About St. John · Bellaire, Ohio
St. John the Evangelist Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Bellaire, Ohio, founded in 1855 and now part of the Diocese of Steubenville. The parish is currently linked with neighboring St. Mary Parish in Shadyside, together serving the communities of Bellaire, Neffs, Shadyside, and Powhatan Point. It is pastored by Fr. Daniel Heusel, with a central office at 3745 Tallman Avenue and weekly Masses celebrated in the parish church. The parish is well known for its 1925-built church featuring marble, granite pillars, a mosaic of Jesus, a mural of Christ the King, and stained-glass windows, marking a century of Catholic life on the Ohio River.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Daniel Heusel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist welcomes anyone seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, both through the personal witness of its members and through outreach to the wider Belmont County community. The parish and its sister St. Mary Parish offer daily and Sunday Mass, regular confession, Eucharistic Adoration (including 40 Hours), OCIA inquiry sessions, youth group for grades 7–12, small faith-sharing groups, and a Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul dedicated to person-to-person service of neighbors in need. Live-streamed Masses make it easy for shut-ins and family members far from Bellaire to remain connected to the parish.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (St. John's, Bellaire)
- Wednesday 7:30 AM – 7:45 AM (St. John's, Bellaire)
- Friday 7:30 AM – 7:45 AM (St. John's, Bellaire)
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (St. John's, Bellaire)
Adoration times
- Annual 40 Hours of continuous Eucharistic Adoration (e.g., Thursday, March 26 – Saturday, March 28)
Our Story: 1855 to Today
St. John the Evangelist Parish in Bellaire, Ohio, traces its roots to 1855, when Father John M. Jacquet purchased property and built the first brick church, dedicated by Archbishop Purcell under the title of St. John. Jacquet had been riding horseback from St. Mary's in Noble County, finding nearly 500 Catholics already living in Bellaire by 1865. A second church was later built on the site of the future grade school, and the present, third church was dedicated on November 8, 1925 — a building the parish marked with a centennial Mass in 2025.
- Founded 1855
- Second church on site of later grade school
- Current church dedicated November 8, 1925
- Centennial celebrated 2025
Faith Formation & OCIA
Adults and children over the age of seven who would like to become Catholic are invited to monthly OCIA inquiry sessions held in the St. John's Church Hall. Parish School of Religion (PSR) classes are also offered, and the parish is rolling out Discipleship Quads — small groups of six to eight people who meet to support one another in following Christ.
- OCIA inquiry sessions (monthly)
- PSR / Parish School of Religion
- Discipleship Quad small groups
Youth, Music & Parish Life
Youth in grades 7 through 12 are invited to a weekly Youth Group meeting. The parish choir joins with neighboring churches for special events like the Palm Sunday Choir Fest. Liturgical ministries are scheduled each week for Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors. The parish also gathers socially, including Caring Crafters on Wednesday evenings and a Spring Assembly each year.
- Youth Group (grades 7–12)
- Choir & Palm Sunday Choir Fest
- Caring Crafters (Wed 5:30 PM)
- Annual Spring Assembly
Outreach & Service
Motivated by the example of Christ, St. Vincent de Paul, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and St. Martin de Porres, the parish hosts a Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul dedicated to person-to-person service of neighbors in need. The parish also has an active Knights of Columbus council.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Knights of Columbus
- Care packages sent to college students
Pastoral Plan 2025–2026
Inspired by the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ, the linked parishes of St. John and St. Mary have adopted a three-goal pastoral plan for 2025–2026: Stewardship (a 25% increase in ministry participation), Evangelization (reaching inactive members), and Community (better communication and three social events). The parish also uses the Ministry Architects 'Discovery Tool' survey to help parishioners match their gifts with ministries.
- Goal 1 – Stewardship: +25% ministry participation
- Goal 2 – Evangelization: outreach to inactive members
- Goal 3 – Community: communication & social events
Our Staff & Contact
St. John and St. Mary Parishes share a central office at 3745 Tallman Avenue, Bellaire, open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Fr. Daniel Heusel serves as pastor of both parishes and can be reached at his cell phone or via email. Mrs. Tonya Grimm serves as parish secretary.
- Fr. Daniel Heusel – Pastor – [email protected] – cell (740) 298-4158
- Mrs. Tonya Grimm – Secretary – [email protected] – (740) 676-0051
- Central Office: 3745 Tallman Ave., Bellaire, OH 43906
- Office Hours: M/W/F 8 AM–12 PM and 1 PM–4 PM
- Fax: (740) 671-9776
The Church Building (1925)
The present St. John's Church, dedicated November 8, 1925, was built with marble walls, granite pillars, a mosaic of Jesus, a mural of Christ the King surrounded by his apostles, and stained-glass windows. Parishioners at the 2025 centennial described the craftsmanship as something that could not be reproduced today, calling it a precious legacy of their ancestors.
- Dedicated November 8, 1925
- Marble walls and granite pillars
- Mosaic of Jesus
- Mural of Christ the King with apostles
- Stained-glass windows
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John M. Jacquet1855–
Missionary priest from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati who founded the first St. John church in Bellaire in 1855 while based at St. Mary's, Noble County, riding horseback to serve the Catholic laborers of the Ohio Valley.