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.
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
St. Joseph Named a Parish Church
Father Dennis O'Keefe 1923 - 1926
History of Two Early Organizations
Father Patrick Noland 1928 - 1934
Father John O'Keefe 1934 - 1935
Father Michael J. Brown 1934 - 1942
Catholic Women's Club Activities During This Period
Father John J. Nevin 1942 - 1950 and Father Joseph Barry 1950 - 1952
Father John V. O'Sullivan 1952 - 1956
Father Charles C. Anderson 1957 - 1964
Nadine Hoffman's Contributions
Father Matthew J. Connolly 1964 - 1970
Rosalyn Quinn, Office Administrator
Father Vincent E. Smith 1970 - 1981
Some of the Many who Worked with Father Smith
Two Ministries Introduced to the Parish at This Time
Two Administrators Serve the Parish 1982 - 1983
Some of the Many Who Served the Parish at This Time
The Education Endowment Fund Established in 1983
Father Sean Heslin 1984 - 1991
Those Who Assisted Father Heslin