About St. Joseph · Woodville, Mississippi
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small historic parish located at 338 Church Street in Woodville, Mississippi, in the southwestern corner of Wilkinson County. Founded in 1873 under the direction of Father Germain Martin, it is one of the older Catholic parishes in the state and is part of the Diocese of Jackson. The church, built in the Carpenter Gothic style, is a contributing structure within the Woodville Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1982. Today the parish is served by Father Anthony Claret Onyeocha, who also pastors nearby Holy Family Mission in Gloster, and offers Mass in English throughout the week.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Reverend Anthony Claret Onyeocha
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a rare chance to belong to one of Mississippi's oldest and most historic Catholic parishes, where the same family names have worshipped for generations and the Carpenter Gothic church sits within a National Register historic district. Worshippers experience a tight-knit community life built around weekday morning Masses, a Saturday Vigil, and a Sunday morning gathering — with a pastor who also shepherds the nearby Holy Family Mission in Gloster. Whether you are a returning descendant, a newcomer to Wilkinson County, or a Catholic traveler from across the Louisiana border, the parish welcomes you to share in its 150-year heritage of faith on Church Street.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass
- By appointment
Parish History & Heritage
St. Joseph was founded in 1873 under Father Germain Martin, but Catholic life in the Woodville area stretches back to 1682, when Mass was celebrated near Fort Adams on Easter Sunday — a celebration some historians call the first Mass on Mississippi soil. For decades the Catholic families of Woodville (the Elders, Gordons, and Poseys) worshipped at home, gathering first in the Gordon family house, and were visited by priests riding out from Natchez. Father Joseph B. Weis became the first resident priest in 1905, and on September 9, 2023, Bishop Joseph Kopacz joined the parish to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
- 1682 — First Mass near Fort Adams on Easter Sunday
- 1811 — Town of Woodville incorporated; early Catholic families: Elders, Gordons, Poseys
- 1873 — Church opened under Father Germain Martin
- 1905 — Father Joseph B. Weis becomes first resident priest
- September 9, 2023 — 150th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz
Building & Architecture
The parish worships in a Carpenter Gothic style church dating to circa 1873, described by Mississippi preservationists as a 'charming, well-preserved example of the style.' The church and its rectory are contributing structures within the Woodville Historic District, which was entered on the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1982 by the United States Department of the Interior.
- Architectural style: Carpenter Gothic
- Built ca. 1873
- Contributing structure in the Woodville Historic District (NRHP, listed May 20, 1982)
- Located at 338 Church Street, near First South Street
Clergy & Pastoral Succession
St. Joseph is currently served by Father Anthony Claret Onyeocha, who also pastors Holy Family Mission in Gloster. The parish has a documented pastoral succession reaching back to its founding priest, Father Germain Martin (1873), and including the first resident priest, Father Joseph B. Weis (1905), and Father PJ Curley (1970s), who returned to concelebrate the 150th anniversary Mass in 2023.
- Father Germain Martin — 1873 (founding)
- Father Joseph B. Weis — 1905 (first resident priest)
- Father PJ Curley — 1970s
- Father Anthony Claret Onyeocha — current pastor
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish offers a daily Mass schedule centered on weekday mornings, a Saturday Vigil, and a single Sunday morning Mass, all celebrated in English. The pastor also travels to Holy Family Mission in Gloster for additional weekend Masses.
- Sunday — 10:00 AM (English)
- Tuesday–Friday — 8:30 AM (English)
- Saturday Vigil — 6:00 PM (English)
- 1st Saturday — 8:30 AM (English)
The 150th Anniversary Celebration (2023)
On Sunday, September 9, 2023, Bishop Joseph Kopacz celebrated a special Mass with the parish, concelebrated by Father Anthonyclaret Onyeocha and Father PJ Curley (who served the parish in the 1970s). A grand outdoor gathering followed in the parish gardens, with attendees traveling from Woodville, Baton Rouge, and surrounding areas — many returning to honor ancestral ties to the parish.
- Concelebrants: Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Anthony Claret Onyeocha, Father PJ Curley
- Father Anthonyclaret also celebrated his U.S. citizenship at the event
- Bishop blessed new liturgical vessels during the Mass
- Altar servers included Wil Seal and Wallace Ferguson
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Germain Martin1873 (founding)
Directed the opening of St. Joseph Catholic Church in 1873.
- Father Joseph B. Weis1905
First resident priest of the parish; previously served by priests riding out from Natchez.
- Father PJ Curley1970s
Served the parish in the early 1970s; returned to concelebrate the 150th anniversary Mass in 2023.
- Father Anthony Claret Onyeochapresent
Current pastor; also serves Holy Family Mission, Gloster; celebrated his U.S. citizenship at the 2023 anniversary.