About St. John the Baptist · Folsom, California
St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish is a vibrant, multicultural Catholic community in Folsom, California, situated on the American River northeast of Sacramento in the Diocese of Sacramento's Gold Country Deanery. Established in 1857 and now home to over 3,000 registered families, the parish offers daily and Sunday Masses in English, plus monthly Masses in Spanish, Filipino (Tagalog), and Indonesian, reflecting the diversity of its Folsom flock. It operates St. John Notre Dame School (K–8, founded 1962) on the same Montrose Drive campus and supports more than 60 active ministries ranging from RCIA and youth ministry to St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, and prison/restorative justice outreach. The current pastor, Fr. Giovanni B. Gamas, is assisted by a parochial vicar, three deacons, and a parish staff.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Giovanni B. Gamas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Gold Country Deanery)
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist welcomes more than 3,000 registered families into a remarkably multicultural Catholic life in Folsom, with Sunday Mass offered not only in English but also monthly in Spanish, Filipino, and Indonesian. The parish grounds on Montrose Drive bring together the 21,000-square-foot church, St. John Notre Dame School (K–8), the Parish Center, the Betty Dolan Education Center, and a new 2017 parish hall and gymnasium. Faith formation runs from RCIA and adult scripture studies through children's liturgy, youth and young-adult ministry, and the Marian Cenacle, while outreach reaches into Folsom Prison, local shut-ins, the Gabriel Project, and St. Vincent de Paul (311 Montrose Dr.). Daily Mass, an extensive adoration schedule, and a historic 1857 chapel still in use make it easy to belong, to serve, and to grow.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00pm – 4:45pm
Adoration times
- Mon–Thu: 7:00am – 8:00pm (Adoration Chapel, corner of Parish Office Building)
- Friday: 9:00am – 7:00pm (Adoration in the Church)
- Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Sunday: 7:00am – 11:00am
Parish History
The Catholic presence in Folsom began with the Gold Rush, when Fr. John Ingoldsby offered the first Mass here on May 29, 1851. Fr. John Quinn of St. Rose, Sacramento, founded a mission church in 1856; in 1857 Archbishop Joseph Alemany donated $115 for land and Fr. Quinn built the first church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The Diocese of Sacramento was established in 1886, and Folsom received its first resident pastor, Fr. James Hunt, in 1889. After a stretch as a mission of St. Patrick's, Placerville, the parish was restored to full status in 1917 under Fr. Michael Cahir, who built the first rectory but died of the 1918–19 influenza pandemic. Successive pastors built a second church in 1959 and the present 21,000-square-foot church on Montrose Drive, dedicated January 14, 1990. St. John Notre Dame School opened in 1962; the Betty Dolan Education Center was finished in 2005, and a new parish hall and gymnasium was dedicated in August 2017.
- Established 1857 by Fr. John Quinn
- First resident pastor Fr. James Hunt (1889)
- Present church dedicated January 14, 1990 (21,000 sq. ft.)
- Over 3,000 registered families today
The Historic 1857 Chapel
The original St. John the Baptist mission church built in 1857 still stands on the grounds of the historic cemetery at Sibley and Natoma Streets, about a mile from the present Montrose Drive campus. It is the oldest surviving church building in the Diocese of Sacramento and is still used for Masses on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July and for weddings.
- Oldest church still in use in the Diocese of Sacramento
- Corner of Sibley and Natoma Streets
- Used for Memorial Day, July 4 Masses and weddings
Clergy & Staff
Fr. Giovanni B. Gamas serves as pastor and is assisted by parochial vicar Rev. Chandra 'Dominic' Potnuru, MSFS, and three deacons: Dcn. Bill Goeke, Dcn. James McFadden, and Dcn. Dennis Gorsuch. Rev. F. Ignatius Haran continues as Pastor Emeritus. Parish staff includes School Principal Keith Martin, Office Manager Marcie Enriquez, Pastoral Secretary Marie, Coordinator of Religious Education Shannon Langer, Bookkeeper, and Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry Aaron Santos.
- Pastor: Fr. Giovanni B. Gamas
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Chandra 'Dominic' Potnuru, MSFS
- Deacons: Dcn. Bill Goeke, Dcn. James McFadden, Dcn. Dennis Gorsuch
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. F. Ignatius Haran
- School Principal: Keith Martin
- Religious Education Coordinator: Shannon Langer (916-985-7338)
- Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry: Aaron Santos
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. John the Baptist spans the entire life span, from baptismal preparation through adult spiritual growth. Shannon Langer coordinates Religious Education and RCIA, and Aaron Santos leads youth and young adult ministry. Adult offerings include Adult Scripture Study (Lee & Teresa Weider), Lay Mission Project, Praise & Worship, Theology on Tap, and WINGS (Women in Growth Spiritually). Couples for Christ supports marriage enrichment, while Children's Liturgy of the Word and children's babysitting during Mass serve parish families.
- Religious Education: Shannon Langer, 916-985-7338
- RCIA: Shannon Langer, 916-985-7338
- Adult Scripture Study (Lee & Teresa Weider)
- Lay Mission Project (Laura Wicklman)
- Praise & Worship (David Brauer)
- Theology on Tap (Aaron Santos)
- WINGS – Women in Growth Spiritually
- Couples for Christ
- Children's Liturgy during Mass
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry (Aaron Santos)
St. John Notre Dame School
St. John Notre Dame School (K–8) has served Folsom Catholic families since 1962, originally staffed by the Notre Dame Sisters. It now operates at 309 Montrose Drive under Principal Keith Martin (916-985-4129). The school's mission is to educate children, to encounter Jesus Christ, and to form disciples. In 2005 the parish opened the 9,000-square-foot Betty Dolan Education Center, housing the school library, kindergarten, technology room, faculty lounge, multi-purpose room, and the Religious Education Office.
