History of Saint Joseph Catholic Church

1888 - Present

Three special cornerstones set in the 1976 construction of the present St. Joseph Church here in Cleburne are solid reminders of the faithful who labored hard to spread God's word in this area during centuries past.
In 1888, parishioners erected St. Joseph Catholic Church, here in Cleburne. Although the structure and two others burned in future years, the current church incorporates a one of the oldest cornerstones dating back to 1720 from Mission San Jose in San Antonio, Texas. Considered the "Queen of the Missions" and a model site of the times, Mission San Jose in San Antonio was moved twice from it's original site. In the rebuilding process, one of the stones was salvaged and obtained for St. Joseph here in Cleburne.
The second-oldest cornerstone in the present church was part of the St. Joseph Church structure that was built in Cleburne in 1932. That church was modeled after mission San Jose and also incorporated the original stone from the Spanish mission. A third, more contemporary stone in the current church was designed by Sister Pamela Sanguinet from the Sisters of Mary of Namur, who also designed the current church. In addition a 750-pound bell from the church built in 1932, was incorporated into the bell tower of the present St. Joseph Catholic Church.
It is appropriate that the cornerstones of St. Joseph's reflect the early history of the church. Originally established in a wooden church near the growing business district of Cleburne in 1888, St. Joseph Catholic Parish predates the origination of the Diocese of Fort Worth by 81 years. It is one of only seven parishes in that existed before the Diocese of Dallas was formed in 1890. When it was established in 1888, St. Joseph was part of the Diocese of Galveston.
Missionaries from Weatherford originally served at St. Joseph until Father P.M. Reagan was appointed as first pastor.
After the original 1888 church construction, a school was built in 1896.
Although the church burned down in 1898, it was rebuilt, along with a new academy in 1900. A 1903 fire hit a second time and parishioners attended Mass in the St. Joseph Academy chapel until a new church was finally built in 1905. Still another fir destroyed the church in 1932, at the worst possible time, during the Great Depression.
Through hard work, resolve and unquestionable faith, the parishioners of St., Joseph raised  enough money to build yet another church, which served them for more than 40 years until the current church was built in 1976.
In 1988, St. Joseph celebrated it's 100th anniversary, with Diocese of Fort Worth Bishop Joseph P. Delaney celebrating Mass.
Since 1992, St. Joseph had been under the pastoral care of Father Sergio Rizo, the parish's first Hispanic pastor, who served until his departure in August 2026. Father Sergio helped parishioners more than double the size of the parish property, which sits on approximately four acres. Father Pedro J. Martinez currently serves as parish Administrator.
From it's humble beginnings of 20 Catholic families in 1888, St. Joseph is presently home to over 800 registered families and continues to grow and thrive.