History of our Parish
A Brief History of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church
In 1809, the Kenny family came to the city of Petersburg from Kenagh in Count Longford, Ireland. This is the first Catholic family of record in the city. The very first mass celebrated in Petersburg was in 1820 and took place in a room on the corner of Short Market and High Streets, approximately 50 people attended this mass.
Petersburg was a mission of the diocese of Baltimore until 1841 when Pope Gregory XVI re-established Virginia into a diocese with Rev. Richard Martin Whelan as its bishop. During these years priests visited the congregation at different intervals from Richmond, Baltimore, and Norfolk, and sometimes from Georgetown College. Mass was sometimes celebrated at the home of Mr. Richard Furt, Sr. on Bollingbrook Street. He is said to have published an invitation in the local newspapers to any priest who happened to be passing through the city, to come to his home and offer mass.
In 1839, prior to the re-establishment of the Diocese of Virginia, there was a growing movement toward the building of a church in Petersburg. A building fund was started and it was contributed to by prosperous non-Catholics as well as Catholics. The church was built on the corner of Market and Washington Streets under the supervision of Rev. Timothy O’Brien and was dedicated on January 23, 1842 by Bishop Richard Whelan.
In 1845, Rev. David Whelan was appointed as rector of St. Joseph’s and remained until 1848. It was during Rev. Whelan’s time at St. Joseph’s that the rectory was built next to the church on North Market Street. In November 1853, Rev. A.L. Hitzelburger transferred to St. Joseph’s from Norfolk.
St. Joseph Church 1842
In 1856, Fr. Thomas Mulvey replaced Fr. Hitzelburger who resigned to become a Jesuit. Fr. Mulvey was rector in Petersburg, until his death on December 5, 1872.
Fr. Thomas Joseph Wilson came to St. Joseph’s after Fr. Mulvey’s death, during his time he purchased the property on Crater Road to be used as the parish cemetery. The property was dedicated in 1876 by Fr. Jansens
On November 5, 1875, Bishop Gibbons wrote that he had been successful in obtaining two communities of Sisters of Charity for two of his Virginia missions - one of which was St. Joseph School in Petersburg. A house at 25 South Market was purchased for use as the school.
On March 15, 1885, the first services for African Americans were held in the church. This was followed by Fr. John Slattery’s assignment to conduct a mission for their special benefit. On September 8, 1885 a school was opened under the management of Miss Mary McLaughlin. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate tried to carry on the work at the new Church of the Holy Family on Halifax Street and also took over the school a year after it opened. This mission effort was discontinued shortly thereafter.
Fr. James T. O’Farrell came to the parish, succeeding Fr. Hanley in September 1885. In 1892, the parish building committee requested from the bishop a loan for the money to build a new church. On Easter Sunday, March 25, 1894, farewell services were held in the historic old church that included a procession around the old building. On July 1, 1894, the corner stone of the new church was laid. On January 12, 1896, the new St. Joseph Church was dedicated. Major Harrison Waite was the architect for the new church and George N. James was the principal contractor. The total cost of the church was approximately $35,000. The windows in the church were made in Munich (Bavaria) Germany and each has its special significance, usually related to those who donated the window.
St. Joseph Church 1894
In 1913, Fr. Haier became pastor of the parish and is credited with the construction of the new school on Franklin Street, which began operation in 1916. Rev. Edward P. Kilgalen became rector of St. Joseph’s after serving 3 years as Fr. Haier’s assistant. The church was redecorated and electrified during Fr. Haier’s time at the church. The parish house, Lavelle Hall, was constructed in 1932, which was made possible by the bequest of Mr. Richard M. Lavelle. During Fr. Kilgalen’s term at St. Joseph’s the parish had active missions in 8 counties, including Jarrett, Sussex, Emporia, Crewe, and Farmville. Fr. Kilgalen clarified the boundaries of St. Joseph’s responsibilities.
Lavelle Hall 1932
Fr. John J. Brocktrup became pastor of St. Joseph’s in 1937. On April 19,1942, St. Joseph Church celebrated its 100th anniversary at a Solemn Pontifical Mass. During Fr. Brocktrup’s term the Chapel of St. John the Baptist in Crewe and St. Richard’s Chapel in Emporia were given resident pastors.
On June 30, 1940, Bishop Peters Ireton dedicated The Church of the Holy Family on Halifax Street. Fr. Clement I. Flynn worked diligently to bring knowledge of the Catholic faith to the African American people in the area. Fr. Flynn arranged with Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) to have Mass said each Sunday. Bishop John J. Russell, until his retirement in 1973, worked steadily to bring an end to racially segregated parishes in the diocese. In May of 1970, he closed The Church of the Holy Family and the building was turned into the Holy Family Center whose mission it was to provide day care for pre-school children. The parishes of St. Joseph and The Church of the Holy Family were combined.
During Holy Week in 1972, Fr. Quinn came to St. Joseph’s. In January 1981, Fr. Quinn was given permission to purchase the old A& P building to be used as the current parish hall. During the week of May 1-7, 1988, the rededication of the parish church with its newly renovated worship space and the addition of the commons area. Later in 1988, Fr. Michael Schmeid became the pastor of St. Joseph’s and focused on the awareness of the Hispanic community.
In June of 1995, Fr. Robert Spencer became pastor and served until June 2007.
Rev.Esteban Eugenio D. Antes arrived in June 2007 and stayed until July 2010 when our current pastor Rev. J. Biber arrived.
