About St. John the Baptist · North Bennington, Vermont
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a small, welcoming Roman Catholic parish serving North Bennington, Vermont, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. The parish has been formally designated the parish of North Bennington since 1874, and the present church building was dedicated in 1929. It is served by priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) and is twinned administratively with Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales in Bennington, with shared clergy and faith-formation staff.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Kevin Russeau, C.S.C.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a small but vibrantly community-minded parish where the congregation is known for its warmth, its multi-generational lay societies (especially the long-running Sodality), and its openness to new evangelization. Worship is grounded in the Eucharist, the Gospel, and prayer, and the parish offers a real range of formation for all ages — from Totus Tuus summer catechesis for grades 1–12, to ongoing 'Consoling the Heart of Jesus' retreats for adults, to faith formation for families. Served by Holy Cross priests with a long tradition of praying for priestly vocations, the parish is a fitting spiritual home for anyone in the North Bennington area seeking a friendly, Christ-centered Catholic community.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday of the month, 9:30 am – 10:15 am (following the 9:00 am Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Following the First Saturday 9:00 am Mass
History of St. John the Baptist Parish
St. John the Baptist Parish was formally designated the parish of North Bennington in 1874. The present church — a red-brick building with a stained-glass window of St. John the Baptist in the sanctuary — was dedicated in 1929 and remains the heart of the parish community today. The parish is twinned with Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales in Bennington, and the two share clergy and faith-formation staff.
- 1874 — Parish formally designated for North Bennington
- 1929 — Current church dedicated
- A beloved former pastor, Father Michael Demasi, is remembered by name on the parish Sodality's annual Mass for past priests
- St. John's Sodality is the longest continuously active society of the parish
Patron Saint and Feast Days
The parish takes its name from St. John the Baptist, one of only three saints in the Roman Calendar honored with two feast days — the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24, and the Feast of St. John the Baptist on August 29. On June 24, the parish traditionally holds a parish picnic, and the St. John's Sodality has a Mass offered for all living and deceased priests who have served at the parish.
- Nativity of St. John the Baptist — June 24
- Feast of St. John the Baptist — August 29
- Annual parish picnic on the Nativity
- Sodality Mass for past priests on the Nativity
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) and is staffed jointly with Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales in Bennington. Fr. Kevin Russeau, C.S.C. is the current pastor; Fr. Hugh Cleary, C.S.C. serves as parochial vicar, having joined the Bennington-area parishes in 2016 after two terms as Superior General of the worldwide Congregation of Holy Cross in Rome (1998–2010).
- Fr. Kevin Russeau, C.S.C. — Pastor (phone 574-276-4661)
- Fr. Hugh Cleary, C.S.C. — Parochial Vicar (phone 802-442-3141)
- Deacon Gary — assists with 'Consoling the Heart of Jesus' retreats and parish life
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Faith formation at St. John the Baptist is family-based and runs in cooperation with Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales. Each summer the parish hosts the Totus Tuus program, a week-long Catholic youth catechetical mission for grades 1–12 led by college-age teachers, filled with games, songs, and (weather permitting) a closing water fight.
- Family Faith Formation (year-round)
- Totus Tuus — week-long summer catechetical program for grades 1–12
- Contact: Mary Drew, [email protected], 802-442-3141
Adult Formation: 'Consoling the Heart of Jesus'
The parish hosts a recurring retreat series titled 'Consoling the Heart of Jesus,' which draws on St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises, St. Thérèse's Little Way, and St. Faustina's Divine Mercy. Sessions are offered in multiple formats so that parishioners and visitors from either parish can take part.
- Thursdays 7:30 pm on Zoom with Deacon Gary and Kathy Zack (request the link from [email protected])
- Thursdays after the 9:00 am Mass at St. John's Fr. Demasi Hall
- Thursdays 6:30 pm at Sacred Heart St. Francis Parish Center
- Self-paced option at Formed.org (free account at signup.formed.org)
- Contact: Jen McGean, [email protected], 802-447-7504
Parish Ministries and Outreach
St. John's runs a small but active set of lay ministries that serve both the parish and the wider North Bennington community. The parish is listed in regional food-security networks for its food shelf, and the Mary Garden on the parish grounds hosts the annual Crowning of Mary.
- St. John's Sodality — longest active parish society
- Food Shelf — community outreach
- Funeral Ministry — hymns, readings, eulogy coordination
- Eucharistic Ministers — scheduled
- Mary Garden — annual Crowning of Mary tradition
- Parish Evangelization Committee (joint with Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales)
Sacraments
The parish regularly celebrates the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and sacramentals, and welcomes parishioners to contact the office for the other sacraments including Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. The First Saturday Mass is followed by confessions and adoration as a special devotional day.
- Eucharist — Sunday, daily, and First Saturday Masses
- Reconciliation — First Saturday 9:30–10:15 am, or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick and Pastoral Care — by appointment
- Baptism, Marriage — contact the parish office
Visiting and Contact
St. John the Baptist sits on Houghton Street in the village of North Bennington. The parish office is open three days a week, and many parish activities (including Mass) are live-streamed or available on social media for those unable to attend in person.
- Physical address: 3-5 Houghton Street, North Bennington, VT 05257
- Mailing address: PO Box 219, North Bennington, VT 05257
- Phone: 802-447-7504
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Fri 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Live-streamed Masses — see the parish website
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJohnsNB
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Demasi
A former pastor described as 'especially beloved' by parishioners; a Mass is offered for all past pastors on the June 24 Sodality feast.
- Fr. Hugh Cleary, C.S.C.2016 – present (as Parochial Vicar)
Joined the parish in 2016 after completing two six-year terms (1998–2010) as Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Rome.