History of St. Joseph Church

Think back to a time, over 100 years ago, when this area of Iowa was first developed. Immigrants came from various countries and spoke different languages. People traveled from farms to town with a horse and buggy, or for long distance by train.

Because of the language barrier and the problems of travel, Catholics built churches 10 to 15 miles apart. There were a dozen Catholic churches in Chickasaw County. Two in New Hampton and others in lonia, North Washington, Alta Vista, Jerico, Little Turkey, Reilly Ridge, Lawler, Pin Hook and Nashua.  Today, if settlers were developing Chickasaw County, with the shortage of priests and the ease of travel, they would probably build just one big church in the middle of the Chickasaw county.

In 2002, the St. Joseph and Saint Mary's churches were combined as Holy Family Parish and served by one priest. In July of 2005, Immaculate Conception of North Washington and St. Boniface of lonia were added and we are now known as the "Good Shepherd Cluster".  Each of the four worship centers differs in history, design, and construction.

The Catholics in New Hampton organized in 1870 and purchased land from E.T. Runion, across the street from what is now Runion Park.  A wood frame church was erected, but a priest was not assigned until 1877. Until then parishioners were served by circuit riders and the priest from North Washington.

Just 22 years later the wood frame building became too small for the growing parish. The balance of the land in this block was purchased and construction of the present church was begun. The cornerstone bears the date, May 14, 1899. This church was finished and solemnly dedicated, 2 years later on Sunday, April 28, 1901. The altars and stained glass windows were installed when the church was built. They were designed to fit this particular building and ordered from Germany.

A wood frame school and convent followed in 1904.

Some 20 years ago, following tuck-pointing of the brick, the building was sprayed with a waterproofing material. Workmen carelessly sprayed the outside storm windows with the same material, which has made the windows almost invisible from the outside, during the day.  Hopefully, someday the glass in the storms might be replaced or a solution found to remove the coating.

The Gathering Space and Hynes Hall addition was completed in 1998.  The church interior was refurbished and redecorated in 1999.  A new roof was added to the church building in 2009 when it was also tuck-pointed again.  Ongoing maintenance is needed to preserve a building which is more than 100 years old. 

On the original large center altar is the Crucified Christ along with the statues of his mother, the Virgin Mary and on the right the apostle John as described in the Gospel according to John, Chapter 19, Verse 29. Located in the base is a relief sculpture in stone of the Last Supper. In the past there were two small angels, one on each side of the tabernacle, additionally there were other small statues in the open niches in the altar. 

Above the tabernacle is a turntable that held a Crucifix and the monstrance used during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at Benediction following a High Mass and at 40 Hours Devotions and other special occasions. At one time the sanctuary held other statues including the Sacred Heart and the Little Flower.

On the side altar in addition to the larger statue of the Blessed Virgin is a statue of Mary as a child with her mother Saint Ann and a statue of St. Bridget, a favorite of the Irish people.
The St. Joseph side altar contains smaller images of Isaiah considered the greatest of the prophets and another that of Saint John the Baptist.

The 10 large windows depict the apostles and the four evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. On the first window on the south side are Saints Philip and Bartholomew. The second window is that of the evangelist St. Mark. Although the evangelists are not named on the windows, as are the apostles, they are recognized by their symbols. Mark is recognized by his symbol, which is a "winged lion" located near the bottom of his cloak.

Saint James the Greater and St. Thomas are pictured on the 3rd window from the front. Saint Matthew the evangelist is represented on the 4th window with the winged man as his symbol.  Note St.  Peter and St. Andrew depicted on the fifth and last window on the south side of the church. On the other side St. James the lesser and St. Jude are depicted. On the second window is St. Luke the Evangelist with an ox as his symbol.

St. Simon and St. Matthias are portrayed on the third window. All the saints mentioned so far have had a beard. Either St. Simon was too young for a beard or maybe he shaved with a piece of broken glass. Men of that day didn't have the chore of shaving every morning. I'm sure the straight edge & safety razor had not been invented.

