St. Joseph Parish History

St. Joseph Parish, Tiltonsville, was established in 1917 by Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, Bishop James J. Hartley. At the time, Tiltonsville, Yorkville, and Rayland had farmers, mill workers, coal miners, and potters, and Tiltonsville was the central location for the area. Before a parish was established, Mass was celebrated on the second floor of a Walden Avenue building. Priests from Dillonvale, Steubenville, and Martins Ferry came to celebrate those Masses. One of those priests, Father John Queally, became its first pastor.

While ministering there for 15 months, Father Queally purchased land for a church on Mound Street in 1918. Father Queally was relocated and replaced by Father Peter Crelly. A church that would seat 125 people was constructed in 1918, as well as a rectory. A year later, Father Crelly was replaced by Father James Banahan, who was followed by Father Anthony Schlernitzauer, and, in August 1925, by Father Stanislaus Karwowski.

In June 1935, Father Constantine C. “Connie” Superfisky, who ministered at St. Joseph Parish for 42 years, became pastor.

Father Superfisky is credited with beginning the outdoor Nativity in 1937, which is displayed annually on the front lawn of the rectory.

In 1940, the church became too small for its congregation. An expansion project took place, under the direction of Father Superfisky, which completely remodeled the church and rectory. The capacity of the church increased to 250.

When the Diocese of Steubenville was created in 1944, and Bishop John King Mussio arrived in 1945, the bishop asked Father Superfisky to organize a Holy Name Society. It remains active at St. Joseph’s.

On Sept. 28, 1948, ground was broken for the construction of a school.  The school was built by parishioners of St. Joseph. Bishop Mussio dedicated the school May 21, 1950.

A house was purchased for a convent in 1949, which was occupied initially by four Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky, who taught at St. Joseph School, beginning in 1950.
          
On Oct. 23, 1951, Bishop Mussio decreed the establishment of a mission, attached to St. Joseph Parish – St. Rock Mission, Yorkville. The diocese obtained property and Bishop Mussio placed Father Louis Pacchia as the administrator. The mission closed soon after its founding.

St. Joseph Church became too small for its congregation again, so a last Mass was celebrated April 2, 1956, and construction began the following month on a new church. Mass was celebrated in the school auditorium.
           
On the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1957, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church, which now would seat 400.

The new St. Joseph Church was dedicated by Bishop Mussio May 19, 1957.

On Jan. 30, 1964, Bishop Mussio decreed the establishment of St. Lucy Parish, Yorkville, effective Jan. 31, 1964. The decree included an explicit concession, which was unique to the Diocese of Steubenville at the time, in which all of those who, at the time of the establishment of St. Lucy’s, were members of St. Joseph Parish, had the option to remain members of St. Joseph’s despite the diocesan regulations to the contrary.

St. Joseph School officially closed June 7, 1973.

Father Superfisky submitted his resignation to Bishop Mussio in January 1977 from active parish ministry, which became effective March 11. He remained in Tiltonsville, where he died Nov. 17, 1978. A ramp was constructed on the north side of the church and dedicated in his memory.

Father Vincent J. Huber was named pastor March 11, 1977. During his pastorate, Father Huber hired Sister of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, Claudia (Marvin) Bronsing as the parish’s first pastoral associate. She was there for eight years, until 1985. Sister of St. Francis Pat Taube shared the convent.

Father Huber organized the St. Francis Society, which continues today for elder parishioners. He also converted the former school into a parish center. On Nov. 7, 1982, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, now St. Vincent’s Helping Hands Food Pantry, was formed in the parish to help the community.
           
Msgr. Thomas C. Petronek was named pastor in June 1, 1984. He established a chapel for daily Mass in the Parish Center. Pastoral associates during his pastorate included Dominican Sister of Peace Joan (Pius) Rader and later, Sister of Charity of Nazareth Luke Boiarski. Sister of Charity of Nazareth Anne Magruder also resided at the convent. Sister Luke created a youth group for the parish and led Vacation Bible School. They returned to Kentucky in 2008.
           
Msgr. George R. Coyne was named pastor of St. Joseph Parish Aug. 24, 1992, and served until July 1, 2008, when he retired from active parish ministry. Msgr. Coyne made many improvements to the church and moved the parish offices to the Parish Center.
           
On Sept. 1, 2001, Msgr. Coyne became pastor of St. Lucy's while remaining at St. Joseph. Msgr. Coyne said in The Steubenville Register, when referring to the clustering of the parishes: “These changes have made the prayer of Jesus, ‘that all may be one ...’ a reality.”

Msgr. Coyne was succeeded by Father Daniel Heusel, who served the parishes from July 1, 2008-through July 1, 2010. Father Heusel brought back Vacation Bible school and Bible studies.

He was succeeded by Msgr. Gene W. Mullett, who served as pastor from 2010-15. During his pastorate, statues and sanctuary appointments were refurbished.

On Jan. 17, 2015, Father William D. Cross, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Steubenville, became pastor. As pastor, Father Cross has added a new altar, ambo, and chair in the church. He also remodeled the sanctuary and had some of the church repainted. A new Baptismal Font was added in the back of the church. In addition, Father Cross directed the sale of the empty convent and garage and had a garage constructed behind the rectory.

On March 20, 2017, Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton celebrated Mass for the 100th anniversary of the parish. Former pastors, neighboring priests, and members of the community joined the celebration. A reception followed in the church hall.

On Sept. 30, 2020, Father Cross reported that after a meeting Sept. 29 with the combined parish and finance councils of St. Joseph and St. Lucy, during which the financial viability of St. Lucy’s was discussed, seven members of the council voted to close St. Lucy Parish. Two members abstained from voting.

On Nov. 21, 2020, St. Lucy Parish was closed and absorbed into St. Joseph Parish. The Holy Cross and St. Lucy relics were placed in St. Joseph Church, as well as the St. Lucy statue and candles. The Holy Cross relic was placed under the crucifix and a St. Lucy Shrine was created in the back of the church. The Stations of the Cross from St. Lucy's were placed in the Chapel.

In 2021, Father Cross had the St. Lucy statue refurbished. He also established a Confessional Room in the back of church and purchased a new Ambry.

Vocations from St. Joseph Parish include Servite Father Henry Kobus, 1949; Jesuit Father John O’Malley, 1959; Msgr. Kurt H. Kemo, 1983; Jason M. Prati, 2002; Seth Wymer, 2007; Sister of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky, Francine Chesmar; and Sister of St. Joseph, Wheeling, West Virginia, Bridget Madden.