About St. Joseph · Sioux City, Iowa
St. Joseph Church (San José) is one of three worship sites of the Cathedral of the Epiphany Parish, the cathedral parish of the Diocese of Sioux City in Iowa. Located at 1112 8th Street in downtown Sioux City, it serves the city's growing Asian and Hispanic Catholic community by offering Mass in English and Vietnamese, while the larger Cathedral of the Epiphany across town offers Masses in English, Spanish, and the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite. Founded in 1887 as St. Rose of Lima and renamed St. Joseph around 1890, the church is housed in a Romanesque-style building famous for its white-marble high altar, a full-color reproduction of Raphael's Disputa in the sanctuary dome, and life-size statues of Jesus, St. Brigid of Kildare, and St. Anthony of Padua. The parish has been served by the Cathedral of the Epiphany staff—led by Rector Fr. David Esquiliano—since the three Sioux City parishes were merged into a single multi-site parish.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Very Reverend David Esquiliano, JCL
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux City
Why belong here
St. Joseph is the Vietnamese-language Mass site of the Cathedral of the Epiphany Parish, drawing worshippers from across the Siouxland area to a historic downtown church with a sanctuary dome painted by Roman artists and a marble high altar. The parish also celebrates the 8:30 AM Sunday Mass in English, hosts Vietnamese-language devotions, and shares the parish's city-wide Perpetual Adoration Chapel at the Epiphany Center. Membership puts you in the heart of the cathedral parish—the seat of the Diocese of Sioux City—with its multicultural community, faith-formation for children, Knights of Columbus Council #743, the Emaus Charismatic Group, and full sacramental preparation for baptism, first Communion, confirmation, and marriage through the parish office at the Epiphany Center.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:45 AM – 8:15 AM (St. Joseph Church)
- Note: confessions end 15 minutes before Mass to allow the priest to prepare
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration 24/7 at the Epiphany Center chapel (city-wide adoration serving all three parish sites)
About the Parish
St. Joseph Church (San José) in Sioux City, Iowa, is part of the Cathedral of the Epiphany Parish — the cathedral parish of the Diocese of Sioux City. The parish was originally founded in 1887 as St. Rose of Lima, was renamed St. Joseph around 1890, and now operates as a multi-site parish together with the Cathedral of the Epiphany (1000 Douglas Street) and St. Boniface Church (703 West 5th Street). At St. Joseph, Mass is offered Sunday at 8:30 AM in English and 12:30 PM in Vietnamese, while the other sites of the parish offer Masses in Spanish, Vietnamese, English, and the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite.
- Type: Parish church (multi-site cathedral parish)
- Location: 1112 8th Street, Sioux City, IA 51105
- Parish office: Epiphany Center, 1000 Douglas Street
- Diocese of Sioux City
History of St. Joseph
St. Joseph's beginnings go back to the late-19th-century division of Sioux City's first Catholic parish. Bishop John Hennessey created three new parishes, and Fr. Michael Daly was named to what was first called St. Rose of Lima. First Mass was celebrated August 14, 1887 in a parishioner's home. The parish took the name St. Joseph during the pastorship of Fr. E. W. Fowler (first Mass June 5, 1890), and in the 1890s the Sisters of Charity, B.V.M., of Dubuque began teaching at the parish school. The church's most famous artistic features — the white marble altar and the Raphael Disputa dome mural — were commissioned in 1909 by Fr. Philip J. O'Connor during a pilgrimage to Rome. Major fires in 1924 and 2009 each damaged the building, but in both cases it was restored and reopened. Today the parish is operated together with the Cathedral and St. Boniface churches under one pastor.
- 1887: Parish founded by Fr. Michael Daly as St. Rose of Lima
- c. 1890: Renamed St. Joseph under second pastor Fr. E. W. Fowler
- 1890s: Sisters of Charity, B.V.M., begin teaching at parish school
- 1902: Fr. Philip J. O'Connor becomes pastor
- 1909: Fr. O'Connor visits Rome and commissions marble altar and Disputa dome mural
- April 11, 1924: Fire causes $35,000 damage, records destroyed
- July 10, 2009: Second fire; church restored and reopened the following year
Architecture & Sanctuary Features
St. Joseph's church belongs to the same late-19th-century Romanesque family of Sioux City Catholic churches as its companion St. Boniface, but is most famous for its lavishly decorated sanctuary. The high altar is carved from pure white marble, topped by a life-size statue of Jesus and flanked by St. Brigid of Kildare and St. Anthony of Padua, with a Last Supper relief on the altar base. The dome of the sanctuary carries a year-long, full-color reproduction of Raphael's Disputa, painted by Roman artists in 1910. A skylight bearing the image of a dove — installed after the 1924 fire nearly destroyed the sanctuary — pours natural light down through the dome.
- Pure white marble high altar
- Raphael's Disputa reproduction in sanctuary dome (by Roman artists, commissioned 1909)
- Life-size statue of Jesus, statues of St. Brigid of Kildare and St. Anthony of Padua
- Last Supper relief on altar base
- Dove skylight in sanctuary (post-1924 fire)
- Four stained glass windows added after the 1924 fire
Leadership & Staff
St. Joseph is staffed by the priests, deacons, and lay staff of the Cathedral of the Epiphany Parish. The parish is led by Rector & Pastor Fr. David Esquiliano, JCL, and is assisted by Parochial Vicars Fr. Andrew Galles, Fr. Jeremy Wind, and Fr. Travis Crotty, along with three deacons. The office team runs sacramental preparation, faith formation, sacred music, bookkeeping, and facilities across all three parish sites. (Bishop of the diocese is Most Rev. John Edward Keehner; Fr. Galles additionally serves as diocesan Director of Worship and Episcopal Master of Ceremonies.)
