Established in the Diocese of Lincoln during the year 1902.  The scattered Catholics who were living in the vicinity of Giltner traveled to churches in the nearby settlements of Aurora, Doniphan, and Harvard. It was the pastor of Doniphan, Father Lawrence Dunphy, who took a special interest in the Catholics of Giltner. On June 29, 1900, Father Dunphy reported that these people had been eager to build a church for the last 7 years.  Crop failures together with the financial crisis during the 1890s made it impossible for them to achieve this goal. They did solicit subscriptions for a building fund. By 1900, they had subscriptions amounting to $1500 for the proposed church. On October 10, 1901, the Catholics of the community held a meeting for the purpose of making definite plans to erect a church. Those present were Joseph Hegenbart, John Kline, William Luby, Owen McMahon, and John Shafer. They were assisted by Father Bernard Ulbrick who had recently been appointed pastor of Harvard. Enthusiasm increased when John Shafer donated property as a site for the church and Frank Hanek, Sr. gave the land for a parish cemetery. Under the direction of the main carpenter, John Kline, the structure was completed in 1902. On July 15, 1902, Bishop Thomas A. Bonacum dedicated the new church under the patronage of Saint Joseph.  Father Bernard Ulbrick continued to come from Harvard to celebrate Holy Mass in the new Saint Joseph Church.  He was succeeded by Father Patrick McShane, who attended from Aurora for one year, and then from Harvard until 1904.  Father David J. Cronin arrived in 1905, he found a congregation of about 150 members with church property valued at $1850.  During his first year as pastor of Saint Joseph's, an annex was built to the church.  On June 1, 1920, Bishop Charles J. O'Reilly made Giltner a mission of Aurora. The priests who served Saint Joseph's from Aurora were Father Paul Donovan 1920-1924, Father William S. Ferris 1924-1925, and Father James Hennessy 1925-1933.' In 1933, Giltner reverted to being a mission of Harvard. The pastors were Father Joseph Ress 1933-1936, Father John P. Murphy 1936-1939, Father Walter V. Sherry 1939-1946, Father Sylvester G. Wagner 1946-1952, Father Anthony S. Gruesser 1952-1960, and Father Victor A. Derwinski 1960-1969. In 1969, Father Derwinski was transferred to Aurora, but continued to have charge of Giltner until 1994.   After Father Derwinski the pastors have been; Father Douglas Morin 1994-1996, Father Christoper Barak 1996-1997, Father John Keefe 1997-2000, Father Craig Doty 2001-2005, Father Denis Hunt 2005-2014,  Father Dhan RAj Marnini 2014-2017, Father Loris Grell 2017-2021, and Father Mark Seiker 2021-present. 
         The golden jubilee of Saint Joseph Parish was commemorated September 26, 1952. Bishop Louis B. Kucera offered the Pontifical Mass; Monsignor Michael A. Grogan delivered the homily. On that occasion, at the request of the parishioners, Bishop Kucera gave the parish the privilege of having the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the church even though there was no resident priest in Giltner.  On October 7, 1966, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the construction of a new church together with rooms for religion classes and meetings. This $90,000 structure was dedicated by Bishop Glennon P. Flavin on May 30, 1968.   On July 14, 2002 Saint Joseph Parish celebrated its 100th Anniversary, at that time there were 50 registered families