St. Joseph Catholic Church stands on Catholic Hill in Florence, Alabama, where it has been an enduring sign and symbol of the Catholic Church since 1898. Known throughout the community as a sign of faith, the parish continues to flourish and grow through worship, formation, and service directed toward Florence, the University of North Alabama, St. Joseph Regional Catholic School, and the broader area.
A Mission Rooted in Service
St. Joseph's mission is to nurture the spiritual growth of parishioners, serve those in need within the community, and share the love of Christ so others come closer to him. Its Christ-centered outreach reaches students at the University of North Alabama, St. Joseph Regional Catholic School, and the broader community, with discipleship and compassionate service guiding the work.
Stewardship is understood as sharing time, talents, and treasures, caring for creation, serving people in need, and strengthening the community. Music enriches liturgical celebrations and unites people in praise, while Bible studies and prayer groups root their work in God's Word and the Holy Spirit, seeking deeper fellowship with Christ and a life of discipleship lived through the Gospel.
Mass in English and Spanish
At its 203 Plum Street campus in Florence, the parish celebrates Mass throughout the week.
- Saturday vigil Mass: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. in Spanish, and 5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 7:15 a.m.
- Wednesday: 8:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 7:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Spanish.
- Friday: 7:15 a.m.
- Saturday morning: 7:15 a.m.
There is no Monday Mass. One weekend Mass each week is recorded live on Facebook and YouTube.
Visitors do not need to be self-conscious about when to sit, stand, or kneel. Each pew contains a worship aid with the order of Mass, postures, and prayers, and ushers can bring one if needed. Most visitors simply follow the lead of parishioners.
The church's teaching holds that the host is literally the Body of Christ, transformed from bread by the priest. A visitor who is not Catholic is asked not to receive Communion. Those who do not receive it are invited to come forward with their hands crossed over their chest for a blessing.
Comfortable clothing is welcome. In summer, people may wear sandals, shorts, and a shirt, while others wear their Sunday best. Shorts should be of a conservative length, and clothing should remain respectable and conservative.
Visitors are not expected to put money into the offering and may simply let it pass. Parishioners can give by check or cash during Mass, and online giving is also available.
Reconciliation and Adoration Through the Week
Reconciliation is offered on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m., Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Additional opportunities follow the 7:15 a.m. Mass on the first Friday and first Saturday of each month. On the first Thursday, reconciliation is offered during the musical Holy Hour from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The first Thursday also includes the musical Holy Hour, while the first Friday and first Saturday include an hour of adoration from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. following Mass.
The Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended, even briefly, because it is considered the Real Presence of Jesus. During adoration, participants may pray the rosary, meditate on Scripture, give thanks, ask forgiveness, or intercede for others. Silence for electronic devices and modest dress are customary.
Iglesia San Jose and a Bilingual Parish
Hispanic Minister Wanda Rodriguez supports the parish's Spanish-speaking families, including preparation for sacraments and coordination of worship, formation, and parish activities. The Spanish liturgical community includes altar servers, lectors, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and a Spanish choir. Rodriguez trains new altar servers and helps organize celebrations of weddings, baptisms, funerals, and quinceañeras. Hispanic Ministry Assistant Dixie Chavez coordinates communication with Hispanic families in PSR and assists with registration and parish life.
Spanish-language formation resources include FORMED, Be a New Fire courses, podcasts, seminars, and Bible studies, Ascension Press books and videos, Proyecto Biblia Oficial, YouCat catechism, and prayer resources for Lent. Parishioners can also access Catholic content through FORMED with a free subscription.
Hispanic materials also point families toward multicultural social services, language assistance, immigration support, sacramental counseling, education and classes, legal assistance, and information for the immigrant community. These resources complement the parish's Spanish Mass, sacramental preparation, and bilingual assistance.
