Neptune - St. Joseph

NEPTUNE - The Catholic parish of St. Joseph, Neptune, in Lincoln Township in Plymouth County was founded on Nov. 10, 1884. It was organized as an independent parish in 1900.

Until 1884, the people living in the present parish traveled to Le Mars and Kingsley to attend Mass and celebrate the sacraments. Father James Barron of St. James in Le Mars offered the first Mass within the limits of the parish on Ascension Thursday in May of 1882 in the home of William Sullivan Sr. A meeting was also held and pledges were collected to build a church building.

On Nov. 10, 1884, 10 acres of land were purchased by Bishop John Hennessey from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sitzmann Sr. and James and Mary Carel for $600. In 1885, Father Barron, with the cooperation of about 20 families, built the first church. It was a frame structure having a seating capacity of about 200. Total cost was $1,800.

Father Barron, Father Michael Martin Tierney and Father Bernard O'Reilly successively served as pastors for the parish. In 1899, Father Thomas Coffey was appointed the first resident pastor and built the first rectory at a cost of $2,200.

Father Bernard Kocher (1925-1949), Father Thomas Molloy (1949-1952), Father Edward Hoffman (1952-1956) and Father A. W. Behrens (1959-1964) all served St. Joseph during the middle of the 20th century.

Gehlen Catholic School was founded during the tenure of Father Behrens. Gehlen Catholic High School was built and the parish became a member of the Gehlen Corporation.

Father Stanley Stone (1968-1970), Father Richard Remmers (1970-1974), Father Jerome Cosgrove (1974-1979), Father Gene Ulses (1987-1990), Father Ray P. Weiling (1990-1995) and Father Mark J. Stoll (1995-present) all have served the parish over the years.

Father Stone introduced the annual Stag with the raffling off of a Lincoln Continental Car. This event continues to raise funds for the parish. Also, Father Remmers helped to redecorate the interior of the church including raising the floor of the sanctuary two steps, installing carpet, painting, new statues of Mary and Joseph, the removal of the communion rail and the remodeling of the confessional.

In 1998, the parish purchased a 35-passenger bus, tuckpointed the bell tower and installed new carpet. In 1999, the wood louvers were rebuilt in the belltower and the parish hooked up to rural water and closed its well.

St. Joseph's Parish now consists of 81 families, two brick structures - the church and the house and ten acres of land including about two five-acre plots laid out in cemetery lots to the south of the church.

All of the women of the parish belong to the Altar Society and men of the parish belong to five mowing groups that take turns mowing the parish lawn.

Twelve young men and women who were born in St. Joseph Parish have entered religious life.