About St. John the Evangelist · Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church is a parish in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and the oldest Roman Catholic congregation in Centre County, established in 1828. The parish sits on East Bishop Street in central Bellefonte and shares its campus with St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, a Pre-K through Grade 5 school that has operated since 1890. Worship takes place in a white sandstone English Gothic church that was consecrated on October 13, 1889, and the parish belongs to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Today St. John's is served by Father Brian Saylor (Pastor), Father Joshi Narisetti, HGN (Parochial Vicar), and Deacon Tom Boldin, with a vibrant lay community that includes the Knights of Columbus Council 1314 and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Reverend Patrick McArdle #448.
- Established
- 1828
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Saylor, VF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a faithful, family-oriented Catholic community grounded in nearly 200 years of history in central Pennsylvania. Parishioners worship in a historic 1889 white-sandstone Gothic church, send their children to a thriving Pre-K through Grade 5 Catholic school that has operated since 1890, and gather through active ministries like the Knights of Columbus Council 1314 and Catholic Daughters Court Reverend Patrick McArdle #448. With weekend Masses, Saturday confessions, CCD and Confirmation programs, OCIA for adults, and beloved parish traditions like the Lenten Fish Fry, St. John's is a welcoming home for Catholics across the Bellefonte area.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (parish website)
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (parish bulletin)
- Fridays during Lent: 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Adoration times
- All-Day Adoration is held on selected Mondays, beginning immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass and closing at 2:00 PM (see bulletin for dates).
Parish History
St. John the Evangelist was founded in 1828, when the Rev. John O'Reilly was appointed the first resident pastor and oversaw construction of the first church in 1831. The parish grew steadily through the 19th century, and in 1889 the present English Gothic sandstone church was consecrated. A parish school, staffed for over a century by the IHM Sisters, was founded in 1890, and the parish joined the newly created Diocese of Altoona in 1905. The 175th anniversary of the parish was marked in 2003.
- 1824 — Father Thomas Heydon of Bedford begins saying Mass in Bellefonte, in the home of William Welch on High Street.
- 1828 — Rev. John O'Reilly appointed first resident pastor.
- 1831 — First church building completed on East Bishop Street.
- 1884 — Cornerstone laid for the present church.
- 1889 (October 13) — Present English Gothic sandstone church consecrated.
- 1890 — St. John Parochial School opens, staffed by the IHM Sisters.
- 1905 — Diocese of Altoona created; convent built for the sisters.
- 1952 — New school and auditorium constructed on the property.
- 1960 — New convent built.
- 2003 — Parish celebrates 175th anniversary (1828–2003).
- 2019 — Most recent interior renovation of the church.
St. John the Evangelist Catholic School
Founded in 1890 and now located at 116 East Bishop Street, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School continues the IHM Sisters' mission of providing strong academics in a faith-filled environment. The school offers 3- and 4-year-old Pre-Kindergarten classes and full-day instruction from Kindergarten through Grade 5, and serves families of all faiths from across the area, including the parishes of Saint John, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (Spring Mills), and Queen of Archangels (Clarence). Religion is woven into every part of the school day, supported by an eight-member faculty with a combined 85 years of service.
- Address: 116 East Bishop Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823
- Phone: (814) 355-7859 — Fax: (814) 355-2939
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.saintjohnsch.net/
- Principal: Kristina Tice
- Grades: Pre-K 3 & 4, Kindergarten through Grade 5
- Class size limited to 24 students
- Technology: Chromebooks for every K–5 student; iPads for every Pre-K student; SMART Boards in every classroom
- Specials: Art, Music, Band, Choir, Technology, Physical Education
- Support services via CIU 10: Enrichment, Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy, Counseling, Title I Reading
Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation
St. John's offers year-round faith formation for children and adults. CCD classes meet on Sundays during the school year for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8, while the Confirmation program serves students in Grades 9 through 11. Adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their sacraments join the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process coordinated by David Harry.
- CCD (Grades K–8): Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM in St. John School
- Confirmation (Grades 9–11): Mass at 10:15 AM, followed by class 11:15 AM–12:30 PM in the school auditorium
- Directors of Religious Education: Tony and Paula Roland
- Confirmation Directors: Deacon Tom and Shirley Boldin
- OCIA Coordinator: David Harry
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a priest-pastor, a parochial vicar, a permanent deacon, and a team of dedicated lay staff and ministry leaders listed weekly in the parish bulletin.
