History

Crucifix

St. Joseph Parish was established by Bishop Francis Green of Tucson on August 18, 1969. Fr. John Cullinan was appointed as the first pastor. Sunday masses were first held in the cafeteria of Paradise Valley High School for about 300 families.

Ground was broken at a 10-acre site for a multi-purpose church building on January 23, 1972, by Bishop Edward J. McCarthy. When the multi-purpose building was completed in October 1972, the facility included a church with seating for 500, parish hall, meeting rooms and a library. An offsite rectory home was purchased in August 1993. Fr. Cullinan remained as pastor until 1995, when Fr. Frank Fernandez was appointed as the second pastor.

The parish completed construction on a new classroom building behind the church for Religious Education classes and other ministry meetings.

Part of the church sacristy was converted into an Adoration Chapel in March 2005 and later expanded in August 2006. The stained glass in the church was restored in March 2006 and the pews were re-upholstered in March 2007. The Adoration Chapel suffered minor damage during a micro burst storm in September 2008. The chapel was again expanded as part of the storm repairs.

Fr. Frank Fernandez served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish until July 2008. Fr. John Greb served as pastor from July 2008 until March 2013. Pending assignment of a new pastor, Fr. Greg Rice, then Fr. Robert Rossi, OSC, served as the Interim Parochial Administrators.

On July 1, 2013 Fr. Regidor "Reggie" was named by Bishop Thomas Olmsted as the new Parochial Administrator. Fr. Reggie was born in the Republic of the Philippines and graduated seminary and colleges there. Fr. Reggie holds degrees in Theology and Accounting. In 2003, Fr. Reggie joined the Diocese of Phoenix, serving as a Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Valley and then at St. Stephen Roman Catholic Parish prior to be named Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph Parish. Fr. Reggie has served more than 38 years as a Roman Catholic priest. St. Joseph Parish is Fr. Reggies seventh assignment as a pastor, with the six previous assignments occuring in the Republic of the Philippines.

St. Joseph Catholic Parish church building was destroyed by fire on May 1, 2019.  We continued to have Mass in Ascension Hall, on the Parish grounds but in a separate building. The first Mass in the new church building was celebrated on December 18, 2021.  The Dedication Mass with Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted was held on January 8, 2022 followed by a beautiful reception in the new courtyard.