Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1855, is a historic German Catholic parish with a landmark church located at 1828 Jay Street in the Eastern Market - Lafayette Park neighborhood area just outside downtown Detroit, on the city's central east side. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and deemed 'of national importance' because of its stained glass. It is one of three churches that make up Mother of Divine Mercy parish.ArchitectureThe gothic structure of the church, inspired by Himpler´s church St. Katharina (1860-1863) in Wallerfangen (Saarland), had its cornerstone laid in 1870 and was dedicated in 1873, making it one of the oldest extant churches in Detroit. Francis G. Himpler (Franz Alexander Aloysius Georg Himpler, * 14. may 1833 in Ottweiler; † 13. september 1916 in Hoboken, New Jersey), a Ottweiler (Germany)-born New York architect, designed the building which is considered one of the Midwest's best examples of Victorian Gothic architecture, especially so because the structure is effectively unaltered. The building is distinguished by its stained glass, notable in its intricate designs and wide usage. Also of note is the woodwork, statuary, and original high altar in the interior. St. Joseph's Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972; the buildings in the surrounding complex were added in 1992. The church still operates today with two Masses every Sunday and Daily Mass on certain weekdays.