St. Joseph's Mission

Father Joseph M. Cataldo was born in Terrasini, Sicily on March 17, 1837 and was ordained a priest in 1862. Cataldo, a Jesuit, was appointed a superior of the Rocky Mountain Mission in 1877. Fr. Cataldo also founded Gonzaga Univeristy, in Spokane, Washington in 1881. Fr. Cataldo worked in the Old Mission of the Sacred Heart. This building, the oldest existing building in Idaho, is located east of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho off I-90, and is named for him. He also established St Stanislaus church in northern Idaho.  Fr. Cataldo established the Mission of St. Joseph near Culdesac, Idaho. This mission (pictures above) is sometimes called Slickpoo Mission and sits on the site of the old Slickpoo townsite. Chief Slickpoo donated the land for the church. The church was built in 1874. The sisters of the mission opened a school there in 1902. It remained open until 1968. Mass is celebrated once each year in the summer.    Back to Field Trip