St. Joseph Church

Address: 101 West Pearl Street, Wapakoneta Ohio 45895 Phone: (419) 738-2115 Website

Mass Times: Sat: 17:00; Sun: 08:00, 10:00; Mon: 07:00 (Communion Service) Tues: 07:00; Weds: 08:15 (In the school gym September through May.) Thurs: 07:00; Fri: 07:00 Confession: Sat 16:00 to 16:30 Adoration: Sun 12:00 to 00:00 (Until Thurs Midnight located in our Adoration Chapel. During holidays Adoration does not occur.) Holy Days: Weekdays 07:00 (Summer Months),Weekdays 08:15 (During School Year),Weekdays 19:00 (Evening Mass)

Parish Founded: 1839 Church Built: 1911

Architect: Architectural Style: Romanesque

History: The first actual Catholic Church in this territory was built of logs in 1833 at a point known as St. Petersburg and was located about five miles south of Wapakoneta. St. Joseph Parish was established in Auglaize County in 1839 to serve the area's Catholic population which was comprised mostly of German immigrants. They erected a frame type church on the southeast corner of Pearl and Blackhoof streets - where the old school presently stands. In 1850, the priests of the Society of the Precious Blood of Jesus took over the permanent care of St. Joseph's and remain to this day. In 1858 a beautiful and imposing single tower church was built to accommodate the growing congregation. It was built on the same spot where the present church is located - Pearl and Perry streets.

Recognizing the importance of education a two story brick school was constructed in 1869. In 1910, with approximately 225 families in St. Joseph, the greatest project of this parish was begun; the construction of a new church. It was dedicated on October 8, 1911.