About St. John the Baptist · Plattsburgh, New York
St. John the Baptist is one of four historic worship sites that together make up Holy Cross Catholic Parish in Plattsburgh, New York, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. Located at 18 Broad Street in downtown Plattsburgh, the church is the mother church of Catholicism in the region, with parish origins going back to 1827 and the present stone edifice completed and dedicated in 1875. Today the church hosts a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, and weekday Masses on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and it shares one pastoral team with sister churches St. Peter's, Our Lady of Victory, and the St. John XXIII Newman Center serving SUNY Plattsburgh and Clinton Community College.
- Established
- 1827
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin M. McEwan
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is the historic mother church of Catholicism in the Plattsburgh area and remains a vibrant, active worship site within Holy Cross Parish. Parishioners gather at St. John's for a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, and weekday Masses on Monday, Wednesday and Friday — and the church is the home of the parish's PreK–5 faith formation program, including First Communion preparation and a summer Vacation Bible School, that meets Sunday mornings on site. Sharing one pastor, two parochial vicars, and a large team of deacons and lay ministers with three sister churches gives a small congregation the depth of staff and programming of a much larger parish.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM at St. Peter's (cluster-wide)
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM (per published listings for St. John the Baptist)
Adoration times
- Faith Formation adoration time (per parish site)
About St. John the Baptist
St. John the Baptist Church at 18 Broad Street is one of four worship sites of Holy Cross Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, sharing one pastor, two parochial vicars, ten deacons, and a full lay staff with sister churches St. Peter's, Our Lady of Victory, and the St. John XXIII Newman Center. The parish offers Mass in English five days a week at St. John's — a Saturday Vigil, a Sunday morning Mass, and weekday Masses Monday, Wednesday and Friday — and is the historic mother church of Catholicism in the Plattsburgh area, with roots going back to 1827.
History of the Parish
The congregation that became St. John the Baptist is the oldest Catholic parish in Plattsburgh. Mass was first celebrated in private homes (notably Hugh McGuire's Broad Street residence) by visiting priests from Quebec and Albany, including Fathers Mignault, Dongan, and O'Callaghan. Around 1827 Rev. Patrick McGilligan became the first resident pastor; he died in November 1828, after which the small flock worshipped in a converted "red store" on Cumberland Avenue. A succession of pastors (Mannigan, Rogers, Raftery, Rafferty, Burns, Drummond, Kinney, Cahill) and visiting priest Rev. John McNulty from Montreal served before and alongside Father Rooney, whose baptism register alone records 1,013 baptisms between 1839 and 1847.
- Incorporated May 1, 1836 as "First Roman Catholic Church of the town of Plattsburgh".
- First stone church dedicated by Bishop John Hughes on September 25, 1842 (the "Irish Church").
- French-Canadian members formed their own parish (St. Peter's) in 1853.
- Re-incorporated May 27, 1869 as "St. John the Baptist's Church of Plattsburgh" under Rev. Richard J. Maloney (pastor from 1860).
Building the Present Church (1868–1875)
After acquiring lots on Broad, Margaret, and Oak Streets in 1867–1870, the parish broke ground for a far grander church. The cornerstone was laid by Bishop John J. Conroy of Albany on July 1, 1868; Victor Borgeau of Montreal served as architect. Built of local masonry in a cruciform plan 201 feet long and 84 feet across the transepts, with a 90-foot interior height and a planned 250-foot tower and spire, it was the largest church in northern New York at its dedication on August 17, 1875 by Bishop Edgar P. Wadhams of Ogdensburg, assisted by Bishop Louis de Goesbriand of Burlington. The adjoining three-story rectory was built 1909–1910 in a Colonial Revival / Gothic Revival blend.
- Architect: Victor Borgeau of Montreal.
- Roof slated by fall 1871; ready for occupancy winter 1874–1875.
- Dedicated August 17, 1875 by Bishop Wadhams with Bishop de Goesbriand.
- Rectory built 1909–1910.
A Titanic Connection
Among the materials ordered for the new church was a shipment that, by local tradition, included an Italian marble altar intended for St. John the Baptist. That cargo is believed to have been lost with the RMS Titanic in 1912 — a striking footnote in the parish's long history.
National Register of Historic Places
St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church and Rectory were added together to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1982, reference number 82001112, as part of the Plattsburgh City Multiple Resource Area. The listing recognizes the imposing 1874 cruciform masonry church with Gothic Revival pointed arches, buttresses, and spired tower, and the 1909–1910 rectory's unusual combination of Colonial Revival and Gothic Revival features.
- NRHP reference No. 82001112
- Added November 12, 1982
- Architectural styles: Colonial Revival, Gothic Revival, Quebecois
Faith Formation (PreK–5) at St. John's
St. John's Church is the home base for the parish's PreK through 5th grade faith formation program, which meets Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 AM. Children learn about the Church, the Mass, and the parish community through songs, activities, games, and volunteer catechists. The parish also partners with its Catholic schools on sacramental preparation, and offers a summer Vacation Bible School for children.
