History of the Parish

When Sussex County was separated from the County of Morris in 1753, the states were still British colonies. Beginning with just the wilderness, Sussex County also included what is now known as Warren County and at that time, was the most populated county in the state of New Jersey.  In 1771, the population was 9,000 people with Catholics numbering about 700 (to say the least, we were the minority). 

Served mostly by missionary priests, the sacraments were primarily celebrated in the homes, shops and buildings in the area.  Unfortunately, there are no available records of these missionary priests who served this area.   Historically, the first record of such a priest, was Father F. Bulger from Paterson, who made pastoral visits to this area around 1821.  Next was Father John Callan from Dover and Father Senez from Madison, who also made visits to the county. 

Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley (the first bishop of Newark, the eighth Archbishop of Baltimore and the nephew of Saint Elizabeth Seton) established the first parish in Sussex County in 1854.  A church was first built on Jefferson Street in 1855 (the side street where the school's main entrance is located).   Our present church was built on 24 Halsted Street and was officially incorporated on September 21, 1864.  Father Philip McMahon was officially appointed as the first pastor of Saint Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church.  During his first years of being pastor, Father McMahon made missionary visitations throughout the county as his predecessors did.  Having his headquarters in Newton, Father celebrated Mass in the hotel ballroom in Franklin as well as in the home of Mr. Francis Graey who lived on Church Street. 

Although, at that time, many of the faithful who were miners and lived in the village of Andover, the final decision to lay the foundation for a new church was decided to made in Newton in 1855.  Until September 21, 1864, the parish was designated as “The Parish of Sussex County.”  However, the local county clerk’s records indicate that the official name of the parish was “Saint Joseph Catholic Church” and was legally incorporated as such.   The incorporators were The Most Reverend James Roosevelt Bayley, Monsignor Patrick Moran (Vicar General), Father Edward McCosker (pastor at that time) and two laymen, James Daly and James English. At the beginning of this parish, it had several mission parishes in Netcong, Franklin, Swartswood and Andover.