Mission
We believe that we are a people called by God to be the church of Jesus Christ in our place and time. Our mission – as persons, as families, as a community of faith – is to respond to God’s call with personal commitment and communal action by: Proclaiming the life-giving Good News of the Gospel by what we say and what we do. Educating youth and adults with God’s word from the Bible and church teaching and relating these truths to daily life. Building a community of faith based on the Eucharist and sacramental worship, personal prayer, caring, forgiveness, and bearing one another’s burdens. Serving the world, that is, all our sisters and brothers whom God loves and for whom Christ died. We are called to respect the dignity of all people and their needs regardless of race, color, or creed.
History
St. Joseph Catholic Church began in 1857, and has served the spiritual needs of our parish family marking important milestones throughout our lives. In 1857, the first Mass was offered in the Sam Schmitt home, the father of Veronica Johnson and Barbara Born, on the site of the Adrian Rademacher residence, about two miles southeast of Waconia. The first church was built out of logs in 1859 on what is now the front lawn of the rectory. Our ancestors quickly outgrew this log church and built a larger brick church in 1875 on the southeast corner of the same block, where the rectory driveway is today. Within twenty years it was outgrown, so a new church was planned and built on the present site in 1900. It remains today. What marvelous foresight our ancestors had in building the house of God we have today. This church can still accommodate our parishioners now, over a hundred years later.
Our church is Romanesque style, with beautiful classical lines, and remains much as it was when the Franciscans built it. The church is approximately 160 ft. long, and 72 ft. at the transepts (i.e. widest parts). The steeple is 150 feet high. Engineers say the granite rock foundation can last at least two hundred more years. Cash outlay of the parish was less then $30,000.00 (1900 cash figures). The interior of the church remains much as it was when the Franciscans built it. There was a slight renovation in 1989, when the hand carved Communion rail became a banister in the loft. The main altar of Romanesque style is of butternut wood. The Franciscan influence is present in many of the church objects and art. On the high altar are St. Francis Assisi and St. Anthony, both Franciscans. Our Church Patron, St. Joseph is high over the reredo or high altar. On the Sacred Heart altar stands St. Louis, who is the patron of the Third Order Franciscans. St. Aloysius, patron of Catholic youth, is also present on this altar. Behind the glass window is the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague.
Mass Schedule
Saturday, 5:15 pm
Sunday, 8:00 am and 10:30 am
Tues-Fri, 8:15 am.