St. Joseph

Welcome and Mission

St. Joseph Parish shares a partnered-parish relationship with St. Anthony of Padua in Sharon, Pennsylvania. The two parishes are proclaiming the Gospel together in the Shenango Valley, a community of Catholic faith that has shaped the area for over 160 years. The parish's stated mission is 'to embrace and share the teachings of Christ, nurturing a spiritual community of love, compassion, and service,' building a faith community that 'empowers and engages our congregation, and becoming disciples of our faith to the wider community.' Its vision is 'to make the Catholic faith matter by nourishing the faithful and reaching out to those who have become distant to our faith in the greater Sharon Area and throughout the Shenango Valley communities.'

Parish History

St. Joseph traces its origin to 1860, when German Catholic immigrants from the Diocese of Treves — coalminers in Hickory Township — built the first Catholic church in the Shenango Valley under the patronage of St. Rose of Lima. As the mines played out and steel-mill work drew the congregation to Sharon, a new brick church on State Street was begun in 1893 and dedicated on May 22, 1898. A parochial school followed in 1906, a rectory in 1925, a convent for the Benedictine Sisters in 1926, and the Josephinum recreation center in 1932. The current church on Case Avenue was completed in 1965 and the worship space was renovated in 1995–96 in keeping with Vatican II.

• 1860 — Land donated by Clemens Dach on Dutch Lane, Hickory Township; first frame church built 1861 as St. Rose of Lima
• 1893 — Construction begins on new brick church in Sharon (State Street)
• 1898 — Brick church dedicated May 22 (cost over $20,000; seats 400)
• 1906 — Brick parochial school erected
• 1924 — Eight acres purchased for St. Rose Cemetery
• 1925 — Brick rectory finished (April 7, 1925)
• 1926 — Convent built for the Benedictine Sisters
• 1932 — Josephinum recreation center dedicated by Bishop John Mark Gannon (January 28, 1932)
• 1954–55 — School remodeled and addition added; sixteen classrooms; total program cost ~$500,000
• 1965 — Present church and rectory completed on Case Avenue / State Street site (~$1,000,000)
• 1995–96 — Worship space renovated per Vatican II directives (>$750,000)

Pastoral Staff

St. Joseph Parish is led by Fr. James Power, pastor, who also shepherds the partnered parish of St. Anthony of Padua. The parish staff includes a Faith Formation Director, a parish Office Administrator, a Finance Office manager, a Music Director, and a long list of ministry coordinators who keep the parish running day to day.

• Fr. James Power — Pastor ([email protected]; ext. 16)
• Melissa Joseph — Director of Religious Education / Faith Formation (ext. 14)
• Lori Vasconi — Office Administrator / also coordinates Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Hospitality/Greeters, Social Media (ext. 10)
• Mary Messina — Music Director (ext. 10)
• Carol Koch — Finance Office and St. Rose / St. Mary's Cemetery (ext. 13; cemetery 724-346-3711)
• Stephen Pass — Sacristan
• Sandy Swogger — Liturgy Committee
• Bob Clarke — Bereavement
• Frank Connelly — Building & Maintenance
• Catherine Holl — Parish Advocate for the Disabled / Pro-Life
• Joan Stoudt — Prayer Chain
• Joann White — Prince of Peace Soup Kitchen
• Joann Sangregorio — Quilters
• Mary Beth Jones — Cursillo Liaison / West Hill Ministries
• Tom Rookey — Knights of Columbus
• Jim Feeney — St. Joseph Parish Finance Committee
• Elly Bell — Women's Guild / Pro-Life co-coordinator

Sacraments

All seven sacraments are celebrated or prepared for at St. Joseph. Baptisms are generally scheduled within weekend Masses; parents complete a Baptismal Class first. The Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion for the homebound are brought directly to parishioners through the First Thursday Visitation program and through Fr. Power's hospital visits.

