Salix St. Joseph Church to celebrate 100 years

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

St. Joseph Parish in Salix is gearing up for the 100^th anniversary celebration of its church building that will include Mass at 11 a.m. and dinner on April 26.

According to Father Shinoj Jose, pastor, when he arrived at the parish on his first day in the summer of 2024 he noticed the cornerstone of the church was dated 1926.

“At my first meeting with the finance council, I said we are going to have a wonderful gathering in 2026 to celebrate the 100 years,” he said, noting that St. Joseph Parish has the oldest church he has ever served. “To think about all of the Masses that have been celebrated in that church and the graces that came to this community through 100 years, it’s a great milestone to celebrate.”

From there, the priest reached out to key parishioners for help with establishing a main planning committee and subcommittee to coordinate various aspects of the celebration.

After more than a year of planning, the parish’s anniversary celebration is fast approaching.

Jodi Nelson, chair of the St. Joseph Centennial Celebration Committee, said Bishop John E. Keehner, Bishop Emeritus Walker Nickless, native son Msgr. Mark Duchaine and former pastors have been invited to attend the April 26 Mass.

“We will have a luncheon after Mass along with children’s activities and bingo,” said Nelson, adding that a freewill donation will be accepted for the meal. “We also plan to do church tours.”

In addition to current parishioners, the parish welcomes former parishioners as well as community members to participate in the anniversary festivities.

“We are expecting about 500 people to attend,” she said.

For nine days leading up to April 26, Father Shinoj said they plan to hold a novena to St. Joseph. A Mass will be held each day of the novena, but the pastor mentioned they are still planning other related activities such as one day focusing on the youth.

As final plans are being made, excitement is building among the parish community.

Nelson was married at St. Joseph Church in 1987 and has been a parishioner there since 1999. St. Joseph was the home parish of her husband George who was raised on a farm near Salix.

"Entering my church, I feel a sense of peace and calm," she said. "Many life milestones, including my wedding and other cherished moments, have been celebrated here. I've said goodbye to loved ones here." 

Nelson said the upcoming centennial is a chance for people to come together to celebrate the life events that have taken place in the church from baptisms, first Communions and weddings to more solemn occasions such as funerals.
 
Margaret Wood, secretary at St. Joseph, called the parish her extended family. Her family moved to Salix in 1982 and she married her husband in the church in 1988. While they moved away for three years, the Woods brought their daughters “back home” to be baptized at St. Joseph.

“We have several descendants of the original families who started St. Joe still in the area and are members of the church,” she said. “But the centennial is a celebration of all members over the years – celebrating the St. Joe community of the past and present.”

Nelson pointed out that the current church is the third for St. Joseph’s.

The parish was established in 1869 and built a church in 1875 that was soon destroyed by a severe windstorm. The church was rebuilt in the 1880s and that wooden structure was replaced by a third structure, the present church which was completed in April 1926.

In addition to seeing the cornerstone of the church when he arrived, Father Shinoj also noticed that the church bell was not in use and after inquiring he learned the bell had not rung for more than 30 years. 

Parishioner Don Mohning led the bell restoration project.

It was important to him that the bell be restored in time for the upcoming centennial celebration so it became the first project in preparation for the 100^th anniversary. The bell and bell tower restoration project was completed last fall. (See related story from Oct. 17, 2025)

Wood said the newly restored bell will be blessed prior to the anniversary Mass on April 26.

Father Shinoj expressed gratitude to the planning committee and all of the subcommittees for their work. 

“One of the greatest blessings of the parish are the volunteers – young and old,” he said. “The planning for this celebration has really been going well. It’s a group effort.”

St. Joseph Parish previously held a Trivia Night that raised $4,500 for anniversary expenses. The parish is also selling T-shirts and hoodies that bear the 100^th anniversary logo as a fundraiser for the event. 

A new parish directory as well as parish history book will be printed to help mark the occasion, which Father Shinoj believes helps to celebrate the church’s present and past. 

“We are very proud that our church has been here for 100 years. It’s a beautiful church and I think that a lot of parishioners over the years have dedicated a lot to the parish,” said Nelson.

The 100^th anniversary of the church, said Father Shinoj, “is a good reminder to all of us of the responsibility we have to carry the faith forward and to hand it down to generations who will be using the same space for years to come.”

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