About St. John the Baptist · Longmont, Colorado
St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic parish in Longmont, Colorado, in the Archdiocese of Denver. Founded in 1882 when Bishop Joseph Machebeuf dedicated the first church on Collyer Street, it has grown into a multi-generational community of more than 3,500 families with a parish school (preschool through 8th grade), a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel, a parish-run food bank, and Masses celebrated in both English and Spanish each week. The parish is led by Fr. Humberto Marquez, pastor, and Fr. Jose Delgado, parochial vicar, supported by three deacons and a large lay staff.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Humberto Marquez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a full Catholic life in one place: daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, a 24-hour Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel, a parish school serving preschool through eighth grade (long voted #1 in Longmont), and an on-site food bank that feeds more than 200 Longmont families each week. The parish runs faith formation for children, an OCIA process for adults, youth ministry, liturgical and music ministries, outreach such as the Homebound Ministry and a sister-parish partnership in Uganda, and a welcoming registration process for new parishioners.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 4:00 PM (Discover Mass lists 4:30–5:30 PM)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM (Discover Mass lists 3:30–4:30 PM)
- By appointment (call the parish office at 303-776-0737)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Adoration Chapel on the east side of the church (accessible 24 hours; on-site access Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM without sign-up, after-hours access arranged through the parish)
Parish History
St. John the Baptist was founded in 1882 when Bishop Joseph Machebeuf came from Denver to dedicate the first church, built on land donated at Third and Fourth Avenues and Collyer Street. It was named for the saint of the dedication day, John the Baptist. In 1888 Rome entrusted the parish to the Benedictine Fathers, who led it for 73 years. The original church was replaced in 1906 by a stone church blessed by Bishop Nicholas Matz, and the Sisters of St. Francis (from Milwaukee) opened St. Joseph's Academy in 1907. By 1960 the stone church was again too small; Fr. Martin Arno, O.S.B. razed it and built the current 760-seat sanctuary, opened with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1963 by Archbishop Urban Vehr. On September 26, 1971, Benedictine leadership ended and the parish has since been staffed by Archdiocese of Denver priests.
- 1882: First church dedicated June 24 by Bishop Machebeuf
- 1888: Parish entrusted to the Benedictine Fathers
- 1906 (March 13 / blessed July 2): Second stone church opened, Bishop Nicholas Matz
- 1907: Sisters of St. Francis open St. Joseph's Academy (forerunner of parish school)
- 1963 (Christmas Eve Midnight Mass): Current church dedicated by Archbishop Urban Vehr
- 1971 (September 26): End of Benedictine era; Archdiocese of Denver takes over staffing
- 1999: Addition completed — Adoration chapel, classrooms, gathering hall, gift shop, offices
- 2001: 'Share the Vision' capital campaign launched
- 2010 (June): $7.5 million debt paid in full — parish becomes debt-free
- 2015: Parish reports more than 3,500 families enrolled
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Humberto Marquez, pastor, who was assigned to St. John the Baptist effective July 1, 2023 by the Archdiocese of Denver. He is assisted by Parochial Vicars Fr. Jose Delgado and Fr. Guillermo Bustillos, three deacons (Mike Berens, Ted Rhoades, and Jose Rodriguez), and a large lay staff including Mary Ruth Bauer (Assistant to the Pastor), Mick Shivley (Business Manager), Peggy Belknap (Lead Bookkeeper), Maggie Howard (Director of Music), Marla Zubrinic (Faith Formation Coordinator and Youth Director), Danielle Coon (OCIA Coordinator), Susana Bonilla (Catecismo), Nancy Olivari (Gift Shop Manager), Christine Entrekin, Paloma Fierro, Michael Sanchez, Michael Merrell, and facilities/maintenance staff Lyle Herrera and John Jackson.
