About St. Joseph · York, Pennsylvania
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a vibrant Roman Catholic parish in East York, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Harrisburg and pastorally served since 1979 by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars (OFM Cap). The parish offers Mass in English and Vietnamese, runs an award-winning Catholic grade school (Pre-K through grade 6) on its Kingston Road campus, and operates more than forty ministries — from OCIA and youth ministry to a Knights of Columbus council, a Jamaican Mission Team, and a weekly Soup Kitchen outreach. The current worship space was built in 1996–97 and dedicated by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz on March 14, 1998, joining the parish's historic school buildings on the same seven-acre campus.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Kyle S. Sahd
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Joseph's combines the warmth of an East York parish family with the spiritual depth of forty-plus years of Capuchin Franciscan ministry, offering daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday, and a Vietnamese Mass on the fourth Sunday. Families find a complete Catholic formation pipeline — St. Joseph School (Pre-K through grade 6), Religious Education, OCIA for adults and children, and an active Youth Ministry (Ignite, Sparks, Young Adults) — while adults can join more than forty ministries including Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women Association, Regnum Christi, Homebound Ministry, Prayer Shawl, and outreach to the poor through the Catholic Harvest Food Pantry, Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, and the Jamaican Mission Team.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Every Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Divine Mercy Chapel
Our Story
St. Joseph Parish traces its roots to a mission founded by Father William Byrne in 1877. After early pastors built the first church (1879–1881), the parish grew steadily under long-tenured pastors such as Monsignor Thomas Cullen (1890–1933), welcomed first the Ursuline Sisters (until 1942) and then the Benedictine Sisters of Yankton, SD who served St. Joseph School for nearly fifty years, and in August 1992 was joined by the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters from the Philippines. The Capuchin Franciscans began serving in 1979, and the parish moved from downtown to its present East York campus where the current church was dedicated in 1998.
- 1877 mission founded by Fr. William Byrne
- 1890 cornerstone laid by Bishop Bonacum; new church completed under Msgr. Cullen
- 1942 Benedictine Sisters of Yankton, SD take over the school
- 1979 Capuchin Franciscans invited by Bishop Joseph Daley
- 1992 Franciscan Apostolic Sisters from the Philippines arrive
- 1997 current church completed; dedicated March 14, 1998 by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz
Mass & Sacraments
Weekend Masses are offered Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 7:00, 9:00 (livestreamed) and 11:30 AM. The Vietnamese community celebrates Mass on the fourth Sunday of the month at 2:00 PM. Weekday Masses follow the school-year pattern (Monday–Friday 6:45 AM in the Chapel and 8:00 AM in the Church; Friday 8:30 AM) and a summer pattern (Memorial Day–Labor Day). Confessions are heard Thursday 4–5 PM and Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM, plus by appointment, and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is offered every Thursday in the Divine Mercy Chapel.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:00, 9:00 (livestream), 11:30 AM
- Vietnamese Mass: 4th Sunday, 2:00 PM
- Weekdays: Mon–Fri 6:45 AM & 8:00 AM (school year); Sat 8:00 AM
- Confession: Thu 4–5 PM, Sat 3:30–4:30 PM
- Adoration: Thu 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Kyle S. Sahd (Pastor), with Father Andrew R. St. Denis serving as Parochial Vicar. Permanent Deacons John A. Krepps and Joe Shriver assist. The parish office and school share a campus and email naming convention ([email protected]).
- Rev. Kyle S. Sahd – Pastor (ext. 202)
- Rev. Andrew R. St. Denis – Parochial Vicar
- Deacon John A. Krepps (ext. 203)
- Deacon Joe Shriver
- Erin Maiolino – Parish Manager (ext. 227)
- Binky Theodore – Parish Secretary (ext. 250)
- Linda Myers – Financial Secretary (ext. 226)
- Stephen Falencki – Coordinator of Music (ext. 248)
- Christopher Wood – Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries (ext. 330)
- Dr. Shelley Schlosser – OCIA Coordinator
- Matthew Doyle – Religious Education Coordinator
- Melissa Preston – St. Joseph School Principal
- Dona Smyser – Sacristan
- Bethany McKay – Communications Professional
Capuchin Franciscan Heritage
Since 1979 the parish has been entrusted to the Capuchin Franciscan Friars (OFM Cap), a Franciscan family founded in 1536 that emphasizes communal prayer (morning, evening and night prayer together) and shared meals. Three Capuchins live at St. Joseph's Friary. Father Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap., led the 40th anniversary celebration in 2019 with Bishop Ronald Gainer and nearly 20 returning friars concelebrating; the parish hosts Capuchins who greet parishioners after Mass and share lunch with school students.
