In 1840, Father Pierre Desmet offered the first Catholic Mass in Wyoming. Thereafter, he and his fellow Jesuit missionaries, referred to as the "Black Robes," put their efforts into working in Father Desmet was appointed Superior for the Rocky Mountain Mission in 1841. During the 1850's and 1860's the Jesuit influence was concentrated in Western Montana.

After the discovery of gold in the late 1850's, and Montana becoming a territory in 1864, the Catholic faith was spread mainly via Jesuit influence. Ursuline nuns from Ohio came to St. Labre Mission in 1884. They were known as the "Lady Black Robes." The Jesuits priests took over the St. Labre Mission in 1885. The St. Xavier Mission was established in 1887 for the Crows and St. Charles Mission in 1891.

In 1884, the entire territory of Montana became the Diocese of Helena. Out of the church at St. Xavier, the Jesuits had several mission churches that included Hardin, MT. In 1904, the Diocese of Great Falls was established by carving out about TWO THIRDS of the eastern part of the Helena Diocese.

The early years of St. Joseph's Parish in Hardin were reported in the ''Hardin Tribune Herald," September 3, 1937."The first Mass (circa 1903) for St. Joseph's parish was held in a drug store owned by Mrs. Helen I. Koch and was conducted by Father Thomas Grant from the St. Xavier Mission. Later services were held in the little school house on Crow Avenue and 4th street and in Lammers' Hall. Mass was held at an early hour in the school house followed by Congregational Sunday School and church services in the same room. The first Catholic Church building erected was what is now a residence across the street from the Carnegie Library, which is occupied by the Clements Family. The steeple and Cross were torn down when it was remodeled."

The first Catholic Church building now owned by Bob Hardt, is still standing on the alley between 4th and 5th street in Hardin and directly west of the Big Horn County Library. Two lots, costing $425, were purchased September 19, 1908. The small church structure was built on these two lots in 1911. St. Joseph's Parish in Hardin was now served by the Jesuits out of St. Xavier. The pastor was Father Thomas Grant S.J.

In 1913, Fr. Grant had the foresight to purchase a block of land for $1000 from the Lincoln Land Company where the current St. Joseph Catholic Church still stands, on the 700 block of Custer Avenue.

Fr. Grant's successor was Fr. Louis Taelman S.J. He was stationed at St. Xavier and served the Hardin Catholic Church with one Mass a month.

The parishioners at St. Joseph's became organized and conducted fund raising activities, looking to build a permanent church. In March of 1916, Fr. Taelman announced that the new St. Joseph Church would be built. The original church in the 400 block of Custer was sold in 1917 and preparations were made for the new church at 710 N. Custer in Hardin. Original cost estimates for a new church structure, 30 by 72 feet, totaled $6,000. It is not clear why the delay, whether WWI or other factors, but finally, February 28, 1919, the Building Committee put the new St. Joseph's Church out for bids. J.W. Russell of Omaha, Nebraska was awarded the contract for the structure.

On May 2, 1919, the forms for the foundation were set, and in August the brickwork was completed. The final cost was closer to $20,000.

The first Mass in the new St. Joseph Church was celebrated Christmas Day, December 25, 1919 by Father Taelman. Since 1919, the church has been a significant fixture in Hardin. In 1938 the interior of the church was almost completely remodeled.

There was not a permanent home for the pastor until 1958 when a new rectory was built just south of the church. From 1919 until 1959, priests assigned to St. Joseph's either lived located at St. Xavier where or the in 1959 an apartment in the church basement. Older photos reveal a small wood structure rectory was built but no history can be found for this small building. In 1957, a two story, spacious rectory was built. Included and modern for the day were automatic clothes washing and drying machines, built in range, electric dishwasher and refrigerator.

The Jesuits ministered to St. Joseph's parish until 1965 when they entered into an agreement with the Capuchin of Detroit, Michigan for the  of pastoral care of St. Joseph's in Hardin and all The parish of St. Joseph continued under Capuchin leadership from 1965-2013. Since that time, one diocesan priest has served and currently, Father Thomas Selvaraj, a member of the Herald’s of Good News, an Order from India currently, assigned as pastor to St. Joseph Church. 

Christmas Day, 2019, St. Joseph's Church structure celebrated 100 yeas of existence. The parishioners of St. Joseph's held a 100-year celebration Sunday, February 23, 2020, when Bishop Michael Warfel came to Hardin to celebrate Mass and another 100 years of the Catholic Church in Hardin, Montana.

The Church, itself, was placed on the National Historic Registry in 1991. Part of the application for the National Historic Registry stated, architect for the St. Joseph Catholic Church is unknown; however, it is a traditional Gothic church building. A modest building when compared to more elaborate churches in larger population centers, it never-the-less features characteristic Gothic elements: a symmetrical vertical emphasis achieved through steeply-pitched roofs, tall, Gothic windows with tracery and transoms, the raised main floor, and the tall, steeple-capped central portico which dominates the front view of the building. Although Gothic Revival was the style of choice for churches built in Hardin during the early 20th century, St. Joseph Catholic Church is the only such church in town which still retains integrity of design and location. "Until 1919, St. Joseph's was a mission church for St. Xavier.📷