About St. John the Evangelist. Blessed Trinity Parish. · Newark Valley, New York
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic church in Newark Valley, Tioga County, New York, and one of the three worship sites that make up Blessed Trinity Parish in the Diocese of Rochester (clustered with neighboring St. Patrick Parish in Owego). The brick church was built by local Catholic families in 1880–1881 and dedicated on January 8, 1881, by Bishop Stephen V. Ryan of Buffalo. It began as a mission station served from St. Patrick's in Owego, became a more independent congregation under Bishop Thomas Hickey in 1914, and today shares clergy and programs with St. James (Waverly) and St. Margaret Mary (Apalachin) as part of Blessed Trinity, pastored from the Central Office at 309 Front St., Owego.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Jeffrey R. Galens
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers an intimate, historic Catholic home in Newark Valley where parishioners are known by name and welcomed into a wider Tioga County Catholic family. As one of three worship sites of Blessed Trinity Parish, it shares a single pastor, parochial vicar, two permanent deacons, and a regional faith-formation program with St. James (Waverly) and St. Margaret Mary (Apalachin), yet keeps its own identity through a parish hall, Sunday 11:15 a.m. Mass, Wednesday and Friday 8:30 a.m. weekday Masses, active altar-server and offertory-counting ministries, and a community that has visibly invested in its church through major renovations and annual devotions.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist. Blessed Trinity Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation is also available 1/2 hour before weekday Masses at St. John or by appointment (contact a priest).
- Cluster-wide confession times are scheduled at St. Patrick, Owego (Tuesday 5:00–6:00 PM, Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM, Sunday 8:30–8:50 AM) and St. James, Waverly (Thursday 5:00–6:00 PM, Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM, Sunday 8:30–8:50 AM).
Adoration times
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration is held across the cluster (Blessed Trinity/St. Patrick parishes), typically 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, rotating among the churches including St. John the Evangelist.
History of St. John the Evangelist
St. John the Evangelist traces its roots to the 1870s, when Catholic families — many of them tannery and shoe-factory workers — began gathering for Mass in the home of Michael and Bridgett Fahey on Whig Street in Newark Valley. In 1880 Father James O'Mara and the congregation decided to build a proper church. Local builder Samuel Loring constructed the brick building using bricks from his family's Loring Brickyards on Route 38, and Bishop Stephen V. Ryan of Buffalo dedicated the new church on January 8, 1881. It remained a mission of St. Patrick, Owego, until 1914, when Bishop Thomas Hickey placed Father John Hogan in charge of a congregation of about 30 families. The parish was formally clustered again in 1998 with St. Patrick and St. Francis of Assisi (Catatonk) as the Tioga Catholic Community, and ultimately merged with four other Tioga County parishes to form Blessed Trinity Parish on July 1, 2003.
- 1870s — first Masses celebrated in the Fahey home on Whig Street.
- April 20, 1880 — construction begins on the brick church.
- January 8, 1881 — church dedicated by Bishop Stephen V. Ryan.
- 1914 — Father John Hogan placed in charge; more independent status granted.
- c. 1931 — Father Ignatius Klejna named pastor in residence.
- 1994–1996 — sanctuary renovation, altar by Jim Gullick, Risen Christ statue by Lee Bodie, choir-loft restoration.
- May 18, 1996 — church rededicated by Bishop Matthew H. Clark.
- 1997 — joins Strength of Six (SOS) pastoral planning with five other Tioga parishes.
- July 1, 2003 — merger into Blessed Trinity Parish.
- January 7, 2024 — 143rd anniversary celebration with Mass, stained-glass presentation, and parish-hall luncheon.
Architecture & Sanctuary
The original church is a modest brick structure built by Samuel Loring in 1880–1881 using bricks from the Loring Brickyards. Decades of small, parishioner-led renovations culminated in a comprehensive 1994–1996 sanctuary restoration: a new altar built by Jim Gullick, a wooden Risen Christ statue carved by local artist Lee Bodie and installed on Easter Sunday 1995, and a restored choir-loft overhang and back walls finished in early 1996. The 1996 work was capped by Bishop Matthew H. Clark's rededication on May 18, 1996. The church also features a set of stained-glass windows, which were the subject of a special presentation by parish historian Marty Schneider during the 2024 anniversary celebration.
- Original dimensions roughly 34–36 ft × 45–75 ft.
- Construction by Samuel Loring; bricks from Loring Brickyards on Route 38.
- New altar by parishioner Jim Gullick, completed Holy Week 1994.
- Risen Christ statue carved by Lee Bodie, Easter 1995.
- Choir loft and back walls restored by volunteers, early 1996.
- Rededication by Bishop Matthew H. Clark, May 18, 1996.
- Stained-glass windows featured in 2024 anniversary presentation.
