About St. John the Baptist · Perryopolis, Pennsylvania
The Church of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic parish in Perryopolis, Pennsylvania, founded in 1904 to serve the Slavic, Italian, and other ethnic Catholic communities of Northwestern Fayette County whose roots trace to the early-20th-century coal mining era. It belongs to the Diocese of Greensburg and today, under a tri-parish team with St. Sebastian in Belle Vernon and Epiphany of Our Lord in Monessen, ministers to the Perryopolis–Smock area. The parish gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, offers Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, runs a vibrant faith-formation program, and supports active St. Vincent de Paul and Knights of Columbus outreach to those in need.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Father Anthony Onoko
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist welcomes the Catholic people of Perryopolis and the broader Northwestern Fayette County area — a historic community with Slavic, Italian, and coal-country roots — to share daily Mass, Sunday Eucharist, and Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesdays after Mass and First Saturdays, 9:30–11:00 a.m.). A wide range of ministries invites every parishioner to serve, from the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and utility-assistance Poor Box, to the Knights of Columbus, Christian Men & Women, youth ministry (grades 6–12), the choir and Music Ministry, and a full sacramental-preparation program for Baptism, First Reconciliation/Eucharist, Confirmation, and OCIA. With its newly restructured tri-parish team sharing clergy with St. Sebastian and Epiphany of Our Lord, it is a community where families at every stage of faith can find formation, fellowship, and service.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (or by request)
Adoration times
- Every Wednesday following morning Mass for 1 hour
- First Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Parish History & Heritage
The parish's story stretches from a June 26, 1904 founding meeting led by Father E.E. Gelhof, through the dedication of the first church on October 9, 1904, to the construction of the present church (dedicated November 28, 1976) and the 2013 welcome of former St. Hedwig parishioners from Smock. Visitors' page and the History page emphasize the community's Slavic, Italian, and other ethnic backgrounds, along with its coal-mining roots in early-20th-century Perryopolis. The parish continues to honor this heritage through its 125th anniversary plans (2029) and the 50th Dedication Anniversary of the current church (2026).
- 1904 — Founding meeting on June 26; church dedicated October 9
- 1905 — Father J.V. Vrana appointed first pastor; cemetery property acquired
- 1906 — Rectory and parish school built; school closes 1908
- 1936 — Father A.J. Suran forms the Altar Society (80th anniversary 2016)
- 1948–1962 — Father John A. Stofcik builds new school (opened 1956) and convent (1961)
- 1974–1976 — Father Francis Lesniowski's $700,000 campaign; current church dedicated November 28, 1976
- 1994 — St. John the Baptist School closed during diocesan regionalization
- 2008 — Parish partnered with St. Hedwig, Smock under Father Lubic
- June 25, 2013 — St. Hedwig closed; Mass of Welcome and Remembrance at St. John the Baptist on June 27, 2013
- 2026 — Planned 50th Dedication Anniversary of current church building
- 2029 — Planned 125th Anniversary of the parish
Clergy & Staff
Father Anthony Onoko serves as Pastor and Father Michael Thomas as Parochial Vicar, both appointed in July 2025 by Bishop Larry J. Kulick to minister jointly at St. John the Baptist, St. Sebastian in Belle Vernon, and Epiphany of Our Lord in Monessen. A regional staff supports parish operations, faith formation, music, and safe environment.
- Father Anthony Onoko — Pastor
- Father Michael Thomas — Parochial Vicar
- Adelle Slebodnik — Regional Director of Faith Formation & Discipleship
- Christine Coletti — Regional Business Manager
- Amy Legeza — Office Manager / Safe Environment Coordinator
- Tina Mahallick — Administrative Assistant
- Jenn Loomis — Music Ministry Coordinator
- Scott Martin — Director of Faith Formation (Baptismal Prep, Confirmation inquiries: 724-736-0158)
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Thursday at 9:00 a.m., with additional Friday Masses on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of the month at 9:00 a.m., and a First Saturday Mass at 9:00 a.m. The Sunday schedule is anchored by the Saturday Vigil at 4:00 p.m. and the Sunday Mass at 9:30 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Saturday at 3:00 p.m. or by request, and the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated by request (with a 3rd Friday communal celebration following Mass).
- Daily Mass: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd Friday: 9:00 a.m.
- First Saturday: 9:00 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 9:30 a.m.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00 p.m. or by request
- Anointing of the Sick: by request; 3rd Friday following Mass
- Emergency pastoral care: 724-397-7035
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. John the Baptist is part of the Mid-Valley Region of Faith, Family and Discipleship, working with the Diocesan Office of Faith, Family and Discipleship to offer year-round formation opportunities for every age and stage.
- Traditional Faith Formation for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Montessori-based for ages 3 through 4th grade
- Youth Ministry for Grades 6–12
- Young Adult Ministry for ages 18–40
- Adult Formation programs and Pathways yearlong adult faith-enrichment series
- Enlighten! — two-year graduate-level program through the Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary
Sacramental Preparation
Sacramental preparation focuses on the grace and lasting faith-life steps tied to each sacrament, with programs tailored for children and older candidates.
