About St. Joseph · Ogden, Utah
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Ogden, Utah, founded in 1875 and known affectionately as Utah's "Cathedral of the North." The parish serves a remarkably multicultural community — with Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, and a monthly Filipino Mass — and is home to Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary School and Saint Joseph Catholic High School, two of the oldest Catholic schools in Utah. The current English Gothic Revival church building, dedicated in 1902, is a Utah Historical Society state monument and the spiritual heart of Ogden's historic Central Bench neighborhood.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Joshua Maria Santos (also styled Reverend Jose Emilio (Joshua) Santos)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salt Lake City
Why belong here
Saint Joseph offers one of the most liturgically diverse Catholic experiences in northern Utah, with weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, a monthly Filipino Mass on the first Monday, a First Friday Healing Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart, and a First Saturday Mass in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The parish welcomes all abilities, runs an active OCIA/RCIA process, supports a perpetual Adoration Chapel, and is physically connected to the heritage-rich Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary School and Saint Joseph Catholic High School — making it a true hub for Catholic family life on Ogden's historic Central Bench.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel (24-hour Adoration) at Saint Joseph Catholic Church
Our Story & History
Saint Joseph Parish was established in 1875, with the first wooden church opening on Easter Sunday 1877. In 1881 Rev. Patrick M. Cushnahan became the first pastor and spearheaded the construction of the present English Gothic Revival church, dedicated December 4, 1902. The parish celebrated its Centennial in 1981 and is now in its 125th-anniversary year, opened with a Jubilee Mass on May 1, 2026 presided over by Bishop Oscar Solis. The parish also founded Ogden's Catholic schools, including Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary School and Saint Joseph Catholic High School (opened September 1954 under the Sisters of the Holy Cross and the Jesuit Fathers).
- Parish established 1875
- First wooden church opened Easter Sunday 1877
- First pastor: Rev. Patrick M. Cushnahan, 1881
- Present church dedicated December 4, 1902
- Centennial celebrated 1981
- 125th anniversary Jubilee Mass celebrated May 1, 2026 by Bishop Oscar Solis
Architecture & Heritage Landmark
The church was designed in the English Gothic Revival style by local architect Francis C. Woods of the firm Woods & Smith and built of buff and salmon sandstone with pointed-arch openings, tall lancet windows, and a 137-foot bell tower. The interior features a long nave, an elaborately hand-carved altar reportedly requiring 50 to 60 men to assemble, and numerous stained-glass windows; original furnishings remain largely intact. The building was formally recognized as a Utah Historical Society state historical monument in 1971, and the bell tower has undergone major structural reinforcement in recent years.
- Style: English Gothic Revival
- Architect: Francis C. Woods (Woods & Smith)
- Exterior: buff and salmon sandstone
- 137-foot bell tower
- State historical monument since 1971
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Fr. Joshua Maria Santos (Reverend Jose Emilio (Joshua) Santos), who also oversees Saint Florence Catholic Mission in Huntsville and serves as Associate Chaplain of the Weber State Newman Center. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. Juan Garcia-Membreño and two retired priests in residence, Rev. Fr. Bill Wheaton and Rev. Fr. Charles Cummins. The diaconate includes Rev. Mr. Honorio Moreno, Rev. Mr. Howard Schuyler, and Rev. Mr. Terrance Waiss. The lay staff is led by Office Manager Patricia Siliezar and Finance Manager Judy Franquelin.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Joshua Maria Santos
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. Juan Garcia-Membreño
- Retired in residence: Fr. Bill Wheaton, Fr. Charles Cummins
- Deacons: Honorio Moreno, Howard Schuyler, Terrance Waiss
- Office Manager: Patricia Siliezar
- Finance Manager: Judy Franquelin
Catholic Schools
Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary School (preschool–8th grade) and Saint Joseph Catholic High School are parish-affiliated and administered under the Diocese of Salt Lake City for the people of northern Utah. The elementary school, one of the oldest Catholic schools in Utah, has been voted the #1 private school in Northern Utah by the Standard Examiner. The high school opened in September 1954 under the Sisters of the Holy Cross and the Jesuit Fathers and reports a graduation rate of nearly 100%; recent campus additions include the 1985 Val A. Browning Library, the 2003 Sam & Aline Skaggs Arts Education Building, and 2021's pavilion, artificial turf field, and football field.
- Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary School (preschool–8)
- Saint Joseph Catholic High School (opened 1954)
- Administered by Diocese of Salt Lake City
- Elementary school voted #1 private school in Northern Utah by the Standard Examiner
- High school ~100% graduation rate
Faith Formation & Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for all seven sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Confession, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony — with dedicated preparation pages on the parish website. The OCIA (formerly RCIA) process welcomes adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, and the parish offers ongoing faith formation through its youth ministry and Confirmation preparation.
- OCIA / RCIA for adults
- Youth Ministry
- Confirmation preparation
- Baptism, First Communion, Marriage, Anointing, Holy Orders preparation
- Confession (see schedule)
Outreach & Parish Life
Saint Joseph describes itself as a multicultural, multigenerational community — a 'Tapestry of different cultures, backgrounds, and traditions' — and offers a live stream of Mass for those who cannot attend in person. The parish welcomes visitors from all denominations, offers special-accommodations support for parishioners of all abilities, and runs a parish bulletin and online giving program. The pastor also serves Saint Florence Catholic Mission in Huntsville and the Weber State Newman Center, extending Saint Joseph's reach across northern Utah.
- Live-streamed Mass
- Special accommodations for all abilities
- Multicultural parish: English, Spanish, Filipino communities
- Pastoral care for Saint Florence Mission (Huntsville) and Weber State Newman Center
- Online giving and weekly parish bulletin
Plan a Visit
First-time visitors are invited to request a Mass Guide (a parishioner will reach out to walk them through the liturgy), request special accommodations, and consider joining in person or online via the parish's live stream. The main entrance is on 24th Street at the corner of Adams Avenue, in the heart of Ogden's historic Central Bench neighborhood.
- Request a Mass Guide via parish email
- Request special accommodations in advance
- Live stream available for remote worship
- Main entrance on 24th Street (corner of Adams Avenue)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick M. Cushnahan1881 onward
First pastor of Saint Joseph Parish; drove construction of the present English Gothic church, dedicated 1902; later Monsignor.