St. Joseph, Middletown

In November of 1878, about 15 people would attend Sunday Mass. In 1882, a building lot in Middletown was purchased for $300 in order to build a church. Saint Joseph is founded as a mission of St. Francis Xavier in November of 1883, and its cornerstone and a 750-pound bell were blessed at this time. Construction was completed, and the Mass of Dedication was celebrated less than a year later in October, 1884. By 1890, records for the parish show 350 registered Catholics and a yearly income of $850.

In 1908, a rectory is opened on Cochran Street, and St. Joseph becomes the main church of the parish with St. Francis Xavier and St. Rose of Lima as missions. The Trip from St. Joseph to St. Rose at this time was two and a half hours, by horse and wagon!

In 1947, new Stations of the Cross were installed in the church, followed by new stained glass windows in 1949.

With the parish growing, land and a building were purchased at the corner of Cass and Green Streets for use as a parish center in November of 1955. By September of 1963, three Masses were said each Sunday at St. Joseph's, with 350 people attending. That same year a parish census was conducted: there were 120 families registered at St. Joseph, with another 45 at St. Rose, for a total of 571 parishioners.

In 1973, the first "May Fair" was held at St. Joseph. This event turned out to be one of the most significant occasions of unity between the churches in the parish. It eventually evolved into the Annual Parish Carnival.

In 1980, the parish census showed 300 families in Middletown. Continued growth led to a building project for larger facilities: Continued growth led to a building project for larger facilities: a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the current location of the parish complex in 1993 for a new rectory, parish offices, and hall. Masses were first said in Price Hall on Christmas Eve, 1993. In 2000, the number of parish families had grown to 1,100 at St. Joseph, and so in 2001, planning for the new church began. By October of 2002, a master site plan was completed, calling for a church that could seat 900 people. Part of this growth has been from the Hispanic population. This led the parish to hire Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry, first as part-time in 2003 and later as full time in 2005.

Ground was broken for the new St. Joseph by the Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, 8th Bishop of Wilmington, on May 29, 2005. Construction began in 2006, and the first phase was completed on November 25, 2007. In 2010, a porcelain tile floor was installed along with new pews.