About St. John the Baptist · Johnstown, Colorado
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in Johnstown, Colorado, belonging to the Archdiocese of Denver. Founded in 1938 as a mission serving the Spanish-speaking laborers of the Great Western Sugar Company colony, it has grown into a culturally diverse parish that today also serves as the mother church for St. Nicholas in Platteville. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish throughout the week, hosts a Neocatecumenal community, runs faith-formation programs such as Totus Tuus, and gathers for daily Mass, weekly Adoration, and the sacraments at its current home on Country Acres Drive.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Luis Guilherme
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a culturally diverse, bilingual Catholic community in the heart of Johnstown that warmly welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking families alike. With daily Mass in both languages, a Saturday Neocatecumenal Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and regular Confession, the parish offers the full rhythm of Catholic sacramental life. Strong faith-formation programs for children and youth — including the Totus Tuus summer catechetical program — plus ministries such as the Knights of Columbus, give parishioners of every age concrete ways to grow in faith and serve their neighbors.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday: 5:30 p.m.
- Or by appointment (o por cita)
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (in the Holy Rosary Hall behind the church)
Our History
The story of St. John the Baptist begins with the Spanish-speaking laborers of the Great Western Sugar Company colony, who in 1936 raised $400 to build a small church dedicated June 24, 1938 by Archbishop Urban Vehr. From that humble beginning as a mission of Our Lady of Peace in Greeley, the parish grew into a stand-alone community that has served mission churches in Windsor, Gilcrest, and Platteville. After decades in the historic Dilley Chapel (1974) and a remodeled church (2002), the parish moved in 2014 to its present home on Country Acres Drive and continues to plan for a future church on a 20-acre site at County Roads 17 and 44.
- 1936: Land donated by Great Western; $400 raised by Juan Trujillo and Juan Baca
- 1937: Original church built; Stations of the Cross handmade
- June 24, 1938: Officially established as a parish by Archbishop Urban Vehr
- 1974: Historic Dilley Chapel purchased; first Mass Dec. 8, 1974
- 1975: Bishop George Evans dedicates the Dilley Chapel church (Jan. 26)
- 1990: Neighboring house acquired as rectory
- 2002: Church remodeled
- 2010: 20-acre site purchased at County Roads 17 & 44 for future church
- 2014: Moved to former Abundant Life Tabernacle at 1000 Country Acres Dr.
- 80th anniversary marked in 2018
Born in the Spanish Colony
Rebecca Healy's 1977 history A Tribute to Johnstown records that after the Great Western Sugar Company colony was settled in 1926, residents needed a place to worship and hold catechism classes in Spanish. Ten years later, two laborers made the dream of a church a reality, and the resulting parish carried the name of St. John the Baptist into the new Johnstown community.
- Founding laborers: Juan Trujillo and Juan Baca
- Funding: $400 in cash and promissory notes
- Inspiration: 1977 book A Tribute to Johnstown by Rebecca Healy
The Historic Dilley Chapel
In 1974, the growing congregation bought the historic Dilley Chapel, a former United Methodist church at 809 Charlotte Street. After renovations, the first Mass in the 'new' St. John the Baptist Church was celebrated on December 8, 1974, and Bishop George Evans formally dedicated the building on January 26, 1975. Father Casimir Rocay, S.F., was named the parish's first resident pastor.
- Address (original Dilley Chapel): 809 Charlotte St., Johnstown
- Original seating: 140
The Current Church
By 2014, the parish had outgrown its charming Gothic church. That July, under then-pastor Father Emilio Franchomme, the parish purchased the former Abundant Life Tabernacle Church at 1000 Country Acres Drive. After painting and renovating, parishioners moved the altar, tabernacle, crucifix, statues, and stained-glass windows from the old church into the new one — increasing seating from 140 to 250.
- Move led by Father Emilio Franchomme
- Seating expanded from 140 to 250
- Long-term plan: new church on 20-acre site at County Roads 17 & 44
Clergy
St. John the Baptist is served today by a pastor and parochial vicar who also shepherd the mission church of St. Nicholas in Platteville, together with two permanent deacons. A long list of past priests has shaped the parish since 1938.