Parish Ministries at St. John
Parishioners keep St. John the Evangelist running through a tightly woven set of liturgical and service ministries. The parish website lists specific volunteer roles for St. John, including altar servers for weekend and funeral Masses, offertory-collection counters, Eucharistic ministers, choir members, and families who bring up the gifts and carry the cross. These ministries sit alongside cluster-wide programs in faith formation, youth ministry, and Stephen Ministry.
- Altar Servers — weekend and funeral Masses.
- Offertory Collection Counters — count weekly Mass collections.
- Eucharistic Ministers — recruited as needed.
- Choir — music ministry for liturgies.
- Gift Bearers / Cross Bearers — families to bring up the gifts.
- Faith Formation / PSR teachers and aides.
- Youth Ministry leaders.
- Stephen Ministers (cluster-wide).
- Parish Pastoral Council representatives.
Faith Formation, Sacraments & Youth
Faith formation for the parish is administered cluster-wide. The Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry (currently Annette Larrabee, since 2015, succeeding Cathy Wunder) oversees PSR classes, sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation, the annual Vacation Bible School, and youth ministry activities. Children and families register for PSR and sacramental prep through the parish office.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — grade-school faith formation.
- First Eucharist preparation.
- Confirmation preparation.
- Vacation Bible School (cluster-wide, annual).
- Youth Ministry.
- Director of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry — Annette Larrabee (since 2015).
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
St. John the Evangelist is served by the pastoral team of Blessed Trinity and St. Patrick Parishes, currently led by pastor Rev. Jeffrey R. Galens (in office since August 1, 2024, having come from the Archdiocese of New York) and parochial vicar Rev. James P. Muscatella. Permanent Deacons Mike Donovan (pastoral associate since 2009) and Rick DeMars (appointed 2015) assist across the cluster. The Central Office at 309 Front St., Owego, is staffed Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM.
- Rev. Jeffrey R. Galens — Pastor (effective Aug. 1, 2024).
- Rev. James P. Muscatella — Parochial Vicar.
- Deacon Mike Donovan — Pastoral Associate (since 2009).
- Deacon Rick DeMars — since 2015.
- Central Office: 309 Front St., Owego, NY 13827.
- Office hours: Mon–Thurs 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
- Phone: 607-687-1068; Fax: 607-687-8122.
Blessed Trinity Parish & the Strength of Six
St. John's is one worship site within Blessed Trinity Parish, a merged civil and canonical corporation formed on July 1, 2003, from five of the six Tioga County 'Strength of Six' parishes: St. Francis of Assisi (Catatonk), St. James the Apostle (Waverly), St. John the Evangelist (Newark Valley), St. Margaret Mary (Apalachin), and St. Pius X (Van Etten). Blessed Trinity is clustered with neighboring St. Patrick Parish (Owego), and the two parishes share pastors, deacons, faith-formation staff, and a single regional Mass and ministry schedule. In 2009, after the number of assigned priests dropped from three to two, St. Pius X (Van Etten) and St. Francis of Assisi (Catatonk) were closed, and the current four-church worship configuration was adopted.
- Five-church merger effective July 1, 2003.
- Clustered with St. Patrick Parish, Owego.
- Bishop Matthew H. Clark celebrated the inaugural Mass at Hickories Park, Owego, on September 14, 2003.
- Strength of Six pastoral planning began 1997–98; five-year strategic plan in 1997.
- 2009 — St. Pius X (Van Etten) and St. Francis of Assisi (Catatonk) closed.
- Dick Orth (St. John's parishioner) chaired the TRPC and the Transition Team.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James (John) O'Mara1877–1883 (pastor of St. Patrick, Owego; oversaw the building and 1881 dedication of St. John's)
Built the brick church with Samuel Loring using Loring Brickyards bricks; interred at St. Patrick's Cemetery.
- Father John Hogan1914
Placed in charge of St. John's by Bishop Thomas Hickey when the congregation numbered about 30 families; given a more independent status from St. Patrick, Owego.
- Father Ignatius Klejnac. 1931
Polish diocesan priest considered full-fledged pastor in residence of both St. John's (Newark Valley) and St. Francis of Assisi (Catatonk).
- Father Alexander Stecmid-20th century
One of the later Polish-speaking assistants who served the people of St. John's.
- Rev. William A. Moorby1993 (at St. John's) – 1998 (as pastor of Tioga Catholic Community cluster) – 2003 (Pastor of newly formed Blessed Trinity and St. Patrick Parishes) – 2014
Continued and completed the remodeling of the sanctuary; oversaw the 1996 rededication; led the parish through the Strength of Six process and the 2003 formation of Blessed Trinity Parish.
- Father Thomas Valenti2014
Appointed Parochial Administrator of Blessed Trinity and St. Patrick Parishes after Father Moorby's reassignment to Good Shepherd Catholic Community, Aurora, NY.
- Father Jeffrey R. Galenseffective Aug. 1, 2024 – present
Came from the Archdiocese of New York; current pastor of Blessed Trinity and St. Patrick Parishes; led the January 7, 2024 (per Catholic Courier coverage)/2024 anniversary celebration at St. John's.