About St. Joseph · Stoneham, Texas
St. Joseph Catholic Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission church located at 11323 County Road 304 in Stoneham, Texas (Grimes County), part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Since 1967 it has been twinned with St. Mary's Catholic Church in nearby Plantersville, sharing one pastor, one parish office, and one combined bulletin; together the two communities are known locally as St. Mary and St. Joseph (smsj.org). The mission was built in 1909 by Polish-speaking immigrants from the Grimes Prairie and remains a beloved heritage chapel for descendants of those founding families, who still return each Memorial Day weekend for an annual Homecoming celebration.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Joseph (spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, foster father of Jesus)
- Rector
- Father Edward C. Kucera, Jr.
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a small, tightly-knit rural Catholic community with deep Polish-heritage roots and a one-Sunday-Mass schedule that is easy to belong to. Members share in two active St. Joseph groups — the Altar Society and the Men's Club — as well as the parish-wide St. Vincent de Paul conference, OCIA/Adult Faith Formation, youth Confirmation, Pro-Life Outreach, the Little Lambs Playgroup, the Stitchin' Sisters, and the annual Memorial Day Weekend Homecoming that draws descendants back to the mission from across Texas. Because St. Joseph shares a pastor and staff with neighboring St. Mary's in Plantersville, parishioners also have access to a full weekly Mass schedule, daily Mass Monday–Thursday, confession on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, sacramental preparation for baptism, marriage, quinceañeras, and anointing of the sick, and a Catholic school of faith formation (CCE/RE) for children — all under the pastoral care of Fr. Edward C. Kucera, Jr.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st & 3rd Wednesday: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 5:00–6:00 p.m. at St. Mary's, Plantersville (subject to change)
- Or by appointment — call the parish office (936-894-2223)
Welcome to St. Joseph Catholic Mission
St. Joseph Catholic Mission is a small rural Catholic mission church at 11323 County Road 304 in Stoneham, Texas, in the Grimes County farming community on the Grimes Prairie. Since 1967 it has been twinned with St. Mary's Catholic Church in Plantersville under one pastor (currently Fr. Edward C. Kucera, Jr.), one combined parish office, and one bulletin — the unified community is known as 'St. Mary and St. Joseph' and serves both websites and mailings under smsj.org.
- 11323 County Road 304, Stoneham, TX 77868
- Mailing: PO Box 388, Plantersville, TX 77363
- Phone: (936) 894-2223
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–12 p.m. (closed 12–1 p.m.)
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Web: www.smsj.org
Parish History — A Polish-Immigrant Mission (1909–Present)
The mission was established in 1909 by Polish-speaking immigrants from Grimes Prairie, Stoneham, and Plantersville, on ten acres of land purchased from Mrs. J.O. Stoneham just south of the small, then-thriving town of Stoneham. The property was deeded to Bishop Nicholas Gallagher of Galveston on July 19, 1909, and the new modified-New-England-style church was dedicated by Bishop Gallagher in 1910 with Fr. Markus Dombrowski of St. Stanislaus in Anderson as its first pastor. From the start it was a mission — never having a resident priest of its own — first under St. Stanislaus in Anderson and, since 1962, under St. Mary in Plantersville.
- 1909: Land purchased and 31 founding parishioners sign the note for church and cemetery.
- 1910: Church dedicated by Bishop Nicholas Gallagher; Fr. M.A. Dombrowski first pastor.
- c. 1920: Becomes formal mission of St. Stanislaus, Anderson; Fr. N.T. Domanski (1920–1955) institutes monthly Mass.
- 1955–1960: Fr. T.W. Kappe — last Anderson pastor assigned to St. Joseph; buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in 1976.
- 1962–1967: Jurisdiction transferred to St. Mary, Plantersville under Fr. Tom Wendland.
- 1967: Fr. Leroy Braden becomes pastor; interior fully renovated.
- 2014–present: Fr. Edward C. Kucera, Jr. serves as pastor of both St. Mary and St. Joseph.
Architecture & the Church Building
The mission church was built in a modified New England style popular in early-1900s Texas, on a scale large enough to accommodate the growing Polish Catholic population of Stoneham. A small rectory was built nearby for visiting priests to stay overnight. The interior was completely renovated in the late 1960s under Fr. Leroy Braden; Fr. Edward C. Kucera, Jr. has continued restoring the building toward its original appearance.
- Modified New England style
- Small visiting-priest rectory
- Interior renovation c. 1967
- Restoration to original appearance ongoing
Parish Life & Ministries at St. Joseph
Parishioners of St. Joseph are served by three mission-specific groups — the St. Joseph Altar Society, the St. Joseph Men's Club, and the St. Joseph Cemetery committee — alongside the many parish-wide ministries of the combined St. Mary & St. Joseph community. Together they care for the church, the historic cemetery, the homebound, faith formation for all ages, marriage preparation, youth Confirmation, pro-life outreach, and the poor through the parish St. Vincent de Paul conference (help line 936-894-2362).
