About St. Joseph · Saginaw, Michigan
St. Joseph Parish is a historic Catholic parish in Saginaw, Michigan, founded in 1872 (and formally established with its first pastor in 1873) as one of the earliest Catholic communities in the Saginaw Valley. Steeped in the legacy of Irish Catholic immigrants who first built the parish and later enriched by waves of Hispanic and African American faithful, it is lovingly known as the 'Rainbow Parish of Love' for its multicultural character. Today it is served by Capuchin Friars (O.F.M. Cap.), with Fr. Frank Voris as pastor, and remains a center of devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and to its patron, St. Joseph.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Francis W. "Frank" Voris, OFM Cap.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
St. Joseph Parish offers a place where every Catholic — whether long-resident or new to the area — can feel at home. Its bilingual Sunday Masses (9:30 a.m. bilingual, 11:30 a.m.) and Saturday vigil make it a genuine multicultural community in the heart of Saginaw, while its ministries reach outward: a parish-led Guadalupe Clinic legacy, food-voucher outreach, a Christmas Giving Tree, partnership with St. Paul's Episcopal meal program, and a vibrant annual Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. With active faith formation for children, youth, and adults (including RCIA), ongoing sacramental preparation, and Capuchin Franciscan pastoral leadership, it is a parish where tradition and neighborly service meet.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm in the Reconciliation Room (within the Hospitality Room)
- Anytime upon request
Parish History
Catholic life in Saginaw traces back to 1841, when Fr. Martin Kundig visited 15 Catholic families. For more than a decade priests walked or skated the Saginaw River from Bay City to celebrate Mass. St. Joseph Church was 'born' in 1872, and on October 1873 Fr. Richard Sweeny arrived as the first resident pastor — a pastorate that lasted an extraordinary 41 years. Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids came to run the school in 1885 (the first sisters in Saginaw). A new church was built around the old one in 1919. Fr. Constantine A. Skowronski (1933–1944) cleared the parish of all debt. Msgr. Harold J. Bolton (1944–1955) abolished pew fees, ended segregated seating, and opened the Guadalupe Clinic. In the early 2000s, after parish-wide planning meetings beginning in October 1997, a New Church Building Committee formed (January 2000); groundbreaking was July 2001, the rectory and convent came down in 2002, and the new church was dedicated April 6, 2003. Fr. Frank Voris, O.F.M. Cap., has been pastor since August 2009.
- 1841 — Fr. Martin Kundig visits 15 Catholic families in Saginaw.
- 1851 — Catholics purchase a carpentry shop as a gathering place.
- 1872 — St. Joseph Church is born.
- 1873–1914 — Fr. Richard Sweeny serves as first resident pastor (41 years).
- 1885 — Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids arrive; first sisters in Saginaw.
- 1919 — A new church is built around the old one.
- 1933–1944 — Fr. Skowronski clears parish debt.
- 1944–1955 — Msgr. Bolton's transformative pastorate.
- 1945 — Guadalupe Clinic opens on parish grounds.
- 1947 — Sanctuary retitled; chapel added; total convent renovation.
- 1989 — New statue of St. Joseph installed for March 19 feast.
- 1997–2003 — Parish planning and new church campaign.
- April 6, 2003 — Dedication of the NEW CHURCH.
- August 2009 — Fr. Frank Voris, O.F.M. Cap., becomes pastor.
Parish Staff & Office Hours
Day-to-day life of the parish is shaped by a small, devoted staff working with the pastor. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the office is closed on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Music and liturgy, faith formation, sacramental coordination, and outreach programs each have a named lead.
- Fr. Frank Voris, O.F.M. Cap. — Pastor
- Deacon Librado 'Larry' Gayton
- Deacon Bob Sasiela
- Josie Salazar — Faith Formation Coordinator / Office Professional / Bulletin Editor
- Jennifer Watts — Bookkeeper
- Matt Fulgencio — Music Director
- Albert Vasquez — Sacristan
- Benita Ortega — CMA Coordinator
- Office: 989-755-7561 | Fax: 989-755-1090 | Rectory: 989-753-4418
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Joseph is intergenerational, weaving parents and children together in the sacramental and catechetical life of the parish. Sacramental programs for Confirmation, Eucharist, and Reconciliation meet alongside Faith Formation with parents as the primary educators of faith at home. The parish runs RCIA for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church (or the sacraments of Communion and Confirmation).
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or Catholic adults needing Communion/Confirmation.
- Sacramental Programs — Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (intergenerational with parents).
- Youth Ministry — High School and Jr. High meet twice a month to share, learn, pray, and put faith into action.
- Sunday Morning Liturgy for Children — ages 3–6, lectionary-based Children's Liturgy of the Word.
- Quinceañera preparation class — for young women registered in the parish.
- Contact: Education Center 989-753-0715 (Christina Gayton)
Parish Organizations & Community Life
The parish's many organizations reflect its multicultural identity. Sr. Isadora Madry founded the Isadora Club; today the St. Joseph Isadoras reach out to the needs of the church, home, and community. Las Damas de Guadalupe promote devotion to La Virgen de Guadalupe and are central to the annual Novena. The Art and Environment Committee enhances the liturgy through seasonal color, flowers, and artwork reflecting the parish's 'Rainbow' character.
