About St. Joseph · Sheppton, Pennsylvania
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is a small parish in Sheppton, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Allentown. Founded in the 1890s and consecrated on August 15, 1895, it has served the anthracite coal-region faithful for over 125 years. Today it shares pastoral ministry with neighboring St. Mary Parish in Ringtown under Fr. Dominic Pham, with weekend and daily Masses celebrated at its 14 E. Oak Street location. The parish is known for its rebuilt quartzite church, its Schulmerich carillon bells, and a rectory chapel where daily Mass is now celebrated.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Dominic Pham
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in an intimate coal-region setting, with daily Mass in its historic rectory chapel and weekend Mass in the 1895-founded (rebuilt 1941) quartzite church. Joined in pastoral care with neighboring St. Mary Parish under Fr. Dominic Pham, the community maintains a Catholic Charities / Diocese of Allentown Youth Protection awareness and welcomes new families through an easy phone-based parish registration. The angelus-bell church, handicapped access at the side entrance, and the warm welcome extended by a small-town congregation make it a welcoming home for both longtime Sheppton families and visitors to nearby Hazleton or Eagle Rock Resort.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM (per Discover Mass listing for St. Joseph, Sheppton)
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church stands at 14 E. Oak Street in Sheppton, Schuylkill County, in the Diocese of Allentown. It is one of two parishes jointly served by Fr. Dominic Pham — the other being St. Mary in Ringtown. Together the parishes operate as St. Mary / St. Joseph (SMSJ) and share a single parish office, mailing address, phone, and email.
- Diocese: Diocese of Allentown
- Pastor: Fr. Dominic Pham
- Sister parish: St. Mary, Ringtown (82 / 84 N. Center Street)
Parish History
Catholic life in Sheppton began with Mass in a local gathering hall in the 1890s, served first by Father John Pribyl of St. Joseph, Hazleton (Scranton Diocese) and then by Father Joseph Kasparek of St. Mary of the Assumption, McAdoo. The founding church at East Oak and Shepp Streets was consecrated August 15, 1895; Father Kasparek celebrated the first Mass there in April 1896 and was appointed first pastor in May 1896. A devastating fire on the parish feast day, March 19, 1940, destroyed the original church, but parishioners laid a cornerstone for a new quartzite church on November 28, 1940, celebrated Christmas 1940 Mass in the unfinished building, and solemnly blessed the new church November 27, 1941. The parish marked its 75th anniversary in 1971 with the gift of Schulmerich Carillon bells, and its 125th in 2020 with Bishop Schlert concelebrating alongside current and former pastors at a Mass in Sheppton followed by a reception in McAdoo.
- Original church consecrated August 15, 1895
- Fire destroyed church March 19, 1940
- New quartzite church cornerstone November 28, 1940; first Christmas Mass 1940; blessed November 27, 1941
- 75th anniversary (1971): Schulmerich Carillon bells added
- 125th anniversary Mass (Sept. 22): Bishop Schlert with current and former pastors
Buildings & Architecture
The present church is a 250-seat structure built of quartzite that parishioners hauled from nearby riverbeds in their own trucks in 1940-1941. Its Schulmerich Carillon bells — added in 1971 — ring the Angelus three times a day and before Mass on Sundays and holy days. A chapel in the parish rectory, assembled using religious elements formerly used at St. John the Baptist Chapel in Oneida, became the site of daily Mass on February 5, 2013.
- Quartzite construction from local riverbeds
- Schulmerich carillon bells (1971)
- Rectory chapel with elements from Oneida's former St. John the Baptist Chapel
Devotions & Prayer Life
The parish publishes a nine-day Novena to St. Joseph for use by parishioners, and the parishes together foster Eucharistic Adoration and a special devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, particularly during the month of July. The carillon bells ring the Angelus three times a day, a tradition begun with the bells' installation in 1971.
- Novena to St. Joseph (9-day prayer)
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus (especially in July)
- Angelus bell ringing three times daily
Sacraments & Parishioner Services
The parish arranges the sacraments through the parish office. Baptisms and weddings are scheduled by contacting the office, and the site emphasizes that young adults turning 21 should register as independent parishioners. New members may register by calling the Parish Office at 570-889-3850 or emailing [email protected].
- Baptism — arranged through the parish office
- Marriage — arranged through the parish office
- Registration — by phone or email to the parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Parish materials and diocesan references indicate that St. Joseph Parish offers Religious Education and Sacraments programs for parish families; specific grade-level and schedule details are coordinated through the parish office and can be obtained by calling 570-889-3850.
- Religious Education and Sacraments Programs for parish families
Safeguarding & Outreach
Alongside the sister parish of St. Mary in Ringtown, St. Joseph participates in the Diocese of Allentown's Youth Protection Programs and provides resources and assistance for survivors of sexual abuse. The parish also works to provide accessibility for all parishioners, including a side-entrance ramp and an ADA-accessible bathroom inside the church.
- Diocese of Allentown Youth Protection Programs
- Resources for survivors of sexual abuse
- Accessibility: side-entrance ramp and ADA-accessible bathroom
Visit, Contact & Connect
Visitors and parishioners can reach the combined SMSJ parish office by phone at 570-889-3850 or by email at [email protected]. The mailing address is 84 N. Center Street, Ringtown, PA 17967. The churches also maintain an official Facebook page where they post announcements and updates: facebook.com/stmarystjosephrcc.
- Parish Office phone: 570-889-3850
- Parish Office email: [email protected]
- Mailing address: 84 N. Center Street, Ringtown, PA 17967
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmarystjosephrcc
- Website: stmarystjoseph.net
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph KasparekMay 1896 –
First pastor of St. Joseph, Sheppton; previously pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption, McAdoo; celebrated the parish's first Mass in April 1896.