About St. John the Baptist · Howell, Michigan
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Howell, Michigan, in the Diocese of Lansing. Its story begins in 1838 when Mass was first celebrated in the homes of local families, and the community has worshipped on the same tract of land — purchased for $50 in 1844 — ever since. Officially designated as a parish in 1974 under its first pastor, Fr. Allen Theis, the church grew rapidly with the suburbanization of Livingston County and now serves a thriving community at its present site on the northwest corner of M-59 and Hacker Road. Today the parish is led by Fr. Francis George, who has been pastor since July 2000, and offers weekend and weekday Masses, Faith Formation for all ages, a vibrant youth ministry, and a music program.
- Established
- 1843
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Francis George
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a full sacramental and parish life for Howell-area Catholics: weekend and daily Masses (with weekday Masses in the smaller Little Church), Saturday Reconciliation, a Faith Formation program that includes Adult Faith Formation, RCIA, Religious Education, a High School Youth Group and the Jr. Crew for grades 6–8, and a Music Ministry with adult choir, children's choir (grades 3–8), cantors, accompanists and instrumentalists. With a deep history stretching back to 1838, two parish cemeteries, and a beautiful church dedicated in 2002, it is a long-established community where families can worship, learn and serve across every stage of life.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
- Or by appointment
Parish Overview
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Howell, Michigan, part of the Diocese of Lansing. Its mission is to be 'a family of Faith, striving to embody the Word through unselfish service, loving prayer, and the celebration of the Sacraments.' The parish serves Howell and the surrounding Livingston County area with weekend and daily Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Faith Formation for every age, and active youth and music ministries.
- Diocese of Lansing
- Family of Faith mission
- Weekend Masses in the Main Church; weekday Masses in the Little Church
- Saturday Reconciliation 4:00–4:30 pm or by appointment
History of St. John Parish
Catholic life in Howell goes back to 1838, when Mass was first said in parishioners' homes. On February 12, 1843 the community was organized as a mission under Fr. Patrick O'Kelly. A year later, a committee of local Catholic families — including the Bergins, McGuires, Hugh McKeever and John Weakley — drew a map of their homes; Michael Bergin walked to Detroit to present it to the Bishop, and on January 20, 1844 two acres were purchased for $50 from Michael McGuire as the permanent church site.
- 1838: First Masses celebrated in homes
- Feb. 12, 1843: Becomes a mission under Fr. Patrick O'Kelly
- Jan. 20, 1844: Two acres purchased for $50
- 1868: Brick-frame church built; cornerstone dated June 24, 1868
- 1912: Sunday Mass becomes weekly
- Oct. 14, 1974: Officially designated a parish; Fr. Allen Theis named first pastor
Buildings, Grounds, and Cemeteries
Since the original log church, the building has been rebuilt several times on the same 1844 tract of land. The 1868 brick-frame church's cornerstone bears the date June 24, 1868 — the feast of St. John the Baptist. Continued growth led to the present St. John Church, a $6.85 million project erected on the northwest corner of M-59 and Hacker Road and dedicated on Sunday, October 27, 2002 under Fr. Francis George. The parish maintains two cemeteries — one on Brophy Road, now closed, and one adjacent to the church, expanded with land deeded from the Michael Bergin estate and formerly maintained by the Robert Foldenauer, Sr. family.
- 1868 brick church cornerstone dated June 24, 1868
- Current church dedicated October 27, 2002
- $6.85 million project under Fr. Francis George
- Brophy Road cemetery (no longer in use)
- Cemetery adjacent to the church
Parish Office and Visiting
The Parish Office is located at 2099 N. Hacker Rd., Howell, MI 48855. Office hours (closed 12:00–12:30 pm for lunch) are Monday through Wednesday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Thursday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Parishioners are encouraged to consult the current Parish Bulletin for any changes in office hours.
- Phone: (517) 546-7200
- Fax: (517) 546-0403
- Office closed 12:00–12:30 pm Monday through Friday
- Consult the Parish Bulletin for changes
Faith Formation
St. John Catholic Church offers many opportunities for learning and growing in faith. The Faith Formation umbrella covers Adult Faith Formation, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), Religious Education for children, and youth groups. Director of Faith Formation is Wendi Burke, with Faith Formation Secretary Kendra Serrico and Faith Formation Assistants Becky Baibak (Sunday) and Margo Eby (Monday & Tuesday).
