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Welcome!
We're so glad you're here!
We're excited to have you join us for worship and fellowship. You'll find a warm community eager to grow in faith and share love. As you explore our services, events, and ministries, we hope you feel at home on your journey with God.
Established in 1888, we faithfully serve the community of Saint Joe and our surrounding neighborhoods through Courageously Living the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
While browsing our website, we hope you discover what you need and experience the love that makes our church special. If you have questions or need assistance, reach out! We're here to support you on your spiritual journey.
The 2026 Catholic Ministry Appeal has begun! Supporting the appeal with a sustaining gift is a unique way for all families to share their gifts with increase to the Lord. A sustaining gift ensures that our diocesan ministries continue to enrich parish life, form seminarians, teach children our Catholic faith, help the needy and inspire those outside the church through evangelization efforts. Please read the appeal materials and prayerfully reflect on making a sacrificial commitment to this vital appeal. Thank you!
Patron Saint of Human Trafficking Awareness - St. Josephine Bakhita
Saint Josephine Bakhita (c. 1869–1947) was a Sudanese Catholic religious sister and member of the Canossian Daughters of Charity. After gaining her freedom from slavery, she dedicated her life to God and served faithfully in Italy for nearly 50 years until her death on February 8, 1947. She was canonized in 2000, becoming the first Black female Catholic saint of the modern era.
In 1877, at the age of seven or eight, Josephine was kidnapped by Arab slave traders—two years after her older sister had been abducted. She was forced to walk barefoot nearly 600 miles to El-Obeid, where she was sold multiple times. Over the course of twelve years (1877–1889), she endured repeated sales, cruelty, and suffering before ultimately gaining her freedom.
Despite the trauma she endured, Saint Josephine became a powerful witness to forgiveness and faith. When once asked what she would do if she met her captors again, she replied:
“If I were to meet those who kidnapped me, and even those who tortured me, I would kneel
and kiss their hands. For if these things had not happened, I would not have been a Christian and a religious today.”
Petitions for her canonization began shortly after her death. In 1959, Pope John XXIII formally opened her cause. Pope John Paul II declared her Venerable in 1978, Beatified her on May 17, 1992—establishing February 8 as her feast day—and canonized her on October 1, 2000. Saint Josephine Bakhita is venerated as a modern African saint and a powerful symbol against the evils of slavery and human trafficking. She is regarded as a patron saint of Sudan and of the Catholic Church in Sudan.
Her legacy continues today. Caritas Bakhita House in London, which provides shelter and support for women escaping human trafficking, is named in her honor. In 2023, Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz—known for his Vatican-commissioned works addressing contemporary spiritual concerns—created the bronze sculpture “Let the Oppressed Go Free.” Centered on Saint Josephine Bakhita, the sculpture depicts her opening a trapdoor to free victims of human trafficking. It was installed near her remains in the Italian city of Schio.
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We want to thank our community partner, Randal from Hodges Funeral Home, for their generous support of our church and making this website possible. We are grateful for your contributions to our parish.