On the 4th window we find a clean-shaven Evangelist Saint John with his symbol the Eagle.  Rather than portray St. John and St. Matthew as Apostles and again as Evangelists it was decided to use the last of the windows to depict Saint Paul and St. Patrick. Saint Paul, although not an apostle, was a prolific writer and wrote most of the letters in the new testament of the bible. Everyone knows Saint Patrick was the favorite saint of the Irish. It has been difficult for me to believe that the founding members of St. Joseph’s composed mainly of Irish immigrants, did not name their parish after St. Patrick.

In the sanctuary, high above the altar, the stained glass window on the south side shows a pierced heart, one of the symbols of the Blessed Mother of Christ. On the north side is a symbol of a heart surrounded by a crown of thorns, the Symbol for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

High above the organ in the balcony is the large rose window with the head of St. Joseph depicted in the center. The glass in this window makes it the most beautiful window in the church, especially Sunday morning in the sunlight.

The organ was installed in 1914 at a cost of $3,200. The largest in the county it originally contained 32 ranks. Additional ranks were added and the organ was rebuilt in 1985 at a cost of $75,000. The plaque is engraved with the words "Refurbished by St. Joseph parishioners with a song in their hearts". Ranks in an organ replicate the various wind instruments in an orchestra. As a key is pressed on the keyboard or the foot pedals,  an electric valve under one or several of the pipes is opened and air blows through the pipe that then emits the correct musical note. There are literally thousands of pipes in the organ from some smaller than a straw to others 20 feet tall and 6 inches in diameter. There are even wooden pipes about 8 inches square and of various lengths, tuned by sliding a piston up or down inside the pipe. Over the years there have been a number of organ recitals, open to the public and performed by prominent organists including Father Paul Peters and Dr. Joan Dixon. 

St Joseph Church has been air conditioned since 1957. Before air conditioning, some of the windows had small sections near the top and the bottom that opened for fresh air. The high ones were hinged in the center and they opened and closed with lightweight chains that released the catch. In recent years these have been soldered shut and four of the windows were cut near the bottom and the stained glass was set in metal frames that can now be opened for fresh air.

Smaller stained glass windows in the entryway have the symbols Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, signifying the beginning and the end. Two others have quotations, "Hear the Church" and "Go ye therefore and teach all nations".

Kindly take note of the baptismal font located in the center of the last row of pews. When not used during a baptismal ceremony it is rolled to the entrance of the church. It then serves as a reminder of their baptism to those blessing themselves as they enter. The baptismal font, the altar of sacrifice and lectern in the sanctuary were built by local craftsmen, as were the cabinets for the holy oils and the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of our Hispanic church members.

Moving through the link to the gathering space one will see modern versions of stained glass in the panels on the street side and others in the reservation chapel. Off to the side in the chapel is a new style confessional designed for private and face-to-face reconciliation.

While in the reservation chapel take note of the tabernacle pedestal. It was constructed by a parishioner using two beautifully carved wood panels that were part of the gates in the center of the original communion railing. The communion rail was located across the front of the sanctuary. Those desiring to receive communion would kneel in positions along the railing. It also served as a divider separating the sanctuary from the church congregation. A section of that communion railing has been refinished and is located in the link between the church and the gathering space. The hanging tabernacle light was purchased along with other church articles by a St. Joseph parishioner at an auction in North Washington following the closing of the Immaculate Conception school. Upon completion of the Eucharistic chapel the light was refinished and donated to the parish. The tabernacle itself was originally used in the chapel of the convent.

There are items of interest in the St. Joseph worship center such as  the altar stone located in the table of the altar; the sculptures in stone located in the base of both side altars; the stations of the cross located on the side walls; a statue of St. Joseph located in the garden space between the church and the school; the  vestment cabinets located in the sacristy, and the list goes on.