About St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church · Marietta, Ohio
St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Steubenville located in the small rural hamlet of Churchtown outside Marietta, Ohio. The parish was founded in 1841 and the present brick church — built from clay taken from a field less than half a mile away — was completed and dedicated in 1867 by Bishop Sylvester H. Rosecrans. It is served today by Father David L. Gaydosik with two retired priests in residence, and it remains a vital country parish with its own parish school (St. John Central School), a Catholic Women's Club, Knights of Columbus Council 4617, a Vincent de Paul conference, RCIA, PSR, Vacation Bible School, a parish cemetery, and a long tradition of members doing their own building and beautification work.
- Established
- 1841
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. David L. Gaydosik
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a country parish where members still do much of the work of their own church and school — the kind of community where you know the people in the pew next to you and the pastor's cellphone number. It offers the full sacramental life (daily Mass, a robust confession schedule, First Friday Holy Hour, Anointing of the Sick and homebound Communion visits, RCIA and Pre-Cana), a strong education program through St. John Central School and PSR, and active lay organizations — the Catholic Women's Club, Knights of Columbus Council 4617, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Vincent de Paul Society, and a parish cemetery association — that keep a small congregation deeply connected across generations.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 5:00–5:45 p.m.
- Sunday: 6:45–7:15 a.m.
- Sunday: 10:00–10:45 a.m.
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month — Holy Hour 5:00–6:00 p.m., followed by Mass at 6:00 p.m.
Parish Profile & Location
St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church is a country parish of the Diocese of Steubenville serving the small rural community of Churchtown and surrounding Washington County farmland outside Marietta, Ohio. The church sits at 17784 State Route 676 and is unmistakably marked by its 150-foot bell tower and cross, which can be seen for miles across the plateau. The parish was founded in 1841, the present brick church was completed in 1867, and the parish today is served by Father David L. Gaydosik, with two retired priests in residence. The parish shares its campus with St. John Central School, the parish Senior Center, and the parish cemetery.
Founding & 19th-Century Growth (1841–1867)
Before 1851, Catholic families scattered across the Churchtown plateau — Daniel Quinn, Thomas McGalrry, Mary McAfee — hosted Mass in their homes. In 1851 Father Peter Perry, then pastor of St. Mary's in Marietta, blessed a 'roomy frame structure' on land donated by Michael McDermott. For fourteen years the priests of St. Mary's in Marietta traveled out to celebrate Mass once a month. In 1865 the parish was formally constituted and Father Magnus Eppink was appointed its first resident pastor on October 22 of that year.
Building the Present Church (1866–1867)
Construction of the present brick church began in 1866 on land donated by a Mr. Jurden, with the bricks made from clay given by George Schilling and molded by James Farrel — clay taken from the very earth less than half a mile from where the church now stands. Bishop Sylvester H. Rosecrans, Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, came to Churchtown to lay the cornerstone in July 1866 and returned about fifteen months later to dedicate the finished church. In 1875 the original concrete floor was replaced by a wooden one.
20th-Century Renovation & Continuing Tradition
In 1956 Father Charles F. Highland became pastor, and in 1958 the entire interior of the church was redecorated, rewired, relighted and repainted — work done by skilled tradesmen of the parish themselves. As the parish history records, that congregational craftsmanship is a tradition that has continued and 'makes their Church peculiarly their own.' The exterior, including the 150-foot bell tower, remains substantially unchanged.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is staffed by Father David L. Gaydosik as pastor and is blessed with two retired priests in residence. The parish secretary is Pam Brooker and maintenance and grounds are handled by Mike Francis. Pastoral musicians are Valerie Strahler and Crystal Lang. A current PSR Coordinator (Amanda Warner) runs the religious education program, and Betina Lang coordinates the Scrip gift-card fundraising program.
- Rev. David L. Gaydosik — Pastor (cell 740-391-1093, [email protected])
- Rev. Walter E. Heinz — Retired in Residence ([email protected], 941-981-5292)
- Rev. Dale F. Tornes — Retired ([email protected], 740-541-8129)
- Pam Brooker — Parish Secretary
- Mike Francis — Maintenance & Grounds
- Valerie Strahler & Crystal Lang — Pastoral Musicians
- Amanda Warner — PSR Coordinator
- Betina Lang — Scrip Coordinator
- Maria Huffman — Pastoral Council Chairperson
- Russ Lang, Casey Lang, Rachel Schott, Jeff Canterbury, Pam Brooker — Parish Finance Council
Parish Ministries
The parish runs a full life of lay ministries and organizations. Religious formation for children is provided through the Parish School of Religion (PSR); adults seeking full initiation gather through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Liturgical volunteers serve as altar servers, lectors and Eucharistic ministers on a published rotation. Outreach is anchored by the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society conference and a Prayer Network (coordinated by Mary Brooker and Elaine Wells). The Catholic Women's Club (CWC) and Senior Citizens of Churchtown keep women and older members socially and spiritually engaged, while Knights of Columbus Council 4617 and the Ancient Order of Hibernians reflect the parish's strong fraternal and Irish-Catholic heritage.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
- Liturgical Ministers — altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Catholic Women's Club (CWC)
- Knights of Columbus Council 4617
- Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Senior Citizens of Churchtown
- Prayer Network (Mary Brooker 740-896-2002 / Elaine Wells 740-896-3112)
- Pastoral Musicians
- Scrip Gift-Card Program
- Pastoral Council & Parish Finance Council
St. John Central School
St. John Central School shares the Churchtown campus with the parish and is its parish elementary school. Families, the parish bulletin, and Vacation Bible School all reference the school as a central part of parish life. The school has its own principal, a separate phone line, and its own website.