- Adult Faith Formation
- RCIA
- Religious Education
- Wendi Burke — Director of Faith Formation
- Kendra Serrico — Faith Formation Secretary
- Becky Baibak — Faith Formation Assistant (Sunday)
- Margo Eby — Faith Formation Assistant (Monday & Tuesday)
Youth Ministry
St. John's youth ministry, led by Coordinator of Youth Ministry Jonathan Hill, has grown the High School program from 12 youth weekly to 45 since he began in 2005. The program is built around three weekly pillars — Fellowship, Fun and Faith — and adds Retreats, Service Projects, Mission Trips and a Homeless Awareness weekend. Jr. Crew is the Middle School youth group for grades 6–8, meeting one Friday a month from 7:00–9:00 pm in Room 10 and taking part in community service, holiday parties and the Middle School Rally.
- High School Youth Group — weekly Fellowship, Fun and Faith
- Retreats, Service Projects, Mission Trips
- Homeless Awareness weekend
- Jr. Crew — grades 6–8, one Friday a month, 7:00–9:00 pm in Room 10
- Community service, holiday parties, Middle School Rally
- Jonathan Hill — Coordinator of Youth Ministry (since 2005)
Music Ministry
Music at St. John is led by Director of Music & Liturgy Marie Vervaet. The Adult Choir adds four-part harmony to various Sunday Masses throughout the year and to Christmas Eve and Holy Week liturgies, with rehearsals on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the main church. The Children's Choir is open to students in grades 3–8 and sings at the 4 pm Christmas Eve Mass. The parish also welcomes cantors, pianists and organists, and band, orchestral, rhythm and guitar instrumentalists (high school age and beyond).
- Marie Vervaet — Director of Music & Liturgy
- Adult Choir — Wed 6:30 pm rehearsals
- Children's Choir — grades 3–8, Christmas Eve 4 pm Mass
- Cantors (formal/informal vocal training)
- Accompanists (piano/organ)
- Instrumentalists (band, orchestral, rhythm, guitar — HS+)
Parish Staff
The parish is staffed by Fr. Francis George (Pastor), three deacons — Deacon Dave Piggot, Deacon Bill Russell and Deacon Jonathan Hill — and a lay staff. Sandra Rollins serves as Office Manager, Tom Iafrate as Business Manager, Amy Shaw as Evening Secretary, Kendra Serrico as Faith Formation Secretary, Wendi Burke as Director of Faith Formation, Jonathan Hill as Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Marie Vervaet as Director of Music & Liturgy, Becky Baibak as Faith Formation Assistant (Sunday), Margo Eby as Faith Formation Assistant (Monday & Tuesday), and Michael Ramirez in Part Time Janitorial, with one Maintenance position currently open.
- Fr. Francis George — Pastor
- Deacon Dave Piggot
- Deacon Bill Russell
- Deacon Jonathan Hill
- Sandra Rollins — Office Manager
- Tom Iafrate — Business Manager
- Amy Shaw — Evening Secretary
- Wendi Burke — Director of Faith Formation
- Jonathan Hill — Coordinator of Youth Ministry
- Marie Vervaet — Director of Music & Liturgy
- Kendra Serrico — Faith Formation Secretary
- Becky Baibak — Faith Formation Assistant (Sunday)
- Margo Eby — Faith Formation Assistant (Monday & Tuesday)
- Michael Ramirez — Part Time Janitorial
- Open — Maintenance
Faith Formation Commission
The Faith Formation Commission supports the parish's catechetical mission, working with the Director of Faith Formation and staff to coordinate Adult Faith Formation, RCIA, Religious Education, and youth ministry programs.
- Coordinates Adult Faith Formation, RCIA, Religious Education, and youth ministry
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick O'KellyFebruary 12, 1843 –
Appointed to administer St. John as a mission, one of several under his care.
- Fr. Allen TheisOctober 14, 1974 – April 1976
First pastor of St. John when it was officially designated a parish.
- Fr. Thomas ThompsonJuly 11, 1976 –
Second pastor; led the transition from rural to suburban parish, began the Renew Program and expanded Religious Education and pre-marriage preparation.
- Fr. Al Wakefield
Served as pastor following Fr. Tom.
- Deacon Frank Wines
Served as temporary pastoral administrator.
- Fr. Terry Healy
Served as pastor for a short time.
- Fr. Joe PearisoOctober 1987 – May 1993
- Fr. David SpeicherJuly 1993 –
Began preliminary work and discussions toward a larger church and Christian Formation Center.
- Fr. Francis GeorgeJuly 2000 – present
Carried the new church project through design, construction and a $6.85 million fundraising campaign; the new church was dedicated October 27, 2002.