History of Saint Joseph Catholic Church
In June of 1945, Trinitarian Fathers were given charge of St. Paul Church, Johnston City. The Reverend Richard Toal O.SS.T., was the first Trinitarian pastor of the parish. On April 30,1947 a new pipe organ was dedicated “in final salute to those valiant men of WWII who paid the supreme price for victory with their lives”. St. Paul lost five men in the cause.
Two years later Reverend Joseph Lupo O.SS.T., was appointed pastor. He remodeled the school by waterproofing and painting inside and out of the building. New tiled floors, indoor toilets a library and new playground were installed. Improvements to the church building included: a modern heating system, a liturgical sanctuary with new furnishings, new statues, including the Stations of the Cross. His greatest addition to St. Paul Church was the first shrine in the United States ever erected to Our Lady of Good Remedy. Devotions were broadcast from St. Paul Church over local radio station WJPF. Father Lupo also organized the first Eucharistic Congress held in Belleville on May 30, 1948, to commemorate the750th anniversary of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity. He also developed a new Mission Church, Our Lady of Good Remedy, in Stiritz, Illinois.
In 1950, Reverend Alberto Buratto O.SS.T., became pastor of St. Paul Church. Three years later, a dinner was held to celebrate the clearing of the mortgages on St. Paul and Our Lady of Good Remedy churches. Then, on June 1, 1957, the last Mass was offered in the St. Paul wood framed church and dismantling began for the construction of a new church. While the new church was being built, Mass was held in the basement of the school. On July 16, 1958 a ceremony was held to lay the cornerstone. Sealed in the stone were a document and statement of the times, a short history of the parish, a mailing list of parishioners, medals of Pope Pious XII and Lourdes Centennial, a copy of The Messenger and Johnston City Progress, assorted coins, pictures of the old and new churches, and a picture of the Holy Father. The contractor for the new church was Eastern Construction Company, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. On October 14, 1958 the new church was dedicated. The altar and communion rail made of St. Genevieve Rose marble (Missouri); walls were constructed of St. Meinard sandstone (Indiana). The windows, one of the most striking features of the church cost $3,800 and depict biblical scenes from the stories of Abraham, the life of Christ, the Blessed Mother, the Seven Sacraments and the Ten Commandments in hand-blown Blenko Glass. The church was a tribute to the efforts and charity of many former pastors and faithful parishioners. They worked many years to see their dreams realized.
Reverend Raphael Hollis O.SS.T., was the fourth Trinitarian priest to serve the faith community. Succeeding him were Trinitarian Fathers, Reverend. Celestine Quinn, O.SS.T. and Reverend William Kelly, O.SS.T.. Father Hollis returned several years later to assist Reverend. Ignatius Estes, O.SS.T.. In 1981, Father Estes made the difficult decision to close the parish school. Economic conditions prevented the school from being the active, first-rate school previously enjoyed. The school was then used as the parish Hall. Two additional Trinitarian priests would serve St. Paul Church. Reverend Thomas Dymowski, O.SS.T. arrived in 1988. It was under his direction that the first Parish School of Religion (PSR) was established. Reverend Ken Borgenson came to the parish the next year. He was the last Trinitarian Father to serve St. Paul Church.
The Reverend Monsignor Harry Jerome and Reverend Monsignor Paulin Dobrowski, diocesan priests, were the next priests to guide the people of St. Paul Church. During Monsignor Dobrowski’s pastorate the idea of a new parish center was conceived; but he retired before the project could be realized. Ninety-six years after the first meeting to discuss the church was held, Sister Catherine Welinghoff, ASC became the faith leader as Parish Life Coordinator in July 1988 until her retirement in 2015.
