Oldest Parish in Ft. Madison Closes It's Doors

The doors of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Madison are now closed. The final mass was celebrated Saturday night, November 17, ending the oldest parish in Fort Madison. Bishop Martin Amos and other priests celebrated the evening mass. St. Joseph's Church merged with St. Mary's Church in 1996. Since then, the church and the school across the street wêre no longer in use. Many parishioners spent this evening remembering the past and saying goodbye. 'A third of your life, between family, school, and church, a third of your life was right here at St. Joe Church, so...and there's a lot of families that have that same background...and so that's why it's so special,' said former parish member Thomas Mohrfield. The church and school building are now up for ownership."