About St. John Baptist de La Salle · Shillington, Pennsylvania
St. John Baptist de La Salle is a Catholic parish in Shillington, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Allentown. Established on October 4, 1948 by Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, the parish was carved from Sacred Heart in West Reading and St. Peter in Reading and originally belonged to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia until the Diocese of Allentown was created in February 1961. Today the parish worships in a 750-seat church opened in 1970 at 42 Kerrick Road, shares the historic La Salle Academy regional school at 440 Holland Street with the Church of St. Benedict in Plowville, and is led by its seventh pastor, Rev. Edward Essig. The parish is known locally as 'St. John's' and describes itself as a 'Catholic Family of Faith.'
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. John Baptist de La Salle
- Rector
- Rev. Edward Essig
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. John Baptist de La Salle is a multi-generational Catholic family of faith in the heart of Berks County, with two Sunday Masses (8:30 and 10:30 AM), a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, and daily Mass Monday through Friday. Parish life is rich and tangible: a CCD religious education program for parish children, a Tuesday-evening RCIA journey for adults seeking Baptism or Confirmation, a Prayer Shawl Ministry that knits shawls blessed by Fr. Ed, a Food Pantry partnership with the Mohnton Food Bank, a nursing-home outreach at Mifflin Center with monthly Mass and weekly rosary, and traditional devotions like the Forty Hours devotion to the Blessed Sacrament near the April 7 feast of the patron, and Stations of the Cross with Benediction every Friday in Lent. As one of the three parishes that built and sustain La Salle Academy, joining St. John's means joining a community that takes Catholic education, sacramental life, and outreach seriously.
Mass times at St. John Baptist de La Salle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM
- Sundays 8:00–8:20 AM
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: schedule to be determined (TBD on parish website)
Who We Are — History of St. John Baptist de La Salle
The parish was established on October 4, 1948 by Cardinal Dennis Dougherty from parts of Sacred Heart (West Reading) and St. Peter (Reading). It originally belonged to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia until the Diocese of Allentown was created in February 1961. The first pastor, Rev. John Hasson (1948–1950), converted a private home on E. Walnut Street into a chapel; the second pastor, Rev. Henry D. McPeak (1950–1962), acquired a factory building in 1952 that served as church and school. By 1966 the parish had grown to 900 families, and Fr. Lyons, the third pastor, purchased land in West Hills in 1968. The present church and rectory were completed in 1970, and the church was dedicated by Bishop Joseph McShea on March 21, 1971.
- Founded October 4, 1948 by Cardinal Dougherty
- Original territory: Brecknock Township and parts of Cumru and Spring townships
- Transferred to the Diocese of Allentown in February 1961
- Current church built 1970; seats 750
- Merged with St. Anthony of Padua (Millmont) in June 2015
Sanctuary and Church Building
The 1970 church was designed so no pew is farther than 13 rows from the sanctuary. Under sixth pastor Fr. Richard Clement, the original painted-cinder-block interior was given field-stone walls, a twelve-foot crucifix, a relocated baptismal font, a matching pulpit, marble-tile floors in place of carpet, and a new sound and lighting system and organ.
Devotions and Sacramental Life
In addition to the daily Mass schedule, the parish keeps several traditional devotions alive. The Rosary is prayed each weekday morning before Mass. The Forty Hours Devotion — commemorating the time Jesus lay in the tomb — is held on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as close as possible to the April 7 feast of St. John Baptist de La Salle, beginning after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass. Each Friday of Lent, different Stations of the Cross are prayed at 7:00 PM, followed by Benediction.
- Rosary: Mon–Fri, 20 minutes before daily Mass
- Forty Hours Devotion: Sun/Mon/Tue near April 7
- Stations of the Cross: Fridays of Lent at 7:00 PM + Benediction
- Lenten Poor Man's Meals: Fridays 5:30 PM in La Salle cafeteria, benefiting Mohnton Food Bank
Faith Formation — CCD and Religious Education
St. John's CCD program provides faith formation and sacramental preparation for parish children who attend public school, as well as sacramental preparation for all parish children. Classes meet on Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45 PM and run from September through April. Bernadette Yohn is the Director of Religious Education. Tuition is $50 for one child and $25 for each additional child.
- Classes Sundays 6:30–7:45 PM, September–April
- First-Grade and new-family registration required
- Catechists needed and trained
- DRE: Bernadette Yohn, 610-777-1697
Becoming Catholic — RCIA
Adults interested in the Catholic faith — the unbaptized, Christians of other traditions, or baptized Catholics who have not yet received Reconciliation and Confirmation — are welcomed into the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Sessions meet on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the Fr. Lyon's Room, usually beginning in early October and running a few weeks after Easter. Contact Bernadette Yohn, Director of Religious Education, at 610-777-1697.
