St. Joseph’s Catholic Church looking better than ever

A look from the front of one of Stratford’s most iconic buildings, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, built in 1867.

By: Gary West

After years of hard work and dedication by all those involved, construction on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Huron Street in Stratford has officially come to an end, with the recent installation of new sod.

According to Father Don Pumputis, construction officially started in July 2024, with the removal of the steps and plaza area at the front of the church. Initially, the project was to be completed in the fall of 2024 but, unfortunately, weather construction delays and some deficiencies required additional remediation, forcing the project to remain unfinished and sitting idle over that winter.

“In the spring of 2025, construction was delayed once again due to wet weather, and the removal of some deficient work,” Pumputis said. “When the work resumed, the stairs quickly took shape and the vision was becoming a reality.”

Work continued on the front stairs while the sidewalk from the plaza area to the parking lot was also removed. This also included the walk to the side entrance and the ramp sidewalk to the accessible entrance.

In November 2025, the final pour of concrete was put in place.

Pumputis emphasized the sheer amount of the substance used in the project.

“The amount of concrete poured is quite significant and what you see is only a fraction of the total amount. Footings and walls go down almost 10 feet in sections to ensure the structure will be secure and safe, for generations to come.”

In December 2025, a new LED sign was installed at the base of the stairs and the new custom railings were also installed.

The church received the occupancy permit from the City of Stratford on Dec. 18 and a special stair opening and blessing mass was planned and held on Dec. 20 late last year.

The only remaining piece was laying of the sod which took place in May of this year.

The funding for the project has come from many caring parishioners’ donations.

There was a large fundraising gala held in February 2024 to kick off the campaign and in the spring of 2025 the church hosted a fundraising concert by world-renowned musician John McDermott, and in the fall of 2025 a trivia night was also held. These events, in addition to the ongoing donations that came in, have helped the congregation reach over 80 per cent of its goal already.

The new stairs and sidewalks are heated with approximately seven kilometres of piping used to eliminate the use of chemicals and damage during Stratford’s winter months. This system will prolong the life of the stairs for generations to come, while maintaining the iconic façade that everyone driving along Huron Street has grown accustomed to for generations.

The statue of St. Joseph and a young Jesus Christ were also restored as part of the project.

Pumputis said they have a loan with the Diocese of London for the balance remaining, but donations are still graciously accepted by calling the parish office1 or simply mailing in donations marked “Stepping up for St. Joseph’s” – email to dpumputis@dol.ca or mlynch@dol.ca.