Join Our Parish Family – Become a Member

Praise the Lord!  Thank you for your interest in becoming a registered parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church!  We are exicted that you may want to join our parish.  We ask that you take a moment to read about St. Joseph's to get a better sense of our parish community.

As parishioners of St. Joseph’s Parish, we are reminded that we are part of something much bigger than just ourselves.  We are members of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  Another way we could say this is that we are members of God’s family.  And our particular family of faith at St. Joseph’s is a great way to experience the family life of God on earth.

For a little history, St. Joseph’s was founded in 1946 with Fr. Joseph McGraw as pastor.  In 1965, our original church building was destroyed by a tornado that ripped through Strongsville.  But thanks be to God, the parish was in the process of building a new church at that time, and the construction site was untouched by the tornado.  In 1978, St. Joseph School was made into an “interparochial” school to serve the new parish of St. John Neumann, creating Sts. Joseph and John Interparochial School.  In 1996 and 2006, the parish finished up two major construction projects that expanded the campus and renovated the church’s sanctuary.  And most recently in 2021, the parish celebrated its 75th anniversary.  Over the course of those 75 years, the parish has been blessed to have three parishioners ordained priests, two parishioners ordained permanent deacons, and five parishioners became religious sisters.  You can read more about our parish history at www.sjohio.org/history. 

Today, our Parish Pastoral Staff is equipped to help make St. Joseph’s Parish a welcoming family of faith.  You can find their names and contact information at www.sjohio.org/staff.  We have approximately 2,700 families registered at the parish, 580 children in our school, 180 children in our PSR program, and over 50 different active ministries available.  As our parish “tag line” says, we have been “serving God and neighbor since 1946”, and by God’s grace, that continues to this day!

As we review St. Joseph’s past and present, it is good for us to also reflect on who we are as Catholics and what it means to live our faith.  It all starts with our baptism.  In the sacrament of baptism, we are made beloved children of our Heavenly Father, and we become members of the Body of Christ.  Our baptismal identity is strengthened in and through our participation in the Eucharist.  At Mass, when we partake in the one, perfect, saving sacrifice of Christ, we are transformed more and more into the men and women God calls us to become.  Who does God call us to become?  He calls us to become saints!  Our Catholic life on earth is meant to get us on the “highway to heaven” and keep us on track so we safely reach our final destination.  Through the sacraments of the Church, the gift of faith, and our vocation in life, we embark upon the path of loving and serving God and neighbor.

In a family, it is important to set expectations.  At St. Joseph’s, there are a number of things you can expect from the parish.  The first is reverent and vibrant liturgical/sacramental celebrations that focus on worshipping God.  Liturgical and sacramental celebrations – like Sunday Mass – are central to who we are as Catholics, and we will strive to offer authentic opportunities to encounter God here.  Second, you can expect lots of opportunities to grow in holiness.  Remember, we are called to become saints, and we need help along the way.  The parish will provide opportunities for all ages to deepen your faith and to grow in discipleship, especially through serving others.  Third, you can expect good communication regarding the happenings at the parish.  We try very hard to keep things up-to-date and keep our channels of communication open, including our weekly bulletin, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Channel.  And finally, you can expect responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to the parish.

It is also good to ask, “What will my parish expect from me as a parishioner?”  We recall that parishioners are part of our “parish family.”  So, one of the most essential aspects of this is coming together for joyful worship at Sunday Mass celebrations.  The Eucharist makes us who we are as Catholics, and we keep that identity alive and strong through our weekly participation at Sunday Mass.  Secondly, you will be expected to love and serve God and neighbor.  This means offering yourself to the parish in terms of “time, talent, and treasure.”  This translates to participation in at least one parish faith formation experience per year, taking up some act of service or ministry at the parish during the year, and sharing a portion of your “treasures” with the parish through Sunday offertory collections. 

There are a lot of different ways to love and serve God and neighbor at our parish.  In addition to attending Sunday Mass, you can learn more about sharing your time, talent, and treasure with the links below. 

   - Sharing Your Time & Talent: www.sjohio.org/ministries
   - Sharing a Portion of Your Treasure: www.sjohio.org/giving


If you would like to register as a parishioner of St. Joseph's, please contact or visit the parish office during regular office hours to register!  If you are unable to do that, you may also choose to download a Parish Registration Form and return it to us.  As you register, please know that you'll have a chance to indicate some of your talents on the Parish Registration Form. 

 

Overall, our process is simple and here is how our registration process works:

  • We'd be happy to take your information over the phone or in person.
  • You will receive a Welcome Note from us. Please know that we send these so that we offer our assistance to you with any questions or concerns that you may have about our parish, school, or anything else.  In addition to the Welcome Note, you'll receive a call from a member of our Welcoming Committee who would be happy to setup a meeting with you to offer a more personal "meet & greet" at the parish.
  • If you are currently not Catholic and wish to become one, as part of the registration process, you will be able to discuss our Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) program to learn how to begin your journey.