PSR, First Communion, and a Two-Year Confirmation Path
The Parish School of Religion, or PSR, meets on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in the St. Joseph school building. Students who do not attend St. Joseph Regional Catholic School are expected to participate in PSR faith formation.
First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation are generally celebrated during a child's second-grade year, with two classes divided by age. Children over seven who have not been baptized receive preparation for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. The church regards children over seven as being at the age of reason, allowing them to request the sacraments and enter full communion with the Catholic Church. Continued religious education remains important after these sacraments are received.
Confirmation preparation is a two-year process beginning in ninth grade, with Confirmation typically celebrated during the spring of tenth grade and its exact date determined by the bishop's schedule. Preparation classes meet on the second Wednesday from September through May, from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m., with assignments completed at home during the rest of the month. The first year combines the Zeal program from Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries with the YOU chastity series; the second year uses Send Out Your Spirit. Students select a sponsor and are expected to serve the church and community as part of their preparation.
Adults seeking to understand the Catholic faith can join OCIA, a one-hour course offered in the fall and spring between morning Masses. Bible studies meet Mondays at 6:00 p.m. for The Eucharist, Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. for The Eucharist, and Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. for The Gospel of Luke. These classes run from September through May.
Making Young Disciples and Welcoming College Students
St. Joseph Youth gathers on Wednesday nights and also offers youth Masses, retreats, and conferences throughout the year. Its CORE Team develops the main teen ministry through small groups, talks, prayer, presence at youth events, and accompaniment on trips. Team members meet monthly for planning and formation, complete diocesan youth-protection training, serve at youth nights and larger events, and participate in a CORE Team retreat.
Young adults ages 18 to 35 gather for regular meetings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays in the Parish Center Youth Room. Members may be married, single, students, or professionals, and they include English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and bilingual adults. Sports nights take place in the gym at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. The ministry also offers Advent and Lent Bible studies, an annual Lent retreat, social gatherings, regional encounters, missionary discipleship formation, and a monthly diocesan young-adult Mass.
Campus Ministry is centered on the permanent 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass for local college students. Students can participate as lectors, singers, or greeters, and a free meal follows the Mass. Faculty and staff from the University of North Alabama are also welcome, while all parishioners may attend. Kim Kroeger, Director of Religious Education and Campus Minister, coordinates this ministry along with volunteers who serve at Mass and provide meals.
St. Vincent de Paul and Family Support
The St. Vincent de Paul Conference meets at 11:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Members respond each week to requests for assistance with utilities, rent, and food.
The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry distributes items such as saltines, peanut butter, canned vegetables, beans, tuna, chili, soup, boxed rice, cereal, and other staples. Listed food donations are brought to Mass and placed in the Big Brown Basket. The conference also operates a thrift store at 659 South Poplar Street in Florence, with volunteer shifts available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Catholic Family Services provides individual, marriage, and family counseling, adoption and infant foster-care services, and pregnancy and post-abortion counseling. Its sliding-scale fees do not require insurance filings, allowing families to seek assistance according to their circumstances.
Music, Council, and Gatherings Across the Parish
Music Ministry Director Brittany Bandstra organizes parish choirs and instrumental ensembles with the aim of creating an artistic community that praises and glorifies God. The ministry contributes to Mass, including the new Mass setting, and works closely with the Spanish choir and other liturgical musicians.
Knights of Columbus Council 3989 meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at Langer Hall in St. Florian, with Danny Tamayo serving as Grand Knight. Parish life also includes Bible studies, small groups, a women's Bible study, prayer groups, and a prayer-shawl ministry. Parish rooms can accommodate gatherings of up to 200 people for fundraisers, birthday parties, wedding or baby showers, receptions, and reunions. Event insurance and a refundable damage and cleaning fee are required for use of the facilities.
Catholic Hill's Continuing Legacy
From Mass and adoration to formation, music, fellowship, and direct assistance, St. Joseph Catholic Church carries its 1898 legacy through a Catholic community that continues to serve Florence and the people of the surrounding area.