WEST MILFORD Most parishioners of Saint Joseph Church know the wealth and importance of the historical facts pertaining to their church. They are aware that their community began in 1765 with three German immigrant Catholic families, brought to this country to work in the iron mines. Still, one of the recent special events planned for this anniversary year, the 100th year of the current church building, brought many parishioners out to the parish center for an additional history lesson presented by Monsignor Raymond Kupke. Monsignor Kupke, a noted historian and author, held the audience’s attention as he progressed through his historical tour. He spoke about the original Saint Joseph Church pioneer families, noting that there are very precise baptismal records, stored in Philadelphia, that pin down the fact that Saint Joseph Church, West Milford, is indeed the oldest continuous Catholic community in New Jersey. “Others may lay claim to being the oldest, but you and I know that the oldest Catholic parish is in the most unlikely place” said Monsignor Kupke. “You are certainly the oldest, longest, uninterrupted Catholic community,” he continued to a hearty round of applause. He reported that Saint Joseph’s is the only community that can trace itself back to before the Revolutionary War. Monsignor Kupke described the faith of the pioneer families as tentative and tenuous, practicing their faith in a solitary manner as they had only one or two visits a year by a traveling missionary priest, Rev. Ferdinand Farmer, of Philadelphia. Fr. Farmer journeyed by horseback to the Macopin area to say Mass in local homes for many years. After his death in 1786, the people of Macopin were without a priest for over 25 years. Through their tenacity, Monsignor Kupke stated, their faith lived on. The years passed and in 1829 the fledgling parish erected a rustic log cabin church. That structure was replaced in 1886. This second, larger church was destroyed by fire in 1904. It is the third church, built and dedicated in 1905, that is the center of the 100th anniversary celebration this year. Today, there are 1,514 registered families at Saint Joseph Church, some still bearing the names of the original three pioneer families.