St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jim Thorpe held a Mass on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the parish’s 150th Jubilee Anniversary.

The Mass was celebrated by the church’s pastor, the Rev. Ronald J. Minner.

Concelebrating and giving the homily was the Rev. Philip M. Rodgers, who is originally from St. Joseph’s. Also concelebrating were the Rev. Msgr. John G. Chizmar, dean of Carbon County for the Diocese of Allentown; the Rev. Francis J. Baransky, a former pastor of St. Joseph; the Rev. Speratus Kamanzi; and St. Joseph’s deacon Jack Mroz.

Approximately 20 of the Sisters of Christian Charity attended the Mass. The order served at St. Joseph’s Church for 130 years.

The Choir of St. Joseph’s Church under the direction of Michael Seroka, Director of Music Ministry, Principal Cantor and Organist, provided the music for the celebration.

Rev. Rodgers reminisced on his own history with the parish.

“When I walk into St. Joseph’s Church, I am immediately transported to a third grader. I remember serving Mass, in the Latin form, for just one year, until it changed,” he said.

He said he would stare for many hours at the stained glass window of Saint Joseph on his deathbed. There the seeds of a vocation were planted.

“My favorite stained glass window reminded me that Saint Joseph was one of us,” Rodgers said. “Called to be a protector, called to make Jesus the center of his life, called to care for Him. We care for Jesus in our hearts and our souls. I pray to Saint Joseph to be inspired by his holy life.

He thanked the priests and the Sisters of Christian Charity, “who created a vision of how this parish would serve the needs of a fledgling growing community of faith.

“If these priests and sisters were the engine of the train, moving forward, full steam ahead, building a church, school, convent, rectory, social hall; then the fuel of that train was the housekeepers, organists, choirs, maintenance men, and parishioners.”

He challenged people to love God and neighbors. “Become more and more aware of today’s needs for our spiritual path; to proclaim a Gospel of life, serving the needs of one another.”

A reception was held afterward at the Lehighton American Legion.