About St. John the Baptist · Monroe, Michigan
St. John the Baptist Parish is a historic Roman Catholic church in downtown Monroe, Michigan, founded in 1872 by Fr. Camillus P. Maes to serve the city's English-speaking (largely Irish) Catholic community. The parish sits at the corner of Fifth and Monroe Streets and is part of the Archdiocese of Detroit, currently within the South Monroe 2 Family of Parishes. Today St. John worships in its original 1870s church (rebuilt after an 1892 fire and lovingly restored in 1991), maintains a daily Mass and confession schedule in collaboration with nearby St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, and runs an active Christian Service Commission together with a collaborative K-8 Faith Formation program for the three Monroe parishes.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. David Burgard
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Monroe Vicariate, South Region, South Monroe 2 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a vibrant downtown parish life grounded in 150 years of Catholic tradition in Monroe. Weekday and Sunday Masses are celebrated in the historic church, with daily Eucharistic Adoration in the Mother Teresa Chapel Tuesday and Thursday mornings through 6:00 p.m. The parish runs active liturgical lay ministries (lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, cantors, arts & environment) and a collaborative K-8 Faith Formation program shared with St. Michael the Archangel and St. Mary parishes. Outreach runs deep through a joint St. Vincent de Paul conference, the St. John Food Pantry (housed at the Catholic Charities St. Joseph Center of Hope), and a monthly God Works community meal for the homeless and working poor.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:00 pm (at St. Mary Church)
- Following the First Saturday 8:30 am Mass (at St. Mary)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at (734) 241-8910
Adoration times
- Mother Teresa Chapel (St. John Parish office building, 16 East Fifth Street): Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- St. Mary Church (use West Door): Wednesdays, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- Monthly Eucharistic Exposition: Third Thursday of each month after the 8:15 am Mass, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Parish History
St. John the Baptist was organized in 1872 by the Rev. Camillus P. Maes to serve Monroe's English-speaking (largely Irish) Catholic community, which had spent roughly forty years attempting to establish its own parish. The corner of Fifth and Monroe Streets was purchased for $900 on September 12, 1872; Bishop Borgess laid the cornerstone on June 24, 1873 — the feast of St. John the Baptist. The 52-by-113-foot church was dedicated in September 1874. A devastating fire in January 1892 destroyed the interior and steeple, but the exterior walls survived; Detroit architects Donaldson and Meier rebuilt and rededicated the church in October 1892 — without the steeple, which would not return for nearly a century. A 1991, year-long, $1 million restoration project reinstated the steeple and restored the church to its original appearance. A Michigan Historical Center marker was erected at the site in 1999. The deeper story of the parish is documented in Dr. Annetta M. F. Kelley's parish history book, cited on the parish website.
- Founded 1872 by Fr. Camillus P. Maes
- Cornerstone laid June 24, 1873 by Bishop Borgess
- Church dedicated September 1874
- Steeple and interior destroyed by fire January 1892; rebuilt and rededicated October 1892 by architects Donaldson and Meier of Detroit
- $1 million, year-long restoration in 1991 reinstated the steeple and restored original appearance
- Michigan Historical Center marker erected at the site in 1999
- Source book: Dr. Annetta M. F. Kelley, A History of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Mass & Liturgy
The parish publishes a regular weekday and Sunday Mass schedule, with daily Masses celebrated at St. John Church (Tuesday and Thursday 8:15 am) and a First Saturday Mass at St. Mary at 8:30 am. Weekend Masses are the Saturday Vigil at 5:30 pm and Sunday Masses at 9:00 am and 11:30 am. Reconciliation is heard at St. Mary on Saturdays at 3:00 pm, after the First Saturday Mass, or anytime by appointment. The parish provides extensive liturgical lay ministry opportunities — lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, cantors and music ministers, and the arts & environment committee — and reminds parishioners that 'the Church calls people to the responsible stewardship of their time and talent in support of the Church.'