Monsignor Kenneth Schaefer, Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church, Herrin, served St. Paul Church as Sacramental Minister. Under Sister Catherine’s leadership and hard work, a new parish center was built. St. Paul Parish Center has been used for many faith and community events: fundraising Spaghetti Dinners with Country Store and Raffle; Parish School of Religion (PSR) and Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) classes; small Christian Bible Study groups; Pastoral Council meetings. In May 2002, the school building was sold to Project ECHO, an alternative school. In 2004 a centennial celebration was held with a festive “standing room only” Mass with the Most Reverend Wilton Gregory, Bishop of Belleville. Many former parishioners came to revisit and remember. Expansion continued, and in 2005, the property north of the church was purchased to be used as additional parking. It was through the generosity of parishioner, current and former, and for memorial gifts for beloved deceased, St. Paul Church was able to retire the debt for the Parish Center. A burning of the mortgage was held in November, 2007. Other sacramental ministers during Sister Catherine’s administration were Reverend Monsignor James Blazine and Reverend Richard Mohr, who served the parish from 2009 to 2015.
The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Bishop of Belleville, granted Sister Catherine retirement status from her position as Parish Life Coordinator effective July 14, 2015. A Retirement Dinner was given for Sister Catherine on June 14, 2015.
Bishop Braxton appointed the Reverend. Charles Anyaoku, a priest from the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria, as administrator, serving St. Paul Parish from July 14, 2015 until August 2016. The Reverend Monsignor Thomas Flach, VF, Pastor of St. Joseph Church, Marion, Illinois was then appointed Pastor at St. Paul Church. Through his ministry and the work of the parish leaderships of the Parish Partnership of St. Joseph and St. Paul Parishes, the two parish communities work together with commitments to foster evangelization, stewardship, and community building.
Monsignor Flach after being granted retirement from his position as Pastor of St. Joseph and St. Paul Parishes and as Vicar Forane was succeeded by the Reverend. Brian Barker. Father Barker returned to the Belleville Diocese after an absence of several years while serving in the Augustinian Order in a Tulsa, Oklahoma, Augustinian High School.
Father Barker began his pastorate on August 1, 2018 and celebrated his installation Mass on September 26,2018. Parishioners of both parishes celebrated Father Barker’s 25 anniversary of his ordination with an outdoor Mass and reception at St. Joseph Parish on June 30, 2019.
Two years later Reverend Joseph Lupo O.SS.T., was appointed pastor. He remodeled the school by waterproofing and painting inside and out of the building. New tiled floors, indoor toilets a library and new playground were installed. Improvements to the church building included: a modern heating system, a liturgical sanctuary with new furnishings, new statues, including the Stations of the Cross. His greatest addition to St. Paul Church was the first shrine in the United States ever erected to Our Lady of Good Remedy. Devotions were broadcast from St. Paul Church over local radio station WJPF. Father Lupo also organized the first Eucharistic Congress held in Belleville on May 30, 1948, to commemorate the750th anniversary of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity. He also developed a new Mission Church, Our Lady of Good Remedy, in Stiritz, Illinois.
In 1950, Reverend Alberto Buratto O.SS.T., became pastor of St. Paul Church. Three years later, a dinner was held to celebrate the clearing of the mortgages on St. Paul and Our Lady of Good Remedy churches. Then, on June 1, 1957, the last Mass was offered in the St. Paul wood framed church and dismantling began for the construction of a new church. While the new church was being built, Mass was held in the basement of the school. On July 16, 1958 a ceremony was held to lay the cornerstone. Sealed in the stone were a document and statement of the times, a short history of the parish, a mailing list of parishioners, medals of Pope Pious XII and Lourdes Centennial, a copy of The Messenger and Johnston City Progress, assorted coins, pictures of the old and new churches, and a picture of the Holy Father. The contractor for the new church was Eastern Construction Company, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. On October 14, 1958 the new church was dedicated. The altar and communion rail made of St. Genevieve Rose marble (Missouri); walls were constructed of St. Meinard sandstone (Indiana). The windows, one of the most striking features of the church cost $3,800 and depict biblical scenes from the stories of Abraham, the life of Christ, the Blessed Mother, the Seven Sacraments and the Ten Commandments in hand-blown Blenko Glass. The church was a tribute to the efforts and charity of many former pastors and faithful parishioners. They worked many years to see their dreams realized.
