St. Joseph Parish Ready to Celebrate 100 Years

As  prepares for its 100th anniversary Mass on June 3, some of its most loyal parishioners reminisce on their beginnings with the parish. 

Two of its biggest fans have similar stories of their time with the local Catholic community. As parishioners Ruth Austig and Tom and Mary Ellen Brabec sing the parish's praises, they look forward to a visit from Cardinal George, who will commemorate the anniversary during a noon Mass on Sunday. 

For Austig, who has spent nearly two and one-half decades singing with the parish choir, a celebration in her beloved parish's name is long overdue and well-earned.

“When I first walked into (St. Joseph) church, it felt like home right away,” Austig said. “I didn’t even go to any other parish after that. Being a part of St. Joseph is my greatest joy.”

The very same year Austig found St. Joseph, Tom and Mary Ellen Brabec were ready to move and on the lookout for a new parish to join.

“We looked for a while and when I saw (St. Joseph) I thought, ‘that’s our parish.’” Brabec said. “A lot of people at (St. Joseph) were real down to earth folks and the church had a number of activities that were of interest.”

As their children grew within the parish, so did the couple's involvement, he said. Both Brabec and his wife are auxiliary ministers. Mary Ellen Brabec taught religious education for 10 years. Tom Brabec was on the religious education board for seven—just a hint of the Brabec’s involvement in the parish over the years.

Homewood’s Mariann Reilly nearly has both Brabec and Austig combined beat, however. She’s been a member of the parish for over 50 years now. Almost more impressive, she’s been teaching at St. Joseph School for 32 of them. Her family has been involved with the church since 1920.

St. Joseph's is a community and I am proud to be a lifetime member.

—Mariann Reilly

But what is it about St. Joseph that has such a magnetic effect on its loyal parishioners?

“I feel like it’s a close-knit parish, but very welcoming to new members,” Austig suggested. “The faith of the people there (at St. Joseph)—it’s a very strong faith.”

Again, like Austig, Brabec stressed the kind nature of the St. Joseph community as one of its strongest selling points.

“I think we’re a welcoming bunch,” Brabec said. “And we’re always happy to welcome the new ones.”

One of Brabec’s fondest memories associated with St. Joseph—the Lenten Friday Fish Fries—reflect the welcoming nature of the parish.

“During those winter Fridays in Lent, where you can’t eat meat and there’s snow and it’s nasty, there’s a certain amount of camaraderie that the parish interjects to the community as a whole.” Brabec said. “I think a lot of people leave there happier than when they walked in.”

Reilly shares the same, almost insatiable connection with the parish.

“I'm still here because I love it,” Reilly said. “I've been teaching in the parish school for 32 years and I can't even begin to imagine retirement.”

Everyone involved in the 100^th anniversary celebration has made his or her excitement for the event abundantly clear.

“I remember the 75^th anniversary—it’s very exciting to be part of this,” Austig said. “This is a rare thing in the archdiocese.”

The choir has been rehearsing for the centennial Mass throughout the entire season. She says she’s not too nervous, though. She’s already sang for Cardinal George twice before so, by now, she’s a veteran.

Reilly is thrilled for the celebration.

“I love the idea of celebrating with old and current members,” Reilly said. “I hope to see many of the members of the parish that have moved away and are coming back for the festivities.”

Following the celebration Mass is St. Joseph's Centennial Fest in the church parking lot, where kids will be entertained with activities and games and adults can enjoy the company of their surrounding community over local food and drink. 

And Brabec sure would appreciate it if you considered buying a $25 raffle ticket at the fest.