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — preparation during 2nd grade (provided the child attended Faith Formation in 1st grade)
- Confirmation — preparation during 8th grade (now the standard year of reception); candidates must attend Faith Formation and/or Youth Ministry and Sacramental Preparation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and OCIY (Order of Christian Initiation of Youth) — year-round
- Confirmation for ages 16+ — contact Scott Martin, 724-736-0158
Parish Organizations & Outreach
Parish organizations combine spiritual life with hands-on outreach to the wider Perryopolis community. The St. Vincent de Paul Society runs a food, paper-products, and hygiene pantry and a Poor Box for utility and gas assistance, and helps at the community food bank every three months. The Christian Men & Women of St. John the Baptist clean the church seasonally and serve as lectors and Communion ministers to the sick and homebound, while the Knights of Columbus offer fraternal and charitable support.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — meets 2nd & 4th Thursday, 2:00 p.m. in the former convent; pantry donations may be left in the vestibule near the statue of Mary; Poor Box is on the wall above the offertory table
- Knights of Columbus — contact Tim Babyak, 724-326-4788
- Christian Men & Women — church cleaning, lectors, Communion to the Sick/Homebound
- Vocation Ministry — prayerful ministry supporting Consecrated Life, Married Life, and Blessed Singleness
- Fundraisers — Friday Fish Fries, Spaghetti Dinners, Flea Markets, and Parish Festival
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical lay assistance is the backbone of Sunday worship, with youth and adult roles across serving, reading, music, and hospitality. Music Ministry is coordinated by Jenn Loomis and includes choir, memorial choir, cantor, and instrumentalists.
- Altar Servers — youth and adult
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — at Mass and to the homebound
- Lectors (Readers)
- Music Ministry — choir, memorial choir, cantor, and instrument (Jenn Loomis)
- Greeters
- Ushers
Stewardship & Getting Involved
Parishioners are encouraged to share Time, Talent, and Treasure. Volunteers — for everything from ushering to Fish Fry help — must keep their Pennsylvania and Diocese of Greensburg clearances up to date as a first step in serving.
- Time, Talent, and Treasure stewardship
- Volunteer clearances required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Diocese of Greensburg
- Ministry Schedules prepared through the Parish Office in multi-month blocks
Architecture & Sacred Objects
The 1976 church is the parish's second, built on the old school playground during Father Lesniowski's pastorate. Carefully preserved pieces of the original 1904 church give the new building a tangible link to its founding generation.
- Current church dedicated November 28, 1976
- Altar lamb — original 1904 altar piece, found, refinished, and placed in the 2011 altar
- Tabernacle — from the original church; tabernacle tower is a replica of the old bell tower
- Baptismal Font — used in both buildings; refinished and placed in 2011
- Church Bells and Cornerstone — from the original 1904 bell tower; refinished and mounted outside the main entrance in 2002
Contact & Visit
The Parish Office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; messages left in an emergency are checked. Visitors and returning Catholics are warmly welcomed to daily and Sunday liturgy and to the many ministries listed above.
- Address: 3332 Pittsburgh Road, Perryopolis, PA 15473
- Phone: 724-736-4442
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon/Wed/Thu, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Emergency pastoral care: 724-397-7035
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father E.E. Gelhof1904–1906 (founder); 1926–1929
Met with founding parishioners June 26, 1904; church dedicated October 9, 1904; returned for a second pastorate after Father Rosicki.
- Father J.V. VranaMay 1905 – April 1906
First appointed pastor of the newly formed parish; acquired cemetery property and built rectory and parish school.
- Father Michael TusekApril 1906 – July 1908
- Father Stanislaus MoravekJuly 1908 – September 1911
- Father F.C. SheaSeptember 1911 – November 1916
- Father Charles J. RosickiNovember 1916 – 1926
Served the parish for 10 years.
- Father S.M. Simko1929 – June 16, 1934
Began pastorate during the Great Depression; died in office.
- Father Michael J. ConroyAugust 1934 – February 1935
- Father A.J. Suran1935 – 1948
Served 13 years; formed the Altar Society of St. John the Baptist (80th anniversary celebrated in 2016).
- Father John A. StofcikJanuary 1948 – 1962
Remodeled church and school rooms; purchased 5½ adjoining acres; built new parochial school (opened 1956) and new convent (1961).
- Father James Miller1962 – 1967
- Father Edward Curry1967 – May 1974
Initiated discussions for building a new church.
- Msgr. Lawrence Kiniry1974 – 1976+
Assistant pastor during the new-church campaign and construction.
- Father Francis LesniowskiMay 1974 – 1981
Led the $200,000 campaign and $700,000 construction of the current church, dedicated November 28, 1976.
- Father William Rathgeb1981 – ~1983
Served about 15 months.
- Father James Petrovsky1983 – 1991
- Father John T. Euker1991 – July 2007
Closed St. John the Baptist School in 1994 amid diocesan regionalization; led successful debt-reduction program.
- Father Robert T. LubicJuly 2007 – March 2012
Partnered the parish with St. Hedwig, Smock in 2008 and became administrator of St. Hedwig in addition to pastor of St. John the Baptist.
- Father Anthony W. DittoMarch 2012 – July 2018
Also appointed administrator of St. Hedwig; continued serving after St. Hedwig's 2013 closure.
- Father Alvin E. CabungcalJuly 2018 – 2019
Filipino priest; installed as pastor by Bishop Edward Malesic on December 22, 2018; returned to the Philippines in 2019.
- Father Efren AmbreAugust 2019 – July 2020
Filipino priest; named Administrator.
- Father David NazimekJuly 2020 – July 2022
Named Administrator; served with Father Rodolfo "Rody" Mejia in residence.
- Father Rodolfo "Rody" MejiaJuly 2022 – July 2025
Installed as pastor; began planning for the 50th Dedication Anniversary (2026) and 125th Anniversary of the parish (2029).
- Father Anthony OnokoJuly 2025 – present
Current pastor; also serves St. Sebastian, Belle Vernon, and Epiphany of Our Lord, Monessen, with parochial vicar Father Michael Thomas.