In 1809, the Kenny family came to the city of Petersburg from Kenagh in Count Longford, Ireland. This is the first Catholic family of record in the city. The very first mass celebrated in Petersburg was in 1820 and took place in a room on the corner of Short Market and High Streets, approximately 50 people attended this mass.
Petersburg was a mission of the diocese of Baltimore until 1841 when Pope Gregory XVI re-established Virginia into a diocese with Rev. Richard Martin Whelan as its bishop. During these years priests visited the congregation at different intervals from Richmond, Baltimore, and Norfolk, and sometimes from Georgetown College. Mass was sometimes celebrated at the home of Mr. Richard Furt, Sr. on Bollingbrook Street. He is said to have published an invitation in the local newspapers to any priest who happened to be passing through the city, to come to his home and offer mass.
In 1839, prior to the re-establishment of the Diocese of Virginia, there was a growing movement toward the building of a church in Petersburg. A building fund was started and it was contributed to by prosperous non-Catholics as well as Catholics. The church was built on the corner of Market and Washington Streets under the supervision of Rev. Timothy O’Brien and was dedicated on January 23, 1842 by Bishop Richard Whelan.
In 1845, Rev. David Whelan was appointed as rector of St. Joseph’s and remained until 1848. It was during Rev. Whelan’s time at St. Joseph’s that the rectory was built next to the church on North Market Street. In November 1853, Rev. A.L. Hitzelburger transferred to St. Joseph’s from Norfolk.
St. Joseph Church 1842
In 1856, Fr. Thomas Mulvey replaced Fr. Hitzelburger who resigned to become a Jesuit. Fr. Mulvey was rector in Petersburg, until his death on December 5, 1872.
Fr. Thomas Joseph Wilson came to St. Joseph’s after Fr. Mulvey’s death, during his time he purchased the property on Crater Road to be used as the parish cemetery. The property was dedicated in 1876 by Fr. Jansens
On November 5, 1875, Bishop Gibbons wrote that he had been successful in obtaining two communities of Sisters of Charity for two of his Virginia missions - one of which was St. Joseph School in Petersburg. A house at 25 South Market was purchased for use as the school.
On March 15, 1885, the first services for African Americans were held in the church. This was followed by Fr. John Slattery’s assignment to conduct a mission for their special benefit. On September 8, 1885 a school was opened under the management of Miss Mary McLaughlin. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate tried to carry on the work at the new Church of the Holy Family on Halifax Street and also took over the school a year after it opened. This mission effort was discontinued shortly thereafter.
Fr. James T. O’Farrell came to the parish, succeeding Fr. Hanley in September 1885. In 1892, the parish building committee requested from the bishop a loan for the money to build a new church. On Easter Sunday, March 25, 1894, farewell services were held in the historic old church that included a procession around the old building. On July 1, 1894, the corner stone of the new church was laid. On January 12, 1896, the new St. Joseph Church was dedicated. Major Harrison Waite was the architect for the new church and George N. James was the principal contractor. The total cost of the church was approximately $35,000. The windows in the church were made in Munich (Bavaria) Germany and each has its special significance, usually related to those who donated the window.
St. Joseph Church 1894
In 1913, Fr. Haier became pastor of the parish and is credited with the construction of the new school on Franklin Street, which began operation in 1916. Rev. Edward P. Kilgalen became rector of St. Joseph’s after serving 3 years as Fr. Haier’s assistant. The church was redecorated and electrified during Fr. Haier’s time at the church. The parish house, Lavelle Hall, was constructed in 1932, which was made possible by the bequest of Mr. Richard M. Lavelle. During Fr. Kilgalen’s term at St. Joseph’s the parish had active missions in 8 counties, including Jarrett, Sussex, Emporia, Crewe, and Farmville. Fr. Kilgalen clarified the boundaries of St. Joseph’s responsibilities.
Lavelle Hall 1932
Fr. John J. Brocktrup became pastor of St. Joseph’s in 1937. On April 19,1942, St. Joseph Church celebrated its 100th anniversary at a Solemn Pontifical Mass. During Fr. Brocktrup’s term the Chapel of St. John the Baptist in Crewe and St. Richard’s Chapel in Emporia were given resident pastors.
On June 30, 1940, Bishop Peters Ireton dedicated The Church of the Holy Family on Halifax Street. Fr. Clement I. Flynn worked diligently to bring knowledge of the Catholic faith to the African American people in the area. Fr. Flynn arranged with Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) to have Mass said each Sunday. Bishop John J. Russell, until his retirement in 1973, worked steadily to bring an end to racially segregated parishes in the diocese. In May of 1970, he closed The Church of the Holy Family and the building was turned into the Holy Family Center whose mission it was to provide day care for pre-school children. The parishes of St. Joseph and The Church of the Holy Family were combined.
During Holy Week in 1972, Fr. Quinn came to St. Joseph’s. In January 1981, Fr. Quinn was given permission to purchase the old A& P building to be used as the current parish hall. During the week of May 1-7, 1988, the rededication of the parish church with its newly renovated worship space and the addition of the commons area. Later in 1988, Fr. Michael Schmeid became the pastor of St. Joseph’s and focused on the awareness of the Hispanic community.
In June of 1995, Fr. Robert Spencer became pastor and served until June 2007.
Rev.Esteban Eugenio D. Antes arrived in June 2007 and stayed until July 2010 when our current pastor Rev. J. Biber arrived.
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