St. Joseph Church Port Elgin ON

St. Joseph Church in Port Elgin, Ontario is a Christian congregation serving the Port Elgin community and seeking, engaging, and encouraging others through a life-changing Christian journey.

We seek to be a loving, friendly community that worships God, and serves others. We place a high priority on teaching from the Bible and following the example of Jesus.

Our vision is to impact and renew Port Elgin and beyond with the transforming message of Jesus Christ through words and actions.

Come as you are - we'd love to get to know you.

 

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Download Pastor Rev. Franjo Šprajc vCard

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http://stjospar.com  

 

 

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Ministries

Liturgical Ministries
-Altar Clothes and Vestments
-Altar Servers
-Adult Altar Servers for Funerals
-Decorators
-Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion
-Minister of Communion to the home-bound
-Greeters and Ushers
-Ministers of the Word - Lectors
-Music Ministry Liturgical
-Sacristans

Children and Youth
-Liturgy of the Word for Children
-Vacation Bible School
-Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
-R.C.I.A for Children
-Youth Group

Office and Planning

-Finance Committee
-Maintenance Team
-Parish Office Volunteer
-Telephone Committee
-Collection Counters

Organizations

-Knights of Columbus
-Catholic Women League
-CARE Program
-St. Vincent de Paul Society
-Secular Franciscans

Service Programs

-Friendship Coffee Social Hour
-Hospitality Sunday
-Funeral and Special Event Luncheon Ministry  

 

The evangelization in this area goes back to the 1600’s when the Jesuits manned the mission of Sts. Peter and Paul at the mouth of the Saugeen River.Later on, in the fur trading era, the same Jesuits were taking spiritual care of the Métis community. They had made their home at Wikwemikong Manitoulin Island, and from there, they came here regularly and offered Mass and the Sacraments to the Catholics of the time at the referred “Southampton Chapel”/”Ste. Agnes Chapel”.

1800’s - The European immigrants began appearing on the shorelines, as the movement through the Great Lakes increased. The spiritual practices of the settlers that moved from inland, especially from the Waterloo area, depended very much on their own dedication in keeping the faith.

1852 - the first recorded Mass was in at the hands of father Caspar Matoga, who came from the post in Guelph. He also ministered to the other numerous and scattered communities of Grey and Bruce counties, covering the vast terrain by foot. After serving the area for five years, he contracting diphtheria and died at the age of 33. Father Matoga was followed by Fr. William Blettner whose name appears in the local Baptismal records of January 1857. As the settlements turned into towns and villages, most often one of the first things at hand was the building of places of worship. 1863 - The discussion for the construction of a church in Southampton started. (Mass was celebrated in family homes such as the Macnab’s of Arran Lake and Teahen of Southampton). Under the leadership of diocesan priest Father Mahuet (Owen Sound) and the coming of the Basilian Fathers to Owen Sound, they pursuit this commitment of a permanent location with the purchase of Lot E in 1866 around the vicinity of Albert and Landsdowne on the east side of Hwy 21. The first Catholic Church was built and put under the patronage of St. Thomas.

Late 1880’s - Southampton became a mission of Chepstow with father Stephen Wadel, requesting permission from bishop Carbery to replace the inadequate “old cottage” with a proper church. In 1885 the lots 14 and 15 were purchased and in 1886 the church was built where it still stand today.

1897 - The community was transferred to the care of Walkerton for the next ten years, when it was reverted back to the care of Chepstow.

Mid 1920’s - At the prompting of Chepstow’s pastor father Zettler, St. Patrick obtained parish status and also took on the Missions of Hepworth and Wiarton, under the name of St. Patrick’s.

Summer 1925 - The Bishop made agreement with the parishes of Walkerton, Chepstow, Formosa and Mildmay to help subsidize the new parish in Southampton for a period of three years. A rectory was built on the adjacent Lot 13that had been purchased in Augusto 1989, and its first resident priest was father Macaul, followed by fathers Egan, Lavey and Cadot. The depression and World War II deprived the area of population and resources.

1941 - The community returned back to mission status, served once again by the Basilian fathers of Owen Sound. The following 20 years, the Basilian Fathers met the spiritual needs of the Catholic Families of Southampton and Port Elgin through St. Patrick’s.

1960 - The parishioners and community explored possibilities of construction configurations, advised by consulting architect to leave the building intact. People were migrating for jobs at the Bruce site, which led to the development of the Davey subdivision in Port Elgin. Mr. Davey was aware of the need of a larger church, and offered 2.21 Acres of land in the middle of the subdivision seen as a potential drawing card for development.

October 1961 - The land was bought and in the following spring construction began with the corner stone ceremonially laid on May 27, 1962.

June 1962 - St. Joseph’s (named after the patron saint of father Crowley), was blessed and officially opened but only used as a summer chapel. The development at Hydro progressed turning in a growth in local population.

1969 - There was a great concern voiced about the need for Catholic education for the children. Father Crowley supported and oversaw meetings to accomplish the purchasing of the available Elementary Public School in Port Elgin.

1970 - St. Joseph became the official Parish serving Tiverton, Port Elgin and Southampton, under the auspices of the Spiritans with Father Brennan. Father Smyth came to help for the first year, and Father Sheehy became the next assistant priest. Fr. Brennan left in 1977. Fr. Sheehy became the Pastor for one year. Fr. Robert Hudson arrived in 1978 and remained until his retirement in 2002, at the age of 82.

1980 - Because of the overcrowding in the summer months, St. Patrick’s began renting one side of the Coliseum for the Sunday Masses until 1992 when the extension was added to the sanctuary of the church. This extension provided more seating, a proper Sanctuary and a sacristy.

Its Gothic architectural style was kept carefully; it reflects John 14:2: “In my Father’s house there are many rooms”. The pointed arches are like praying hands pointing to heaven. Adorning the altar are local symbols of the founding years. The flowers represent the first European settlers (Scottish Thistles for the Scottish; Shamrocks for the Irish; Fleur de Lis for the French; Roses for the English; and many beavers for the fur trade).

During the period of Spiritan leadership came the transformation of St. Joseph’s from an out-in-the-field summer chapel, to a top to bottom renovated year-round attended church.

A rectory was added, a paved parking lot poured, a garage was turned into a library/meeting room, the basement became a generous space, and a Jubilee Hall for events and celebrations.

Since 2002, St. Joseph Parish is under the pastoral care of Hamilton Diocesan priests. The well-rooted parish continues with hymns of praise, sacrifice and sacraments that echoed so long ago on the shores and fields of the blessed Saugeen Shores community.