After Easter, the church renovations began in 2017-18 continued with drywall going up on the three non-altar walls. The old wallpaper was stripped and the walls were cleaned. The wood grained style wallpaper went on the lower portion and the top part was painted making our sanctuary space a more welcoming and warmer feel. The Narthex was also painted and the entrance portico received some repairs and paint. Thank you to Bill Hafemeister, Tom Cofojohn, Ricky, the drywall crew, and the cleaning volunteers for all of their hard work.

Click here to view photos of the project.

Boy Scout Eagle Projects included Connor Rowe's repainting the Parish's entrance sign and refreshing the garden area around it. Clay Bascombe refurbished the Parish Center courtyard's water garden.

The newly formed Maintenance & Grounds Ministry is busy making repairs and improvements throughout our facility. The east doors of the school building were repaired. The bathrooms had new baby changing tables and liners installed along with new mirrors above the sinks. Broken or missing classroom ceiling tiles were addressed. The boiler also had some repairs made.
 
Light switches were installed in the church and Hughes Hall making it easier to control lighting (without using the electrical panels). Pews were fixed.

The Parish Center now has motion sensor lighting on the front porch, a new toilet in the main bathroom, and malfunctioning furnace parts were replaced. In addition, the wall leading to the Parish Center basement meeting room that was severely bowed and falling in was repaired. Directional signs were added and the Parish Center & Offices sign was restained and repositioned to help aid visitors and deliveries. The mailbox post was also reinforced and replanted.

Trees around the property that were hollow and a threat have been taken down. Damage to the grounds from the rains during Ox Roast Fair is slowly being repaired.

Following the church roof replacement project completion, and thanks to the generous offering of time, talent and treasure from Bill Hafemeister and his workers, the long awaited renovations to the interior of St. Joseph Church began. The altar wall's water damaged wallpaper was removed, decorative columns were added, the mold issue was addressed, and new wood-grain textured wallpaper was installed. In addition, the canopy above the altar and the ceiling fans were cleaned and LED lighting was installed throughout the church. 

Thanks to the generosity of of time, talent, and treasure of our parishioners, our church space and narthex received new carpeting. Volunteers came together to move the pews into Hughes Hall and tear out the old carpeting. Workers then applied a skim coat and sealer to the floors. We are grateful to Dennis Chiancone and Janice Rendina of State Crest Flooring & Carpet for donating the carpeting (parish only had installation expense).

A votive candle table crafted by Char Baumbick was added to the St. Joseph niche. As with the Blessed Mother statue, you may light a candle while praying for your intention or offering thanks. She also built a beautiful folding screen to act as a backdrop and cleverly hide the cold air return grate in that area.

Taking advantage of the clearing in the woods left from the logging process, the Ox Roast Fair fireworks launching area was created. It can also be used for parish bonfire events.
A permanent metal building was installed where Ox Roast Fair pizza, sausage sandwich and pierogi booths are located. This allows easier set-up and provides much needed storage for the Fair's equipment.

On the Feast of the Holy Family, December 30, Fr. Ed blessed our new Holy Family sculpture created by parishioner Rick Cermak. To learn more about this creation and the artist, click here.

Following the retirement of long-time maintenance person Jason Garey, a Maintenance & Grounds Ministry was formed and a part-time janitor was hired. Volunteers serve in this new ministry for the improvements, upkeep and repairs needed throughout the facility.

Heating and lighting improvements were made for better efficiency. Many kneelers were repaired and the background of Joseph & the Children artpiece received some sanding and painting thanks to one of our faithful volunteers.

The back-up well had work done to comply with EPA regulations and a donor paid the deductible from the insurance claim (lightning strike).

Hughes Hall received a fresh coat of paint thanks to paint and labor donations. The kitchen's very old stove was replaced with two new units with electronic ignitors and safety gas shut off. The non-working large freezer unit was sold allowing for better kitchen lay-out. 

For his Eagle Scout project Jacob Ober sanded and painted the playground equipment of St. Joseph Parish.

During the summer of 2007 improvements included all of the hallways, stairwells, and doors of the school of the entire school building receiving a fresh coat of new paint, new carpeting for the church, Narthex, All-Purpose Room, and school office, and new ceiling fans were installed in the church.

Eagle Projects completed included David Collica's clearing and replanting of the wooded area behind parish rectory and Allen Crookham's restoration of the woods along access drive from St. Joseph's to Crestwood by clearing dead trees and planting new ones.

For his Eagle Project Gus Cleary refurbished Ox Roast Fair's Lemon Shake-Up Booth (also used by community groups as concession).

Among the many scouts chosing St. Joseph Parish to benefit from their Eagle Scout Projects were:  

• Chris Anderson who replaced the old chain link fence alongside of parish boiler room including privacy slats.

• Austin Anderson who restored and repainted the Ox Roast Fair's dunking booth.

• Drew Truax who constructed a cross country trail around St. Joseph's property.

During the late summer and fall of 2006, areas of the parish received "facelifts". The Parish Center saw painting of the kitchen and meeting room (decorative items and updated lighting added), the addition of new chairs and carpeting, and replacement of a badly deteriorating garage door. Hughes Hall and Narthex were also painted. The parking lot was re-lined and Home & School added two benches and two permanent garbage cans to the playground area.

