About St. Joseph · Taneytown, Maryland
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is a small, welcoming parish serving the spiritual needs of Catholics in Taneytown, Carroll County, Maryland, and the surrounding countryside for over 200 years. The parish traces its origins to 1797, when Bishop John Carroll — the first bishop of Baltimore — appointed Father Demetrius A. Gallitzin as its founding pastor. Today the parish, one of the oldest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, gathers roughly 300 active families for worship in its historic 1876 church on Frederick Street, with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning and a daily weekday Mass Monday through Friday.
- Established
- 1797
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Bialek
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a small, welcoming Catholic community with deep historical roots — it is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, founded in 1797 and still worshipping in its 1876 Gothic Revival church. Active parishioners describe a tight-knit family of faith with hospitality gatherings on the 1st and 3rd Sundays after the 10:00 a.m. Mass, ongoing faith formation for all ages, and a pastorate that emphasizes growing individually, collectively, and spiritually. Three priests currently serve the parish, daily weekday Mass is offered Monday–Friday, and Saturday confessions are scheduled weekly — a schedule richer than many parishes its size.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM
- Any time by appointment
About St. Joseph Catholic Church
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is a small, welcoming parish of about 300 active families located at 44 Frederick Street in Taneytown, Carroll County, Maryland. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Baltimore and has served the spiritual needs of Catholics in Taneytown and the surrounding countryside for over 200 years. Its three-priest pastorate offers a fuller sacramental life than many parishes its size, with daily weekday Mass, two Sunday Masses, Saturday vigil Mass, and regular Saturday confessions.
- About 300 active families
- Three priests serving the parish
- Daily Mass Monday–Friday at 8:00 a.m.
- Part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Parish History
St. Joseph traces its origins to 1797, when Bishop John Carroll — first bishop of Baltimore and at the time pastor of the entire United States — formally established the parish and appointed Father Demetrius A. Gallitzin as pastor. The community's Catholic roots go back further: English, Irish, and German settlers worshipped in private homes during the colonial era when public Catholic worship was suppressed, and the first brick church was built around 1796 by a private citizen named Mr. Brookes. The present Gothic Revival church was built in 1876 for $4,965, and the historic Henry Pike England pipe organ — one of the oldest in Maryland — has been in use since the early 1800s.
- Established 1797 by Bishop John Carroll
- Founding pastor: Father Demetrius A. Gallitzin ("Apostle of the Alleghenies")
- First brick church built c. 1796 by Mr. Brookes
- Present Gothic Revival church built in 1876 for $4,965
- Historic Henry Pike England organ (1801/1804, rebuilt 1875)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Mark Bialek and is served by two associate pastors, Rev. Joseph Kim and Rev. Leandro Fazolini, providing a three-priest team for the roughly 300 active families. Parish office inquiries go through 44 Frederick Street, phone (410) 756-2500, or email [email protected].
- Rev. Mark Bialek — Pastor
- Rev. Joseph Kim — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Leandro Fazolini — Associate Pastor
Parish Life and Fellowship
The parish describes itself with three touchstones: Always Family, Always Giving, and Always Caring. Hospitality Sundays — held the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month after the 10:00 AM Mass — are a long-standing fellowship tradition featuring a breakfast treat and beverages where newcomers meet long-time parishioners. The parish's stated aim is to grow "individually, collectively and spiritually," and to be a supportive community that celebrates and cares for one another.
- Always Family — spiritual growth
- Always Giving — outreach and stewardship
- Always Caring — community and family support
- Hospitality Sundays: 1st & 3rd Sunday after 10:00 AM Mass
Faith Formation
Faith formation is listed as a core ministry of the parish alongside bulletins and contact information, indicating programs for ongoing religious education of children and adults. Specific class schedules are not published on the homepage; parishioners are directed to the parish bulletin and Formation pages for current offerings.
- Faith Formation listed as a parish ministry
- Formation details available via parish bulletin
Sacraments
St. Joseph prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and life — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick — and offers Reconciliation weekly on Saturday afternoons (or by appointment). The Archdiocese of Baltimore's Marriage Preparation resources are referenced for engaged couples. Funerals and other rites are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — contact parish
- Marriage preparation — Archdiocese resources available
- Anointing of the Sick and funerals — contact parish
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM or by appointment
Contact, Location, and Weather Policy
The parish is located at 44 Frederick Street, Taneytown, MD 21787, with phone (410) 756-2500 and fax (410) 756-1260. Email is [email protected]. The official website is stjosephtaneytown.org, and the parish maintains a Facebook page for announcements. The parish follows Carroll County Public Schools for weather decisions: if schools close, the 8:00 AM weekday Mass is cancelled, the office is closed, and all parish events are cancelled; with a 1-hour delay, the 8:00 AM Mass is cancelled but the office opens on time; with a 2-hour delay, the 8:00 AM Mass is cancelled and the office opens at 10:00 AM.
- Address: 44 Frederick Street, Taneytown, MD 21787
- Phone: (410) 756-2500
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stjosephtaneytown.org/
- Facebook: /sjtawneytown/
- Inclement weather policy tied to Carroll County Public Schools
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Demetrius A. Gallitzin1797–1799
Founding pastor; son of a Russian prince, "Apostle of the Alleghenies," traveled 250 miles on horseback; under Vatican consideration for sainthood.
- Father Nicholas Zocchi1804–1845
Born in Rome; served 41 years and was buried at St. Joseph's.
- Rev. John D. Parsons1847 (three months)
Brief tenure; parish otherwise served from Mount St. Mary's College.
- Rev. Thomas O'Neill1851–1862
Built the present rectory; also served Westminster and New Windsor.
- Rev. John Gloyd1862–1869
Co-builder of the present 1876 church.
- Rev. R. W. Hazel1871 (assistant)
- Rev. Caspar Schmitt1870s
- Rev. John T. Delaneythrough 1895
Co-builder of the present 1876 church; oversaw 1890 schoolhouse construction.
- Father Joseph F. Lane1933–1940
Remembered as "the happy priest" — always smiling and jolly.
- Father Francis P. Wagner1959–1963
WWII paratrooper; the "people's priest"; helped erect the school building.
- Father John T. Kerr1967–1974
Remembered as a "gentle man" — quiet, elegant, distinguished faithful friend.
- Father Paul F. Dolan1974–1994
20-year pastorate; generous anonymous donor to the poor; bought and drove school buses.
- Monsignor Martin Feild1994–
First monsignor to lead the parish; established the Trinity Garden; led Heritage Society and longtime pastor featured in Catholic Review coverage.
- Rev. Mark Bialek
Current pastor per Archdiocese of Baltimore directory.