St. Joseph Catholic Church anchors the north end of Maumee's Broadway Street, its red brick parish complex facing the historic district of a small Ohio city just southwest of Toledo. Established in 1841, the parish now gathers roughly 2,500 families drawn from Maumee and the surrounding communities of Monclova, Waterville, Whitehouse, Perrysburg, and Toledo. Framed by the parish motto "Engage, Encounter, Transform," St. Joseph's is known for a robust Catholic school, a perpetual Adoration Chapel, a long-running LifeTeen youth program, and the deep rhythms of small-group faith sharing that reach from grade school through retirement.
Rooted on Broadway Since 1841
The parish was founded in 1841, fourteen years before the school opened its doors in 1855. Generations of northwest Ohio Catholics have passed through the school and the church on West Broadway, and the parish's continuity is part of its identity. The St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, set on eighteen acres beside Side Cut MetroPark at 910 W. Wayne Street, was acquired in 1873. Father Peter Baker, then pastor, paid $817.50 for the original six-and-a-half-acre tract and raised the rest of the funds by walking from one Catholic home to another asking for donations. Contributors were given first choice of burial sites. The men of the parish, some with their teams, spent many days clearing and grading the property.
Today the cemetery holds 413 known veterans, some dating to the Civil War, along with the Knights of Columbus Memorial to the Unborn, which was relocated through a parishioner's Eagle Scout project. The grounds are maintained year-round, and volunteers conduct Wreaths Across America placements each December. Plots and columbarium niches are sold through the parish office, with a Cemetery Committee and sexton overseeing care. Decoration rules limit items per grave and prohibit glass containers, metal stands, and wind socks, in keeping with the cemetery's stated goal of "a beautiful sanctuary."
Mass, Reconciliation, and the Adoration Chapel
Sunday Mass is offered four times: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 6:00 PM. The Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:00 PM. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM, with an additional evening Mass on Thursday at 6:30 PM. Masses are in English and follow the liturgical style of the Roman Catholic Church. The 6:00 PM Sunday Mass is the LifeTeen Mass, with the high school youth group gathering afterward in the lower level of the church.
Reconciliation is heard Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 7:50 AM, on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:15 PM, on Fridays at 7:30 AM and after the 8:00 AM Mass, and on Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:45 PM. Two special reconciliation days anchor the year: the Parish Penance Service during Lent and Advent, and Days of Grace, when priests are available all day in the confessional.
A defining feature of St. Joseph's is its 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Adorers sign up in half-hour slots, and the parish provides a "Worship Wednesday" half hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament each week. The parish also gathers each third Monday of the month at 7:00 PM for Encounter Night of Worship, an evening of Eucharistic Adoration, praise music, Reconciliation, and silent prayer, followed by a reception in the Family Center. Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 PM include Adoration in the church before the 6:30 PM Mass.
Becoming Catholic at St. Joseph's
For adults considering the Catholic faith, the parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly known as RCIA. Director of Adult Faith Formation Maggie Viertlbeck oversees the process, which guides inquirers through study, spiritual growth, and community on the way to the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. In recent years, St. Joseph's has sent large classes of catechumens and candidates to the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of Toledo, often more than forty people at a time. Children ages seven and older not yet baptized or baptized in another tradition follow a parallel track called OCIC, Order of Christian Initiation for Children, with parents attending classes alongside their children.
Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion are typically prepared for in second grade, with First Reconciliation in November and First Communion the first Sunday of May. The children and parents also attend a Dragon Slayers retreat in October. Confirmation is celebrated in the fall of eighth grade, with two years of preparation beginning in seventh grade, including a Confirmation saint project, sponsor selection, and a required September retreat at Camp Damascus.
The School: Building Faith, Knowledge, and Community
St. Joseph Catholic School, located at 112 W Broadway Street, has educated local children since 1855. Current enrollment stands at 338 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and 69 preschoolers. The school is led by Principal Dave Nichols and Assistant Principal Dr. Eric O'Brien, with a counselor, intervention specialists, and a faculty that includes Mercy Sisters from the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for theology instruction.
The program is divided into Preschool (three-year-old half day, four-year-old half day, and four-year-old all day), Elementary (K through 5), and Prep (6 through 8). The Prep division readies students for college-preparatory high school work with a challenging curriculum that includes Science Olympiad, Quiz Bowl, and a fifth-grade leadership program called L.E.A.D. The school's stated mission is to "provide a supportive learning environment to promote academic excellence and formation of moral character." A stated teacher-student ratio of one to sixteen and a reported ninety-percent honor roll rate reflect the school's academic focus.
Religion is integrated across grade levels. Theology is taught by the Mercedarian Sisters in the elementary grades and in Prep. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a religious formation program for young children that develops a deep relationship with God through hands-on materials, is offered on campus. Students attend Mass together, altar serve, and participate in outreach. As one eighth grader explained, "From being a Mass server to volunteering with Off the Streets, my experiences here will be lifelong memories."
