St. Mary, St. John, & St. Joseph Catholic Churches
  • Home
  • Mass Times
    • Mass Times
    • Holy Week 2023
  • Locations
    • St. Mary
    • St. John
    • St. Joseph
  • Religious Ed
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Eucharist
    • Confirmation
    • Anointing of the Sick
    • Matrimony
    • Holy Orders
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Bulletins
    • Divine Mercy Chaplet
    • Events >
      • Santa Fe, NM Pilgrimage (2019)
      • St. Joseph's 100th Anniversary
      • St. Mary's 50th Anniversary
    • Flocknote
    • FORMED.org
    • About
  • Knights
  • Donate
Picture
With trust in God's love, we enter into a new millennium for St. Joseph's parish. Thank you for being a special part of our day.
May God bless everyone.

St. Joseph in Akron celebrates 100 years

Picture
Photo by Jason Weinrich
When Father Marek Ciesla celebrates Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Akron, the community is deeply connected — not just in the prayers and responses, but in the […]

[Read the full story here in the Denver Catholic]

August 19, 100th Anniversary photos

Picture
Picture
Picture

Photos by Jason Weinrich


With trust in God's love, we enter into a new millennium for St. Joseph's. Thank you for being a special part of our anniversary celebration.
May God bless everyone!

Picture
Picture
Picture
Anniversary Celebration Schedule
Picture
Parking
Please be advised that on the day of the 100th Anniversary Celebration, the "food tent" will be standing at the handicapped parking lot. 

We ask everyone to park in the parking places around the church property leaving room for those who have difficulties walking to park in the front of the church.

August 19, Schedule

On this special Sunday, we extend a warm welcome to our Archbishop Samuel Aquila, all our guests, friends, and former parishioners.

This three-part centennial celebration with Archbishop Aquila begins at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 19, 2018. 
11:00 am - St. Joseph's Cemetery 
Blessings for the grounds, signs, and our deceased clergy, soldiers, parishioners, and loved ones.

12:00 pm Mass - St. Joseph's Church
Thanksgiving Mass

Immediately after Mass - Parish Photo
We will take a group picture on the steps of the church.

Reception and fellowship
A reception on the grounds will follow the group picture. We invite all parishioners and guests to stay for a free meal and fellowship.

Read letter from Archbishop Aquila

LONG STORY SHORT

BEGINNINGS


The plains of Colorado are Missionary Territories
1887
   ​Rev. William J. Howlett travels by train from Brighton to Akron once a month to serve Catholic families in their homes
1888-1890    Rev. James G. Hickey serves Catholic families in Akron and the surrounding area.
1890-1893    Rev. Faber and Rev. E. Downey are next to serve the faithful. Rev. Downey lived part-time in Wray & Ft. Morgan
1894-1897    Rev. J. H. Bricker cares for the spiritual needs of the Akron area Catholics.
April 7, 1895      A small group of families officially form, "The Catholic Church in Akron" filing a Certificate of Incorporation with the Washington County Courthouse.
​1897-1902         Rev. J. J. Reordon serves the mission in Akron. 
​April 14, 1898    The church Board of Trustees purchases Louise and Jacob Faehndrich's store building located on Main Street where the Y-W Electric building now stands. Catholic families now have a place to meet and pray.

​MISSION 
​CHURCH


The Catholic population continues to be a Mission church under the guidance of several missionary priests
1902-1904     Rev. D. C. Robertson
1904-1911      Rev. B. A. Froegel

1911-              Rev. Dribbel 
1911-1918      Rev. J. L. Juily

MILESTONES


​September 28, 1907     For the first-time, Akron hosts a bishop when Bishop Nicholas C. Matz of Denver visits the parish.
The Bishop confirms 30 people, 20 boys and girls receive First Holy Communion, and the church building is dedicated and receives the name Saint Joseph.


August 23, 1913            With future dreams of having a school, church, and rectory nearby, the parishioners purchase lots on the 3rd block of Bent Street. A new church is built with parishioners donating most of the labor and material. The raised funds needed for the project, and sold the old church building for $500 to John S. Arnold.

May 17, 1914                  Bishop Matz visits Akron to dedicate the new church building

1916                                Mr. Conrad Heer donates an acre of land east of town for use as a Catholic cemetery

August 17, 1918             Mrs. Anna M. Jost becomes the first person buried in St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery
​

OUR
​CHURCH


February 7, 1918     Bishop J. Henry Tihen officially declares Saint Joseph as a parish
February 21, 1918   The Bishop names Fr. Louis Grohman, ordained in 1911, as the first pastor of the parish
March 18, 1918        Parish purchases house from Mrs. Corda beach to be used as a rectory
Easter Sunday, 1919  Ground is broken for Saint Joseph's Boarding and Day School. Through the combined efforts and sacrifices of both Catholics and non-Catholics, the school was officially dedicated by Bishop Tihen on September 7, 1919. 
September 8, 1919   School formally opens. Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary took care of running the school. On the first day, there were 24 boarding students, 65 day students, and 30 music pupils. Saint Joseph's school operated until 1929 when the Depression brought difficult times making it impossible to keep the school open.
​


STJ History - Part I
STJ History - Part II
STJ History - Part III
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • Mass Times
    • Mass Times
    • Holy Week 2023
  • Locations
    • St. Mary
    • St. John
    • St. Joseph
  • Religious Ed
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Eucharist
    • Confirmation
    • Anointing of the Sick
    • Matrimony
    • Holy Orders
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Bulletins
    • Divine Mercy Chaplet
    • Events >
      • Santa Fe, NM Pilgrimage (2019)
      • St. Joseph's 100th Anniversary
      • St. Mary's 50th Anniversary
    • Flocknote
    • FORMED.org
    • About
  • Knights
  • Donate