About St. Joseph The Worker · Saint Petersburg, Florida
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a historic, multicultural Roman Catholic parish in South St. Petersburg, Florida, founded in 1922 as a mission of St. Mary's Parish and one of the oldest Catholic congregations in Pinellas County. The parish is celebrated for its rich diversity — African American, Vietnamese (the Martyrs of Vietnam community), Hispanic, and European faithful worship together — and for its mission-driven outreach to neighbors experiencing food insecurity, marginalization, and need. Today the parish is administered by Very Rev. Thomas T. Morgan under a formal partnership with the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, which assists with pastoral care, catechesis, and financial stewardship. Its longstanding ministries include a food pantry, hot meals, a Wednesday Family Dinner, a vibrant Gospel choir, OCIA/RCIA, and active faith formation for children, youth, and adults.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Very Rev. Thomas T. Morgan (Parochial Administrator; also Rector of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Why belong here
St. Joseph welcomes everyone who seeks to grow in Christ through worship, formation, and service, especially those who feel marginalized or forgotten. Its multicultural parish family — with deep African American, Vietnamese, Hispanic, and European roots — gathers around a Gospel choir, a Wednesday Family Dinner, and ministries that feed the surrounding South St. Petersburg neighborhood. Whether you are drawn by the historic 1922 parish, its lively liturgy, or its concrete outreach through the food pantry and hot meals, there is a place to belong here.
Mass times at St. Joseph The Worker
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM (per third-party listings)
- Sunday: 11:15 AM – 11:30 AM (immediately following the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Joseph Catholic Church describes itself as 'a welcoming, dynamic, and diverse community of believers, representative of the Kingdom of God, with one heart and many faces.' Its mission is to welcome those who seek to grow in Christ through worship and educational and social ministries, and to serve those who feel marginalized, forgotten, and unloved in the name of Jesus Christ. The parish invites visitors to discover where they belong among its ministries and faith formation offerings.
- Founded 1922; one of the oldest Catholic congregations in Pinellas County
- Located at 2101 22nd Ave S, South St. Petersburg
- Part of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg Deanery
- Officially partnered with the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle
Parish History: A Century of Faith
From a 1922 mission of St. Mary's Parish to a 2022 centennial Jubilee celebrated by Bishop Gregory Parkes, St. Joseph's history is one of multicultural growth, social-justice witness, and steady pastoral care. The original parish history was composed by Keith Woods for the 2001 Jubilee, later expanded with contributions from Fr. Stephan Brown, SVD, and revised by Deacon John Carter to reflect the parish's evolving mission and multicultural identity.
- 1922 — Fr. James J. O'Riordan purchases land on south St. Petersburg
- 1926 — Small mission church established
- 1930 — Becomes independent parish; Fr. Michael J. Clasby first pastor
- 1938 — Rectory built across the street
- 1940s — Immaculate Conception Mission founded for Black Catholics
- 1948 — Fr. John Murphy assumes care of the Mission (pastor 1941–1970)
- 1951 — Convent established
- 1952 — City of St. Petersburg's first Catholic school opens (closes 1985)
- 1960s — Bells and steeple added; parish serves 300+ families
- 1968 — Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) assume leadership
- 1980–1988 — Fr. Roland Bennett integrates St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception communities
- 1988 — Fr. Bill Mason expands Gospel choir, co-founds CUCA
- 1994 — Fr. Arthur Proulx welcomes the Martyrs of Vietnam Vietnamese community
- 1997 — Fr. Callist Nyambo, first African-born pastor, leads campus revitalization
- 2000 — Jubilee Year; new Parish Hall and bronze icon of St. Joseph installed under Fr. Timothy Sherwood
- 2017 — Fr. Stephan Brown, SVD, restores the bell tower and expands food outreach
- 2022 — Centennial Jubilee celebrated; formal partnership with Cathedral of St. Jude begins
The Immaculate Conception Mission & Multicultural Identity
The Immaculate Conception Mission was established in the mid-1940s to provide a spiritual home for Black Catholics at a time when racial divisions shaped worship patterns across the country. The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany ministered to local children and often worked across barriers to ensure the sacraments could be received. Under Fr. John Murphy the Mission, which initially met in a repurposed barn, was brought under St. Joseph's pastoral care. The two communities operated in parallel for decades until Fr. Roland Bennett led the sensitive but meaningful integration of the parish communities in the 1980s. Today the parish reflects a mosaic of cultures — African American, Vietnamese (the Martyrs of Vietnam), Hispanic, and European — all united in faith.
- Immaculate Conception School began in 1952 with three students
- Parishioner Carrie Elizabeth 'Bette' Davis Wimbish — first African American female lawyer in St. Petersburg and first Black City Council member
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Very Rev. Thomas T. Morgan as Parochial Administrator. Fr. Tom also serves as Rector of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle under a formal partnership that assists St. Joseph with pastoral care, catechesis, and financial stewardship. Deacon John Carter and Charmaine Carter serve the parish as Annulment Advocates and lead the Adult Faith Formation and OCIA ministries.