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Angel Perez Brown
- Deacon: Dr. John Volk
- Deacon: Mike Otero
- Former clergy: Fr. Casimir Rocay, Fr. Thomas Stone, Fr. Jude Geilenkirchen, Fr. Frank Deml, Fr. Thomas Kelly, Fr. David Sobieszczyk, Fr. Steve Adams, Fr. William Smith, Fr. Emilio Franchomme
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. John the Baptist runs a year-round Religious Education program for parish youth and families and hosts the popular Totus Tuus summer catechetical program ('Totally Yours') led by trained college students and seminarians. Programs combine catechesis, daily Mass, Reconciliation, Adoration, songs, and games, with scholarships available.
- Religious Education Program (year-round; contact [email protected])
- Totus Tuus Elementary (Grades 1–6): Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Totus Tuus Middle & High School (Grades 7–12): Sun–Thu, 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Program cost: $35 per student (scholarships available); free for Grades 7–12
- Registration forms: Activity Release, Photo Release, Registration
Neocatecumenal Way
In addition to the regular English and Spanish Masses, the parish hosts a Saturday 7:00 p.m. Neocatecumenal Mass, reflecting the presence of the Neocatecumenal Way community within the parish.
- Saturday Neocatecumenal Mass: 7:00 p.m.
Knights of Columbus
The parish Knights of Columbus council supports the parish community through service and fellowship. Inquiries can be directed to the church office by phone or email.
- Contact: [email protected] or 970.587.2879
Spanish-Language Ministry (Misas en Español)
Reflecting its founding heritage in the Spanish colony, St. John the Baptist is one of the Archdiocese of Denver's recognized parishes offering Spanish Masses and evangelization. Spanish Masses are celebrated on Tuesday evenings, Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m., and Sunday afternoons at 12:30 p.m., with Confession available in Spanish by appointment.
- Misa en Español: martes 6:00 p.m.
- Misa Dominical en Español: domingo 8:00 a.m. y 12:30 p.m.
- Confesión por cita (o por cita)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, including Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and Quinceañera celebrations. Reconciliation is heard weekly, and Anointing of the Sick is available on request through the parish office.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Quinceañera
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick (by request)
Live-Streamed and Online Mass
The parish live-streams daily and Sunday Masses on its Facebook page and rebroadcasts the video on its YouTube channel, providing an option for the homebound and those unable to attend in person. Special Holy Week and Easter schedules have also been offered online.
- Live-streamed daily Masses (Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.)
- Live-streamed Sunday Masses
- Special Holy Week and Easter broadcast schedule
Serving Beyond the Parish: St. Nicholas, Platteville
St. John the Baptist shares clergy with St. Nicholas in Platteville, which ceased being a mission of SJB in 2012 but continues to be served by the same pastor and parochial vicar.
- St. Nicholas, Platteville served jointly by Fr. Bonilla and Fr. Perez Brown
- Shared Neocatecumenal and online Mass programming
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the church office by phone or email, and the parish welcomes everyone to its bilingual liturgies and events.
- Address: 1000 Country Acres Dr., Johnstown, CO 80534
- Phone: (970) 587-2879
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Education: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sjbjohnstown.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Casimir (Cassimir) Rocay, S.F.1975 (first pastor after parish status)
Named first resident pastor when Bishop George Evans dedicated the Dilley Chapel church on Jan. 26, 1975.
- Father Thomas Stone
Former priest of St. John the Baptist.
- Father Jude Geilenkirchen
Former priest of St. John the Baptist.
- Father Frank Deml
Former priest of St. John the Baptist.
- Father Thomas Kelly
Former priest of St. John the Baptist.
- Father David Sobieszczyk
Former priest of St. John the Baptist.
- Father Steve Adams
Former priest of St. John the Baptist.
- Father William Smith
Former priest of St. John the Baptist.
- Father Emilio Franchomme
Led the parish in 2014 to purchase and move into the current church at 1000 Country Acres Drive.
- Father Juan Manuel Bonillacurrent
Current pastor; also serves as pastor of St. Nicholas, Platteville.