History
Photo: Anderson Mission Sunday February 22, 1931.
of St. Joseph Catholic Church & School
1820 The Diocese of Charleston is founded. Most Rev. John England is named the first bishop of Charleston. There is not yet an active ministry to the Anderson area.
1850 Rev. Jeremiah J. O’Connell ministers to workers on the Blue Ridge Railroad at irregular visits.
1868 The lot on McDuffie Street is deeded to the Diocese of Charleston.
1881 The McDuffie Street lot, site of St. Joseph Church, is dedicated by the third bishop of Charleston, Most Rev. Patrick N. Lynch, May 10.
1900 Rose Lummus, lay associate of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, is sent to St. Joseph to establish a parochial school by Msgr. Andrew R. Gwynn. She dies suddenly on March 16. She is buried at Old Silverbrook Cemetery.
1910 The church is enlarged and renovated under the direction of Msgr. Andrew R. Gwynn.
1919 Rev. Thomas J. Mackin is appointed the first resident pastor, with missions covering seven counties of upper South Carolina and Hartwell, Georgia.
1928 St. Joseph’s Women’s Club is established. It becomes the fourth unit to be affiliated with the South Carolina Council of Catholic Women.
1930 The rectory adjoining the church on McDuffie Street is constructed.
1955 Rev. Edward J. Murphy is ordained to the priesthood at St. Joseph—the first ordination to take place in Anderson.
1956 The house at 601 Boulevard is purchased for use as a convent by Sisters engaged in catechetical work.
1958 The first native of Anderson to be ordained a priest, Rev. Francis A. Friend, receives Holy Orders in Rome.
1960 The rectory at 605 Boulevard is purchased.
1963 Authorization from Most Rev. Francis F. Reh, ninth bishop of Charleston, is received to relocate the parish to a larger site. Rev. St. John Patat leads the program of relocation and construction at 1200 Cornelia Road.
1965 Most Rev. Ernest L. Unterkoefler dedicates the multi-purpose hall and six-classroom school.
1967 St. Joseph Catholic School opens, staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. Rev. Thomas D. Timlin is appointed tenth pastor.
1971 The present rectory on McLees Road is purchased to serve as a convent.
1973 Rev. Paul Seitz is appointed eleventh pastor.
1978 Rev. David Degan is appointed twelfth pastor.
1982 Rev. Robert Millard is appointed thirteenth pastor.
1987 St. Joseph Catholic Church & School breaks ground on the present church and an addition to the school.
1988 The addition to the school is opened, and the new church is blessed by Rev. Fred Hopwood, Vicar.
1989 The Sixth Annual Dogwood Festival is held at St. Joseph’s.
1990 Rev. Donald Abbott is appointed administrator of St. Joseph's. Long time parishioner, Paul Shook, is ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on June 2 by Bishop David B. Thompson.
1992 Rev. Thomas D. Timlin returns as fourteenth pastor.
2000 Rev. James Dubrouillet is appointed administrator; to become fifteenth pastor.
2008-2009 Rev. Lt. Col. Hayden J. Vaverek, KHS, 22nd Air Force Reserve Chaplain is named sixteenth pastor. The First Annual "A Whole New World Gala", "Memorial Day Family FUN-Raiser", "Big Texas BBQ", "Epiphany Party" are held. Facility updates to the school are undertaken for the 2010-2011 school year.
2010 Rev. Ernest Hepner is appointed interim administrator. The Learning Center K3-K4 Early Childhood Development Center opens as an extension of St. Joseph Catholic Church & School. Rev. Hayden Vaverek takes new assignment with Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). Rev. Aubrey McNeil, O.F.M. is assigned as administrator pro tem with Rev. Venance Max Kishe assigned as supply priest. Rev. Mr. Charles Hanrahan is assigned as a permanent deacon to the parish.
2011 History was made on March 5, 2011 for St. Joseph Church and School. On that day Bishop Rober E. Guglielmone officially transferred the parish to the pastoral care of the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province. Fr. Paul M. Williams, OFM was appointed the seventeenth pastor of the parish and Brother Henry Fulmer, OFM was assigned by the friars to assist as deacon and pastoral associate. Besides being pastor, Fr. Paul serves the Diocese of Charleston as a member of the College of Consultors, Priests Personnel Board, Diocesan Ecumenical Commission and he is the Vicar for Black Catholics.
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