In the late 1880’s Commerce, TX was a stop on the Fort Worth branch of the St. Louis and Southwestern (the Cotton Belt Line) Railroads. The population of Commerce at that time included a group that manned the shops and trains. Mrs. Mary O’Brien, a widow, moved her six children to Commerce to run a boarding house for these workers. Mrs. O’Brien’s oldest was ten at the time. In 1889 Mrs. O’Brien convinced Fr. P.M. Donohoe, serving St. Mary’s in Sherman, TX, to travel to Commerce to provide Mass for her family and the other Catholics in the area. In 1894 Mr. Michael Devaney donated a plot of land to build a Catholic Church on. In the same general time period Mr. Devaney married Mrs. O’Brien. Other Catholic families in the Commerce area at that time were the O’Neil’s, Hogan’s, Reilley’s, Kelly’s, and the John’s.
The first church was St. Peter. It was on the corner of Sycamore and Locust Streets. Mary O’Brien decided that since St. Peter holds the keys to heaven the church would be named St. Peter in honor of the first Pope. The first Mass was celebrated there on the last Sunday of June 1895. The first Baptism was in 1896. Rightly so, it was Eugene Bedford, a grandson of the now Mrs. Devaney.
Priests came from St. Mary’s in Sherman, St. Paul in St. Paul, TX (just north of Wiley) and St. William’s in Greenville. Fr. Frank P. McGinn was appointed pastor in 1897, but after only five short years the parish reverted back to mission status.
In 1909 the name was changed from St. Peter’s to St. John’s. In 1950 Fr. John Donnelly questioned the Diocese and discovered that there was nothing in the records about why, or even that the name was changed. The name then returned back to St. Peter’s for a very short time.
In 1949 Mrs. Devaney passed on at the age of 94. In the same year a young and dapper Paul Barrus came to East Texas University to teach English. He was the sole catholic faculty member. At that time he began the first Newman Club with about 25 students.
In 1955 with the help of the Catholic Extension Society the parish was able to build a new church at the corner of Monroe and Cooper Streets. On December 11, 1955 Archbishop William O’Brien of the Extension Society dedicated the new building. During the dedication he decided that the church should be called St. Joseph in honor of the late Bishop Joseph P. Lynch, the third bishop of the Diocese of Dallas. The church was still a mission parish served from Sulphur Springs, Paris and Greenville.
After his retirement from academia Dr. Paul Barrus studied and was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 1974. In 1979 at the young age of 76 Paul Barrus was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Dallas.
On May 1, 1980 Bishop Thomas Tschoepe elevated the church from Mission to Parish with a Glenmary priest as pastor. In 1981 Fr. Anthony Pondant became the first Diocesan resident pastor. Fr. Henry Petter followed him in 1982. In 1983 Msgr. Robert Johnson took up the reins. Fr. Stanley Corcoran then followed him, and then by Rev. George P. Monaghan.
About the same time that Fr. George arrived Dr. Frank Ashley moved to town and took up the reigns as the Dean of Education for the Texan A & M University – Commerce. Frank was in Diaconate studies for the Diocese of Austin when he moved and was able to continue his studies and was ordained to the Diaconate on the 24th of June 2006. At this time Deacon Frank not only serves here at St. Joseph, but also serves as TAMU-Commerce as Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs. In May of 2007 Deacon Frank Ashley left the University to take the position of Vice Chancellor of the A&M System. Frank will be terribly missed.
On May 1, 2007 Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, D.D. was installed as the Seventh Bishop of Dallas.
On October 5, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Bishop Kevin Farrell dedicated the new Church. What a glorious day.
Before we began construction on the new worship space, Margaret Wheat (a long time resident of Commerce and not a Catholic), donated a pipe organ. The organ had been installed in the den of her home. We removed the organ and stored it in the rectory for about two years. The Margaret Wheat Organ has been installed and was played for service the beginning of June 2009.
July 4th weekend, 2009, Reverend Mister Jim Starr began his ministery here at St. Joseph. We are excited to have him and his wife Carol as part of our parish family. Jim was ordained a deacon on June 24, 2006 in the same class as Frank Ashley.
On July 23, 2010 Rev. George P. Monaghan was transfered as Pastor to Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Rockwall, TX and Rev. Roberto Butawan was assigned as Administrator of St. Joseph's.
Rev. Roberto Butawan was here one month then left us. At this time Deacon Jim Starr took over as Parish Administrator.
On October 2010 we welcomed Rev. Marcus M. Chidozie into our Parish until they could find a permanent Priest. Father Marcus was also here to finish his schooling at Texas A&M in Commerce. He graduated in 2011 and received his PhD.
We received wonderful news in February 2011 that Rev. Marcus Chidozie would become our Parish Administrator permanently.