- PreK–5 Religious Education, Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM at St. John's
- First Communion program in coordination with parish Catholic schools
- Summer Vacation Bible School for children
- Director of Faith Formation K-5: Desiree Kirk ([email protected])
EDGE Middle School Youth Ministry
EDGE forms the middle-school portion of the parish Religious Education Program for grades 6 and 7, offering a safe, fun Catholic community where young people can get answers about their faith and experience Jesus personally. Classes meet Sunday mornings, with a summer middle-school Vacation Bible School as well.
- Grades 6–7
- Sundays 9:30–11:00 AM at St. Peter's Upper Room
- Contact: Courtney Khristiansen, [email protected]
Confirmation Program
The Holy Cross Confirmation Program is a two-year preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, open to students in grades 8 through 12. Classes are held Sunday mornings and include community and service projects plus a full- or half-day retreat each year. Enrollment begins each August/September.
- Grades 8–12, two-year program
- Sundays 9:30–11:00 AM at St. Peter's Emmaus Room
- Coordinators: Beth and James Carlin, [email protected]
High School Youth Ministry
Holy Cross Parish Youth (grades 9–12) exists to give teens a place to belong, empowering them to bring Christ to their friends and community and to invite their peers to encounter Christ at the parish.
- Grades 9–12
- Contact: Courtney Khristiansen, [email protected]
OCIA / RCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults / Children (OCIA / RCIA) is described by the parish as much more than "convert classes" — it is a journey of conversion through participation in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, with catechumens and candidates accompanied by members of the parish family through liturgy, gatherings, rites, and prayer.
- For adults and children entering full communion
- Contact the parish office at 518-563-0730
Newman Club (SUNY Plattsburgh / Clinton Community College)
The Newman Club is a student club at both SUNY Plattsburgh and Clinton Community College, operating out of the St. John XXIII Newman Center at 4919 S. Catherine Street. Students build fellowship through fun activities, worship, study, retreats, and community events, promoting strong character, a spirit of service, and genuine friendships.
- Meets Sundays during the college semester, after the 5:00 PM Mass at the Newman Center
- Coordinator: Desiree Kirk, 518-563-0730
Music Ministry
The parish music ministry supports liturgy across the Holy Cross worship sites. Jay Lesage serves as Organist and Choir Director, with Nate Pultorak also serving on the music team.
- Jay Lesage — Organist, Choir Director
- Nate Pultorak — Music Ministry
Parish Staff and Office
Holy Cross Parish is served by a sizable pastoral team shared across its four worship sites. Pastoral care is led by Pastor Rev. Kevin M. McEwan with Parochial Vicars Rev. Tyler M. Fitzgerald and Rev. Douglas A. Schirmer, supported by a team of ten deacons. Day-to-day parish operations are run by the office manager, bookkeeper, and parish secretary, with separate maintenance leads for the parish cemetery and for Our Lady of Victory.
- Pastor: Rev. Kevin M. McEwan
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Tyler M. Fitzgerald, Rev. Douglas A. Schirmer
- Deacons: Mark E. Bennett, Frank A. Bushey Jr., James P. Carlin, John A. Cogan (retired), Brent M. Davison, John J. Drollette, Brian D. Neureuther, Leonard L. Patrie, Tyrone A. Rabideau, Randal J. Smith
- Pastoral Associate: Sr. Angelica Rebello, SCC
- Parish Secretary / MS Faith Formation / HS Youth Ministry: Courtney Khristiansen
- Office Manager: Anne Marie Holleran
- Bookkeeper: Leslie Marvel
- Trustees: Deacon Randy and Deacon James Carl (per staff page)
Sacraments
The parish website's Sacraments page gathers information on the Church's seven sacraments. Baptism, marriage, and other pastoral matters are arranged through the parish office, while First Communion is prepared through the PreK–5 program at St. John's (in coordination with the parish's Catholic schools) and Confirmation through the two-year grades 8–12 program.
- Baptism — through the parish office
- First Communion — parish PreK–5 program at St. John's
- Confirmation — two-year program, grades 8–12
- Marriage — through the parish office
- RCIA / OCIA — for adults and children entering full communion
- Confession — Saturday afternoons (see Confession and Adoration section)
Outreach
Holy Cross Parish runs outreach ministries for the wider Plattsburgh community, including a Household Goods ministry that channels donations to neighbors in need. Details of current drives and recipients are published on the parish website's Outreach page.
- Outreach / Household Goods ministry
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick McGilliganc. 1827 – November 1828
First resident pastor; died November 1828.
- Rev. Manniganshortly after 1828
Brief tenure.
- Rev. Rogerswinter 1834–1835
- Rev. Rafteryshortly after
- Rev. Rafferty
- Rev. Burnsuntil April 1836
Died April 1836.
- Rev. Drummondto fall 1839
Died while fundraising.
- Rev. Rooneyto fall 1854
Baptized 1,013 children between 1839 and 1847; oversaw dedication of first stone church by Bishop John Hughes, Sept. 25, 1842.
- Rev. Kinneyto fall 1856
- Rev. Cahill
- Rev. Richard J. Maloneyfrom 1860
Oversaw construction of the present stone church; cornerstone laid July 1, 1868 by Bishop Conroy; church dedicated August 17, 1875.
- Rev. Kevin M. McEwancurrent
Current pastor of Holy Cross Parish cluster.