- Very Rev. Thomas T. Morgan — Parochial Administrator (also Rector, Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle)
- Deacon John Carter — Annulment Advocate / Adult Faith Formation
- Charmaine Carter — Annulment Advocate / Adult Faith Formation
- Contact: (727) 498-6056 · [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful serve the parish's worship life through a variety of liturgical roles, supporting the celebration of Mass and other sacraments across the parish's diverse communities.
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Lectors
Music Ministry
Music is a defining feature of worship at St. Joseph. The Music Ministry draws on a rich tradition rooted in African-American Gospel music as well as Catholic liturgical repertoire. Choir practice is held on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, and Gospel Choir auditions are coordinated by Joe Cosas.
- Worship Music / Gospel Choir
- Choir practice — Tuesdays, 7:00 PM
- Gospel Choir auditions — contact Joe Cosas ([email protected])
Faith Formation
St. Joseph offers faith formation for every age and stage. The parish website organizes formation into Children, Youth, and Adult tracks. Adults interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), and baptized Catholics seeking to complete their sacraments can enter the Adult Confirmation preparation process.
- Children's Faith Formation
- Youth Faith Formation
- Adult Faith Formation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — contact Deacon John Carter or Charmaine Carter at 727-347-9702 · [email protected]
- Adult Confirmation preparation
Service Ministries & Outreach
The parish has long been a leader in service to its South St. Petersburg neighborhood, especially in addressing food insecurity. The Wednesday Family Dinner and the Friday Hot Meals ministry, together with the Food Pantry, are weekly fixtures of parish life. Coffee and Donuts after Mass provides fellowship. Outreach extends beyond the parish through participation in FAST (Faith and Action for Strength Together), a multi-denominational coalition working on housing and food insecurity, and historically through CUCA (Congregations United for Community Action).
- Food Pantry
- Hot Meals on Fridays
- Wednesday Family Dinner — 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM in the Parish Social Hall
- Coffee and Donuts fellowship
- Annual Thanksgiving food drive (serving ~150 families)
- FAST — Faith and Action for Strength Together (community advocacy)
- CUCA — Congregations United for Community Action (co-founded by Fr. Bill Mason)
Sacraments & Annulments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Matrimony, and offers pastoral support through the annulment process. Those who are divorced may submit a petition for a declaration of nullity, and St. Joseph's advocates walk petitioners through the worksheet and confidential process in accord with Church Law.
- An Annulment Information Worksheet is available; submit to Fr. Tom Morgan, Deacon John Carter, or Charmaine Carter
- All materials held in strictest confidence per Church Law
- Contact: parish office (727) 498-6056 · [email protected]
Campus Ministry at Eckerd College
St. Joseph has long partnered with Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, where a Gospel Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 6:30 PM (varying with the college academic schedule). This campus ministry, strengthened under Fr. John Gerth, welcomes students into the parish's worship and service life.
- Sunday Gospel Mass at Eckerd College — 6:30 PM (varies with college schedule)
Visiting & Getting Involved
St. Joseph invites newcomers to attend Mass, join a ministry, or simply share in the Wednesday Family Dinner. The parish office can be reached at (727) 498-6056 or [email protected]. Mailing correspondence is routed through the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle at 5815 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710.
- Parish office: (727) 498-6056
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 2101 22nd Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
- Mailing: c/o Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael J. Clasbyc. 1930
First pastor when St. Joseph became an independent parish.
- Fr. John H. Mullinsafter 1930
Early pastor following Fr. Clasby.
- Fr. John Murphy1941–1970
Assumed pastoral care of the Immaculate Conception Mission in 1948; shepherded the parish through its major post-war growth.
- Fr. Thomas McGrady, OMIpost-1968
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate leadership after Murphy's retirement.
- Fr. Edwin Hayes, OMI
OMI pastor.
- Fr. John Hanley, OMI
OMI pastor.
- Fr. Joseph Farraiolifrom 1977
Arrived amid population shifts and economic challenges.
- Fr. Roland Bennett1980–1988
Led liturgical renewal and integration of St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception communities.
- Fr. Bill Masonfrom 1988
Expanded music ministry with Gospel choir, co-founded CUCA for justice advocacy.
- Fr. Arthur Proulx1994–1997
Diocesan priest who led march to reclaim Lakeview Park and welcomed the Vietnamese Martyrs of Vietnam community.
- Fr. Callist Nyambo1997–c. 2005
First African-born pastor; revitalized campus with new roof, A/C, sound system, landscaping; led 2000 Jubilee.
- Fr. Timothy Sherwood2000s
Oversaw new Parish Hall and bronze icon of St. Joseph at the entrance.
- Fr. John Gerth
Strengthened youth ministry, religious education, Vacation Bible School, Haiti mission trips, Eckerd College campus ministry.
- Fr. Stephan Brown, SVDfrom 2017
Restored the bell tower; launched Thanksgiving food drives, weekly food pantry, family cookouts, 'Flying Santa' helicopter.
- Very Rev. Thomas T. Morganpresent
Parochial Administrator; also Rector of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle under a partnership arrangement.