- Established 1962
- Grades Transitional Kindergarten through 8
- Principal: Keith Martin, 916-985-4129
- Address: 309 Montrose Drive, Folsom, CA 95630
- Originally staffed by Notre Dame Sisters
- Betty Dolan Education Center opened 2005
Liturgy & Music
The liturgy is supported by a full complement of lay liturgical ministries: altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, the liturgical environment committee, choirs and musicians, and ushers. The parish also maintains a dedicated music director; contact the choir director after Mass for involvement.
- Altar Servers (Hugo Schmidt)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Steve & Maryanne Ashley)
- Lectors (Pati Midtlyng)
- Liturgical Environment (Arlete Peterson)
- Music Ministry – see choir director after Mass
- Ushers (Stanley Posis)
Outreach & Charity
St. John the Baptist lives out the corporal works of mercy through a deep bench of outreach ministries. St. Vincent de Paul (311 Montrose Dr.) leads assistance to the poor; the Gabriel Project accompanies mothers in crisis pregnancies; Catholics for Life promotes a culture of life; the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Grace Quilters, and Bereavement Hospitality/Receptions minister to the sick and grieving. The Parish's Prison/Restorative Justice Ministry serves the men at Folsom Prison (Fr. H. Gomez) and CSP Sacramento (Greg Mellor, Catholic Chaplain).
- St. Vincent de Paul (Mercy Knight, 916-985-4630, 311 Montrose Dr.)
- Gabriel Project (Debbie Sultan)
- Catholics for Life (Kathy Baxter)
- Pastoral Care Ministry (Dan Dunne, Candice Ralston)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry (Catherine Scot)
- Grace Quilters (Catherine Scot)
- Bereavement Hospitality / Receptions
- Folsom Prison ministry (Fr. H. Gomez)
- CSP Sacramento chaplaincy (Greg Mellor)
- Senior Visitation (Charlene Agles)
- Knights of Columbus (Hugo Schmidt)
- Ministerio Pastoral Hispano (Rommel Hernández)
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass and confession schedule, the parish maintains a robust devotional life. The Adoration Chapel (corner of the Parish Office Building) is open seven days a week, and the Divine Mercy Devotion combines the Chaplet, Rosary, and Morning Prayer. The Marian Cenacle (Marian Movement of Priests) meets in English on the first Wednesday of the month and in Spanish every Saturday. Companioned Prayer gathers on Fridays at 1:30pm in the Music Room under Dcn. Bill Goeke, and a regular Our Lady of Fatima devotion is offered.
- Eucharistic Adoration – Mon–Thu 7am–8pm; Fri 9am–7pm (in church); Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 7am–11am
- Divine Mercy Devotion / Cenacle – English (Leilani Badley) & Spanish (Marilena Useche)
- Marian Cenacle – English, 1st Wednesday 10am (Sally Gomez); Spanish, every Saturday (Carmen Gaytan)
- Our Lady of Fatima (Henry Altamirano)
- Companioned Prayer – Fridays 1:30pm, Music Room (Dcn. Bill Goeke)
- Patron Saint Novena to St. John the Baptist
Campus, Facilities & Visiting
The Montrose Drive campus includes the present church (dedicated 1990), the Parish Center, the Betty Dolan Education Center (2005), St. John Notre Dame School (309 Montrose Dr.), and a new parish hall and gymnasium completed August 2017. The Parish Office is open Monday–Thursday, 8:30am–4:30pm (closed for lunch 1–2pm) and is closed to the public on Fridays. The church building itself is open during scheduled Mass and Confession times only. About a mile away, the original 1857 chapel sits beside the historic cemetery at Sibley and Natoma Streets.
- Parish Office: Mon–Thu 8:30am–4:30pm (closed 1–2pm); closed Fridays
- Phone: 916-985-2065 | Fax: 916-985-7579
- Email: [email protected]
- Church open only during scheduled Mass and Confession times
- New parish hall and gymnasium dedicated August 2017
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Gallagher1859
First resident pastor; appointed by Archbishop Alemany
- Fr. Neil Gallagher
Non-resident Irish priest
- Fr. William Slattery
Non-resident Irish priest
- Fr. Francis Kelly
Non-resident Irish priest
- Fr. John Leahy
Non-resident Irish priest
- Fr. Timothy Crowley
Non-resident Irish priest
- Fr. Michael Gaulco
Non-resident Irish priest
- Fr. James Hunt1889
First truly resident pastor under Bishop Manogue
- Fr. Thomas Nugent1902 transferred
After his transfer to Red Bluff, Folsom became a mission of St. Patrick's, Placerville
- Fr. Michael Cahir1917–1919
Restored to full parish status; built first rectory in 1920; died of influenza Feb 14, 1919
- Fr. John Ellis
Succeeded Cahir
- Fr. Michael Hogan
First resident pastor of long duration
- Fr. Patrick Cronin
- Fr. William O'Toole
- Fr. James Healy
Built the second church across Sibley Street, used 1959–1990
- Fr. Walter Albrecht
- Fr. James O'Dea
- Fr. William Kinane1973–1995
- Fr. F. Ignatius Haran1995–2008
Now Pastor Emeritus
- Fr. Rey Bersabal2008–2016
- Fr. Sylvester Kwiatkowski2016–2019
- Fr. Renier Siva2019–2024
- Fr. Giovanni B. Gamas2024–present
Current pastor