Parish Stories – St. Joseph, St. Petersburg

St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Petersburg is a welcoming, dynamic and diverse community of believers, representative of the Kingdom of God, with one heart and many faces. Welcoming all who seek to grow in Christ through worship, educational and social ministries. St. Joseph serves all those who feel marginalized, forgotten and unloved, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Born as a mission of St. Mary Catholic Church in downtown St. Petersburg, St. Joseph got its start in 1922 when the pastor of St. Mary, Fr. James J. O’Riordan, bought land in south St. Petersburg. The mission was constructed four years later and reached parish status in 1930, with Fr. Michael J. Clasby serving as the first pastor. St. Joseph Parish has always been a multi-cultural church with a rich history of inclusiveness and service to underrepresented populations.

Through phone calls, emails and social media as well as streaming masses, current pastor, Fr. Stephen Brown, is choosing to be Salt and Light, building a new sense of community and staying engaged with his parishioners.

“I can attest firsthand that personal outreach and staying in contact is the most important pastoral work we can do right now.”

Rev. Stephan Brown, S.V.D., Pastor – St. Joseph, St. Petersburg

In addition, the parish is choosing this time to establish an endowment with gifts received in honor of Fr. Brown’s late mother. This endowment will build a brighter tomorrow at St. Joseph Catholic Church, offering financial security to the parish today and into the future by addressing needs such as serving the poor, the homeless, stocking their food pantry and maintaining their buildings and people.

Endowments remain a viable and safe option for investment in the future of our parishes. We thank Fr. Stephan Brown for entrusting us with this very special gift, and the opportunity for the Catholic Foundation to serve the parish of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Petersburg.

For more information on how you can establish an endowment for your parish, please contact the Catholic Foundation by completing the Legacy Form.