About St. John · Albion, Michigan
St. John the Evangelist Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the city of Albion in south-central Michigan, belonging to the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Its story stretches back to 1845, when the first Catholic families settled in the area and the first Mass was celebrated in a private home. The parish was formally established as its own congregation in 1898, and today the faith community worships at 1020 Irwin Avenue, sharing ministry with neighboring Albion College through the Catholic Connections student group.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Gray
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a long-rooted, welcoming Catholic community in the heart of Albion — a parish where families have been passing the faith down since before the Civil War. Daily and Sunday Masses are celebrated in English on a simple, dependable schedule, with Saturday confessions and Eucharistic Adoration offering regular opportunities for the sacraments. The parish is closely tied to Albion College through the student-led Catholic Connections ministry, and the Altar and Rosary Society welcomes every woman of the parish into fellowship, service, and spiritual growth.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM (or by appointment — contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- Saturday 2:30 PM (concurrent with the Saturday reconciliation time)
History
Catholic life in Albion began in 1845 with the arrival of the Slowey family and the celebration of the first Mass in the Lynch home on South Ionia Street. Pioneer priest Rev. James Cullen traveled the Indian Trail from Ann Arbor to minister to scattered families. After years as a mission of Marshall (1854-1890) and Hillsdale (1890-1898), the parish was established independently in 1898 with Fr. Henry Sullivan as the first resident pastor. The 1873 brick church was demolished in 1933 and replaced by a Norman Gothic structure dedicated in 1938; the parish now worships at 1020 Irwin Avenue and in 2023 marked 150 years since the first church was built.
Architecture & Buildings
The 1933-1934 church on the historic Huron and Cass Streets site was a Norman Gothic structure completed in 1934 and dedicated in 1938; it has since been sold to Albion College. The present Irwin Avenue worship space is housed in the former St. John School, offering improved accessibility and parking as the parish prepares for an eventual new church on the same property.
- 1873-1875: First brick church, built parish-wide through donated labor and materials
- 1933: Cornerstone of the Norman Gothic church laid November 19
- 1934-1938: Norman Gothic church completed and dedicated; in continuous use for decades
- Present: Worship at 1020 Irwin Avenue in the former St. John School
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Faith life at St. John is supported by parish societies, faith formation, and a special tie to Albion College. The Altar and Rosary Society is the parish women's organization affiliated with the National and Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and Catholic Connections is the campus ministry that brings Albion College students to the parish each Sunday.
- Altar and Rosary Society — meetings 3rd Monday of the month (except December) at 6:00 PM in Room 3 of the St. John Family Center
- Catholic Connections (Albion College) — provides Sunday rides to Mass, weekly Bible study, retreats, Lenten fish fries, and Theology on Tap at Cascarelli's
- Liturgical ministries (altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers, sacristans, choir) coordinated through the parish
- Faith formation and sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates each of the seven sacraments. Baptisms, weddings, and first sacraments are arranged through the parish office, and the Anointing of the Sick is offered as needed. Confession is scheduled Saturday afternoons and by appointment.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Marriage — six to twelve months of preparation normally required; call the office
- Anointing of the Sick — upon request
- Reconciliation — Saturday 2:30-3:30 PM or by appointment
Cemetery
St. John's long connection to the Catholic section of Riverside Cemetery in Albion is one of the parish's quieter historic legacies. The deed to the three-acre parcel adjacent to Riverside was put in the name of Rev. Father Peter Baart when he purchased it in 1885 for $400 from the heirs of David I. Kinney; before then, Catholics from Albion were buried in the Catholic cemetery in Jackson.
- Catholic Section of Riverside Cemetery, Albion
- Land purchased 1885 by Rev. Peter Baart for $400
- Original burial site for earlier generations was the Catholic cemetery in Jackson
Campus Ministry
St. John the Evangelist serves as the Catholic chaplaincy parish for students of Albion College through Catholic Connections. Students are welcomed into parish life through weekly rides to Sunday Mass, a Bible study and fellowship night, seasonal retreats, and outreach events including the Lenten fish fries at the parish.
- Sunday rides to Mass for Albion College students
- Weekly Bible study / Fellowship night on campus
- Semester retreats
- Lenten Fish Fries at St. John
- Theology on Tap at Cascarelli's during the spring semester
Visit Us
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 1020 Irwin Avenue in Albion. The parish office can be reached at (517) 629-4532 for appointments, sacramental preparation, or to register with the parish.
- Address: 1020 Irwin Avenue, Albion, MI 49224
- Phone: (517) 629-4532
- Website: https://stjohn-church.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnalbion/
- Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father Henry Sullivan1898-1903
First resident pastor when St. John's became a separate parish; built the first rectory.
- Rev. Joseph Marx1903-1915
Guided the destinies of the parish for twelve years.
- Rev. John Crowecirca 1915-1918
Erected the brick rectory that still stands as a memorial of his pastorate.
- Rev. Joseph V. Coylefrom 1918
Wrote the 1932 parish history for Milestones and Memories; oversaw the move away from the original Cass Street church.