St. John the Baptist
Roman Catholic Church
Rectory Business Hours:
Mon - Thurs   ♦   9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
 
610-262-2260
StJohnsStiles@aol.com
 
   
 

Parish History


January 6, 1920          
Saint John the Baptist is established as a mission church and the first Mass is celebrated by Father John Seimitz, the Pastor of Saint Mary's Church in Catasauqua.
The first mission church and school were located in a building which was previously a butcher shop on one half and the West Coplay Maennerchor on the other.
     
          January 1920
      The first mission church was blessed and Mass was said there each Sunday at 8:15 A.M.
September 1920          
The first school is opened with approximately 30 students.
The Sisters of St. Francis, who taught at the school, lived at St. Mary's Convent in Catasauqua and came to school on a trolley.
     
          1921
      The Sodality was formed. All the eighth grade girls were inducted and they remained in the Sodality until they were married.
October 1924          
The Altar and Rosary Society was formed for the married women of the parish.      
          June 16, 1927
      St. John the Baptist is vested with full parish status. Father Joseph Koenig is appointed the first pastor.
Summer 1927          
A home at 1125 Poplar Street in Coplay is purchased to be used as a convent.      
          March 1928
      Four acres of land is purchased to be used as the parish cemetery.
June 1929          
The Holy Name Society was founded.      
          September 1934
      Father Charles J. Ruffenach is appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church.
Fall 1938          
The parish Boy Scout Troop #79 was organized.      
          1942
      The new school was completed.
The basement of the school was excavated by the parishioners to be used as a temporary church.
December 18, 1960          
The present church was dedicated.      
          1965
      A new wing is added to the school to accommodate the 200 students who were enrolled at the time.
July 1979          
Father James J. Reichert is appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church.      
          May 1980
      Renovations of the rectory are completed.
September 1983          
A regional school plan incorporating three parishes, Holy Trinity, St. Peter and St. John the Baptist, into one new school called Christ the King is approved.      
          November 1985
      The kitchen in the parish social hall is expanded and a new section is added to the east side of the hall.
June 1989          
Father A. Gregory Uhrig is appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church.
A new sound system and air conditioning are put in the church.
     
          June 1993
      Father Francis Schuster is appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church.
Interior of the Church is painted.
Convent is raised and the Saint Michael Shrine is erected.
Men of the parish install campus lighting.
June 2003          
Father Joseph Campion is appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church.      
          September 2011
      Christ the King School merges with Our Lady of Hungary School to become Good Shepherd Catholic School.
July 2013          
The Religious Education Programs of the parishes of Holy Trinity, St. Peter and St. John the Baptist are merged to become Holy Apostles Religious Education Program.      
          June 2014
      Msgr. Albert Byrne is appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church.
June 2018          
Msgr. Gerald E. Gobitas is appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church.