- Capuchins arrived 1979 at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Daley
- Order emphasizes community prayer and Francis of Assisi's contemplative spirit
- Three friars currently reside at St. Joseph's Friary
- Father Fernandes noted the legacies of Fr. John Daya (15 yrs) and the late Fr. Louis Petruha (13 yrs)
St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School is a co-educational diocesan Catholic school serving students from preschool (age 3) through grade 6, accredited and located on the seven-acre Kingston Road campus next to the church. A new elementary school was dedicated September 20, 1981; the 1952 gymnasium-auditorium/classroom addition physically links the school to the church. The mission: 'an educational community with Jesus as our cornerstone, educating the whole child through academic excellence and faith preparation to enable our students to serve as Disciples of Christ in our global world.'
- Pre-K 3-yr program: T/Th, 7:30–11:15 AM
- Pre-K 4-yr half day: M–F, 7:30–11:30 AM
- Pre-K 4-yr full day: M–F, 7:30 AM–2:45 PM
- Tuition assistance available through the Diocese and outside programs (EITC)
- Classroom schools: Pre-K through Grade 6
Faith Formation & OCIA
Faith formation for parish children and adults is coordinated through the Office of Religious Education and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, Teens & Children) program, led respectively by Matthew Doyle and Dr. Shelley Schlosser. The parish prepares youth and adults for Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist and full communion, and supports catechists who volunteer for CCD classes.
- OCIA for adults, teens and children seeking initiation
- Religious Education / CCD for parish children
- Religious Ed Catechist volunteer opportunities
- Vacation Bible School during the summer
Music & Liturgy
Music Ministry is coordinated by Stephen Falencki, with five choirs serving different Masses and occasions. Living Hope is a youth choir at the Saturday 5:00 PM Mass; Praying Twice (rehearsals Thursday 7 PM) leads 9:00 AM; 12:15 (from 2 Cor 12:15) leads the contemporary 11:30 AM; Voices of Praise serves special occasions in a range of styles and languages; and the Funeral Choir has served at every funeral since the parish's days on E. Princess Street.
- Living Hope — youth choir at Sat 5:00 PM
- Praying Twice — serves 9:00 AM Mass (Thu 7 PM rehearsal)
- 12:15 — contemporary music at 11:30 AM
- Voices of Praise — special occasions
- Funeral Choir — 30+ years of service
- Director of Music: Stephen Falencki (ext. 248)
Youth Ministry
The parish runs a comprehensive Youth Ministry under Christopher Wood (Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, ext. 330) with three named tracks — Ignite, Sparks, and Young Adults — to serve youth at different stages. The program encourages young parishioners to take ownership of their faith and is supported by dedicated school faculty, youth-friendly audio-visual streaming at the 9:00 AM Mass, and the Capuchins' tradition of joining students for school lunch.
- Ignite — youth track
- Sparks — younger youth track
- Young Adults — post-high-school track
- Contact: Christopher Wood (ext. 330)
Prayer & Devotions
The parish cultivates an active devotional life centered on Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday in the Divine Mercy Chapel (8:30 AM–5:00 PM). The Pilgrim Queen of the Family devotion takes Mary into parishioners' homes with weekly rosary prayers; a monthly Monday Rosary focuses on life, marriage and family; a Tuesday-evening Rosary group prays the Holy Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet; and the Prayer Shawl Ministry crafts shawls with blessings prayed in for those in need of comfort. Millions of Monicas gathers mothers praying for their children's return to the faith, and the York Deanery Prayer Chain unites the parish with the surrounding deanery in prayer.
