From the ‘catacombs’ to a pastorate, St. Joseph celebrates 75 years September 6, 2026By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Parish Anniversary 2026, Western Vicariate When St. Joseph in Hagerstown was founded in 1951, the congregation met in a former nursing home with a long hallway separating two rooms. Mary L. Hellane, 78, remembers everyone rushing on Sundays to get a seat in the left-hand room where you could “see and hear the priest,” as you were “pretty much on your own” on the right side. She also remembers Mass being interrupted by fire calls when St. Joseph met at the volunteer fire department and the joke was that the congregation met “in the catacombs” when it was celebrated in the basement of the current rectory as one wall was all rocks. “It was such a celebration,” Hellane said, when the congregation came together for its first Mass in its current structure on Christmas Eve in 1961. “Only a handful of parishioners, 25 to 30 families, had started this thing and it had grown and grown.” Today, as St. Joseph celebrates its 75th anniversary, the church operates as a worship site within The Catholic Parishes of Southwest Washington County, a pastorate which also includes St. Augustine in Williamsport and St. James in Boonsboro. St. Joseph is located in an area known as “Halfway” – a community half way between Hagerstown and Williamsport. The clergy once served as full-time chaplains at the Hagerstown Correctional Complex. In recent years, St. Joseph has welcomed a large Hispanic community population, with Father David Ray, associate pastor, celebrating Masses in Spanish on Wednesdays and Sundays. “That’s been a new element in their pastoral life and experience,” Monsignor Bruce Jarboe, former pastor, said of the growing Hispanic community. He commended the parish for its willingness “to do the hard work and try to integrate with that population that is new to them.” He also noted that St. Joseph, along with St. James and St. Augustine, has been willing “over the last eight nine years, to work through the process of coming into a pastorate relationship.” “That is not an easy thing to do,” Monsignor Jarboe said. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas meet monthly at St. Joseph for prayer, fellowship and friendship. The Pastorate Rosary Makers meet the second Sunday of the month from September through May to make rosaries for the missions, first communicants, confirmation, RCIA, hospitals and more. A long tradition at St. Joseph is the fall yard sale. Now known as the Pastorate Yard Sale, it is scheduled for Oct. 9 and 10. Father George Gannon became the pastor of the pastorate Aug. 1. Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org Read more local news Archbishop Lori of Baltimore enjoys the ‘very wonderful world’ of Minnesota State Fair Continue Reading Archbishop Lori of Baltimore enjoys the ‘very wonderful world’ of Minnesota State Fair Father Gould takes charge with encouragement, kind words and mace in hand Continue Reading Father Gould takes charge with encouragement, kind words and mace in hand Sister Marian Joseph Baird, R.S.M., dies at 87 Continue Reading Sister Marian Joseph Baird, R.S.M., dies at 87 Pope Leo XIV recognizes 21 in Archdiocese of Baltimore for service to the Church and community Continue Reading Pope Leo XIV recognizes 21 in Archdiocese of Baltimore for service to the Church and community Father Michael Heine elected as new president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men Continue Reading Father Michael Heine elected as new president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men Faith wins the crown Continue Reading Faith wins the crown Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media Print
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