- St. John Central School — 740-896-2697
- Principal: Mrs. Becky Hilverding
- Website: www.stjohncentralschool.com
- Vacation Bible School held on the school campus annually
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and administers all the usual sacraments. Confession is offered on the published weekend schedule and by appointment. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation or reception into the Church enter through the RCIA. Couples preparing for marriage complete a Diocese of Steubenville Pre-Cana session (offered cooperatively at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption in Marietta) before they may marry. The parish reaches out to the homebound and hospitalized with Communion visits and the Anointing of the Sick.
- Confession — per published schedule or by appointment
- Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
- Marriage — Pre-Cana required by the Diocese of Steubenville
- Anointing of the Sick & Homebound Communion visits — call the parish office or Marilyn Kern
- RCIA (Becoming Catholic) — contact the parish office
- First Friday Mass & Holy Hour (monthly)
Parish Life & Annual Events
St. John the Baptist's calendar is full of small-parish traditions built around the church year, the school and the community. The annual Mass for the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (around June 24) is followed by a reception in the Senior Center. Vacation Bible School each summer fills the St. John Central School classrooms. The Knights of Columbus host an annual Father's Day Fish Fry, the CWC runs a breakfast fundraiser and monthly meetings, and Senior Citizens of Churchtown gather monthly at the Senior Center.
- Annual Mass for the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (around June 24) with reception in the Sr. Center
- Annual Vacation Bible School at St. John Central School
- Knights of Columbus Father’s Day Fish Fry (annual)
- CWC monthly meetings & annual breakfast fundraiser at K of C Hall
- Senior Citizens of Churchtown monthly meeting
- Parish Council monthly meetings
- St. John Central School Annual Golf Tournament (4-Man Scramble at Oxbow Golf Course)
Pastoral Care, Prayer & Cemetery
Parishioners in need are supported through several specific channels. Father Gaydosik's personal cell is published for emergencies and calls about the sick or hospitalized, and Marilyn Kern coordinates Communion visits and Anointing of the Sick for the homebound. The parish Prayer Network accepts prayer requests and adds pray-ers to the line. The parish also maintains its own Cemetery Association, with members listed in the bulletin, and a separate Parish Cemetery on or near the parish grounds.
- Pastoral emergencies — Fr. Gaydosik cell 740-391-1093
- Communion visits & Anointing of the Sick — Marilyn Kern
- Prayer Network — Mary Brooker (740-896-2002) and Elaine Wells (740-896-3112)
- Parish Cemetery Association — Andy Miller, Kevin Brooker, Dean Hart, Howard Brooker
- St. John School Foundation — Gary Arnold, President
Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, email or in person during office hours. The Pastor's personal cell is published for emergencies. The Senior Center and the parish school have separate lines. New parishioners are welcomed and may register by calling the Parish Office.
- Parish Office Phone — 740-896-3566
- Parish Fax — 740-896-3567
- Senior Center — 740-896-3610
- St. John Central School — 740-896-2697
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — www.stjohnchurchtown.com
- Pastor's Cell — 740-391-1093
- New Parishioner Registration — call the Parish Office
Diocese & Wider Church
The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville and participates in diocesan programs (Diocesan Catholic Charities referral line, the Pre-Cana program, the annual Diocesan Parish Support Collection). It is also affiliated with the Knights of Columbus (Council 4617) and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, fraternal bodies that draw members from the wider Catholic community of the region.
- Diocese of Steubenville
- Diocesan Catholic Charities & Information Referral Line — 1-800-339-7890
- Pre-Cana sessions offered at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Marietta
- Knights of Columbus Council 4617
- Ancient Order of Hibernians — President James Farly
- St. John School Foundation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter PerryMarietta pastor (St. Mary's) prior to 1865
Blessed the first frame St. John the Baptist Church in 1851 and sent pastors from St. Mary's in Marietta monthly for the next 14 years.
- Fr. Magnus EppinkAppointed October 22, 1865
First resident pastor of the newly constituted Parish of St. John the Baptist. Oversaw construction of the present brick church in 1866.
- Fr. Charles F. HighlandFrom 1956
In 1958 led the complete interior redecoration of the church, carried out by skilled members of the congregation.
- Fr. David L. GaydosikCurrent pastor