About St. Joseph · Yakima, Washington
St. Joseph Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Yakima, Washington, belonging to the Diocese of Yakima. The parish is the lineal descendant of the Ahtanum Mission (Saint-Croix d'Ahtanum), established in 1852 by Oblate missionaries of Mary Immaculate among the Yakima people. Today's parish was formally established in 1959 in its current location at 212 N. 4th Street and serves a predominantly Spanish-speaking Catholic community, with most weekend Masses celebrated in Spanish. The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Mauricio Munoz and Parochial Vicar Rev. Edwin Lozada, and it ministers to the faithful through daily Mass, devotions such as Divine Mercy and the Legion of Mary, the Grupo Guadalupano rosary, and an active sacramental life.
- Established
- 1852 (Ahtanum Mission); 1959 (parish directory establishment); current church dedicated 2001
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Mauricio Munoz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Yakima
Why belong here
St. Joseph Parish is a vibrant, multilingual Catholic community in the heart of downtown Yakima, deeply rooted in a missionary heritage that stretches back to the 1847 Oblate arrival among the Yakima people. Daily and Sunday Masses — including four of five weekend Masses in Spanish — make it accessible to the broader Hispanic Catholic population of the Yakima Valley, while a full schedule of devotions (Divine Mercy, the Legion of Mary, the Grupo Guadalupano rosary, Saturday confessions, and Anointing of the Sick) offers rich spiritual life beyond the Mass. It is an ideal parish for Spanish-speaking families, for those seeking traditional Catholic devotions such as the rosary and the Divine Mercy, and for anyone drawn to a parish whose identity is inseparably tied to the founding of the Catholic Church in Central Washington.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Saturdays | Sabados: 4 pm–5 pm)
History and Heritage
St. Joseph Parish in Yakima is one of the oldest continuous Catholic communities in Central Washington. Its origin is the Ahtanum Mission, opened by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1852 on Ahtanum Creek near the summer camp of Yakima Chief Kamiakin. Originally called Saint-Croix d'Ahtanum, the mission became the headquarters of the Oblate stations in the Yakima Valley. The diocese and the Jesuits each administered the mission in turn: diocesan priest Father Louis Napoleon St. Onge built the log chapel that still stands in 1869, and Father Joseph Caruana, S.J., received the mission in 1871 when the Society of Jesus took over at Bishop Blanchet's request. In 1885 the parish moved with the town from Yakima City (now Union Gap) to North Yakima. The 1905 stone church was destroyed by arson on July 30, 1999, and the present church on N. 4th Street was dedicated in 2001. The Ahtanum Mission chapel is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1847 — First Oblates arrive at Fort Walla Walla
- 1852 — Ahtanum Mission (Saint-Croix d'Ahtanum) established
- 1869 — Log chapel erected by Father Louis Napoleon St. Onge and lay-brother J. B. Boulet
- July 15, 1871 — Chapel dedicated to St. Joseph; mission transferred to the Jesuits
- 1885 — Parish relocated with the town to North Yakima (now Yakima)
- 1905 — Stone St. Joseph Church built in Yakima
- 1959 — Parish formally listed in the Diocese of Yakima directory
- July 30, 1999 — 1905 stone church destroyed by arson
- 2001 — New St. Joseph Church dedicated at 212 N. 4th St.
Parish Leadership and Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. Mauricio Munoz, who also serves the Diocese of Yakima as Administrative Director of Seminarians. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Edwin Lozada. Day-to-day operations are coordinated by Office Administrator Ana Hernandez and Parish Coordinator Diana Rodriguez, both reachable through the diocesal email system. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is closed from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Rev. Mauricio Munoz — Pastor / Administrative Director of Seminarians
- Rev. Edwin Lozada — Parochial Vicar
- Ana Hernandez — Office Administrator
- Diana Rodriguez — Parish Coordinator
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Mass and Sacramental Schedule
St. Joseph offers Mass every day of the week, with a full weekday noon schedule plus a Wednesday evening Mass and a Friday School Mass. The Saturday Vigil and four Sunday Masses reflect the parish's bilingual, predominantly Spanish-speaking character: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. are all celebrated in Spanish; only the Sunday 8:30 a.m. Mass is in English.
- Weekday Mass: Mon–Fri 12:00 p.m.
- Wednesday evening Mass: 7:00 p.m.
- Friday School Mass: 8:30 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil (Spanish): 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 8:30 a.m. English; 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. Spanish
- Confessions: Saturdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment
Devotions and Prayer Groups
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish sustains a strong devotional life. The Grupo Guadalupano gathers for the rosary every Wednesday evening; the Legion of Mary meets every Monday; and the Divine Mercy devotion is celebrated monthly. Additional prayer gatherings are held on Saturdays, and the parish regularly publishes upcoming events on its website calendar.
- Legion of Mary — every Monday
- Grupo Guadalupano (Rosary) — every Wednesday, 6:00 p.m.
- Divine Mercy devotion — monthly
- Saturday devotional gathering
- Monthly parish events (see website calendar)
Sacraments
St. Joseph Parish regularly celebrates the sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance on the published weekly schedule. Anointing of the Sick is available by calling the parish office, reflecting the Church's teaching that this sacrament is not only for the dying but also for those facing serious illness or the frailties of old age. Sacramental preparation (baptism, first Communion, confirmation, marriage) is coordinated through the parish office.
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday (see schedule above)
- Penance / Confession — Saturdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment (509-248-1911)
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage — through the parish office
Contact and Visiting
St. Joseph Church is located at 212 N. 4th Street in downtown Yakima, Washington, 98901. The parish phone is 509-248-1911 and office email reaches Ana Hernandez at [email protected]. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass on the schedule; first-time visitors seeking Anointing of the Sick or other sacraments are encouraged to call ahead. Pilgrims interested in the broader missionary heritage of the parish are directed to the Ahtanum Mission log chapel — a National Register of Historic Places site in the Yakima Valley.
- Address: 212 N. 4th St., Yakima, WA 98901
- Phone: 509-248-1911
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed 11:30–12:30)
- Website: stjosephyakima.com
- Diocese: yakimadiocese.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Pascal Ricard, O.M.I.1847–1848
Oblate superior who helped establish the earliest Yakima Valley missions at St. Rose-on-the-Yakima and Ahtanum.
- Father Louis Napoleon St. Onge1867–1871
Diocesan priest who arrived from Holy Angels College, felled and hewed logs in the mountains, and erected the log chapel at Ahtanum in 1869; formally turned the mission over to the Jesuits in 1871.
- Lay-brother J. B. Boulet1867–1871
Assisted Father St. Onge with construction of the Ahtanum log chapel; later gave the address at the 1919 re-dedication of the Mission.
- Father Joseph Caruana, S.J.1871–1881
First Jesuit priest of the mission; arrived from Coeur d'Alene in late summer 1870, formally took charge May 1871, served ~10 years facing restrictions under President Grant's Indian Policy.
- Rev. Mauricio Munozcurrent
Current Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Yakima; also Administrative Director of Seminarians for the Diocese of Yakima.
- Rev. Edwin Lozadacurrent
Current Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Yakima.