciek
- Instruction offered in Polish and English
Visit Us
St. Joseph Catholic Church is located at 120 Cliff Street, Norwich, CT 06360. Visitors are warmly welcomed at Sunday Mass at 9:00 am (Polish/English). For parish business or sacramental inquiries, contact the rectory at (860) 887-1565 or [email protected].
- Address: 120 Cliff Street, Norwich, CT 06360
- Phone: (860) 887-1565
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: saintjosephnorwich.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Ambot1904–
Lithuanian-born priest who founded St. Joseph Parish in 1904 for Polish immigrants from St. Mary's.
- Rev. Ignatius Maciejewskiby 1911
Supervised addition of the convent and school under the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
- Rev. Stanislaus A. Iciek1925–1944
Built St. Joseph's School in 1925; Polish-language advocate, helped found Polonia Park; died 1944 at age 61.