History of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Peoria

  • 1693: The Catholic faith first arrived in what is now Peoria with the establishment of the Mission of Immaculate Conception by Fr. Gravier.
  • 1845: The first Catholic Church was built in Peoria, dedicated to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist under the patronage of St. Philomena, and the community merged into St. Mary.
  • Dating Back to The 1800s: The German faithful organized the parish of St. Joseph.
  • 1852: The initial St. Joseph Church was started, measuring 50 feet x 32 feet x 16 feet high.
  • 1855: The parish dedicated the first St. Joseph Church on Christmas day, located on the same block as the current church and built by Fr. Maurice Gipperich. A steeple was added in 1856.
  • 1875: The Peoria Diocese was officially formed.
  • 1876: Fr. Baak, the pastor of St. Joseph, brought sisters to Peoria to establish St. Francis OSF Hospital.
  • 1879: On April 20th, the "new" St. Joseph Church was built at a cost of $26,000. It measured 100 feet x 62 feet wide with a tower rising to 186 1/2 feet, built in the Gothic Revival style.
  • 1884: Fr. Rotter became the pastor.
  • 1889: Fr. Rotter built the parochial school.
  • 1890: The Marian Bell system, operated by pulling ropes by hand, was installed with three bells, the largest weighing six tons, the largest in Peoria.
  • 1896: A new Lancashire-Marshall organ was installed, powered by a water motor pump at a cost of $4,000.
  • 1929: The original brick was covered with imitation stone called Shamrock, and the wood altars were carved by a German master. Fresco painting was done by artist Frank Dirkson.
  • 1960: The organ, in need of repairs, stopped playing.
  • 1975: St. Patrick was merged with St. Joseph and renamed St. Martin DePorres.
  • 1980: The organ was repaired and began working again.
  • 1998: Designer lighting was installed on the steeple "for the glory of God."
  • 2005: In April, a fire almost destroyed the church. The church was restored and placed again under the patronage of St. Joseph. In November, the church was reopened under the care of the Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist, who also cared for Sacred Heart Church.
  • 2010: The Sacred Heart Sandwich Program moved from Sacred Heart to St. Joseph Hall and became Sophia's Angels Kitchen in honor of a young girl who died.
  • 2015: St. Joseph Church returned to the care of diocesan priests.
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