Catholic Youth Organization sports are available from kindergarten through twelfth grade, including cross country, soccer, girls volleyball, flag football, contact football (with St. Joan of Arc), basketball, track and field, softball, and bowling. The Athletic and Scouting Board oversees the program, and the parish hosts an all-sports Mass before each season. Sports are open to registered parishioners and current school students.
Outside of athletics, students can join Cub Scouts (grades 1-5), Boy Scouts Troop 104 (grades 6-12), American Heritage Girls (K-8), Science Olympiad (grades 6-8), and the Parents Association. The school has a Family Handbook, a school supply list, a published lunch menu, and a wellness policy, and it partners with the CKM Meal Service for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.
LifeTeen and the Middle School Youth Group
St. Joseph's youth ministry is anchored by LifeTeen, the high school youth group that meets on Sunday evenings. The night begins with the 6:00 PM LifeTeen Mass in the church and continues with LifeTeen from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the lower level, where dinner and snacks are always provided. "You do not need to be Catholic to attend, and there is no registration fee," the parish notes. The program is led by Bonnie Eicher, Director of Young Adult, College, and High School Ministry, with Jacob Peters serving as Media Coordinator and Assistant Youth Minister. Recent LifeTeen events have included a Small Group Showdown, a Luau kickoff night, ice skating at The Ribbon in downtown Toledo, and the annual Lifeteen Olympics in Maumee.
For younger students, the Middle School Youth Group, known as MSYG, meets every other Thursday from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the Community Center, accessed through Door 6 of the school. The first Thursday of each month is the regular meeting night. Stephanie Stasa, Director of Middle School and Campus Ministry, oversees MSYG. "You do not need to be a member of our church or school to attend, all are welcome," the parish stresses. Eighth graders step up from MSYG into LifeTeen partway through the year.
Young Adults in Their Twenties and Thirties
The young adult ministry serves single and married adults ages 21 to 39, with Bonnie Eicher as director. Jameson and Jesus events meet on the first Tuesday of each month in The Workshop at the Ministry Center (Wayne Allen Building) at 210 W. Wayne Street. Pizza or other casual food is served from 6:30 to 7:00 PM, followed by an inspiring talk and prayer from 7:00 to 8:00 PM and a social hour that runs until 9:00 PM. The parish has hosted speakers such as Fr. Eric Schild and welcomes adults from the wider community. Hops and Hymns, an evening of church hymns paired with craft beer, returns periodically as a fundraiser.
Weekly sports for young adults include indoor volleyball in the gym on Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, with a 6:30 PM Mass beforehand. Depending on the season, the parish offers indoor and sand volleyball, basketball, and kickball. For those seeking deeper formation, the young adult ministry plugs into the same Faith Sharing Small Groups used by adults of all ages.
College students have a dedicated ministry as well, with summer gatherings on Wednesdays to discuss various topics and hear from mentor figures.
Faith Sharing Small Groups for Adults
Under Director of Adult Faith Formation Maggie Viertlbeck, the parish offers three types of small faith-sharing groups, all of about eight to twelve people meeting on a bi-weekly basis for ninety minutes. Scriptural groups reflect on the Sunday readings and pray together. Formational groups work through theological topics using studies, books, videos, or programs. Relational groups build intentional community by sharing peaks, pits, and prayers and praying in pairs.
Current groups include a women's scriptural group led by Mary Dressell (bi-weekly Mondays at noon, ages fifty and up), a co-ed scriptural group led by Elaine Bahr (bi-weekly Mondays at 6:30 PM), a women's formational group led by Bert Pace (bi-weekly Mondays at noon), and a married-couples formational group led by John and Jessica Trabbic (second Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM). The parish also hosts a small faith-sharing group for college-age adults.
Outreach and Service Ministries
The parish operates or supports a wide range of outreach ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul Society serves neighbors in need. The Under One Roof Food Pantry collects and distributes food. The Pasta Bake ministry prepares meals for those in transition. Off the Streets Toledo Ministry supports unhoused individuals in the broader Toledo area. The Christ in Us Ministry provides prayer and presence from fellow parishioners during times of need; the Visitation Ministry sends volunteers to local nursing homes, and a separate Nursing Home Ministry extends that care to those unable to leave home. Communion to the Homebound brings the Eucharist to shut-ins.
HealthPALS hosts monthly talks in the Family Center on whole-health topics, from skin cancer prevention to weight management to dementia awareness. Funeral Luncheons are organized by a parish committee to feed families after a funeral, and a Bereavement Group walks with those who have lost loved ones. The parish also collects mental health prayers each month, asking God for the elimination of stigma surrounding mental illness.
