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Mon – Thu : 9:30 am – 4 pm
Fri : 9:30 am – noon
Parish Office
A Donation made to Mama T’s from the 67th Smorgasbord 2016 proceeds
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About Us
FATHER BILLY LEWIS
Pastor
DENNIS FINE
Deacon
ROXANNE TAYLOR
RE Director
LAURA MILLER
Parish Nurse/Admin Assistant
JANELL CLAUSEN
Bookkeeper
Rudy Lupinski
Music Director
Kyra Childers
Parish Council Chairperson
Nick Cheper
Finance Committee Chairperson
Clint Welch
Physical Plant Chairperson
Sandy Poe
Religious Education Chairperson
Service
Our History
History
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.
Symbols of our Parish
We’ve come along way since 1894 when Ada’s Catholic population was made up of four families “pioneer” Catholics who traveled 13 hours for Mass. The first Masses were held in private homes in the early 1900’s and then moved to a stone-faced concrete block church in 1916. With the assignment of our first pastor in 1935, the parish soon had its home at 213 South Hope. The vision for a new church began when Father Maurice Castello, O.S.B. was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish in 1947. With his untimely death, Father John Bloms, O.S.B. eventually brought all of these plans to fruition. In 1961, the church began construction of the present church structure. The first Mass was celebrated in our existing church at Midnight Mass, 1962.
Our patron St. Joseph has two titles: St. Joseph the Worker which is outside the church; and St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, located inside the church. The parish chose both of these images to reflect the importance of family life and the dignity of work.
There’s meaning in our structure. The basic shape of our church is a parabola, which connotes an open armed welcome like the outstretched arms of Christ. Our altar, representing Christ, enfolds us in his arms. Thus, our church style is called the Arms of Christ Church.
Our baptistry has a separate door to the church, standing outside and separate from the main building like a womb-giving birth to new Christians by water and the Holy Spirit. Its openness conveys the public nature of baptism. The floor of sea shells implies the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters. The three inter-twining circles show the indwelling of the Trinity. The holy water font at the church’s entrance is a rotary plow disk to illustrate new ground that is broken by the waters of baptism. It is the original baptismal font.
The mosaic crucifixion was designed by Stephen Gyermek and executed at the Vatican Art Studios in Rome. The arms of Christ reach to the ends of the altar-reaching out to all. The multicolored bricks, framing the crucifixion and extending down the sides of the Church, invite all people to rest in Christ. The Stations of the Cross were also designed by Gyermek and executed by Robert Cristelli. They are all on one wall to give them privacy and prominence.
Our Church, viewed from the north side , resembles a ship with the tower as the masthead. Our tower serves as a beacon and helps guide our way to God’s Home. The bells are an imitation of the Archangel’s trumpet calling the faithful together.
Our stained glass wall is described as : “what may be one of the largest expanses of stained glass west of the Mississippi, at the time (1962) ” forms the entire entrance facade honoring the Blessed Trinity ” Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” It serves as a reminder that all we have celebrated at the Mass directs our every action to the glory of the Triune God.
Abuse of Minors Pastoral Response Hotline
For the safety of children and healing of victims, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City provides an Abuse of Minors Pastoral Response Hotline.
Calls to this number will be answered by the Archdiocesan Assistance Coordinator who will offer to meet the caller in person, if the caller so desires.
The number is 405-720-9878. Calls are kept confidential with the following exceptions:
Any allegation of sexual abuse concerning those who are currently minors must be reported to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services as required by Oklahoma State Law and Archdiocesan policy.
Any allegation of sexual misconduct must be shared with the proper Archdiocesan authorities.