La Salle Academy — Parish School
La Salle Academy, at 440 Holland Street in Shillington, is the parish's regional Catholic school serving preschool through 8th grade. It was built through a 1988 capital campaign shared by three parishes — St. John Baptist de La Salle, the Church of St. Benedict in Plowville, and (then) St. Anthony of Padua — and dedicated on November 4, 1989. The school expanded under Fr. David Gillis in 2002 with a new wing of four classrooms, an art and music facility, science labs and computer-technology labs. The academy also welcomes students of other faith traditions.
- Grades: Preschool through 8th
- Students typically continue to Berks Catholic High School
- Regional school: St. John Baptist de La Salle + Church of St. Benedict (Plowville)
- Phone: 610-777-7392; website lsabear.com
Outreach — Food Pantry and Emergency Meals
Non-perishable food is collected at each Sunday Mass and delivered to the Mohnton Food Bank. Drivers are needed to collect and deliver the donations, and the parish is also seeking volunteers willing to provide emergency meals to families in crisis.
- Sunday food collection after Mass
- Benefits the Mohnton Food Bank
- Emergency meals for parishioners in need
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Volunteers knit or crochet shawls that are blessed by Fr. Ed and given to the sick at home, the hospitalized and those in nursing homes. The group meets once a month in prayerful silence; those who cannot attend can craft at home, and material donations are welcome.
- Shawls blessed by Fr. Ed
- Monthly meetings; home crafting welcome
- Contact: Elaine Strick, 610-856-7264
Nursing-Home Outreach
On the fourth Wednesday of each month at 10:30 AM, parishioners gather at the Mifflin Center Nursing Home on Philadelphia Avenue in Shillington to celebrate Mass with residents. Volunteers also lead the rosary there every Friday at 1:00 PM. Anyone from the parish is welcome, and helpers are needed to bring residents from their rooms to the worship space.
- Mass: 4th Wednesday, 10:30 AM at Mifflin Center
- Rosary: Fridays 1:00 PM
- Contacts: Pat Goodhart (610-777-4817), Mike & Billie Resch (610-775-3927)
Sacrament of Baptism
Baptism is celebrated on the second Sunday of each month. Parents must complete the parish Baptismal Prep Program and contact the parish office at least three months in advance. Only registered parishioners who are known and active in parish life, and who — if married — are in a valid sacramental marriage, may have children baptized here. Sponsor certificates must be requested at least one month ahead.
- Celebrated 2nd Sunday of the month
- Prep required; contact 3 months in advance
- Parish office: 610-777-1697
Sacrament of Marriage
Weddings are normally celebrated within Mass, on Saturdays between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM, and never during Lent. Couples must contact the parish at least six months ahead, meet with the priest, complete the FOCCUS inventory, attend a diocesan marriage-preparation program (Marriage Preparation Dialogue or Engaged Encounter) and present a Pennsylvania marriage license. Fees are $150 for parishioners and $200 for non-parishioners, due one month before the wedding.
- Book at least 6 months in advance
- FOCCUS + marriage-prep program required
- PA marriage license required
- Fees: $150 parishioner / $200 non-parishioner
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Hasson1948–1950
First pastor; stepped down due to ill health. Converted a private residence at 332 E. Walnut St. into a chapel seating 110 people that also housed the rectory.
- Rev. Henry D. McPeak1950–1962
Second pastor. Parish grew to 300 families; in 1952 he purchased a two-story factory building at W. Walnut and N. Wyomissing and converted it into a church/school complex. The Merion Sisters of Mercy staffed the school.
- Fr. Lyonsserved through the 1960s
Third pastor. In May 1968 purchased property on the corner of Kerrick and Mitti in West Hills for the present church; the convent (now parish offices) was built in 1969 and the church and rectory in 1970.
- Msgr. Thomas Birch1987–1996
Fourth pastor. Led the capital campaign and groundbreaking for La Salle Academy; school dedicated November 4, 1989. Stepped down in 1996 due to ill health and became Pastor Emeritus.
- Fr. David Gillis1996–c.2005
Fifth pastor. Served nine years; oversaw a 2002 school expansion adding four classrooms, an art and music facility, science labs and computer technology labs.
- Fr. Richard Clement2005–
Sixth pastor. Led a major sanctuary renovation: field-stone walls, twelve-foot crucifix, relocated baptismal font, new pulpit, marble-tile floors, new sound/lighting system and organ.
- Rev. Edward Essigcurrent
Seventh pastor of St. John Baptist de La Salle.