- Rector & Pastor: Very Rev. David Esquiliano, JCL — desquilian[o]@sccathedral.org
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Andrew Galles — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jeremy Wind — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Travis Crotty — [email protected]
- Deacon Bruce Chartier
- Deacon Jorge Fernandez — [email protected]
- Deacon Mark Prosser (also diocesan Chief of Staff / Chancellor)
- Director of Operations: Carla Kramper — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Edith Munoz — [email protected]
- Director of Faith and Sacramental Formation: Santa Fernandez
- Director of Sacred Music: J. Owens
- Parish Life Director: Julie Krogh
- Custodian & Housekeeper: Arcelia Lopez
- Maintenance: Troy Olson
Worship Schedule Across All Three Parish Sites
St. Joseph shares a weekly Mass schedule with the Cathedral and St. Boniface so worshippers across Sioux City can attend in their preferred language. Daily Mass and the Extraordinary Form Latin Mass are at the Cathedral; Saturday evening anticipatory Masses are at St. Boniface (English) and the Cathedral (Spanish); Sunday afternoons include Spanish Mass at the Cathedral and Vietnamese Mass at St. Joseph.
- Saturday 4:00 PM English — St. Boniface
- Saturday 6:00 PM Spanish — Cathedral
- Sunday 8:30 AM Spanish — Cathedral
- Sunday 8:30 AM English — St. Joseph
- Sunday 10:00 AM English — Cathedral
- Sunday 10:30 AM Spanish — St. Boniface
- Sunday 12:00 PM Spanish — Cathedral
- Sunday 12:30 PM Vietnamese — St. Joseph
- Mon–Fri 12:00 PM English — Cathedral
- Mon–Fri 5:30 PM Spanish — Cathedral
- Saturday 12:00 PM English — Cathedral
Sacraments
The Cathedral of the Epiphany Parish prepares parishioners at all three sites for the sacraments. Children typically receive First Communion in 2nd or 3rd grade through the parish's religious-education program, and are then encouraged to serve as altar servers. Marriage preparation is scheduled 9–12 months in advance and begins with a Marriage Form on the parish website, followed by a meeting with Fr. Esquiliano. Confession is scheduled before every Mass at each site.
- Eucharist / First Communion (2nd–3rd grade)
- Confirmation (parish-wide sacramental formation)
- Baptism
- Matrimony (couples must contact the parish 9–12 months ahead)
- Reconciliation (Confession scheduled before Mass)
- Anointing of the Sick (arranged through the parish office)
Parish Life & Ministries
St. Joseph participates in the parish-wide ministries of the Cathedral of the Epiphany. Liturgical ministries (servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion) are scheduled across all three sites through the Ministry Scheduler Pro online system. The Knights of Columbus Council #743 organizes parish breakfasts, bingo nights, and taco dinners to fundraise for the Perpetual Adoration chapel and other parish needs. The Emaus Charismatic Group of the Catholic Renewal — a mainly Spanish-speaking community — holds retreats, vigils, and prayer meetings Sundays 2–6 PM at St. Boniface Hall.
- Knights of Columbus Council #743
- Emaus Charismatic Group of the Catholic Renewal
- Liturgical Ministries (Servers, Lectors, EMHC) — Ministry Scheduler Pro across all 3 sites
- Religious Education / Faith Formation (children)
- RCIA and adult sacramental formation
- Parish Life community groups
Contact, Location & Visiting
St. Joseph Church is in downtown Sioux City at 1112 8th Street, IA 51105, near the Cathedral of the Epiphany and the Epiphany Center. The parish office — shared by all three sites — is at the Epiphany Center, 1000 Douglas Street (phone 712-255-1637, fax 712-255-4194). Office hours are Monday and Friday 9 AM–2 PM, Tuesday and Thursday 9 AM–4 PM, and Wednesday 9 AM–1 PM and 2–4 PM; closed weekends.
- St. Joseph Church: 1112 8th Street, Sioux City, IA 51105
- Parish office (Epiphany Center): 1000 Douglas Street, Sioux City, IA 51105
- Phone: (712) 255-1637 • Fax: (712) 255-4194
- Email: [email protected] (Director of Operations Carla Kramper)
- Office hours: Mon & Fri 9–2; Tue & Thu 9–4; Wed 9–1 & 2–4; closed Sat/Sun
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Daly1887
First pastor of the parish when it was founded as St. Rose of Lima; first Mass celebrated in a parishioner's home on August 14, 1887.
- Fr. E. W. Fowler1890
Second pastor; first Mass at parish on June 5, 1890. During his tenure the parish was renamed from St. Rose of Lima to St. Joseph.
- Fr. Philip J. O'Connor1902
Visited Rome in 1909 and commissioned the white-marble altar and the Raphael Disputa mural in the sanctuary dome.