- Weekday Mass: Tuesday 8:15 am, Thursday 8:15 am
- First Saturday Mass: 8:30 am at St. Mary
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 pm
- Sunday: 9:00 am and 11:30 am
- Eucharistic Adoration: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Mother Teresa Chapel)
- Adoration: Wednesdays 9:30 am – 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm at St. Mary (use West Door)
- Monthly Exposition: Third Thursday after the 8:15 am Mass, 9:00–10:00 am
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:00 pm at St. Mary, after First Saturday 8:30 am Mass, or by appointment
Liturgical Ministries
St. John depends on a robust team of lay liturgical ministers to support every Mass. Lectors (Ministers of the Word) are scheduled to proclaim the first and second readings once or twice a month, with training and reflection time provided. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are recommended by the Pastor and approved by the Bishop; they distribute Communion at weekend and other Masses and bring it to the homebound. Altar servers include boys in fourth and fifth grade and above, and girls in fifth grade and above — families watch the bulletin for scheduled training sessions. Ushers serve as both hosts and housekeepers, greeting parishioners, assisting anyone in distress, and ensuring the Lord's house is in order. Cantors and music ministers lead the singing; members of the Arts & Environment Committee decorate the sanctuary for the liturgical seasons.
- Lectors (Ministers of the Word)
- Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers (weekend Masses, Communion services, homebound)
- Altar Servers — boys 4th–5th grade and up; girls 5th grade and up
- Ushers / Ministers of Hospitality
- Cantors and Music Ministers
- Arts & Environment Committee
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is a collaborative ministry shared by St. Michael the Archangel, St. Mary, and St. John the Baptist parishes. The program teaches the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church to help children in grades 1-8 grow in their faith and knowledge of Christ and His Church. Parents and children are offered opportunities to develop their prayer lives and a formal understanding of the Catholic faith. The 2025-26 registration form is published on the parish website, and the Faith Formation Director is Leslee Willis (734-241-6097, [email protected]). The program also runs an Atrium (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) for younger children; news updates note that the 3rd Grade Atrium class and the 6:00 pm 2nd-grade Tuesday class are full.
- Monroe Catholic Faith Formation — Grades 1-8 (collaborative with St. Michael and St. Mary)
- Atrium (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) for younger children
- Director: Leslee Willis — 734-241-6097 / [email protected]
- 2025-26 Faith Formation Registration Form available on the parish website
Christian Service & Outreach
The parish's Christian Service Commission coordinates several outreach ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul Society operates in collaboration with St. Mary Parish (734-241-1644). The St. John Food Pantry, reopened from the former St. Joseph Food Closet when St. Joseph Church in Monroe closed, is housed at the Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan St. Joseph Center of Hope, 222 Colonial Court, Monroe (behind ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital); donations can be dropped in the church vestibule or the parish office. God Works! is a coalition serving a monthly community meal for the homeless and working poor — St. John's meal is the 2nd Tuesday of each month at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 201 S. Monroe Street (northeast corner of Monroe and E. Third Sts.). The Family Soup Kitchen is another partner ministry.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — 734-241-1644
- St. John Food Pantry — Catholic Charities St. Joseph Center of Hope, 222 Colonial Court, Monroe
- God Works! — 2nd Tuesday of each month, St. Paul's UMC, 201 S. Monroe St. (Cooks 4 pm, Servers 5:30 pm, cleanup 6:30 pm)
- Family Soup Kitchen
- Liaison: Lillian Williamson — 734-770-7046 / [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments following the Archdiocese of Detroit's guidelines. Infant Baptism requires calling the Parish Office at least one month in advance to receive the form and discuss the process; baptism is described as the sacrament 'in which Christ Himself purifies, justifies and sanctifies' the child. Marriage preparation requires a six-month period under archdiocesan policy; at least one party must be a registered parishioner, and couples contact the parish office to reserve a date and the church. The sacraments page on the website directs parishioners to fill out a short 'Sacraments I need more information about' form so the parish office can follow up.
