Leadership
Rev. Jeffery Burton, administrator
Fr. Jeff Burton serves as administrator of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was ordained to the priesthood in June 2018. He grew up in Portage and graduated from Valparaiso University, studying New Media-Journalism and Political Science. After a career as a news reporter, Fr. Jeff entered the seminary and studied at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. As a seminarian, Fr. Jeff served at Holy Spirit in Winfield, St. Andrew in Merrillville, Sharing Meadows in Rolling Prairie, St. Michael in Schererville, St. Mary of the Lake in Gary, St. Mary in Griffith and St. Mary in Crown Point. Before coming to Bosco in July 2021, he served as Associate Pastor of Saint Paul in Valparaiso and as acting chaplain at Andrean High School. In addition to his responsibilities at St. Joseph Church, he is also priest administrator for St. John Bosco, he serves as Chaplain at Bishop Noll Institute, and he is on the Catholic Youth Organization Board of Directors.
Rev. Theodore Mens, senior priest
Father Mens retired at the end of June 2022. But after a break, he will remain part of our community as a senior priest.
Reverend Theodore Mens was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1967 at Holy Angels Cathedral in Gary. In his many years as a priest, he has taken turns being the assistant priest at St. Casmir in Hammond, St. John Bosco in Hammond, and All Saints in Hammond. He was an instructor at Bishop Knoll Institute. And for a couple years he was Associate Pastor at St. Thomas More in Munster.
He was first appointed as pastor in 1977 at All Saints in San Pierre and Chaplain at Little Company of Mary Health Facility. Eight years later, he was appointed pastor of St. Mary in East Chicago. In 1933, he became pastor of St. Mary in Griffith. In addition to his responsibility to that parish, he was appointed Administrator of St. Ann in Gary in 2003. He was assigned the role of pastor and administrator of St. Joseph Church from 2019-2022. During that time, he was also responsible for hospital ministry with Franciscan Alliance.
Deacon Duane Dedelow
Deacon Duane Dedelow was ordained a permanent deacon on June 4, 2011 at Holy Angels Cathedral in Gary, IN. He was then assigned to St. Joseph and St. John Bosco Parishes in Hammond on June 18, 2011. He has been active in the Hammond community for many years, including holding the position as mayor of Hammond, IN for a time. As the deacon of St. Joseph parish, he is personally dedicated to the growth of our parish through evangelization.
Honorable mention: Jim Etter
Although he retired from being a deacon, Jim Etter remains an important leader at our parish.
