About St. John the Baptist · Covington, Washington
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Covington, Washington, in the South King Deanery of the Archdiocese of Seattle. Its motto is 'Where Stewardship is a Way of Life,' and it is currently partnered in 'Parish Family 30' with sister parish Holy Spirit in Kent under the Archdiocese's Partners in the Gospel pastoral planning initiative. The parish offers Mass in English most days plus a monthly Spanish Mass on the first Friday, a robust faith formation program from preschool through adult, a youth ministry that includes Life Teen and Confirmation, and an active stewardship/welcome/outreach ministry culture staffed by bilingual clergy and lay ministers.
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Gilberto Mora Tapia (Parish Family 30 pastor, per archdiocese listing); Rev. Crispin A. Okoth serves as Priest Administrator / Vicar on-site
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (South King Deanery; Parish Family 30, paired with Holy Spirit, Kent)
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a welcoming Catholic community in south King County where members grow in faith from preschool through adulthood, with explicit programs for adults (RCIA, adult faith formation), youth (Life Teen and Confirmation), and children (PreK–4 faith formation). It has a bilingual staff, a monthly Spanish Mass, a daily Communion/Mass schedule, Saturday reconciliation, and a wide network of parish commissions and ministries — from women's ministry and stewardship/evangelization to outreach and a music ministry — that make it easy for newcomers to plug in. As Parish Family 30, it shares resources and leadership with neighboring Holy Spirit in Kent, strengthening pastoral care for the area.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Word & Communion Service (in place of weekday Mass): Tuesday 9:00 AM, Friday 9:00 AM
Parish Identity & Stewardship
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Covington, Washington, is a Roman Catholic parish whose published mission statement is simply 'Stewardship is a way of life.' The parish community is organized around three verbs used as menu headers on its website — Gather, Grow, and Go — reflecting how members gather for worship, grow in faith through formation, and go out in service. The stewardship frame runs through nearly every ministry.
Mission Statement & Tagline
The parish's tagline appears in its bulletin masthead and at the top of sjtbcc.org: 'The Catholic Community of St. John the Baptist – Where Stewardship is a Way of Life.' The mission is expressed as: 'the diversity of our gifts is used to answer Christ's call to proclaim and live the Gospel. Gather in God's Name! Grow in God's Time! Go in God's Spirit!'
Parish Family 30 (Partners in the Gospel)
In 2024, under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel strategic pastoral planning initiative, St. John the Baptist was grouped into 'Parish Family 30' together with Holy Spirit Parish in Kent. Parish families were developed by the Archdiocese based on factors including parishes' size, geography, cultural and ethnic makeup, financial health, and school presence. St. John and Holy Spirit share pastoral leadership under one pastor while retaining distinct parish identities and worship sites.
- Father serving as Vicar for Family 30 (Holy Spirit, Kent & St. John the Baptist, Covington)
- Parish Family 30 falls within the South King Deanery of the Archdiocese of Seattle
Clergy & Staff
Pastoral leadership for Parish Family 30 is provided by Rev. Gilberto Mora Tapia. On the St. John the Baptist site, Rev. Crispin A. Okoth serves as Vicar / Priest Administrator; he is originally from Kenya, has been a priest in the Archdiocese of Seattle for several decades, and joined St. John the Baptist in the summer of 2024. He speaks English and Swahili. A large team of pastoral assistants and coordinators supports every area of parish life.
- Rev. Gilberto Mora Tapia — Pastor, Parish Family 30
- Rev. Crispin A. Okoth — Vicar / Priest Administrator, St. John the Baptist; speaks English and Swahili
- Laurie Moloney — Pastoral Assistant for Liturgy & Pastoral Care
- Kathy Wickward — Pastoral Assistant for Administration, Stewardship, and Outreach; speaks English and Spanish
- Joan Williamson — Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation, RCIA & Sacramental Preparation
- Christina Daniel — Pastoral Assistant for Preschool/Elementary Faith Formation
- Veronica Nava Jimenez — Pastoral Assistant for Youth Ministry 5–12
- Peter Guthrie — Pastoral Assistant for Youth Ministry / Life Teen & Confirmation
- Luis ('Papa Luis') Diaz de Leon — Music Ministry Coordinator; speaks English and Spanish
- Rose McAvoy — Communications & Facility Rental; professional photographer
- Nancy Moore — Bookkeeper
- David Aldous — Facility Steward
- Andrea Schmek (or Shimek) — Database & Records Management
- Pat Defiesta — Bulletin Editor
- Joe Holien — Facility Supervisor
- Anne Frederick — Member Engagement
Worship & Liturgy
The parish maintains an active daily and weekend liturgical schedule anchored in Mass, reconciliation, and weekday prayer. Reconciliation is offered weekly before the Saturday Vigil Mass. A monthly Spanish-language Mass serves the Spanish-speaking members of the community, and a Liturgy Commission guides ongoing liturgical formation and review.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 5:30 PM
- Sunday Masses — 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 5:30 PM
- Monday & Wednesday — 9:00 AM Mass
- Tuesday & Friday — 9:00 AM Word & Communion Service
- Thursday — 6:30 PM Mass
- First Friday — 7:30 PM Mass in Spanish
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Liturgy Commission chaired by Mary Syslo (chair) with Scott Gilyeat (vice chair)
Faith Formation for All Ages
Faith Formation at St. John the Baptist is structured under a 'Grow' heading on the website and runs continuously from early childhood through adulthood. Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage) is supervised by the Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation, along with the RCIA process for adults.
