About St. Joseph the Worker · Bonneauville, Pennsylvania
St. Joseph the Worker is a Roman Catholic parish in the borough of Bonneauville, Adams County, Pennsylvania — roughly five miles east of Gettysburg, between Gettysburg and Hanover. It is a parish of the Diocese of Harrisburg and traces its origins to 1859, when Saint John Neumann, then Bishop of Philadelphia, laid its cornerstone. The parish's first Mass was celebrated on February 26, 1860, and the community has continued to worship in the same brick church for more than 165 years. Today it is served by Pastor Rev. Benny Jose and Deacon Richard J. Weaver, with daily and weekend Masses, a CCD religious education program, First Friday Adoration, and a Knights of Columbus council among its active ministries.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- St. Joseph the Worker
- Rector
- Rev. Benny Jose (MSSCC)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Joseph the Worker is a tightly knit Catholic community in Adams County that has worshiped continuously in the same brick church since 1860. The parish offers a full schedule of daily and weekend Masses (including a Wednesday evening Mass and a Saturday Vigil), Saturday confessions, weekly Thursday evening Adoration, and First Friday all-day Adoration with Benediction. Active lay life is rich — a Knights of Columbus council, Parish Council of Catholic Women, a CCD religious education program, a music ministry, prayer line, parish council, and a Spring Craft Bazaar in the Deacon Weaver parish center — making it easy for newcomers and longtime Catholics alike to find a way to belong.
Mass times at St. Joseph the Worker
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Also by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday — all-day Adoration, 8:30 AM Exposition, 3:00 PM Divine Mercy Chaplet, Chaplet of Precious Blood, followed by Benediction
- Thursday 7:00 PM (Thursday Adoration noted in parish staff listing)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Joseph the Worker Parish describes itself as a 'Catholic Christian Community' in Bonneauville, Pennsylvania, located between Gettysburg and Hanover. Its published mission is to live the gospel of Jesus Christ as individuals and to put that gospel into practice in worship, belief, learning, and service. The parish explicitly welcomes all Catholics and guests and invites others into 'gospel fellowship' as a 'Community of Faith, Hope, & Love.'
- Parish motto / identity: Catholic Christian Community of Faith, Hope, & Love
- Open invitation to all Catholics and guests
- Located between Gettysburg and Hanover in Adams County, PA
History & Heritage
The parish dates to 1859, when Saint John N. Neumann — then Bishop of Philadelphia and later canonized — laid its cornerstone on July 31, 1859. The first Mass was celebrated on February 26, 1860. The Diocese of Harrisburg would not be erected for another eight years (1868), making St. Joseph the Worker a faith community older than the diocese that now shepherds it. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in 2009 with a commemorative booklet, and in December 2025 received its first pastoral visit from Bishop Timothy Senior.
- 1859: Cornerstone laid by Bishop (later Saint) John Neumann
- February 26, 1860: First Mass celebrated
- 2009: 150th Anniversary celebrated with commemorative booklet by Doug Little and Karl Orndorff
- December 7, 2025: First pastoral visit by Bishop Timothy Senior
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Benny Jose (a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, MSSCC) and Deacon Richard J. Weaver. A small staff and many lay leaders support parish operations, liturgy, faith formation, and community life.
- Pastor: Rev. Benny Jose (MSSCC)
- Deacon: Deacon Richard J. Weaver
- Parish Administrative Assistant: Sue Miller
- Website Administrator: Scott Staub ([email protected])
- Parish Financial Advisor: Steve Arthur
- Choir Director: Steve Arthur; Music Director: Brian Smith
- CCD Coordinator: Clare Crone
- Parish Council President: Mike Farrell
- Parish Council of Catholic Women: Julie Eckenrode
- Knights of Columbus contact: Mike Shanebrook
- Prayer Line: Anne Sneeringer
Faith Formation & CCD
The parish operates a School of Religious Instruction (SRI, formerly CCD) under coordinator Clare Crone, providing religious education for the children of the parish. Classes are held on Sundays, and sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation flows through this program.
- CCD / School of Religious Instruction (SRI) — Coordinator: Clare Crone
- Sunday morning religious education classes
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Lay ministry is a strong thread in parish life. The Knights of Columbus, Parish Council of Catholic Women, and Parish Council provide governance and service, while choirs and musicians under Brian Smith (Music Director) and Steve Arthur (Choir Director) lead liturgical music. The annual Spring Craft Bazaar is held in the Deacon Weaver Parish Center.
- Knights of Columbus
- Parish Council of Catholic Women
- Parish Council
- Music Ministry / Choirs
- Prayer Line
- Spring Craft Bazaar (Deacon Weaver Parish Center)
Facilities & Parish Center
The parish campus centers on the historic brick church at 12 East Hanover Street and the Deacon Weaver Parish Center at 22 East Hanover Street, Bonneauville. Facilities include the church, parking, restrooms, and a social hall used for parish events such as the Spring Craft Bazaar. Handicap access is available.
- Church (12 East Hanover Street)
- Deacon Weaver Parish Center / Social Hall (22 East Hanover Street)
- On-site parking
- Restrooms
- Handicap access
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM). The church is centrally located in the borough of Bonneauville, just off Hanover Street.
- Phone: (717) 334-2510
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stjosephtheworkerpa.org/
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Address: 12 East Hanover Street, Bonneauville, PA 17325
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Peter DiTomasso, MSSCC
Listed as pastor in the Diocese of Harrisburg Official Directory.
- Rev. Benny Jose, MSSCC
Current pastor; thanked Bishop Timothy Senior for his first pastoral visit on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 7, 2025.