About St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish · Escanaba, Michigan
St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Escanaba, Michigan, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula along the shores of Little Bay de Noc. It belongs to the Diocese of Marquette and serves more than 450 registered families. The parish is the product of a 1997 merger of two historic Escanaba congregations — St. Joseph Parish (founded 1865) and St. Patrick Parish (founded 1901) — both of which trace their roots to the first Catholic (and indeed first) church of any denomination built in the city. The current worship space is the third St. Joseph Church on the same corner, erected in 1938–1939, and is known locally for its tall U-shaped ceiling meant to evoke a journey toward God, Italian-marble interior, stained glass, and three pipe organs (including pipes salvaged from the old St. Patrick Church). The 10:00 a.m. Sunday High Mass is broadcast live on Maverick 106.3 FM for the homebound.
- Established
- 1865 (St. Joseph Parish; the combined St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish was erected July 1, 1997)
- Patron
- St. Joseph and St. Patrick
- Rector
- Very Rev. Timothy Ferguson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Marquette
Why belong here
St. Joseph & St. Patrick is the historic Catholic home of Escanaba, with worship traced continuously on the same corner of First Avenue South and South Seventh Street since 1865. The parish combines a rich musical and devotional life — a 10 a.m. Sunday High Mass broadcast on Maverick 106.3 FM for the homebound, a 12 p.m. Latin Mass, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, a weekly Rosary before Thursday Mass, and three pipe organs — with a strong sense of community for more than 450 registered families. Worshippers of every background are welcome to join a parish that prizes its Irish and German heritage, its Italian-marble and stained-glass worship space, and its ongoing stewardship of Catholic life on Little Bay de Noc.
Mass times at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Friday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM (following the 9:00 AM daily Mass)
Parish Overview
St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Marquette, located at 709 First Avenue South in Escanaba, Michigan. It is the merged successor (since July 1, 1997) of two historic Escanaba congregations — St. Joseph Parish (1865) and St. Patrick Parish (1901) — and today serves more than 450 registered families. Mass is offered in English daily and in Latin on Sundays, the 10:00 a.m. Sunday High Mass is broadcast on Maverick 106.3 FM for the homebound, and confession and Eucharistic Adoration are regular parts of the parish week.
- Diocese of Marquette
- Address: 709 First Avenue South, Escanaba, MI 49829
- Phone: (906) 789-6244
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://sjspescanaba.org/
- More than 450 registered families
History
St. Joseph Church was founded in 1865 by the Rev. Sebastian Duroc, sent to Escanaba by Bishop Frederic Baraga — making it the first Catholic, and indeed the first church of any denomination, in the city. It originally served a largely German congregation alongside significant Irish and French populations. In 1901 the Irish members circulated a petition, presented to Bishop Frederick Eis on July 14, asking to form their own parish; on July 26 Father John M. Langan was appointed first pastor of the new St. Patrick Church. The cornerstone of St. Patrick Church was laid May 25, 1902 and the building was dedicated by Bishop Eis on February 15, 1903, with Archbishop John Ireland of St. Paul preaching the sermon. St. Joseph Parish was administered by Franciscan (O.F.M.) fathers for 109 years, from 1883 until 1992. The present St. Joseph Church — the third building on the same corner — was erected in 1938 and completed in 1939.
- 1865 – Rev. Sebastian Duroc founds St. Joseph Church at Bishop Baraga's direction.
- 1901 – Irish parishioners petition Bishop Eis; St. Patrick Parish is formed with Father John M. Langan as first pastor.
- 1902 – Cornerstone laid for the new St. Patrick Church (May 25).
- 1903 – St. Patrick Church dedicated by Bishop Eis (February 15); total cost $72,279.
- 1938–1939 – Third St. Joseph Church erected on the same First Avenue South / South Seventh Street corner.
- 1971 – Parish schools merge with St. Anne and St. Thomas the Apostle to form Holy Name Catholic School.
- 1997 – Bishop James H. Garland suppresses St. Patrick Parish and erects St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish on July 1.
- 2002 – St. Patrick Church closes (final Mass July 28, 2002).
- 2003 – Former St. Patrick complex sold in March.
- 2015 – Sesquicentennial of St. Joseph Parish observed on August 6; parish history museum blessed by Bishop Doerfler.
- 2019 – Father Timothy Ferguson becomes pastor on July 1.
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present church — the third on the same corner since 1865 — was erected in 1938 and completed in 1939. Its most striking interior feature is the tall U-shaped ceiling, intended to resemble an arc that evokes each parishioner's journey toward God. Italian marble lines the interior, imported in the late 1930s and most likely shipped into Escanaba's harbor. Stained-glass windows throughout the building are adorned with traditional Catholic symbols, including the fleur-de-lis associated with the Virgin Mary and purity. Statues of St. Joseph and St. Patrick stand toward the front-right of the nave. The bell tower was repaired in October 2008 by R. J. Jacques and Whitefield Roofing of Green Bay, Wisconsin at a cost of $265,000.