- Elementary Faith Formation — PreK through Grade 4 (Preschool Catechists, Curriculum Coordinators, Administrative Coordinator, Program Coordinator)
- Middle School Faith Formation — Grades 5–8
- High School Faith Formation / Life Teen — Grades 9–12
- Confirmation preparation (youth)
- First Sacraments preparation
- Adult Faith Formation
- Small Faith Communities
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Youth Ministry — Life Teen & Confirmation
Youth Ministry is led by Peter Guthrie (Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry), who also runs the parish's Life Teen (high school, grades 9–12) and Confirmation programs. The staff team also includes a Pastoral Assistant for Youth Ministry grades 5–12 (Veronica Nava Jimenez).
- Life Teen (Grades 9–12)
- Confirmation preparation
- Middle School Youth Ministry (Grades 5–8)
Adult Formation & RCIA
Adult faith formation is overseen by Joan Williamson, who also directs the RCIA process and supervises all sacramental preparation. The parish also lists Adult Faith Formation explicitly on its website and supports Small Faith Communities as a way for adults to grow in discipleship.
Music Ministry
Music Ministry is coordinated by Luis ('Papa Luis') Diaz de Leon, an accomplished performer who schedules musicians and selects music for all Masses and is often seen singing, playing guitar, or at the soundboard. He speaks English and Spanish. The parish's Liturgy Commission has reviewed Vatican II music and contemporary liturgical documents (Sacrosanctum Concilium, Musicam Sacram, Pope Francis' Desiderio Desideravi, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal).
Stewardship & Parish Ministries
The 'Go' section of the website lists dozens of stewardship ministries, and a Ministry Coordinator engages new volunteers. The Stewardship & Evangelization Commission, chaired by Anne Frederick, coordinates renewal campaigns for Time, Talent, and Treasure and meets the third Tuesday of each month. A Welcoming Committee operates the Welcome Table and hosts a New Member Welcome Gathering with a tour of the parish and a host ministry meal.
- Stewardship & Evangelization Commission (meets 3rd Tuesday of each month)
- Welcoming Committee / New Member Welcome Gathering
- Membership Engagement & Strengths
- Returning Catholics ministry
- Parish Leadership Team
- Finance Council / Pastoral Council
St. John the Baptist Women's Commission
The Women's Commission exists 'to support, empower and form Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service.' It works through mentoring, formation, discussion, and sharing; promotes women as partners in the Gospel and co-heirs of the Kingdom of God; and seeks greater opportunities to recognize women in leadership roles within the parish.
Pastoral Care & Outreach
Pastoral Care is coordinated together with Liturgy by Laurie Moloney, who also helps plan funerals and other prayer services. Outreach and advocacy are woven into stewardship — the parish hosts a Catholic Social Teaching & Advocacy ministry, a Creation Care focus, and bi-annual service projects for grades PS–4 (e.g., Operation Christmas Child, food drives).
- Pastoral Care / funeral and prayer-service planning
- Catholic Social Teaching & Advocacy
- Creation Care
- PS–4 Outreach service projects (e.g., Operation Christmas Child, food drives)
Facilities & Rentals
The parish campus is cared for by a Facility Steward (David Aldous), a Facility Supervisor (Joe Holien), and a Facilities Team of about twelve volunteers who tidy up after Sunday classes. The parish rents its facilities for private events; inquiries are coordinated by the Administrative Assistant for Communications (Rose McAvoy).
- Facility Steward (David Aldous)
- Facility Supervisor (Joe Holien)
- Facilities Team (~12 volunteers)
- Private facility rentals coordinated by Rose McAvoy
Parish Office & Visiting
The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The mailing address is 25810 156th Ave. SE, Covington, WA 98042. The main line is 253-630-0701, with individual extensions for clergy and staff listed on the website's Staff page.
- Office Hours: Tue–Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Sat 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed Sun & Mon)
- General email: [email protected]
- Main phone: 253-630-0701
Knights of Columbus Council 11780
The parish is home to the Harry J. Tucker Jr. Council 11780 of the Knights of Columbus, serving the Covington area. The Council maintains its own council history and page; this is one of the most visible service organizations affiliated with the parish.
Archdiocese of Seattle Directory Listing
The parish is listed in the official Archdiocese of Seattle directory at archseattle.org, which confirms the address, that it belongs to the South King Deanery, that it is in Parish Family 30 with Holy Spirit (Kent), and that it is staffed under Partners in the Gospel. The directory's liturgy section mirrors the parish's published schedule: Saturday Vigil 5:30 pm; Sunday 9:00 am, 11:30 am, 5:30 pm; Monday 9:00 am; Thursday 6:30 pm; monthly Spanish Mass on the first Friday; Word & Communion Tuesday and Friday 9:00 am; Reconciliation Saturday 4:00–5:00 pm.