About St. Joseph · Stuart, Florida
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish in Stuart, Florida (Martin County), serving the Treasure Coast as part of the Diocese of Palm Beach. The parish traces its origins to 1916, when local Catholics built the first Catholic church in Stuart and celebrated the inaugural Mass on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, with 35 people in attendance. Today the parish offers daily and weekend Masses (including a weekly Spanish Mass), reconciliation, adoration, a parish school, religious education, and a broad range of ministries, and is led by Pastor Rev. Noel McGrath together with two parochial vicars and several deacons.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Noel McGrath
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers one of the most active Catholic communities on Florida's Treasure Coast, with five weekend Masses (including a live-streamed Mass and a Spanish Mass), daily morning Masses, two Saturday confession slots, First Friday and Holy Hour devotions, and a thriving parish school supported by the Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ from Poland. Parishioners can join more than a dozen ministries — from Faith Formation and sacramental preparation to music, volunteer coordination, and outreach — worshiping in a large 1,100-seat church that has served Stuart Catholics since 1916. As the mother parish of seven surrounding communities, St. Joseph has both deep roots and a notably diverse, multicultural congregation.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 11:00–11:30 a.m.
- Saturdays 3:00–3:30 p.m.
- Thursday before the first Friday of each month at 3:00 p.m.
- Weekdays by appointment with the priest
About St. Joseph Catholic Church
St. Joseph Catholic Church & School is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1200 SE 10th Street in Stuart, Florida, serving the Treasure Coast as part of the Diocese of Palm Beach. The parish's stated mission is to be a welcoming Catholic community of faith that embraces its diversity and reaches out to all of God's children, nourishing faith in Jesus Christ through the Sacraments, the Word, and the Eucharist, and increasing stewardship by sharing time, talent, and treasure. Worship is offered in English and Spanish, the parish school has been educating children since 1961, and a deep Faith Formation program supports sacramental preparation for youth and adults.
- Address: 1200 SE 10th Street, Stuart, FL 34996
- Phone: (772) 287-2727
- Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach
- Mission: welcoming, diverse, stewardship-oriented Catholic community
Parish History (1916 to today)
In 1916, local Catholics built the first church in Stuart on land donated by George Zamits, celebrating the first Mass on March 19 — the feast of St. Joseph — with 35 people in attendance. That original building served the parish for 31 years. By 1947, the parish needed a larger church, and parishioner Ben Hodapp famously acquired a decommissioned WWII chapel from Camp Murphy, sawed it in half, barged it down the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers, and re-erected it on East Ocean Boulevard — Thanksgiving Day 1947 saw its first Mass. A 1960 fire destroyed that building; the replacement church was dedicated in 1961 by Bishop Coleman F. Carroll, and the present-day church (seating ~1,100) was dedicated December 12, 1981, by Archbishop Edward McCarthy.
- 1916 — land donated, first Catholic church built in Stuart
- March 19, 1916 — first Mass with 35 in attendance (feast of St. Joseph)
- 1947 — WWII Camp Murphy chapel barged to Stuart; first Mass Thanksgiving Day 1947
- 1960 — fire destroys second church
- 1961 — third church dedicated by Bishop Coleman F. Carroll; Sisters of St. Joseph found St. Joseph School
- 1981 — present-day church dedicated by Archbishop Edward McCarthy
Mother Parish of the Treasure Coast
From its boundaries have come seven daughter parishes along the Treasure Coast and northern Palm Beach County. Each was established with help from St. Joseph, whose mission field gradually became a network of parishes covering Hobe Sound, Tequesta, Port St. Lucie, Indiantown, Jensen Beach, Palm City, and a second Stuart parish.
- St. Christopher, Hobe Sound (1952)
- St. Jude, Tequesta (1962)
- St. Lucie, Port St. Lucie (1965)
- Holy Cross, Indiantown (1967)
- St. Martin de Porres, Jensen Beach (1973)
- Holy Redeemer, Palm City (1983)
- St. Andrew, Stuart (1999)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides a developmentally appropriate, systematic Catholic education for children. Classes meet Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., preparing young parishioners for First Communion (a two-year program) and Confirmation (a two-year program). Registration requires copies of birth, baptismal, and (where applicable) First Communion certificates, and all children must attend a Sunday or Saturday Vigil Mass each week as part of formation.
- Director of Faith Formation & Evangelization: Anthuanette Hidalgo (ext. 107)
- Confirmation preparation: two-year tuition ($75 + $100)
- First Communion preparation: two-year tuition ($50 + $75)
- Sunday 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. class schedule
- Spanish registration packets available
School: St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School was founded in 1961 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine and continues today with religious sisters of the Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ from Poland serving in both church and school. The school operates in tandem with the parish at the same Stuart campus and is supported by staff roles that span classroom assistance, sacramental coordination, and faith formation.
- Founded 1961 by Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine
- Currently served by Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ (Poland)
- Faculty/staff roles include Classroom Assistants and Faith Formation
- Catechetical and Sacramental Coordinator on staff
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Noel McGrath, with two Parochial Vicars — Rev. Paul Vincent and Rev. Wisman Simeon — and assisted by three deacons (Michael Burke, Lawrence Crary, and Laurence 'Bonny' Condon) plus two religious sisters, Sr. Anita and Sr. Martina. The parish office and school share additional staff for music, faith formation, development, maintenance, and reception.
- Pastor: Rev. Noel McGrath
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Paul Vincent
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Wisman Simeon
- Deacons: Michael Burke, Lawrence Crary, Laurence (Bonny) Condon
- Religious sisters: Sr. Anita, Sr. Martina
- Music Director: Michael Taylor (ext. 116)
- Director of Faith Formation & Evangelization: Anthuanette Hidalgo (ext. 107)
- Sacramental Coordinator: Angela Trybul
- Director of Development, Events & Volunteer Coordinator, Office Staff, Maintenance Supervisor Christopher Santa
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with extended hours until 7:30 p.m. on Friday; the office is closed on weekends. Visitors are encouraged to register as parishioners through the parish's online portal, and the welcome page invites newcomers to get involved through the parish's many ministries.
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Fri 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sat & Sun closed
- Phone: (772) 287-2727 | Fax: (772) 287-4998
- Email (general): [email protected]
- Live-Streamed Masses available via parish YouTube channel
Live Streaming & Online Presence
St. Joseph live-streams a number of its Masses — the 8:30 a.m. weekday Mass, the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, and the Saturday evening Spanish Mass — through the parish YouTube channel, allowing parishioners and visitors who are homebound or traveling to remain connected to the parish liturgies.
- Daily 8:30 a.m. Mass (Live Stream)
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass (Live Stream)
- Saturday 7:30 p.m. Spanish Mass (Live Stream)
- Parish newsletter sign-up available online