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  (view 1, view 2) 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.

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