- Third church on the same corner of First Avenue South and South Seventh Street
- Erected 1938; completed 1939
- U-shaped ceiling symbolizing the arc of the journey to God
- Italian marble interior
- Stained-glass windows with symbols such as the fleur-de-lis
- Bell tower repaired 2008 ($265,000)
Pipe Organs
The parish is home to three pipe organs — an unusual distinction for a single church. The 1939 Kilgen organ in the gallery has been the focus of a three-phase refurbishment project begun in 2009: a new Lauck console was installed in 2013, the Lauck Transept Organ (using Wicks pipes salvaged from the former St. Patrick Church) was dedicated in 2016 with a concert by Dr. Steven Ball, and tonal additions to the Gallery organ were completed in December 2018 — organbuilder James Lauck's final opus before retirement. The annual Ethnic Foodfest, started in 2009, has served as the primary fundraiser for the organ project.
- 1939 Kilgen Gallery organ
- 2013 Phase One: new Lauck console installed
- 2016 Phase Two: Lauck Transept Organ built from St. Patrick's Wicks pipes; dedication concert by Dr. Steven Ball
- 2018 Phase Three: tonal additions to the Gallery organ
- Annual Ethnic Foodfest as primary organ-project fundraiser since 2009
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor and an associate pastor. Very Rev. Timothy Ferguson was appointed pastor on July 1, 2019 after the retirement of Father Eric Olson. The associate pastor is Rev. Robb Jurkovich. Both are listed on the Diocese of Marquette parish finder in their current roles.
- Very Rev. Timothy Ferguson — Pastor (since July 1, 2019)
- Rev. Robb Jurkovich — Associate Pastor
Sacraments
As a parish of the Diocese of Marquette, St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Confession times are listed above; couples should contact the parish office to arrange marriage preparation; and arrangements for Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, and other rites are made through the parish office.
- Baptism
- Confirmation (with diocesan preparation)
- Eucharist
- Penance / Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations encouraged)
- Matrimony (contact parish office)
Heritage & Parish Museum
In 2015, on the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph Parish's founding (August 6), Bishop John Doerfler blessed and opened a parish history museum. The museum preserves artifacts from the long history of both predecessor parishes, including paintings of the Nativity and the Resurrection that were saved from the High Altar of the closed St. Patrick Church, cleaned and newly framed, and installed in the present church above the confessionals on December 1, 2008.
- Parish history museum opened and blessed by Bishop John Doerfler, August 6, 2015
- Paintings of the Nativity and Resurrection saved from St. Patrick's High Altar
- Other artifacts from the 1865 and 1901 predecessor parishes
School — Holy Name Catholic School
St. Joseph and St. Patrick each operated their own parish schools for much of the 20th century. In 1971 those schools were merged with those of St. Anne Catholic Church and the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle in Escanaba to form Holy Name Catholic School, which continues to serve the Catholic schoolchildren of the Escanaba area.
- St. Joseph Parish School
- St. Patrick Parish School
- Merged 1971 with St. Anne and St. Thomas the Apostle schools
- Today: Holy Name Catholic School, Escanaba
Annual & Special Events
The parish hosts an annual Ethnic Foodfest, begun in 2009 as the primary fundraiser for the multi-phase organ project. It participates in city civic events — its float won first prize in the children's category of the 2013 Escanaba sesquicentennial parade — and it has hosted diocesan celebrations, including the 175th anniversary of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 2008. Major anniversaries of the predecessor parishes have been marked: the centennial of St. Patrick in 2001 and the sesquicentennial of St. Joseph in 2015.
- Annual Ethnic Foodfest (since 2009)
- Sesquicentennial parade float (first prize, children's category, 2013)
- Diocesan celebration hosting for School Sisters of Notre Dame (2008)
- St. Patrick centennial (2001)
- St. Joseph sesquicentennial (2015)
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person at the church on First Avenue South. Those unable to attend Mass in person can listen to the Sunday 10:00 AM High Mass live on Maverick 106.3 FM.
- Address: 709 First Avenue South, Escanaba, MI 49829
- Phone: (906) 789-6244
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://sjspescanaba.org/
- Sunday 10:00 AM High Mass broadcast live on Maverick 106.3 FM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Sebastian Duroc1865
Sent by Bishop Frederic Baraga as the first pastor of St. Joseph Church — the first Catholic (and first denominational) church in Escanaba.
- Rev. John M. Langan1901–
Appointed first pastor of St. Patrick Parish on July 26, 1901 after the Irish congregation petitioned Bishop Eis to separate from St. Joseph.
- Father Marian Douglas, O.F.M.1985
A native of Bark River and graduate of St. Joseph High School; became pastor.
- Father Miles Pfalzer, O.F.M.1990
Franciscan pastor; the Franciscans had administered St. Joseph Parish since 1883.
- Father Walter Sheedlo1992
Became the first diocesan priest to pastor St. Joseph Parish since Father Joseph Niebling in 1883, after the Franciscans ended 109 years of parish administration.
- Father Ronald J. Skufca1997–1999
Named Parochial Administrator of the new St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish on July 1, 1997 after Bishop Garland merged the two parishes.
- Father Joseph Nagaroor1999
First priest to hold the actual title of pastor of St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish, from July 1, 1999.
- Father Francis G. Dobrzenski2002
Became pastor July 1, 2002; announced the closure of St. Patrick Church (final Mass there July 28, 2002).
- Father Richard C. Schaefer2004
Named pastor July 1, 2004; took a health leave beginning November 1, 2005.
- Father Lawrence T. Gauthier2005
Named Parochial Administrator after Father Schaefer's health leave of absence.
- Father Eric Olson2006–2019
Named pastor June 30, 2006; retired July 1, 2019.
- Very Rev. Timothy Ferguson2019–present
Appointed pastor July 1, 2019; current pastor.