The history of the Catholic Church in the St. Joseph area begins over 300 years ago. It appears that a Catholic mission had been established in this area by Jesuits even prior to the explorer LaSalle’s arrival in 1679. Following the completion of LaSalle’s fort at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, a mission was maintained for the spiritual benefit of the French settlers as well as Pottawatomie converts.

The history of the Catholic presence in the area is a bit unclear. It is known, however, that priests of the Congregation of the Holy Cross would occasionally celebrate Mass in the private homes of area Catholics or in a one-room schoolhouse located on Ship Street.

In 1850, a wooden church was constructed for the Catholic community and was dedicated to serving this community until they turned it over to diocesan priests in 1857. Fr. Joseph Van Waterschoot became the first resident pastor in 1867. It was under his direction that the local Church built the present church building in 1869. This new structure was eventually embellished by the addition of the spire in 1891. St. Joseph Church 1901

A Catholic school was founded in St. Joseph in the 1890s. From 1910 a group of Dominican Sisters of Adrian dedicated their lives to the education of the community’s young Catholics. The present school building was opened in 1948 and was added to significantly in the 1950s and 1960s. The present elementary school, located on Washington St., was opened in 1991.

• In 1869, when the present church building was erected, it was the largest building in the village.
• In 1876, the bell in the steeple was cast by the Vanduzen and Tift Buckeye Bell Foundry in Cincinnati, Ohio, and weighs 1,500 pounds.
• The original wooden church building was used to house the first school in the area, which started in 1880.
• Resurrection Cemetery, our parish cemetery, was established by Father Joseph Theisen in 1882, at its Lakeshore Drive location.
• Our Stained Glass windows were installed in 1904.
• A new school was built in 1909 and provided the City of St. Joseph with its first large auditorium.
• In 1929, the present rectory and the convent were erected.
• In 1930, the high school started and the Class of 1933 was the first graduates of St. Joseph Catholic High School.
• In 1969, St. Joseph Catholic School merged with St. John Catholic School in Benton Harbor, forming the Lake Michigan Catholic School system.  Father Cletus Rose was Pastor at the time.
• The Rose Center, named after Fr. Cletus Rose, the pastor from 1966 to 1984, and was donated to the Parish by the Whirlpool Company in 1978.               

THE ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC ANNEX
by Carol Campbell

In June 1966, the Lakeshore Catholic Community was established as a temporary mission of St. Joseph’s parish. The Lakeshore School Board agreed to rent the Roosevelt School gym to the church to accommodate one Mass each Sunday. Father William Flick celebrated the first Mass in the school.

In August of 1966, Father Cleius Rose was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. By this time, the Lakeshore Mission was thriving and Father Rose approved the continuance of a Sunday Mass at Roosevelt School.

Father John Young was assigned to the parish as an assistant pastor. Father Young spent a great deal of time with the parishioners in the Lakeshore Community and contributed greatly to the growth of the Mission.

In September 1967, the first religious education pro- gram was established for the Lakeshore Catholic children. There were 250 students from kindergarten through eighth grade enrolled in these classes. Robin Campbell served as the first principal, assisted by Jo Santord, secretary.

The enrollment of students increased by 115 during the next two years, and the one Mass on Sunday became overcrowded. In late spring of 1969, a second Mass was added to the Lakeshore Mission.
The Lakeshore Catholic Community continued to grow and energize. Vatican II brought about home discussion groups and parish councils. The Lakeshore Catholic Lay- men's Council was formed to help meet the needs of the Mission. Their first task was to study the steady increase of attendance at Mass, the development of land in the Lakeshore area, and the need for a permanent facility for worship and activities.

In the spring of 1970, the Lakeshore Council was granted permission from the St. Joseph parish to begin a building fund. An Annex Building Committee was formed, and on June 8, 1971, they presented their plans to the bishop’s office in Lansing. The bishop’s committee requested that some adjustments be made and the revised plans be presented at a later date.

The announcement of a newly formed Kalamazoo Diocese, with Paul Donovan as the new Bishop, caused a postponement of the building approval.

Finally, on August 11, 1971, the Bishop approved the pIars and gave his blessing to the construction of the St. Joseph Catholic Annex on Roosevelt toad in Stevensville. The contract for the new building was awarded to the Holland Construction Company for $125,000.

By this time, the Lakeshore Catholic Community had be- come a family. They made vestments, shared in home Masses, planned family picnics and enjoyed socializing et their parish dances. They celebrated First Communions and were refueled through home discussion groups. These and many other special events gave birth to Tom Shelley's songs, such as, “It's In Our Hands’, What I Need You Give Me Blessed Lord”, and “Shalom, My Friend”.

During the next year the parishioners truly realized— “this work of Christ was in their hands.” They worked hard and helped raise the money for their annex building.

In May 1971, the dream became a reality. Father Rose celebrated the first Mass in the new annex building. Father James O'Leary and Joseph McCarthy celebrated the second Mass on the same day.
Dedication ceremonies were conducted for the new building on August 6, 1972, by Bishop Paul Donovan.

Since 1972 the St. Joseph Catholic Annex has become an active pad. of the Stevensville Community. Ecumenism has blossomed, especially with the cooperation of Assist- ant Pastor, Father David Otto.The annual Thanksgiving service with other local churches, has enriched all of those who have participated. The Bible Times Market Place certainly has been an education endeavor to remember. The annex building has been used by many local groups for activities.

The annex community presently has a concerned advisory council, an energetic activities committee, an active youth group, and a congregation of people desiring to keep the St. Joseph Catholic Annex alive and well in Stevensville.