History of Our Parish

St. Joseph Church was established as a mission of St. Patrick Church, now The Church of the Most Holy Trinity, in 1954. Father Charles Mahoney was assigned to formalize the mission and establish the church. At the time, Sunday Masses were held at Burns Memorial Methodist Church on Lumpkin Road. The attendance increased so rapidly that the need for a larger and more permanent church was soon evident. A nine acre tract of valuable land on Lumpkin Road Extension was donated by Mrs. Bessie Sherling and her daughter, Mrs. Joseph Petty, of Worchester, Massachusetts.

With a nucleus of about two hundred families for support, ground was broken for the new church on Sunday, November 27, 1955. Father Mahoney celebrated the first Mass in the new sanctuary on June 13, 1956 and remained as pastor until the beginning of 1958.

Father Nicholas Quinlan, who was serving at St. Mary on the Hill, was assigned as pastor on January 16, 1958. In those days he lived in a small room in the back of the church. Lourdes Hall was built that year to be used for Religious Education classes and church activities. In 1960, at the request of the bishop, the present rectory was built and Fr. Quinlan finally had a home. Under his guidance, the Church continued to grow. He retired in 1970.

Father Andrew Doris became pastor in 1970, and under his leadership, a permanent Parish Council was established. In 1972 St. Nicholas Hall was built. Father Doris was assigned to Savannah in 1976. After his retirement in August, 1985, he returned home to Augusta where he continues to serve us today.

Father Edward Frank replaced Father Doris as pastor in 1975, and with his liturgical management skills contributed to the growth of the parish until he went on sabbatical in 1985 for further theological studies.

Father Michael J. Ring became pastor in 1985 after serving as associate pastor. Under his expert direction, ground was broken for a new church in September, 1993 and was dedicated in July, 1994. He continued to oversee the plans for the remodeling of the other church facilities until his three-year battle with cancer took him to the Lord in July 1997.

Franciscan Father Sam Zebron, OFM Conventual, became pastor in July, 1997. He provided excellent guidance and training, particularly in the area of Vatican II Liturgical Reform, and in Pastoral Outreach. The Worship and Spiritual Life Committee was formed; the Parish Religious Education program was expanded to provide programs for parishioners of all ages; the Pastoral Council was restructured, and outreach ministries flourished. He was transferred to Macon in August of 1999.

Father Robert Girardeau served as Administrator until Father John Lyons, our current pastor, arrived in December 1999. Father Lyons came to Augusta from Scared Heart Parish in Savannah. Under Father Lyons' leadership, many positive changes and new activities have occurred at St. Joseph: A Hispanic Mass and Bible Study are being offered to meet the needs of an ever-growing Hispanic population in the Augusta area. Lourdes Hall has been renovated to provide updated office space for the pastor and the staff. During Father Zebron's tenure, the Pastoral Council voted to accept Stewardship model of parish life.. Father Lyons stepped in and embraced the Stewardship concept as a way of life and, with the Pastoral Council, initiated our Stewardship journey. As disciples of Jesus, our parish is living good stewardship of the many gifts He has given to us.

In addition to his priestly responsibilities, Father Lyons serves as Dean of the Augusta Deanery. This appointment by Bishop Boland adds oversight of four large Catholic communities to his list of duties.

Fr. Rafael Estrada-Moreno was ordained in June 2005 and joined our parish as Parochial Vicar in July 2005.  He is a native of Columbia, South America and brings much-needed Spanish speaking pastoral care.

We continue to grow into our 51st year as a parish, with over 930 families currently registered.