The areas in front of the Parish Center & School received much needed updates to the landscaping in "phase II" of landscaping improvements. Romano & Sons (Pat Romano) handled the removal and designing and preparation of the beds. Volunteers from the Garden Club and Knights of Columbus assisted with planting and mulching (Garden Club funded half of this project).

In the Fall, a new lighted sign and St. Joseph statue were installed at Pioneer Trail thanks to volunteers who worked and donated towards this project.
 

Also in the Fall of this year, St. Joseph Parish took part in the Diocese of Youngstown's first and largest capital campaign in its 61-year history, "Today's Sacrifice . . . Tomorrow's Church Capital Campaign". This four-year pledge commitment was the first step in establishing a Building Fund for the building of a permanent church structure (after meeting our Annual Bishop's Appeal goal and target campaign goal, the parish was rebated a percentage of the pledges received).

As his Eagle Project, Tyler Turner refurbished Ox Roast Fair's Corn Dog Booth (also used by Mantua soccer league). Paul O'Donnell constructed caution fencing in front of benches and fenced in swinging cages at St. Joseph's baseball field.

Crestwood Schools' ran water, sewer, and fiber optic lines down St. Joseph Blvd. to the new Bowen Rd. schools. The trees that lined the road were taken out to do so. In consideration of safety of children crossing the boulevard, the district's offer to replace them was declined.

A church air-conditioning unit was replaced, interior mold situation was addressed, and Ox Roast Fair canopies and electrical supplies were purchased.

School roof shingles were replaced by volunteers being funded by Trust Fund interest. Four new computers and printers were gifted to the school and the teachers' wish lists were granted by the Home & School Association.

The Garden Club's landscaping plan continued with additions in front of the church. Repairs were made to the roof of the church's Narthex.

Handicap accessible door switches for the restrooms were added, phone and copier cost-cutting measures were implemented (lines consolidated), and and the Ox Roast Fair saw improvements that included electrical upgrades.
 

Tree trimming occurred at the Rectory. Carpeting, wallpaper, and fencing was added to the back deck area. A cable line was ran for the Rectory and Parish Center.

The boiler room and handicap accessibility for the bathroom sinks were improved. The booster water heater and dishwasher were replaced and a new stove with ovens was purchased. The fire retardant system was upgraded, and a gas deep fryer was added. An additional well was also drilled. The computer lab and technology needs of the school were updated. This year also saw the addition of CYO football to the established soccer and basketball programs.

New Gather hymnals were purchased through memorials and the parish's back debt to the Diocese was paid off.
 

Boy Scout Eagle projects completed this year included Mattew Wojtecki's construction of a Prayer Garden for quiet reflection, prayer and photo oppportunities between the church and parish center and Joseph Wright's replacement of the parish entrance sign and added landscaping.

The Garden Club funded, organized, and completed the new entrance to the church with the help of many parishioners who gave of their time and talents.

Heating elements for gutters were installed. The windows in Hughes Hall were tinted to help save energy and tables were purchased. The parking lot was sealed and stripped. At the rectory, the well was drilled deeper and the pump was replaced.

Tim "T.J." Dick took on the task of adding electricity and lighting to the Pavilion for his Boy Scout Eagle Project.

The church roof had repairs done, the cantor and ambo mircophones were replaced, the Carillon was installed, and Food Service computer software was purchased.

The 30' x 60' Pavilion was built as an Eagle Project by Chris Walters.

"Thoroughly Roasted" was the catch phrase of Ox Roast Fair weekend in 1996. During this year our Ox Roast Barn burned down early Saturday morning (most likely an electrical short). Luckily, most everything was on the fairgrounds & no one was injured. Unfortunately the golf cart of volunteer Loretta Brugmann and a couple of the fair's big signs were lost in the fire. The following year, the Ox Roast Fair barn was rebuilt by parish volunteers.

On September 3, 1995, the parish hall was named and dedicated the Rev. Francis Hughes Hall. 

Visit our Parish Leadership page to learn more about Fr. Hughes' service to our parish.

During the Fall of 1995, the Parish Center's exterior was painted by Bill Bur (helped maintenance person, Jason Garey, with special projects).

Kevin Towne replaced ceiling tiles in St. Joseph's Parish Hall for his Eagle Scout project.

Brian Walters organized the removal and installation of new tile flooring in parish hall for his Eagle project.

This year's Eagle Scout projects were completed by Gregory Krzys who pruned and/or replaced trees along St. Joseph Blvd. and mulched and by Michael Fiala who led the resurfacing of parking lot and driveways at western side of St. Joseph School.

In 1989, Peter Kavouras constructed a cross country ski trail through St. Joseph woods for his Eagle Scout project.

In 1973, Frank Butvin's Eagle Scout project was to  handle landscaping and lawn maintenance around St. Joseph's old convent for a season (this building still exists today as a private residence on the corner of St. Rt. 44 and the entrance to Crestwood High School).

In 1979, Charles Keiper's Eagle Scout project was the  construction of a nature trail from St. Joseph Parish to Crestwood. David O'Donnell handled snow removal from St. Joseph Parish parking lot, driveways, and sidewalks for the Winter of 1978/1979 for his Eagle project.