St. Joseph the Worker

Parish Story & History

St. Joseph the Worker Parish was canonically established on April 7, 1957 by Archbishop John J. Swint of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, with Fr. James P. Altmeyer named its founding pastor. Within weeks, on May 29, 1957, the parish launched a formal fundraising drive to build its own church. On September 2, 1958 the parish's grade school opened, and on June 7, 1959 the church site was broken and blessed. The completed church was formally dedicated on May 1, 1962 — the feast day of its patron — at a cost of $450,000. The parish also built and dedicated a gymnasium under Bishop W. Schmit, and later renovated the church with a re-dedication by Bishop Joseph Hodges.

• April 7, 1957 – Parish established by Archbishop John J. Swint; Fr. James P. Altmeyer appointed first pastor
• May 29, 1957 – Formal opening of the parish drive to build the church
• September 2, 1958 – St. Joseph the Worker Grade School opened
• June 7, 1959 – Groundbreaking and blessing of the new church site
• May 1, 1962 – Formal dedication of the church building ($450,000)
• January 31, 1963 – Ground broken for the new rectory at 229 California Avenue (the parish's present address)
• Bishop Joseph Hodges dedicates the new rectory
• Bishop Hodges dedicates the renovated church building
• Bishop W. Schmit formally dedicates St. Joseph's gymnasium
• Confraternity of Christian Mothers established in the parish

Parish Mission

The parish's published Mission Statement identifies it as a Catholic community united with the local Bishop and the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, baptized into Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. Members commit to sharing time, talent and treasure to welcome all who gather, to support Catholic education through the parish schools and religious education programs, to care for one another spiritually, and to maintain the material goods entrusted to them. Worship is offered through personal and communal prayer, proclamation of the Gospel, weekly Sunday Eucharist, the other Sacraments, and charitable outreach within and beyond parish boundaries.

Parish Staff & Clergy

The parish staff includes the pastor and a retired priest in residence, plus lay staff for religious education, the grade school, the day school, the partner high school, music, finance, and parish administration.

• Reverend Dennis R. Schuelkens, Jr. – Pastor
• Reverend Tony Thurston – Retired / In Residence
• Mr. Mark Tirona – Director of Religious Education (D.R.E.)
• Mrs. Recheal Fuscardo – Principal, St. Joseph Grade School (Pre-6)
• Ms. Tiffany Frey – Director, Day School
• Mr. Jason Heckathorn – Principal, Madonna High School (7-12)
• Ms. Celia Mergen – Music Director
• Ms. Mary Beth Simon – Bookkeeper
• Mrs. Carissa Kovarik – Secretary

Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation

Faith formation is offered for every age through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) / Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program, with online registration for each school year. Children age seven and older who are unbaptized enter the Church through the RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children). Adults seeking full membership in the Catholic Church enter through the Catechumenate and RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), a weekly formation process covering Catholic teaching, morality, liturgy, and prayer. First Holy Communion and Confirmation are prepared each year, with online registration for the 2026 celebrations.

• PSR/CCD religious education (registration online each year)
• RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
• RCIC – Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (age 7+)
• First Holy Communion preparation (2026 registration open)
• Confirmation preparation for adults and children (2026 registration open)
• Safe Environment certification program

Catholic Schools: St. Joseph the Worker School & Madonna High School

The parish runs St. Joseph the Worker School (preschool through sixth grade), a Catholic day school committed to providing quality education in the Catholic tradition in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment. Students take part in daily prayer, religion and family-life classes, liturgies and prayer services, reception of the sacraments, service projects, retreats, and days of reflection. The school is also home to a day-care program and offers extracurriculars including a STEM club, and partners closely with Weirton Medical Center. Graduates typically continue at partner-school Madonna High School (grades 7–12), a Catholic high school dedicated in 1955 by Msgr. Thomas McDonnell and founded through the vision of Monsignor Daniel Patrick Murphy, with designated pastor Fr. Dennis Schuelkens.

• St. Joseph the Worker School (Pre-K through 6) — parish day school
• Day-care program through the school
• Madonna High School (7–12) — partner Catholic high school in Weirton
• Madonna was dedicated August 15, 1955 by Msgr. Thomas McDonnell
• Extracurriculars at the grade school include a STEM club and full-time school psychologist services
• Daily prayer, weekly liturgies, retreats, and service-hour requirements at Madonna High School

Outreach: Gabriel Project of West Virginia

St. Joseph the Worker hosts the Gabriel Project, a pro-life ministry whose mission is to protect and honor life by providing immediate, practical, and compassionate assistance to needy pregnant women and to families with infants and children two years of age and younger. The parish regularly collects diapers, wipes, baby wash, shampoo, lotion, and monetary donations at the rectory to keep this ministry supplied.

• Gabriel Project of West Virginia hosted at the parish
• Practical and compassionate help for pregnant women and families with infants/toddlers up to age 2
• Ongoing collection of diapers, wipes, baby wash, shampoo, lotion, and monetary donations at the rectory

Contact, Location & Stay Connected

The parish office and rectory are located at 229 California Avenue, Weirton, West Virginia 26062. Phone (also for the D.R.E.) is (304) 723-2054. General parish email is [email protected]; the Director of Religious Education can also be reached at [email protected]. The parish is active on Facebook (Sunday 11 am Mass livestreamed there) and uses Flocknote for text notifications — text SAINTJOEWORKS to 84576 to subscribe. GCatholic identifies the parish's plus-code location as 86GXCC5X+VR.

• Address: 229 California Avenue, Weirton, WV 26062
• Parish phone: (304) 723-2054
• Parish email: [email protected]
• DRE email: [email protected]
• Official website: https://stjoeweirton.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjosephtheworkerchurchweirton/
• Flocknote: text SAINTJOEWORKS to 84576