A FUTURE FULL OF HOPE THROUGH HISTORY:
1845 – 2020
The city of Tiffin was founded by Josiah Hedges in March 1822. Catholics then began to settle here, and among those immigrants were a number of German families. They formed a part of St. Mary Parish, founded in 1831. In 1845, Cincinnati Diocese Bishop John Purcell gave permission for these German families to organize as a separate congregation under the patronage of St. Joseph. In May 1845, the parishioners bought two acres of land at the intersection of Melmore and South Washington Streets. By August 1845, our ancestors built a 40 x 60-foot brick church costing $2500, followed by a school which faced South Washington Street.
Precious Blood Fathers ministered to the needs of our parish until September 1852, when Rev. John Uhlmann was appointed the first resident pastor. Shortly after his arrival, he built a brick residence west of the church. In May 1855, Father Uhlmann bought two acres outside the southern corporate limits of Tiffin and paid $500 for the land; it is a portion of the present cemetery, which replaced the one originally located where the priests’ garage is now. Fr. Uhlmann was also well-known for his pastoral care to the citizens of Tiffin during the cholera epidemic in 1853. During this period our parish was transferred to the Diocese of Cleveland.
Rev. Joseph Bihn was the pastor from 1856 to 1873. He saw the necessity of both a new church and school. He built the school first, constructed in 1858. This building provided a temporary place for church services. The old church was torn down in the fall of 1860. The new Gothic structured church was consecrated in 1862, measuring 140 x 60 feet, with a spire reaching 180 feet. Fr. Bihn was also instrumental in founding the Citizen’s Hospital and Orphan Asylum (St. Francis Home).
Rev. Charles Evrard was appointed pastor in November 1873, and his pastorate, known for his success towards the spiritual affairs of the parish, ended on May 11, 1885. The administration of Fr. John Martin Puetz, the first irremovable pastor, opened a new era in the history of the parish. Improvements included both a new brick rectory and school dedicated in 1895. Father was also known for introducing Gregorian chant. Fr. John Peter Puetz succeeded his brother as pastor in May 1897. During his tenure, the church was electrified in 1901.
Fr. Francis Hultgen was appointed pastor on March 17, 1903, and served for 34 years. Under his leadership church interior renovations were completed, including the installation of new stained glass windows and Stations of the Cross painted by Austrian artist Joseph Vittur. He was also responsible for ministering to the needs of a new parish, Republic St. Aloysius. A weekly envelope system was also begun. A central heating plant serving all parish buildings, a new auditorium (the present old gym) and school addition were begun in 1925 and were dedicated by Toledo Bishop Samuel Stritch on October 24, 1926.
The church was destroyed by fire on April 11, 1934, with only the sanctuary and walls remaining. During the period of rebuilding, church services were held in the auditorium. During the administration of Fr. George May (1937-1944), the new church was blessed.
Watch this short documentary from Hundredfold Video, which combines never-before-seen historical footage, photos, and eyewitness accounts about the 1934 St. Joseph Church fire.
Fr. Louis Mayle succeeded Fr. May as pastor, but due to poor health resigned on October 1, 1944.
Msgr. Richard Gabel was appointed pastor on December 20, 1944. During his time here Msgr. Gabel was active in the reorganization of the parish societies and made many improvements to the parish buildings. Msgr. was also a prolific writer, beginning the Sunday Bulletin. He initiated the St. Joseph Credit Union in February 1952 and added the transept chapel (now used for weekday Masses) and Chapel for the Elderly in the mid 1960s. He died on June 16, 1969.
Msgr. Michael Waltz succeeded Msgr. Gabel, but served less than three months when he died. Rev. Joseph Pastorek was appointed pastor from 1970 to 1973. During his tenure a Parish Council was organized. Rev. James Steinle was pastor 1973-1979. Under his leadership the Calvert Educational Foundation was established. Rev. Emery Ignacz’s tenure as pastor was from 1979 to 1982. Rev. Dennis Schroeder (1982-1992) was instrumental in renovating the church sanctuary during 1988 and beginning the St. Joseph School Education Foundation. Rev. James Say (1992-2007) spearheaded the drive for a new Activity Center in the summer of 1997, with the dedication occurring on September 27, 1998, with Bishop James Hoffman presiding.
Rev. Joseph Szybka (2007-2022) was instrumental in starting the Spiritual Life Committee. This committee plans and executes events for the parish like the Parish Mission, which was first held in March 2009. This first mission was attended by over 500 parishioners.
Beginning in the Fall of 2010, the Saturday 5:30 PM Mass was videotaped for Sunday broadcast on the local Cable channel. In March of 2011, SCAT Transportation was arranged with a team of volunteer drivers to bring people to the 5:30 PM Mass on Saturdays.
In the Summer of 2011, air conditioning was installed in the church. On January 1, 2015, the first test signal from St. John Paul the Great Catholic Radio Station was sent out. The local Catholic radio station was a cooperative venture with St. Mary Parish and the local Knights of Columbus.
In May 2015, a major project was undertaken to upgrade the wiring and electrical service in the church, replacing the existing lighting with brighter and more energy-efficient LED lighting. This project necessitated the complete scaffolding of the church for several months during which the weekend Masses were celebrated in the Activity Center. The lighting project was not completed until the following summer when the lighting in the Sick Chapel and Transept Chapel was replaced.
During the summer of 2015, the statues in the main sanctuary were restored in full color by Todd Brausch, a liturgical artist from Lithopolis, Ohio. Also, in the Fall of 2015, an electronic carillon was installed in the bell tower to augment the four existing church bells.
In April 2020, the pipe organ, which was removed in May 2019 for major repairs, was brought back and installed. The Schantz Organ Company in Orrville, Ohio did most of the restoration on the organ. The total cost of the project was over $700,000. The money was raised through the Parish Finance Council and The Organ Restoration Fund.
As part of our 175th Anniversary Celebration, St. Joseph Pastoral Council and the Seneca County Historical Society installed an Ohio Historical Marker on the East side of the church near the cornerstones.
For more than 175 years, the spirit of dedication, volunteerism and sacrifice has been evident in the lives of those who have been a part of St. Joseph Parish. We invite you to be a part of our thriving community! Join us for Mass, experience the rich tapestry of our history, and consider becoming a member of our parish family. Together, let's continue to write the next chapter of our story—a future filled with hope, fellowship, and boundless opportunities for spiritual growth.