For those discerning a call to priesthood or religious life, a Vocations Committee accompanies them. The Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, who teach theology at the school, also lead parish retreats such as the annual women's retreat.
The Parish Team and Day-to-Day Life
Fr. Eric Schild serves as pastor, with Fr. Vincent Selvaraj, a Pallotine priest from India, as parochial vicar. Deacon Bob Pluciniak serves in senior status after twenty-five years of ordained ministry, and four other deacons assist: Kevin Coulter, Edgar Irelan, Joe Malenfant (Pastoral Associate for Ministry and Discipleship), and Dennis Scherger. The parish staff includes Executive Assistant Rachael Sattler, Business Manager Trisha Stultz, Operations Manager Joe Massengill Jr., Director of Music and Liturgy Dennis Johns, and Administrative Assistant Chris Baltes.
The parish office is located just to the right of the church, past the Family Center, accessible through doors 8 or 10. Office hours run Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 11:15 AM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM; Friday from 8:00 AM to noon; and Sunday from 8:00 AM to noon. Saturday is closed. The parish office fax is 419-891-6968.
Liturgical ministries include altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, greeters, sacristans, and a Contemporary Worship Band. A volunteer Choir, Cantors, Handbell Choir, and instrumentalists round out the music program under Dennis Johns. Greeters and Coffee and Donuts hosts welcome parishioners after Sunday Masses.
The parish welcomes new families through a three-step process: filling out the family information form, attending a New Parishioner Welcome Gathering at the parish, and joining a ministry of choice. There is no rush; the parish notes that becoming a registered parishioner comes with the responsibility and privilege of sharing in parish life.
Weddings, Funerals, and the Sacraments
St. Joseph's celebrates the sacraments with attention to preparation. Infant baptism is open to children of registered parishioners, with preparation required for both parents and godparents. Baptism for children ages seven through eighth grade is coordinated through the Director of Religious Education, while adult baptism takes place through OCIA at the Easter Vigil.
Weddings are coordinated by Abbie Spillis, Director of H.O.M.E. (Hospitality, Outreach, Marketing, Engagement). The parish publishes Wedding Guidelines, Wedding Music Planning forms, and Wedding Stipends documents that engaged couples download and return to the parish office. An annual Marriage Dinner brings couples together for an evening of fellowship and encouragement.
Funerals are coordinated through the parish office, with a Funeral Luncheon Committee providing meals for grieving families. The Bereavement Group, also known as the Seasons of Hope group, accompanies those in mourning. Advent and Lenten remembrance services are held for those who have lost loved ones.
The School Connection
Because the school sits adjacent to the parish on West Broadway, the rhythm of the parish and the rhythm of the school day overlap naturally. Students attend Mass weekly with their classmates; families are parishioners; teachers coach CYO sports; parents serve on the School Advisory Council, the Parents Association, and the Athletic and Scouting Board. The parish supports the school financially so that every child enrolled receives some level of parish subsidy, a point the parish highlights in its giving materials.
Open Houses are held throughout the year. Tours can be scheduled by calling the school office at 419-893-3304. Preschool registration and K-8 registration are completed online, with shadow days available for prospective students. The school's Spirit Wear store, hosted online through High Impact Apparel, lets students and families purchase uniforms and parish-branded gear.
Communications and Giving
Weekly bulletins are published in print and online, with archives accessible through ParishesOnline. The parish livestreams the 6:00 PM Sunday Mass (and other Masses) on its YouTube channel and Facebook page. Annunciation Radio carries Catholic programming to the region. A Flocknote system sends text and email updates to those who subscribe by interest area: teen parents, young adults, adults, and other groups. The parish can be followed on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Online giving is available through WeShare, with a one-time, recurring, or text-to-give option (text GIVE to 419-871-4848). The parish notes that "sacrificial giving is never easy, but it's what Jesus calls us to do." Donations support sacramental preparation, youth and young adult ministry, adult faith formation, school operations and salaries, Catholic education for children in need, and outreach ministries.
Joining the Parish
Becoming a registered parishioner is intentionally a multi-step journey at St. Joseph's. After completing the Family Information Form online or in person at the parish office, new parishioners attend a Welcome Gathering where they learn about the parish's mission, the expectations of registered members, and the opportunities to serve. From there, the parish connects each family with a ministry that fits their season of life. The parish notes that joining a ministry is part of becoming an active member, not an add-on.
With its nearly 180-year history, a Catholic school that has educated generations of local families, a perpetual Adoration Chapel that runs through the night, and a deep bench of ministries for every age and stage, St. Joseph Catholic Church continues to gather the people of Maumee and the surrounding communities in the name of Christ. Fr. Eric Schild's welcome sums up the parish's invitation: "From senior citizens to our youth, there is something here for you to grow deeper in your relationship with our Lord!"