History

St. Joseph Parish dates back to 1879 when the first church was erected as a mission of St. Mary, Help of Christians, in Winfield. The parish buildings, circa 1907, included a convent, a new church and a rectory – all along 30th Avenue.The current rectory was built in 1928 and the current convent building in 1938. Here’s a brief look at St. Joseph Parish through the years . . .

Timeline of St. Joseph Parish

1870s

• Astoria known as the German settlement
• Steinway Piano Factory moves to Astoria
• First Mass in the Parish of St. Joseph celebrated on 38^thStreet
• Bought property on Grand Avenue and Stemler Street (30^th Avenue and 44^th Street) for $750 under Bishop John Loughlin
• First Pastor – Rev. Francis Pauletigi

1880s

• Second Pastor – Rev. Cyprian Eisele
• Purchase of property on Grand Avenue and Grace Street (30^th Avenue and 43^rd Street)
• Arrival of Sisters of St. Dominic
• First records of First Holy Communion and Confirmation
• Rosary Society organized
  Sodality organized for young women

1890s

• Opening of first parish school
• Opening of parish convent

1900s

• Present-day church built and dedicated by Bishop Charles McDonnell
• Holy Name Society organized

1910s

• Third Pastor – Rev. Peter Henn
• Building of three-story brick school

1920s

• Stained glass windows added to church
• Addition of bell tower to church building
• Rectory built
• Organization of Religious Education Program
• New Parishes of Precious Blood, Immaculate Conception, and St. Francis change boundaries of St. Joseph Parish

1930s

• Fourth Pastor – Rev. Sylvester Higgins
• New convent completed
• Parish Brigade organized
• Founding of St. Vincent de Paul Society

1940s

• Fifth Pastor – Rev. Ulick Buckley
• Men and women of St. Joseph Parish give their lives in WWII & are memorialized in a plaque on the front of the church building
• Sodality begins yearly parish musicals and shows

1950s

• Sixth Pastor – Rev. Richard McHugh
• Addition of new wing to school and building of auditorium
• Anniversary with Archbishop Thomas Molloy
• Addition of Community Room to convent
• Church undergoes major renovation

1960s

• Seventh Pastor – Rev. Joseph Hammond
• Implementation of Second Vatican Council
• Religious Education Program for physically challenged
• Home School Association organized

1970s

• Eighth Pastor – Rev. Msgr. Edward Offenheiser
• First Deacons ordained for St. Joseph Parish
• Celebration of 100^th Anniversary with Bishop Francis J. Mugavero
• Success of parish bazaar and fundraisers
• Italian Community is formed

1980s

• Ninth Pastor – Rev. Msgr. George J. Ryan
• Implementation of Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
• Installation of air conditioning in church
• Updating of parish census
• Opening of food pantry
• Hispanic Community is formed

1990s

• St. Joseph School receives national “Award of Excellence” twice
• Blessing of new church doors in honor of Msgr. Offenheiser
• Major capital campaign organized to raise funds for church renovation
• Major renovation of church and re-dedication by Bishop Thomas V. Daily
• Summer Camp for parish children begins
• Parish festivals and shows

2000s

• Celebration of 125^th Anniversary with Bishop Thomas V. Daily
• Tenth Pastor – Rev. John P. Harrington
• Re-placement of the tabernacle at the center of the church sanctuary
• Outdoor parish re-enactment of Via Crucis on Good Friday and traditional Eucharistic Procession on Corpus Christi begin again
• Annual parish carnivals in honor of St. Pio sponsored by Italian Community become major parish fundraiser

2010s

• Eleventh Pastor – Rev. Vincent F. Miceli
• Renovations to church sanctuary, including new statue of St. Joseph
• Byzantine-style mural painted on church dome

2020s

• Twelfth Pastor – Rev. Vincent Chirichella
• Chapel of Adoration Opened
• New Air Conditioning Units installed in the Church
• New Bi-Lingual Website launched. Social Media expanded to include Twitter; Instagram; and Tabella. 
• Formation of 6 New Groups & Youth Ministry
• Padre Pio Festival reinstated 
• Addition of Monthly Healing Masses & Spiritual Programs
• Launch of St. Joseph Radio and YouTube Channel 
• Established a new Shrine for Cancer Survivors
• Replaced the Sound System
• New Outdoor Signage in our Prayer Garden
• Exterior lighting upgrades & painting and wood restoration of the interior foyer