- Pastor: Fr. Humberto Marquez
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Jose Delgado
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Guillermo Bustillos
- Deacons: Dcn. Mike Berens, Dcn. Ted Rhoades, Dcn. Jose Rodriguez
- Assistant to the Pastor: Mary Ruth Bauer
- Business Manager: Mick Shivley (ext. 111)
- Lead Bookkeeper: Peggy Belknap (ext. 148)
- Director of Music: Maggie Howard (ext. 112)
- Faith Formation / Youth Director: Marla Zubrinic
- OCIA Coordinator: Danielle Coon
- Catecismo: Susana Bonilla
- Gift Shop Manager: Nancy Olivari
- Facilities/Maintenance: Lyle Herrera (manager) and John Jackson
Parish School
The parish school traces its origin to St. Joseph's Academy, opened in 1907 by the Sisters of St. Francis from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Today it serves preschool through eighth grade with an enrollment of about 333 students and is repeatedly recognized as a top school in Longmont. The parish's 'Share the Vision' campaign (launched 2001) updated the 1926 school building with a new regulation-size gymnasium, classrooms, energy-efficient windows, air conditioning, technology, and playground equipment.
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Approximately 333 students enrolled
- Voted #1 in Longmont (per parish communications)
- Inclusive Catholic education supported by a FIRE Foundation of Denver grant (since 2022) for paraprofessionals serving students with disabilities
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish runs religious education programs for children and youth (Faith Formation, directed by Marla Zubrinic) and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults inquiring into the Catholic faith, coordinated by Danielle Coon. Spanish-language catechesis (Catecismo) is led by Susana Bonilla, reflecting the parish's bilingual ministry.
- Faith Formation / Youth Ministry — Marla Zubrinic
- OCIA (adult initiation) — Danielle Coon
- Catecismo (Spanish) — Susana Bonilla
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life centers on 'faithful liturgy at the heart of which is Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.' The parish Music Ministry is led by Director of Music Maggie Howard, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are coordinated through the parish office (contact Maggie Howard).
- Director of Music: Maggie Howard (303-776-0737 ext. 112)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Parish livestream (YouTube) of select Masses
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is central to parish identity — the parish tells visitors it 'strives to live out and experience as a community of faithful Christians, the teachings of Him who founded our Church.' The flagship outreach is the parish Food Bank; the parish also supports a sister parish in Uganda and several hands-on ministries.
- Food Bank — parish-run, serves 200+ Longmont families weekly; volunteer-staffed; non-government-funded; located at 804 S. Lincoln Street (phone 303-678-1469, email [email protected])
- Homebound Ministry — brings the Eucharist to parishioners unable to attend Mass
- Not Just Knitting — meets second Friday at 1:00 PM; makes hats for the homeless and Food Bank clients, afghans (Jesse Tree), slippers and shawls for nursing homes, and baby items for Gabriel Project (contact Sharon Risedorf, 303-684-0955)
- Sister-parish partnership in Uganda — food, monetary donations, prayers, building supplies
New Parishioners & Parish Registration
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed. The parish encourages visitors to stop in the Perpetual Adoration chapel on the east side of the church before leaving, and new residents can register via ConnectNow. The parish lists reasons to register including sacramental eligibility, Catholic-school affiliation, receiving a donation statement, and joining the SJB community.
- Registration via ConnectNow
- Contacts: Mick Shivley (ext. 111, [email protected]); Peggy Belknap (ext. 148, [email protected])
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- New parishioner digital packet available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. J.W. Cummings1881–1882 (founding pastor)
Appointed pastor of the Catholic community in Longmont; secured the donated Collyer Street site and oversaw construction of the first church dedicated June 24, 1882.
- Benedictine Fathers (O.S.B.)1888–1971
Parish entrusted to the Benedictine Fathers by decree from Rome in 1888; ended September 26, 1971.
- Fr. Martin Arno, O.S.B.around 1960 (pastor at time of 1963 rebuilding)
Recognized the 55-year-old stone church was too small; oversaw razing of the old church and construction of the current 760-seat sanctuary, opened with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1963.