• Baptism — during a weekend Mass; Baptismal Class required; call 724-981-3232 or email [email protected]
• Confession — Saturdays 4:00–4:45 p.m. or by appointment
• Eucharist — daily and weekend Mass (see schedule)
• Anointing of the Sick — administered by Fr. Power during First Thursday home visitations
• Holy Communion to the homebound — First Thursday Visitation program (call 724-981-3232 to sign up)
• Hospital visits — Fr. Power; parishioners asked to contact parish office with hospital name and room number
• OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Sundays at noon, for adults seeking full initiation or baptized Catholics needing 1st Penance, 1st Eucharist or Confirmation
• Confirmation — 9th grade Purpose program; 42 contact hours, retreat, service hours, interview with pastor, saint name, letter to the bishop; followed by 10th–11th grade Small Groups
• First Reconciliation and First Eucharist — Sacramental Prep coordinated by Faith Formation

Faith Formation (Religious Education)

Faith Formation at St. Joseph, under Director of Religious Education Melissa Joseph, walks parish children and teens from kindergarten through 11th grade through age-appropriate Catholic formation. The K–5 program uses the Sadlier 'We Believe: Living Your Catholic Identity' series. Middle schoolers (grades 6–8) follow the Edge three-year curriculum, which blends Scripture, Catechism teaching, small-group discussion and weekly challenges. High school Confirmation preparation begins in 9th grade (Purpose) and continues in 10th and 11th grades through adult-led Small Groups.

• K–5 Classroom Program — weekly lessons with lead teacher and aide, Sadlier 'We Believe' series
• Edge Middle School Program (Grades 6–8) — Gather / Proclaim / Break / Send format with three types of nights (Edge, Social, Issue)
• Purpose Confirmation Prep (Grade 9) — 42 contact hours, retreat, service hours, interview with pastor, saint name, letter to the bishop
• Small Groups (Grades 10–11) — 2 trained adults with 6–10 young people meeting 2–4 times per month
• Sacramental Preparation — coordinated by Melissa Joseph
• OCIA / Adult Faith Formation — Sundays at noon

Parish Ministries and Organizations

St. Joseph invites all members to join any of its many ministries — a long list that touches liturgical life, faith formation, fellowship, service to the poor, parish facilities, and the wider community. New volunteers are welcomed at any time by calling the parish office.

• Liturgical: Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristan, Ushers, Choir / Music Ministry
• Formation & Pastoral: Baptismal Class, Sacramental Prep, RCIA / OCIA, Faith Formation, Cursillo Liaison, Pastoral Council, Prayer Chain, West Hill Ministries
• Service & Outreach: Bereavement, Food Pantry (volunteers), Knights of Columbus, Prince of Peace Soup Kitchen, Pro-Life, Quilters, Women's Guild, Parish Advocate for the Disabled
• Parish Life & Operations: Hospitality / Greeters, Liturgy Committee, Building & Maintenance, Garden & Grounds Committee, Money Counters, Parish Finance Committee, Social Media, St. Rose / St. Mary's Cemetery

Becoming a Member

New parishioners can register online for either St. Joseph or St. Anthony Parish, or pick up a paper registration form in the vestibule of either church, drop it in the collection, mail it, or place it in the white mailbox outside the parish office door at St. Joseph. Paperwork can also be completed in person during office hours or by calling 724-981-3232.

Contact, Office Hours and Cemetery

The combined parish office is located at St. Joseph Parish, 79 Case Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146. Office hours are Monday through Thursday (closed Friday), with walk-ins accepted 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. by appointment only. The parish operates St. Rose / St. Mary's Cemetery through Carol Koch.

• Parish Office — 724-981-3232; Fr. James Power ext. 16; Faith Formation (Melissa Joseph) ext. 14; Finance (Carol Koch) ext. 13; Parish Office / Music Director (Lori Vasconi / Mary Messina) ext. 10
• Cemetery (St. Rose / St. Mary's) — 724-346-3711
• Pastor email — [email protected]
• Faith Formation email — [email protected]
• Parish Office email — [email protected]
• Finance / Cemetery email — [email protected]