Parish Summary

Saint Joseph is located in Galion Ohio, about mid-way between Columbus and Cleveland, with approximately 1495 parishioners. The Parish is one of ten Parishes in the Saint Juan Diego Deanery in the southeast corner of the Diocese of Toledo. 

Two Deacons, Al Sisson and Greg Kirk, assist with the pastoral ministry. Sister Mary Samuel Lubeck is the Coordinator of Religious Education. Lay volunteers assist with the many different ministries.

Saint Joseph parish supports the parish school, which provides a Christian education to the youth of the parish and surrounding community. It is open to any student in grades preschool through eighth grade.

Members of Saint Joseph parish also assist the Galion ministerial association and Galion community with many projects including the Cooperative Christian Services of Galion, Community Action, providing outreach meals monthly, and the Voice of Hope pregnancy crisis center.

Galion and Crestline St. Joseph parishes also have combined RCIA, Holy Thursday and the Easter vigil services. We share the Youth Minister.

Our History

Saint Joseph parish began as a mission of Shelby Settlement in 1853. The following timeline highlights some of our most significant historical events since our humble beginning:

• 1853—Reverend Matthias Kreusch, pastor of Shelby Settlement, held services in the home of Joseph Rudinger for Catholics in the Galion area as a mission parish.
• 1854—Joseph Rudinger donated a lot for the first church site on East Main Street.
• 1855—The first church building was dedicated.
• 1859—Parish school organized and taught by lay teachers until 1879.
• 1865—Reverend John P. Puetz became the first resident pastor.
• 1866—Saint Joseph parish built a brick church and school a the corner of Walnut and Union streets (today the Bishop Brown estate).
• 1868—Reverend August Gerardin instituted a second parish, Saint Patrick on the corner of North Washington and Payne. He served as pastor of both parishes.
• 1871—Saint Patrick built a two-classroom school at the corner of North Washington and Payne streets.
• 1873—Saint Joseph outgrew the brick building on Walnut and Union streets and purchased three lots and a brick building on Liberty Street. The building was remodeled and used as a temporary church, school and pastoral residence.
• 1879—Sisters of St. Francis Mary Immaculate from Joliet Illinois began teaching
  in the school.
• 1880—Saint Joseph began construction of the current church building.
• 1883—The current Saint Joseph church building was dedicated. It is a combination of Gothic and Roman architecture.
• 1888—Land is purchased for Mount Calvary Cemetery. It would be used by both Saint Joseph and Saint Patrick Catholic churches.
• 1900—Reverend Brady became the first resident pastor of Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick built a three story school and social facility.
• 1906—Reverend Francis Keyes, pastor of Saint Patrick, organized the Saint Francis council #1234 Knights of Columbus and served as its first chaplain.
• 1920—The School Sisters of Notre Dame teach 68 pupils at St. Joseph school and 44 pupils at St. Patrick school. Before this lay teachers taught in the schools.
• 1922—St. Joseph and St. Patrick churches are transferred from the Cleveland Diocese to the newly formed Toledo Diocese.
• 1951—St. Joseph and St. Patrick schools are combined.
• 1953—The final mass at St. Patrick was held on June 21st before merging with St. Joseph.
• 1979—Sylvania Franciscan and Ursline Sisters began teaching at St. Joseph
  School.
• 1997 —St. Joseph Activity Center dedicated.
• 2000—Galion St. Joseph and Crestline St. Joseph were “twinned” in order to share a pastor.
• 2008—Galion St. Joseph returns to single-parish status.