ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
Garrett, IN
OUR HISTORY
About 15 miles north of Fort Wayne, the town of Garrett was plotted in 1875, with the extension of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. From its earliest days, a priest served the burgeoning Catholic community, where Mass was first celebrated in a tent. Father August Young became the first pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, dedicated by Bishop Joseph Rademacher in 1893. It wasn’t until 1929 when Bishop John F. Noll dedicated the new church building on the corner of Houston and Ijams Streets that the parish name changed from SS. Peter and Paul to St. Joseph.
Father Young worked actively to attend to the needs of his new flock. In 1879, he purchased land several blocks west of the church to establish Calvary Cemetery, open to burial for both Catholics and Protestants. He also opened the first hospital in Garrett, Sacred Heart Hospital, in 1905. The building remains across from the church and serves as apartments today. After his retirement, Father Young resided at the hospital until his death and was buried in the cemetery he founded. To date, a beautiful Marian grotto sits next to the old hospital building.
The school was established in 1888, with Sisters of the Precious Blood teaching 180 students at the beginning. It quickly expanded to 226 students in grades 1-12 by 1905 and by 1927, the Sisters of St Francis of the Sacred Heart, who already staffed the hospital, took over as educators. A new school opened in 1958, and still serves students from kindergarten to fifth grade, with a separate building across the street for preschool classes.
St. Joseph Parish ministers to the needy in the town of Garrett through its soup kitchen and clothes closet and meets the spiritual needs of its parishioners through Bible studies, a rosary team and youth and young adult ministries within the parish.
VIDEO PODCASTS
FR. BRIAN ISENDBARGER - CHILDHOOD TO PRIESTHOOD
Fr. Brian is the Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Garrett, IN. Is it possible for mischievous boys to become priests? Yes, it is. Learn about Fr. Brian’s humorous yet profound journey from childhood to priesthood.
~ Funding for this episode is provided by L-A Electric ~
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