- Pastor: Fr. Brian Saylor, VF
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Joshi Narisetti, HGN
- Deacon: Tom Boldin
- Office Staff: Lorraine Fello, Rose Truglio
- Secretary: Barbara Materna
- St. John School Principal: Kristina Tice
- Directors of Religious Education: Tony and Paula Roland
- Confirmation Directors: Deacon Tom & Shirley Boldin
- OCIA Coordinator: David Harry
- Music Ministry Coordinator: Natalie Stanton
- Maintenance: Joe Baummer
Knights of Columbus Council 1314
Bellefonte Knights of Columbus Council 1314 is the parish's fraternal Catholic men's organization and a key sponsor of parish events. The Council co-hosts the annual Lenten Fish Fry with the Catholic Daughters and is actively recruiting new members in 2026.
- Eligibility: practicing Catholic men, age 18 and older
- Co-sponsor of the annual Lenten Fish Fry with Catholic Daughters
- Membership drive contacts: Doug Moerschbacher ([email protected]) and David Provan ([email protected])
Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Court Reverend Patrick McArdle #448
Court Reverend Patrick McArdle #448 was instituted on January 18, 1920, and named for a beloved pastor who served St. John's for 37 years until his death in 1917. The Court has sponsored three daughter courts (in Tyrone, State College, and Clarence) and currently has 115 members with 5 life members. Members serve the parish and broader community through the Circle of Love program, Pro-Life activities, charity fundraisers, and joint events with the Knights of Columbus.
- Founded January 18, 1920; first Grand Regent Mrs. Odille Mott; 73 charter members
- Annual fundraisers: spring and fall bake sales and raffles, holiday yard sale
- Parish events: Lenten Fish Fry, Food-Fun-Fellowship, Senior Breakfast, Kids Night In/Parents Night Out, Halloween bingo
- Charitable projects: Circle of Love, Mt. Aloysius scholarship, Marian Chapels at the National Shrine, North American College in Rome, Smile Train, Habitat for Humanity, SOAR
- Sponsored Girl Scout Troop #40021
- Publishes the popular 'Catholic Daughters' Favorite Prayers' prayer book (2018)
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical music at St. John's is led by Music Ministry Coordinator Natalie Stanton and supported by an Adult Choir and a Folk Choir that serve the two Sunday Masses. Parishioners also serve as altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers, with schedules published in the weekly bulletin.
- Adult Choir — sings at the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Folk Choir — sings at the 10:15 AM Sunday Mass
- Altar Servers, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers — listed in the weekly bulletin
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments according to the normal diocesan guidelines. Baptisms are scheduled by appointment with the rectory, marriages require at least nine months' notice to the pastor, and the OCIA process welcomes adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Baptism — by appointment; call the rectory
- Marriage — notify pastor 9 months in advance
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:30–4:30 PM (and Fridays in Lent 6:00–6:30 PM)
- OCIA (Christian Initiation of Adults) — call the rectory
- Confirmation — Grades 9–11 program directed by Deacon Tom and Shirley Boldin
Lenten & Parish Traditions
St. John's maintains several beloved traditions that draw the wider community together, especially during Lent. The Friday Night Fish Fry, run jointly by the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters, is one of the largest in Centre County, and the parish also takes part in the ecumenical Council of Churches Lenten Breakfasts at Trinity United Methodist Church.
- Lenten Fish Fry — Fridays during Lent, 4:00–7:00 PM, St. John School Auditorium
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays during Lent at 7:00 PM
- Lenten Scripture Class — Thursday evenings with the pastor
- Council of Churches Lenten Breakfasts — Wednesdays at Trinity UMC, 7:30–8:15 AM
Contact & Visiting
The parish is located in central Bellefonte and welcomes visitors at all Masses. The rectory is open during regular hours and can be reached by phone or email for sacramental needs, Mass intentions, and parish registration.
- Address: 134 East Bishop Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823
- Rectory Phone: (814) 355-3134
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: bellefontecatholicchurch.org
- School: 116 East Bishop Street, (814) 355-7859
- From I-80: take Exit 24, then South on Route 26 to South Route 550
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John O'Reilly1828–
First resident pastor; simultaneously served St. Francis of Assisi in Clearfield and Most Holy Trinity in Huntingdon; built the first church in 1831.
- Rev. Patrick McArdleserved 37 years until 1917
Namesake of Catholic Daughters Court Reverend Patrick McArdle #448.
- Rev. George I. Jakopac
Listed as pastor in parish bulletins circa 2018.
- Rev. Brian Saylor, VF
Current pastor; also oversees Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Spring Mills and Queen of Archangels, Clarence parishes.