About St. Joseph · Tacoma, Washington
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tacoma, Washington is a historic parish at 602 S. 34th Street in the South Sound, founded in 1911 by the Slovak Catholic community of Tacoma. Since 2015 it has been served by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), a society of apostolic life of pontifical right erected by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988, and all Masses and sacraments are celebrated in the Latin usus antiquior (Traditional Latin Mass) of the Roman Rite according to the liturgical books of 1962. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Seattle (Deanery 54 / Pierce Deanery) and serves roughly 400 households as the South Sound's principal Latin Mass apostolate.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy P. O'Brien, F.S.S.P.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Pierce Deanery, Parish Family 54)
Why belong here
St. Joseph is the South Sound's home of the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 liturgical books), served by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter and warmly welcomed by long-time parishioners who opened their doors to the broader Latin Mass community. Worship is enriched by regular devotions — the Angelus or Regina Caeli after Sunday Mass, Leonine prayers after Low Masses, a weekly Holy Hour with Exposition and Benediction on Wednesdays, Holy Face devotions on Tuesdays, First Saturday Exposition with the Litany of Loreto, and the Rosary before every Mass — alongside active family-oriented groups including Little Flowers, the Little Sodality of Mary, a homeschool co-op, youth and young adult groups, a Christian Mothers group, men's league, and a pro-life apostolate.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes prior to each Mass
- As needed after Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (in Latin)
- First Friday: 9:00 AM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (in Latin)
- Holy Hour with Exposition & Benediction following the Wednesday morning Mass
- Holy Hour before Mass each Friday
- First Saturday Exposition with the Litany of Loreto following the 7:00 a.m. Mass
Parish History
St. Joseph was founded in 1911 by the Slovak Catholic community of Tacoma after Bishop Edward J. O'Dea of Seattle granted permission in 1908. Lots at South 34th and Tacoma Avenue were purchased on April 7, 1908, and Slovak parishioners themselves dug the basement and laid the foundation in evenings after their factory and mill shifts. Architect C. Frank Mahon designed the 12-inch solid-brick building, dedicated by Bishop O'Dea on May 19, 1912. Stained glass windows were added in 1935 for the Silver Jubilee, and the Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1961 with Archbishop Connolly presiding. In 2015 Archbishop J. Peter Sartain invited the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter to take pastoral care of the parish, renewing the Traditional Latin Mass at the very church built when that form was the universal norm.
- 1908: Slovak community petitions Bishop O'Dea; lots purchased April 7 for $2,500
- 1911: Construction begins; first baptism (Michael Rokita, Aug 20) and first wedding (Kohut–Sotak, July 8)
- May 19, 1912: Official dedication by Bishop O'Dea, with first Confirmation and a parade on Pacific Avenue
- 1935: Stained glass windows installed for Silver Jubilee
- 1936: Silver Jubilee banquet with Bishop Shaughnessy and Abbot Lambert Burton, O.S.B.
- 1961: Golden Jubilee Solemn High Mass with Archbishop Connolly
- 2015: FSSP assigned to the parish; Fr. Michael Stinson first FSSP pastor
Devotions
Daily and weekly devotions are central to parish life at St. Joseph, complementing the Traditional Latin Mass with classic Catholic prayers of the Roman tradition.
- Rosary prayed prior to every Mass
- Angelus or Regina Caeli prayed after Sunday Mass
- Leonine prayers after Low Masses
- Holy Face devotions after the 8:00 AM Tuesday Mass
- Devotions to St. Joseph after the Wednesday morning Mass
- Holy Hour before each Friday Mass
- Litany of Loreto after First Saturday Mass
Faith Formation & Youth
The parish offers catechism classes, altar-server training for boys after First Communion, and a vibrant set of girls' groups designed to nurture the interior life and works of mercy. The St. Joseph Parish Homeschool Group supports Catholic homeschooling families in the scholastic tradition of the Church.
- Catechism Classes
- Altar Server Training (boys post-First Communion; first Saturday of each month — contact Fr. Loftus)
- Little Flowers Girls' Club (ages 6–12; First Saturdays) — led by Tabitha Spencer
- Little Sodality of Mary (girls ages 12–17; First Saturdays) — led by Heather Shea & Monica Berry
- St. Joseph Parish Homeschool Group — annual dues $50 (families with child ≥6) / $25 (all children ≤5); payment plans and partial scholarships available
Parish Life & Groups
St. Joseph offers a wide array of parish groups for men, women, young adults, and families, fostering community alongside the Traditional Latin Mass and devotions.
- Youth Group — spiritual, moral, and intellectual enrichment for parish youth
- Young Adult Group (ages 18+) — led by Mac Vandersteen & Eric Jackson
- Christian Mothers — led by Amber Gold
- St. Joseph's Mothers' Group
- Men's League (Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Rosary) — led by Ron Whelan
- St. Joseph's Pro-Life Group — coordinator TBD; contact parish office
- Rosary Makers — led by Kathy May
- Our Lady of Victory Altar Society
- Little Women Hospitality Program — led by Kelli Sanders
Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP)
The parish is an apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), a society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right instituted by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988. The FSSP serves St. Joseph in the Archdiocese of Seattle with the blessing of Archbishop Paul Etienne, continuing Archbishop J. Peter Sartain's 2015 invitation. All Masses and sacraments are celebrated in the Latin usus antiquior of the Roman Rite according to the liturgical books of 1962.
- FSSP pastor: Fr. Timothy O'Brien, F.S.S.P.
- FSSP parochial vicar: Fr. Jacob Kasak, F.S.S.P.
- Erected by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988
- Operates under Archbishop Paul Etienne, Archdiocese of Seattle
Visit & Contact
St. Joseph welcomes visitors to the Traditional Latin Mass. Latin-English missals are available for those unfamiliar with the 1962 liturgical books. The parish office is staffed by a Pastoral Assistant for Administration (Marty Whelan), a Bookkeeper (Christine Boyle), and Communications (Monica Berry).
- Address: 602 S. 34th St., Tacoma, WA 98418-6820
- Phone: (253) 472-2489
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: saintjosephtacoma.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/saintjosephcatholic
- Parish Family 54 — Archdiocese of Seattle (Pierce Deanery)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Aloysius Mlinar1911–1913
First pastor; oversaw construction and dedication.
- Fr. Z. Rozanski1913–1920
- Fr. Andrew Lavicka1920–1928
- Fr. Paul Kucera, O.S.B.1928–1930
Benedictine.
- Fr. Joseph Hayostek1930–1969
Celebrated the 1936 Silver Jubilee and the 1961 Golden Jubilee.
- Fr. Michael Lukas1970–1983
- Fr. Victor A. Cloquet1983–1991
- Fr. Richard Cebula, O.S.B.1991–1998
Benedictine.
- Fr. John Wilkie1998–2009
- Fr. Tuan Nguyen2009–2011
- Fr. Jacob Maurer2011–2015
Last pastor before FSSP assignment.
- Fr. Michael J. Stinson, F.S.S.P.2015–2018
First FSSP pastor; assignment by Archbishop Sartain renewed the Traditional Latin Mass.
- Fr. Thomas Longua, F.S.S.P.2018–2019
- Fr. Timothy O'Brien, F.S.S.P.2019–present
Current pastor.