- St. Joseph Isadoras — founded by Sr. Isadora Madry; inclusive outreach to parish and community.
- Las Damas de Guadalupe — devotion to Our Lady; active in the annual Novena and parish fundraising.
- Art and Environment Committee — enhances liturgy with seasonal color, flowers, and art (contact Mina Fulgencio).
- Liturgical Commission — coordinates Hospitality, Music, EMHCs, Lectors, Art & Environment for all special liturgies.
Outreach & Christian Service
St. Joseph's identity as a 'Rainbow Parish of Love' is most visible in its Christian service. The Christian Service Commission coordinates an array of parish-wide efforts to serve neighbors locally and beyond. These efforts trace back to Msgr. Bolton's founding of the Guadalupe Clinic in 1945 and continue today through food vouchers, ecumenical meal programs, and seasonal giving.
- Food Vouchers — monthly support to families with children and emergency aid to those in need.
- Christmas Giving Tree — gifts for children in the parish and neighborhood; partnerships with Emmaus House and local schools.
- St. Paul's Episcopal Meal Program — Sunday dinners for neighbors in need; parish youth and adults participate.
- Christian Service Commission — organized parish outreach and social-justice advocacy.
- Pastoral Visitation — bringing the Eucharist and arranging Anointing of the Sick for those unable to attend.
- Funeral Luncheon Ministry — hospitality for grieving families.
- Prayer Line — Angie 989-754-3393 · Marge 989-793-5342 · Walt 989-401-7534.
- Cleaning Church — weekly light cleaning of nave, narthex, chapel; group cleaning 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10 am.
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life at St. Joseph involves lay men, women, and youth in multiple roles. The Music Director, Matt Fulgencio, leads a choir that has accompanied the parish since at least 1989, when a new baby grand piano was added to the choir area. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Lectors are scheduled by the parish, and there is an altar server and sacristan ministry.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God.
- Altar Servers — assist the priest at the altar.
- Sacristan — Albert Vasquez.
- Music Ministry — Matt Fulgencio, Music Director.
- Art and Environment — Mina Fulgencio (contact).
Leadership & Parish Governance
Three commissions advise the pastor and keep the parish healthy: the Parish Council (communications and new initiatives), the Christian Service Commission (Catholic Social Teaching in action), and the Finance Commission (oversight of parish finances).
- Parish Council — advisory body to the Pastor.
- Christian Service Commission — model and resource for Catholic Social Teaching.
- Finance Commission — oversees parish finances and advises the pastor.
Devotions & Special Celebrations
The parish's signature devotion is the annual Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe from December 4 through 12, one of the flagship celebrations of the Diocese of Saginaw. The novena gathers hundreds nightly for Rosary and Mass, with mañanitas (a Mexican tradition of 'waking up' Our Lady), roses offered to her, and bilingual devotions. Other liturgical-season celebrations include Easter and Holy Week, Christmas, the Mass of Resurrection, Black History Month, St. Martin de Porres, All Souls Day, May Crowning, the Rosary in May and October, Lenten Evenings of Reflection, and Stations of the Cross.
- Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe — December 4–12
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe — December 12
- Mañanitas serenades (during the novena)
- Easter & Holy Week liturgies
- Christmas Masses
- Black History Celebration
- St. Martin de Porres Celebration
- All Souls Day Celebration
- May Crowning
- Rosary — May and October
- Lenten Evenings of Reflection
- Stations of the Cross
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
St. Joseph welcomes visitors and newcomers. Weekend Masses are the easiest way to begin — the bilingual 9:30 a.m. Sunday liturgy is a particularly rich entry into the parish's multicultural life. The parish office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Facebook page (facebook.com/StJosephCatholicChurchSaginaw) livestreams and announces events such as the annual Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Mailing address: 936 N. 6th Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48601
- Phone: 989-755-7561
- Fax: 989-755-1090
- Rectory: 989-753-4418
- Education Center: 989-753-0715
- Website: http://www.stjosephsaginaw.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJosephCatholicChurchSaginaw
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Richard Sweeny1873–1914
First resident pastor; 41-year pastorate; oversaw school and Dominican Sisters' arrival.
- Fr. Kyran J. Whalen1915–1916
Expanded the school.
- Fr. Thomas Whalen1916–1924
Brother of Fr. Kyran; remained until his death.
- Fr. James Malone1924–1933
- Fr. Constantine A. Skowronski1933–1944
Cleared the parish of debt; St. Joseph became one of the outstanding schools in the diocese.
- Msgr. Harold J. Bolton1944–1955
Brought reawakening; abolished pew fees; oversaw 1947 sanctuary and convent renovation; opened the Guadalupe Clinic (1945) with the League of Catholic Women and Mission Sisters of the Holy Spirit (Faith, Hope and Charity buildings).
- Fr. Daniel Anholzer, OFM Cap.pre-2002
Elected to Capuchin Provincial leadership in June 2002.
- Fr. Leo Petrimouix, OFM Cap.Aug 2002 –
Pastored during the new church construction/dedication (April 6, 2003).
- Br. Kent Bauer, OFM Cap.2002–2003+
Pastoral Administrator during the building project.
- Fr. Ramiro Trejo, OFM Cap.July 2003 –
Sacramental Minister.
- Fr. Frank Voris, OFM Cap.August 2009 – present
Current pastor.