Greetings in the Lord!
 
A hearty welcome to the website of St. Joseph’s Parish in Sandpoint, Idaho, USA, on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille! Just as we welcome visitors from around the world to our parish in North Idaho, we welcome you here to this, our presence on the world wide web! 

St. Joseph’s parishioners are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and we are most grateful to almighty God for providential love and unbounded mercy profoundly revealed in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! Praised be Jesus Christ! 

The first Catholics on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille arrived over 200 years ago. They were Native Americans, Catholic Iroquois from Prairie de la Magdaleine, Quebec, accompanying David Thompson of the North West Company when in 1809 he founded Kullyspell House near the mouth of the Clark Fork River. 

In 1907 – over hundred years ago – Father James Kelly celebrated the first Mass in the brand new church. It was Christmas Day – under roof, but no heat and only canvas covered the windows.
 
We’ve built a vibrant, wonderful parish on the sacrifice of those pioneer Catholics. Our achievement today is thanks to the sacrifices of the generations of faith-filled and faithful Catholics who went before us on the journey of faith. 

Today we respond to the Lord’s call to our parish family to be a Spirit-filled community, celebrating, proclaiming and modeling the message, power and love of Jesus Christ. Indeed, we know we are His very family and we seek to show it by coming together in a unity of love, worship and service. Together we support each other as we face the challenge of deeper discipleship and ever greater fidelity to the Gospel and God’s call on our lives! And all are welcome to join us in this endeavor – all are welcome at the table! 

Welcome and God bless you! 

Father Dennis C. Day