Saint John the Baptist

About Saint John the Baptist Parish

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community in downtown New Haven, Allen County, Indiana, just off Broadway. Founded in 1859 by German Catholic settlers and entrusted to the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, the parish today serves more than 1,200 registered families from New Haven, Fort Wayne, Leo, and the surrounding area. It operates a parish school (Preschool–8) at 204 S. Rufus Street and offers daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a full sacramental and outreach life.

History

The parish's roots reach back to the late 1840s, when German Catholic immigrants (many displaced by the 1848 revolutions in Baden, Westphalia, Bavaria, and Alsace) settled the area. Those families originally worshipped at St. Stephen's Mission in Gretna or rode on horseback to Saints Peter and Paul in Naperville, sometimes leaving at 4:00 a.m. Catholic schoolteachers — Mr. Serbis, Mr. Null, and Mr. May — taught Christian doctrine to the children of the village; that school building later became the parish convent. The parish was formally founded in 1859 and its sacramental registers begin in 1861. The school, also begun in 1859, has operated continuously ever since. Three successive church buildings have served the parish; a parish community center was also added to serve the growing congregation. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sunday, September 27, 2009, with Bishop John M. D'Arcy presiding.

• Parish founded: 1859
• Earliest baptismal register: 1861
• Confirmation register begins: 1878
• 150th anniversary Mass: September 27, 2009 (Bishop John M. D'Arcy)
• Present (third) church and parish community center added during the parish's 20th-century growth

Becoming Catholic (OCIA)

The parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA) for anyone exploring the Catholic faith — the unbaptized, Christians baptized in another tradition, or baptized Catholics who have not yet received the other sacraments. Each inquirer is paired with a sponsor/mentor. The first step is to contact the pastor, Fr. Nathan Maskal, at [email protected]. Group instruction typically begins each Fall, with other arrangements possible.

• Open to the unbaptized, baptized Christians, and uncatechized Catholics
• Each inquirer is paired with a sponsor/mentor
• Group classes begin each Fall
• Contact: Fr. Nathan Maskal, [email protected]

Parish School

St. John the Baptist Catholic School, founded in 1859 — the same year as the parish — educates children Preschool (age 3) through 8th grade on its campus at 204 S. Rufus Street. Mission: 'to help each child become a life-long learner, be taught a Christ-centered, Catholic way of life, and achieve academic success.' In 2023 enrollment was 224 students, taught by 15 lay teachers, two lay resource teachers, and three special-area teachers. Students pray daily, attend Mass twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays), gather monthly to pray the Rosary, and participate in 'Faith Families' — mixed-age groups (K–8) under the patronage of a saint, led by a teacher. Athletics include football and volleyball, and the teams are the Raiders.

• Founded 1859 (same year as the parish)
• Preschool (age 3) through 8th grade
• Campus: 204 S. Rufus Street, New Haven, IN
• Principal: Tina Voors; Assistant Principal: Justin Pranger
• Phone: (260) 749-9903
• Website: school.sjnewhaven.org
• Mascot: Raiders

Faith Formation

Faith formation is described by the parish as 'essential to our identity and mission.' Religion class is offered daily at the school; individual classes pray daily; the school gathers for Mass twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) and prays the Rosary together monthly. There are additional communal prayer services and opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Advent and Lent, and many grades 3–8 classes attend Thursday Adoration together each week. 'Faith Families' gather four times a year under a patron saint with mixed-age groupings.

• Daily religion class and classroom prayer
• School Mass twice weekly (Tue/Fri)
• Monthly school Rosary
• Advent/Lent Reconciliation services
• Faith Families (mixed-age, K–8) four times a year

Parish Ministries & Societies

St. John the Baptist maintains several long-standing lay societies and parish ministries. The Holy Name Society (men's society dating to 1274, introduced to North America in 1896) is best known locally for the parish's famous fish fries and supports many parish initiatives. The Rosary Society prays the rosary before every Mass and provides funeral meals for bereaved families. The Knights of Columbus parish council serves widows, orphans, the homeless, and the needy. The St. Vincent de Paul parish conference operates a food pantry, provides fresh-food and thrift-store vouchers, and partners with the Greater SVdP District for the Care Van (medical transportation) and the Carpenter's Sons (home repair for elderly and disabled).

• Holy Name Society
• Rosary Society (Altar Rosary Society)
• Knights of Columbus
• St. Vincent de Paul Society (parish conference)
• OCIA / Becoming Catholic
• Faith Formation / Religious Education
• Parish Childcare (Director: Karen Fox)
• Lunch Program (Director: Britni Blockson)
• Parish Cemetery care

St. Vincent de Paul Outreach

Inspired by Gospel values, the parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference provides person-to-person service to the needy and suffering in the New Haven area. Help is offered by appointment through the SVdP help line (260-969-1898) and includes an on-site food pantry, fresh-food vouchers to Community Harvest Food Bank, clothing/household vouchers to the SVdP Thrift Store, and — through the Greater SVdP District of Fort Wayne-South Bend — the Care Van (transportation to medical appointments) and the Carpenter's Sons (home repair for elderly/handicapped parishioners). A parish goal: a Vincentian visit within 24 hours of any call for help. The conference meets the second Tuesday of each month.

• Help line: 260-969-1898
• Food pantry (by appointment)
• Fresh-food vouchers (Community Harvest Food Bank)
• Clothing & household-goods vouchers (SVdP Thrift Store)
• Care Van (medical transportation)
• Carpenter's Sons (home repair for elderly/handicapped)
• Monthly meetings: 2nd Tuesday

Administration & Staff

Pastoral and administrative leadership includes Pastor Fr. Nathan Maskal, Principal Tina Voors, and Assistant Principal Justin Pranger. Support staff include Parish Secretary Julie Gremaux, Director of Maintenance Wade Heddens, Evening Maintenance (Ed Leist), School Nurse Caroline Matvya, School Secretary Ellen Wyss, Lunch Director Britni Blockson, and Childcare Director Karen Fox. Bulletin email: [email protected].

• Pastor: Fr. Nathan Maskal
• Principal: Tina Voors
• Assistant Principal: Justin Pranger
• Parish Secretary: Julie Gremaux
• Director of Maintenance: Wade Heddens
• School Nurse: Caroline Matvya
• School Secretary: Ellen Wyss
• Childcare Director: Karen Fox
• Lunch Director: Britni Blockson

Becoming a Parishioner

Registration is simple: call the parish office at (260) 493-4553 or complete the online registration form. Becoming a parishioner means identifying St. John's as one's spiritual home — a place of worship and growth in Christ — and, in turn, supporting the parish through time, talent, and treasure.

• Phone registration: (260) 493-4553
• Online registration form on sjnewhaven.org
• Open to those new to the area and those new to the Catholic faith

Visit & Contact

The parish is located at 943 Powers Street in downtown New Haven, just off Broadway. Mass is offered multiple times daily Tuesday–Sunday (see Mass Times section). The parish office can be reached at (260) 493-4553, with general email [email protected].

• Address: 943 Powers Street, New Haven, IN 46774
• Phone: (260) 493-4553
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.sjnewhaven.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjnewhaven/