The church of Saint Joseph is the oldest catholic church in the Mishawaka area. The current structure is from the late 1800's. The difference in colors on the steeples is an remnant of a lightning strike in the 1990's. A few months before the strike a parishioner had installed a feedwater pipe in the upper part of the steeple. When a fire broke out from the strike, a quick thinking fireman flooded the pipe and dampened the fire just long enough for the other firemen to gather their gear. Had the pipe not been in place, the fire would have likely spread to the roof, and the church would have likely been destroyed.
Behind the church campus is the former Saint Joseph hospital. Begun by nuns in the late 1800's, the campus slowly grew until it became landlocked and unable to expand. In the early 2000's it was moved to a remote location and the structure has sat empty since. To the extreme right of the photo is the Flemish Saint Bavo's church.
The church was originally predominantly German, although multiple ethnicities were present as it was the only Catholic Church I Mishawaka. Around the turn of the century both Saint Bavo's (which as mentioned before was Flemish,) and Saint Monica's, (Italian and seen to the upper right,) were established.
While the church was originally built with a red brick, sometime between 1900 and 1950 the church was rebricked. Also the above and below photos were taken only about a year apart, but in that time the wood around the windows was repainted from grey (above) to a dark brown (below)
The church is a classic gothic structure. The pointed windows, doorways, a steeples are all hallmark of the style. The church seems slightly off proportion to the size of the steeple. This is no accident, as when the church was built, a section was cut off of the nave in the blueprints to save money.
The church has had very little changes done to the interior after the second Vatican council. The three main changes are the floor (from wood to carpet, and then back to wood) the removal of the communion rail gates, and the addition of a table altar to conform to the changes of Vatican II.
Recently the church underwent a renovation in which the stained grey carpet was removed and the hard wood floor was installed. Multiple artistic additions were implemented as this medallion above where the baptismal font now resides
Another aspect of the decoration was the four pedaled flower lined along the center aisle. The flower also matches the pedal design on the pew ends.
While some churches have faux wooden floors, this church has actual wood floors. Still, even several months after installation, the smell of wood permeates the air, as a carpenter's shop would smell. Mixed with incense and chrism, it gives an ethereal sense as the scent of the heavenly workshop of Saint Joseph having the same fragrance.
The final medallion is at the front of the church. Here we see several religious symbols. A cross, the letters SJ, (Saint Joseph), A square; a typical tool of carpenters, and lilies; symbols of purity.
A seemingly odd photo, this room is the original baptistry. The font used to reside on the spot in the floor. The font now sits at the back of the church.
This is one of two sacristies. This being left one, also known as the 'Saint Mary side' sacristy or the 'Altar boy sacristy'. The deep Victorian purple on the wall is more era appropriate than the beige interior of the church. This color accentuates the stained glass.
This is the 'Saint Joseph sacristy' more commonly known as the Priests' sacristy. To the left is the original vesting table. It would be here that before Mass, the priest would lay his vestments and then shortly before Mass, in strict fashion, put them on.
A closer photo of the pew ends. I do not believe in visiting large cities (Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis) I have ever seen such elaborate pew ends. Note the flower on the hand rest. This is the same design of the flowers that line the main aisle.
The stations were also quite large, easily four feet tall. The only thing that was surprising about them was the two dimensional portrayal of the stations. In other German churches they tend to be three dimensional with statues instead of scenes. The colors seem to be dull, but a restoration would likely bring back the vibrancy.
The confessional. Originally the priest would have sat in the center and one penitent would have been on either side. The interior appears to be straight out of grandma's parlor. Complete with yellow-lit lamb, beige carpet, a gaudy chair, and a smell like mothballs and chicken soup. In short, they are dated, likely from the 1970's.
The stained glass was quite vibrant in the transept windows. When in sunset, the window absolutely bathes the church in the light from this scene. This is also the first church I've seen to have black glass. It's used on the top of the scene to add tiny details to the gothic steeples.
This stained glass window is a one of a kind depiction. It was from a fair, (1893 world's fair in Chicago perhaps?) Needless to say, it definitely catches the eye on any who enter.
One reason the church retains so much untouched beauty is a because of a Monsignor Schuler (don't quote me on the spelling) it was his efforts that kept the communion rail, and high altar in place. Even when the incredibly ornate gates were removed, he had the wherewithal to use them as the faces for two pulpits. Thus, while the communion rail has been shortened, it still lives on in the sanctuary.
The high altar. Monsignor Schuler also had the idea to have the new altar built in the same style as the rest of the church. As small of a gesture this is, it keeps the visual continuity.
Another kept remnant of the Victorian days in the high pulpit. The grand pulpit and equally flamboyant staircase are rarities to find in old churches. An even rarer item is the canopy above the pulpit, sometimes a seashell.
The Mary side altar. Another seventies addition is the 'fluffy' carpet on the step. However an altar cloth still graces the altar, thus there may be a chance that the altar is still used for daily and private Masses
Lastly the organ. Seeming a tad small for the space, one has to remember that this is the original organ to the structure. Pipes from the organ date to the original church 1860, thus it is one of the oldest pipe organs in the area.
Finally I wanted to share a picture of something this church is known for. Before Traditionis Custodes, Saint Joseph hosted Solemn High Masses in the Extraordinary Form. The most well known Mass took place here on the Feast of Saint Joseph, in the church of Saint Joseph, (in a county, by a river and, in the year, all named for Saint Joseph). The above photo is from that Mass, where I had the awesome privilege of serving. (That's me as the Cross bearer).