- Eucharistic Adoration – Thursdays 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
- Pilgrim Queen of the Family
- Rosary for Life, Marriage and Family – 1st Monday, 8:30 AM
- Tuesday-evening Rosary Prayer Group
- Monthly Monday Rosary
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Millions of Monicas
- York Deanery Prayer Chain
Outreach & Service
St. Joseph's has a deep outreach footprint. The Catholic Harvest Food Pantry (CHFP), Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen and Off The Streets York, Inc. (OTSY) serve the local poor; the Homebound Ministry brings Communion to four area nursing homes (Amoroso on Carol Rd, Autumn House on E Market St, Kingston Court Nursing & Rehab, and Pleasant Acres) and to private homes; the Jamaican Mission Team (with alumni and student sponsorship arms) supports mission work in Jamaica; In His Footsteps and Prison Ministry extend pastoral care to those on the margins; and the parish also runs a weekly Bingo in the school gymnasium as well as the annual June Carnival.
- Catholic Harvest Food Pantry (CHFP)
- Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen
- Off The Streets York (OTSY)
- Homebound Ministry – four area nursing homes
- Jamaican Mission Team (JMT) / JMT Alumni / Student Sponsorship
- Prison Ministry
- In His Footsteps
- Bingo (weekly in school gym)
- Carnival Committee (five-night June carnival)
Parish Councils & Parish Life
Three councils help guide parish life. The Pastoral Council meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the Parish Finance Council on the 4th Tuesday at 7:00 PM, and the Catholic Women Association meets bi-weekly (with weekly Devotional conference calls). Service-side ministries like Collection Counting (one Monday a month), Hospitality, Decorating Committee, Volunteer Receptionist, and the SCRIP gift-card program keep the parish running.
- Pastoral Council – meets 2nd Tuesday
- Finance Council – meets 4th Tuesday, 7:00 PM
- Catholic Women Association (CWA) – bi-weekly meetings + weekly conference calls
- Knights of Columbus – meets 3rd Tuesday
- Columbiettes – Catholic women's service council (17+)
- Men of St. Joseph
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Byrne1877–1878
Founded the mission in 1877 and organized it into a parish.
- Father O'Brienafter 1878
- Father Wallace
- Father Quinn
- Father Lysaghtfrom Oct 1882
First resident pastor of York.
- Father John T. Leefrom Jan 6, 1888
Purchased property for the brick church; cornerstone laid by Bishop Bonacum on Sept 30, 1890.
- Monsignor Thomas CullenNov 1890–1933
Oversaw completion of the new church; welcomed the Ursuline Sisters who ran St. Ursula Academy until 1942.
- Father John F. Hennessey1933–1960 (group)
Served with Rev. J.J. Carey and Msgr. Luke L. Mandeville over 1933–1960.
- Father Clarence Reisdorff1960 (brief)
Also organized planning of the new school with Fr. Kalin.
- Reverend Clement Green1960s
Built a ten-bedroom convent during his pastorate.
- Father Rawley Myers1966–1968
- Monsignor Jerome E. Murray1968–1974
Interior of the church redecorated 1973; Mandeville Room enlarged & carpeted 1974.
- Father William A. KalinDec 1974–June 1984
Planned and built the new school dedicated by Bishop Flavin on Sept 20, 1981; later served in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
- Reverend John W. Kelly1984–1989
- Reverend M. James Divis1989–2000
Led the move to East York and planned the new church.
- Father Leo SeikerJune 2000–June 2006
- Father Mark TaslerJune 2006–2010
Died unexpectedly in 2010.
- Monsignor James Reinert2010–January 2020
Died of cancer in January 2020.
- Father Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap.by 2021
Capuchin Franciscan pastor during the 2021 Year of St. Joseph pastoral visit by Bishop Gainer; celebrated the Capuchins' 40th anniversary at the parish in 2019.
- Reverend Kyle S. Sahdcurrent
Current pastor per the Diocese of Harrisburg parish page.