Reverend Raphael Hollis O.SS.T., was the fourth Trinitarian priest to serve the faith community. Succeeding him were Trinitarian Fathers, Reverend. Celestine Quinn, O.SS.T. and Reverend William Kelly, O.SS.T.. Father Hollis returned several years later to assist Reverend. Ignatius Estes, O.SS.T.. In 1981, Father Estes made the difficult decision to close the parish school. Economic conditions prevented the school from being the active, first-rate school previously enjoyed. The school was then used as the parish Hall. Two additional Trinitarian priests would serve St. Paul Church. Reverend Thomas Dymowski, O.SS.T. arrived in 1988. It was under his direction that the first Parish School of Religion (PSR) was established. Reverend Ken Borgenson came to the parish the next year. He was the last Trinitarian Father to serve St. Paul Church.
The Reverend Monsignor Harry Jerome and Reverend Monsignor Paulin Dobrowski, diocesan priests, were the next priests to guide the people of St. Paul Church. During Monsignor Dobrowski’s pastorate the idea of a new parish center was conceived; but he retired before the project could be realized. Ninety-six years after the first meeting to discuss the church was held, Sister Catherine Welinghoff, ASC became the faith leader as Parish Life Coordinator in July 1988 until her retirement in 2015.
Monsignor Kenneth Schaefer, Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church, Herrin, served St. Paul Church as Sacramental Minister. Under Sister Catherine’s leadership and hard work, a new parish center was built. St. Paul Parish Center has been used for many faith and community events: fundraising Spaghetti Dinners with Country Store and Raffle; Parish School of Religion (PSR) and Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) classes; small Christian Bible Study groups; Pastoral Council meetings. In May 2002, the school building was sold to Project ECHO, an alternative school. In 2004 a centennial celebration was held with a festive “standing room only” Mass with the Most Reverend Wilton Gregory, Bishop of Belleville. Many former parishioners came to revisit and remember. Expansion continued, and in 2005, the property north of the church was purchased to be used as additional parking. It was through the generosity of parishioner, current and former, and for memorial gifts for beloved deceased, St. Paul Church was able to retire the debt for the Parish Center. A burning of the mortgage was held in November, 2007. Other sacramental ministers during Sister Catherine’s administration were Reverend Monsignor James Blazine and Reverend Richard Mohr, who served the parish from 2009 to 2015.
The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Bishop of Belleville, granted Sister Catherine retirement status from her position as Parish Life Coordinator effective July 14, 2015. A Retirement Dinner was given for Sister Catherine on June 14, 2015.
Bishop Braxton appointed the Reverend. Charles Anyaoku, a priest from the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria, as administrator, serving St. Paul Parish from July 14, 2015 until August 2016. The Reverend Monsignor Thomas Flach, VF, Pastor of St. Joseph Church, Marion, Illinois was then appointed Pastor at St. Paul Church. Through his ministry and the work of the parish leaderships of the Parish Partnership of St. Joseph and St. Paul Parishes, the two parish communities work together with commitments to foster evangelization, stewardship, and community building.
Monsignor Flach after being granted retirement from his position as Pastor of St. Joseph and St. Paul Parishes and as Vicar Forane was succeeded by the Reverend. Brian Barker. Father Barker returned to the Belleville Diocese after an absence of several years while serving in the Augustinian Order in a Tulsa, Oklahoma, Augustinian High School.
Father Barker began his pastorate on August 1, 2018 and celebrated his installation Mass on September 26,2018. Parishioners of both parishes celebrated Father Barker’s 25 anniversary of his ordination with an outdoor Mass and reception at St. Joseph Parish on June 30, 2019.