St. Joseph Church has had a unique history. The parish was established in 1902 and Mass was offered by Father F. Hall, a priest from Ardmore, in the home of Jerry Cragin. As the Catholic population increased, the site for the Mass moved to the home of Mrs. Gray, then to the Moose Hall. A frame store building was then purchased as a gathering space and moved to the Jerry Cragin property. While the citizens of Ada debated whether 12th street or Main Street would become the main street, the Extension Society, at the direction of Father Theophile Caudron purchased Lots 1 and 2 of Block 3 of the Ford addition and in 1916 a stone-faced concrete block church was built at 213 S. Hope Street.

The Benedictine priests from Sacred Heart Abbey, near Konawa, took the pastoral reigns in 1917. The pioneering spirit and zeal of the early priests and laity, in establishing a church in Ada, resulted in a community of believers who were hard working and dedicated to extending the Catholic presence in Pontotoc County.

A succession of priests from Sacred Heart Abbey and St. Gregory’s Abbey continued to come to St. Joseph to celebrate mass. On January 1, 1935, Father Hildebrand Brunnett, O.S.B., was appointed Pastor of the parish with Coalgate and Lehigh as missions. Pastor 1939-43 Fr. Bernard Mazurowski O.S.B. and Pastor 1943-47 Fr. Philip Berning O.S.B.

In 1948, Father Maurice Costello, O.S.B., awakened parish spirit, solidarity, parish activities and growth. A new parish hall was constructed. The parish continued to grow and it soon was evident that the existing parish facility on 12th and Hope would not be adequate for the projected school and church of the future. A parcel of land adjoining the old Valley View Hospital was donated to the church by the Norris estate in January 1950. This tract of land upon further consideration would not accommodate the future building needs. Mrs. P.A. Norris graciously traded the property for the present site. With the untimely death of Father Maurice, Father John Bloms, O.S. B. became pastor in 1952.

Father John Bloms, O.S. B. became pastor in 1952.

Ground breaking ceremonies for the new parish plant took place on May 4, 1953. The first Mass in the new parish hall was Midnight Mass, 1953. The parish plant would continue to develop as the school and rectory were built and dedicated on March 14, 1954.

On May 31, 1954 Fr Edward Bock was assigned Pastor of St. Josephs and Fr. John Bloms was transferred to California to build a church. Fr. Blaise Schumacher O.S.B. was Pastor in Ada from 1956-59. Fr. Dennis Statham O.S.B. was Pastor from 1959-61. Fr. John Bloms returned to St. Josephs to build the new church building.

On April 15, 1962, ground was broken for the new church. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated at Midnight Mass in 1962. The church was consecrated May 7, 1963, by Bishop Victor Reed, D.D., Bishop of the Oklahoma Diocese. See the book “The Road to Renewal” by Jeremy Bonner for his discourse about Fr. John Bloms miss-understanding with the Bishop. pg. 202-203 and 299. In 1987, the parish celebrated the 25th anniversary of the present church building at 1300 East Beverly.

The current pastor is Rev. Ray K. Ackerman, a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, who was appointed in June of 1999. Fr. Ackerman has served the Archdiocese since 1991 as an Associated Pastor at St. Philip Neri Church in Midwest City, and as President of Mount St. Mary High School in Oklahoma City.

As the parish moves into the new millenium with all the challenges that it will bring, the people of St. Joseph continue to strive to be a “pilgrim people” who look to Jesus as their God and Savior, a people who treasure the Bible as the word of God and are guided on their journey of faith by the teachings and Traditions of the Church.