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The Catholic community began in 1963 when the West Jordan Catholic Mission became part of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Copperton. In order to meet the growing population demands in West Jordan, South Jordan and Riverton, an old grocery store at 7800 South and 1530 West was rented. It was renovated by the men and women of the parish. Two Masses were offered every Sunday. Every Saturday morning the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement would travel from Copperton to teach Religious Education.
In January of 1964, the most Rev. Joseph Lennox Federal, Bishop of Salt Lake City, placed the mission under the patronage of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron of the working man. St. Joseph was chosen since the majority of the parishioners were families of miners and farmers who earned their living by their manual labor.
In July of 1964, ground was broken at the present location and construction began on a new church that would accommodate 500 people. Fr. John Sullivan, the mission administrator, acted as contractor and most of the work was done by the men of the parish on a volunteer labor plan. The women came in the final stages to paint and clean and add the finishing touches. The first Mass was offered in the new church in February of 1965.
In 1969, the mission was raised to the status of a parish and Fr. James Fogerty was appointed the first Pastor. At this time, a parish social hall was built. Fr. Fogerty lived in a small apartment in the hall until a rectory was built in 1972. The apartment was then converted into the CCD offices.
St. Joseph’s has been blessed with the continued presence of the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement from Garrison, New York. In 1975, their convent was transferred from Immaculate Conception in Copperton to West Jordan, and in 1982 a convent was constructed on church grounds. The Sisters have played a vital role in the development of the Religious Education Program of our parish.
The parish began to grow rapidly and has gone from 125 families in 1972 to over 800 families today.
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