- Infant Baptism — call (734) 241-8910 at least one month in advance
- Marriage — six-month preparation required by the Archdiocese; one party must be a registered parishioner
- Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, RCIA — coordinated through the Parish Office
- Online 'Sacraments I need more information about' request form on the parish site
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently led by Pastor Fr. David Burgard, with the collaboration of Priests In Solidum Rev. Michael A. Anagbogu, Rev. Hendrico Rebello, S.A.C., and Rev. Kishore Battu, S.A.C. (who is listed as Primarily Responsible on the Archdiocesan directory). Deacon Mike Stewart assists with parish life. The wider staff includes a Pastoral Assistant (extension 105), a Faith Formation Director (Leslee Willis), and a Director (Andrew) supporting parish operations. The Archdiocesan directory lists the parish under the Monroe Vicariate, South Region, in the South Monroe 2 Family of Parishes.
- Pastor: Fr. David Burgard
- Priests In Solidum: Rev. Michael A. Anagbogu; Rev. Hendrico Rebello, S.A.C.; Rev. Kishore Battu, S.A.C.
- Deacon Mike Stewart
- Pastoral Assistant — (734) 241-8910, ext. 105
- Faith Formation Director — Leslee Willis
- Director — Andrew
Parish Service & Stewardship
Beyond formal ministries, the parish encourages parishioners to share their time and talent. The Garden Guardians are a volunteer team that maintains the parish grounds and keeps the property looking beautiful year-round (led by Diane Layhew, 734-242-5908). New parishioners are invited to become involved through the parish service page, which lists worship commission, evangelization, and Christian service commissions as avenues for fellowship and involvement.
- Garden Guardians — grounds volunteers, contact Diane Layhew at 734-242-5908
- Worship Commission
- Christian Service Commission
- Evangelization / Newcomer Welcome
- Parish office acts as steward-coordinator; contact [email protected]
Archdiocese of Detroit Pastoral Planning
The parish website notes that St. John the Baptist is part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's Pastoral Planning and Restructuring Initiative, and the site is a hub for updates and resources for parishioners as new information is made available. It directs questions to Fr. David. This initiative is the Archdiocese's broad reorganization under which parishes are clustered into Families of Parishes — St. John the Baptist belongs to the South Monroe 2 Family.
- Archdiocese of Detroit Pastoral Planning and Restructuring Initiative
- Member of South Monroe 2 Family of Parishes (Monroe Vicariate, South Region)
- Updates posted on the parish website
Visit & Contact
The parish campus includes St. John the Baptist Church, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church (enter through the West Door), and the St. John Parish office building at 16 East Fifth Street, which houses the Mother Teresa Chapel used for weekday Mass and Adoration. The main parish mailing address is 511 South Monroe Street, Monroe, MI 48161. Phone (734) 241-8910, fax (734) 241-1943. Parish office hours are Monday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed for lunch noon – 1:00 pm), Tuesday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, and Thursday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm; closed Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The official Facebook page is facebook.com/stjohnmonroe, where bulletins and current announcements are shared.
- Address: 511 South Monroe Street, Monroe, MI 48161
- Phone: (734) 241-8910 | Fax: (734) 241-1943
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Building / Mother Teresa Chapel: 16 East Fifth Street, Monroe
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjohnmonroe
- Office Hours: Mon 9 am–4 pm (closed noon–1 pm); Tue 9 am–3 pm; Thu 9 am–3 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Camillus P. Maes1872 – late 1870s
Organized the parish in 1872, purchased the Fifth and Monroe Street lot, oversaw construction and the 1874 dedication; later was called to Detroit as temporary secretary to the bishop.
- Rev. Frank A. O'Brien1870s (interim)
Monroe native who served as pastor pro tempore while Fr. Maes was assisting the bishop in Detroit.