History

St. Joseph Church, at first glance, appears as any building of its time and of its city. A beloved landmark now enveloped by a changing urban setting that may not be as beautiful as the one originally designed. This, however, is a deception. It is, in reality, a feature made of living stones, chosen and quarried by a creator who has preceded His workmanship yet, because of the His own life glowing within, makes of any altered setting, a masterpiece. This means that although St. Joseph Church has a definitive past history, it also has one that will never end.

The history you are about to read was compiled for publication in 2003, recording events that happened before St. Joseph or even Winter Haven existed. Today, another decade of harvest remains to be recorded and decades to come will bear their fruit. What will you bring?

Will you come and be seen, to be recorded in a future parish directory? Will you come and minister, returning gift for gift back to the Giver who blessed you? What will be your gift, your story and your recollections? Come and share them with us.

Introduction

The Seed of Martyrs

The First Catholic Comes to Polk County

Jesuits Travel to Polk From Tampa

The Early Church in Winter Haven

First Catholic Church in Winter Haven

Two Early Catholics

First Mass Celebrated

Early Catholic Education

Mrs. Ford DeHaven

St. Joseph Named a Parish Church

Father Dennis O'Keefe 1923 - 1926