- St. Joseph Altar Society — Marcy Pavlock, 936-661-6662
- St. Joseph Men's Club — Donovan Pavlock, 936-900-4903
- St. Joseph Cemetery — Justin Mock, 979-777-4993
- Lectors, Music Coordinator, Homebound Ministry, Greeters, Art & Environment
- St. Vincent de Paul (help: 936-894-2362), Pro-Life Outreach, Gabriel Project
- OCIA/Adult Faith Formation, Adult Confirmation, Adult Bible Study, GriefShare
- Little Lambs Playgroup, YCMC, Stitchin' Sisters, Guardian Angels Seniors, ACTS Retreat
Faith Formation & Youth
Children's religious education (CCE/RE), youth Confirmation preparation, OCIA for adults, Adult Confirmation, Adult Bible Study & Spiritual Enrichment, and the parish ACTS Retreat are coordinated out of the combined St. Mary / St. Joseph office. Little Lambs Playgroup supports the youngest families; YCMC (Young Catholic Married Couples) gathers young adults.
- CCE / RE — Nicci Potter, [email protected]
- Youth Confirmation — [email protected]
- OCIA / Adult Faith Formation — Thomas Johnson, 936-697-2821
- Adult Confirmation — Sharon Skeans
- Adult Bible Study & Spiritual Enrichment — Suiki Boardman
- Little Lambs Playgroup — Wanda O'Brien
- Young Catholic Married Couples (YCMC) — Michael Tann
- ACTS Retreat — Diane Pasket
St. Joseph Cemetery
St. Joseph Cemetery was established at the same time as the church, on the same ten-acre tract south of Stoneham. The first recorded burial was Michalena Filipak (Phillips) on May 13, 1910. The cemetery is still active and cared for by the St. Joseph Cemetery committee. Fr. T.W. Kappe, who died on January 16, 1976, is the only priest buried here, resting under the large cross at his own request.
- Established 1909–1910 on the original ten-acre parcel
- First burial: Michalena Filipak (Phillips), May 13, 1910
- Contact: Justin Mock, 979-777-4993
- Fr. T.W. Kappe (d. 1976) — only priest interred here
Annual Traditions: Homecoming & the Feast of St. Joseph
Two annual gatherings define the rhythm of the year at St. Joseph. Each Memorial Day Weekend the parish hosts its Homecoming — a homecoming Mass, shared meal, games, live auction, and Polish music that draws descendants of the original founding families back to the mission from across Texas. On the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19) the community gathers at 5:30 p.m. for Mass at the Stoneham church, followed immediately by the parish's traditional STEW SUPPER of beef stew, bread, crackers, and homemade pies.
- Memorial Day Weekend Homecoming — Mass, meal, games, live auction, Polish music
- Feast of St. Joseph — 5:30 p.m. Mass followed by Stew Supper
- All parishioners and visitors welcome
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph is pastored together with St. Mary's in Plantersville by Fr. Edward C. Kucera, Jr., with Fr. Paul Lockey assisting as visiting priest and Deacons Anthony Olivieri, Frank Ashley, and David G. Garvis serving the combined parishes. The parish is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston under Archbishop Joe S. Vasquez.
- Pastor — Fr. Edward C. Kucera, Jr.
- Visiting Priest — Fr. Paul Lockey
- Deacon Anthony Olivieri
- Deacon Frank Ashley
- Deacon David G. Garvis
- Archbishop of Galveston-Houston — Most Rev. Joe S. Vasquez
Contact, Visiting & Becoming a Member
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the Sunday 7:30 a.m. Mass. Anyone wishing to register as a parishioner may pick up a registration form in the back of the church or complete one online at www.smsj.org. The parish office, located at the Plantersville mailing address, is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Mailing address: PO Box 388, Plantersville, TX 77363
- Phone: (936) 894-2223 | Fax: (936) 894-3613
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Register online at www.smsj.org or pick up a form in back of church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Markus (M.A.) Dombrowski1910–1911
First pastor; of St. Stanislaus, Anderson; established St. Joseph as a mission of Anderson.
- Fr. C.H. Wiesnerowski1911–1912
Second pastor.
- Fr. J.B. Gleissner1912–1920
Also pastor of St. Mary, Plantersville; Mass was sporadic.
- Fr. N.T. Domanski1920–1955
Pastor of St. Stanislaus, Anderson; established regular monthly Mass at St. Joseph; Polish/English sermons.
- Fr. T.W. Kappe1955–1960
Last St. Stanislaus pastor assigned to St. Joseph; buried at St. Joseph Cemetery on his death (1976). Camp Kappe named for him.
- Fr. Tom Wendland1962–1967
Pastor of St. Mary, Plantersville; in 1962 jurisdiction over St. Joseph was transferred to St. Mary.
- Fr. Leroy Bradenfrom 1967
First pastor under the new arrangement with St. Mary; completely renovated the interior of St. Joseph.
- Fr. Edward C. Kucera, Jr.2014–present (over 10 years as of 2026)
Current pastor of both St. Mary Plantersville and St. Joseph Stoneham; has led the ongoing restoration of both churches.