
St. Joseph http://salemstjoseph.org
St. Joseph, Salem Township began in 1849 when the bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Cleveland encouraged pioneer settlers to gather for Mass in a log chapel constructed on the farm of John Schumacher. The Precious Blood priests ( Sanguinists) traveled from New Riegel several times a year to celebrate mass in this 20 x 26 foot chapel. In 1859, as the county began to construct roads, the location of the parish shifted more than a mile to a spot where two roads would intersect. At this more convenient spot a larger frame church which measured 25 x 50 feet was erected. In the same year, the first parish cemetery was developed across the road from the church. In 1875, the pastor from nearby Kirby began to serve the mission parish. In 1883, when the parish had grown to 38 families, ground was broken for a larger church with a 128 foot steeple. This third frame church which measure 40 x 85 feet was completed in 1888, tragically, it burned to the ground on December 10, 1893. By 1896 a church made of brick with an 80 foot bell tower and measured 40 x 80 feet, was dedicated on the same site which served the previous two churches. Between 1888 and 1912 St. Joseph alternated as a mission between Carey and Kirby several times. In 1912, the bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Toledo invited the Conventual Franciscans to begin serving at the shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey and also to pastor the mission at St. Joseph. For the next 91 years a succession of several friars served St. Joseph until the Franciscans informed the diocese that they could no longer pastor St. Joseph due to the dwindling number of friars. From 2003 until the closing of St. Joseph Parish in 2005, it was clustered with St. Mary Parish, Kirby and St. Peter Parish, Upper Sandusky.
St. Joseph, Salem Township began in 1849 when the bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Cleveland encouraged pioneer settlers to gather for Mass in a log chapel constructed on the farm of John Schumacher. The Precious Blood priests ( Sanguinists) traveled from New Riegel several times a year to celebrate mass in this 20 x 26 foot chapel. In 1859, as the county began to construct roads, the location of the parish shifted more than a mile to a spot where two roads would intersect. At this more convenient spot a larger frame church which measured 25 x 50 feet was erected. In the same year, the first parish cemetery was developed across the road from the church. In 1875, the pastor from nearby Kirby began to serve the mission parish. In 1883, when the parish had grown to 38 families, ground was broken for a larger church with a 128 foot steeple. This third frame church which measure 40 x 85 feet was completed in 1888, tragically, it burned to the ground on December 10, 1893. By 1896 a church made of brick with an 80 foot bell tower and measured 40 x 80 feet, was dedicated on the same site which served the previous two churches. Between 1888 and 1912 St. Joseph alternated as a mission between Carey and Kirby several times. In 1912, the bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Toledo invited the Conventual Franciscans to begin serving at the shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey and also to pastor the mission at St. Joseph. For the next 91 years a succession of several friars served St. Joseph until the Franciscans informed the diocese that they could no longer pastor St. Joseph due to the dwindling number of friars. From 2003 until the closing of St. Joseph Parish in 2005, it was clustered with St. Mary Parish, Kirby and St. Peter Parish, Upper Sandusky.