About St. John the Evangelist · Cambridge, Massachusetts
St. John the Evangelist is a historic Catholic parish in North Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1893 as a mission of St. Peter's parish to serve the growing Irish and French Canadian Catholic population around the clay pits and brickyards of the area. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston and is best known for its striking Romanesque Revival church (built 1904–1912, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983), its longtime Speaker-of-the-House parishioner Tip O'Neill, and its lively Haitian Ministries that today serve one of the largest Haitian Catholic communities in Greater Boston. The parish offers Mass in English and Haitian Creole, runs a religious education program, RCIA, a charismatic prayer group, a faith sharing group, and the Knights of Columbus COR men's ministry.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph MacCarthy (Fr. Joe), Administrator
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a historic Romanesque Revival church in North Cambridge that still lives out its 1893 founding mission: to be a welcoming Catholic community where long-time Irish and French Canadian families worship alongside a thriving Haitian Creole-speaking congregation. Parishioners can attend a Sunday Mass in English or Haitian Creole, join RCIA or the Religious Education program, pray with the Charismatic Prayer group every Thursday, share faith in the 1st/3rd-Tuesday Faith Sharing Group, or build brotherhood through the Knights of Columbus COR men's ministry — all in a single, accessible parish on Massachusetts Avenue that has served immigrants, statesmen, and newcomers for more than 130 years.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30–3:50 PM in the upper church
Parish History
St. John the Evangelist grew out of St. Peter's parish on Concord Avenue. In 1890 Father John Flatley of St. Peter's bought an acre on Spruce Street (now Rindge Avenue) so North Cambridge and West Somerville Catholics would not have to walk long distances to Mass; a small wooden chapel was blessed on February 28, 1892, and on January 1, 1893 the parish became independent under its first pastor, Rev. John B. Halloran. The present Romanesque Revival church was built 1904–1912 by Maginnis, Walsh & Sullivan and dedicated by Cardinal O'Connell. A devastating fire on December 7, 1956 destroyed the roof and choir loft; the church was rebuilt in 1957 and renovated/rededicated by Cardinal Bernard F. Law on December 27, 1998, the feast of St. John the Evangelist.
- 1890 — Land purchased on Spruce Street (Rindge Avenue)
- 1892, Feb 28 — Chapel blessed, first Mass as a Mission of St. Peter's
- 1893, Jan 1 — Parish split from St. Peter's; Rev. John B. Halloran first pastor
- 1898 — Horatio Locke estate bought for $18,000
- 1904, Nov 30 — Construction begins (Maginnis, Walsh & Sullivan; Stephen Brennan, builder)
- 1905 — Bishop John Brady lays the cornerstone; sermon by Fr. John Ryan, St. Paul's
- 1912, Apr 7 (Easter) — First Mass in the new church
- 1912, Nov 1 (All Saints) — Dedicated by Cardinal O'Connell
- 1930 — Present yellow-brick rectory built ($68,000; architect William B. Colleary)
- 1933 — Holy Year monstrance, reputed largest in the U.S.
- 1956, Dec 7 — Devastating fire
- 1957 — Rebuilding begins
- 1983, Jun 30 — Added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 1998, Dec 27 — Rededication after renovation by Cardinal Bernard F. Law
Our Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently led by Rev. Joseph MacCarthy ('Fr. Joe') as Administrator, with Rev. Gustave Miracle as Part-time Parochial Vicar responsible to the Haitian community and Rev. Thomas Leclerc, M.S., Th.D., as Priest in Residence. Deacon Alfred Geneus assists, and a team of lay staff run faith formation, music, the office, and parish operations.
- Rev. Joseph MacCarthy (Fr. Joe) — Administrator
- Rev. Gustave Miracle — Part-time Parochial Vicar (Haitian community)
- Rev. Thomas Leclerc, M.S., Th.D. — Priest in Residence
- Deacon Alfred Geneus
- Mr. Bill Kisich — Pastoral Associate
- Ms. Maureen Megnia — Parish Executive Secretary / Religious Education Director (ext. 102)
- Ms. Nancy Mangam — Parish Secretary / Receptionist
- Ms. Anne Marie Hannon — Business Manager (ext. 101)
- Mr. Norbert DeAmato — Technical Support, webpage & Facebook, Parish Council member (ext. 106)
- Ms. Michelle French — Cantor (ext. 106)
- Ms. Allyson Cahill — Organist
Haitian Ministries
St. John's is home to one of the most active Haitian Catholic communities in the Archdiocese of Boston. Fr. Gustave Miracle serves as Part-time Parochial Vicar with responsibilities to the Haitian community, and a Sunday Mass is celebrated in Haitian Creole at 4:30 PM. The Haitian community runs its own Confirmation program, youth activities (including a recent Haitian Youth Group concert in the parish hall), and works closely with the Archdiocesan Haitian Apostolate.
- Sunday 4:30 PM Mass in Haitian Creole
- Haitian Confirmation program (candidates recently confirmed)
- Haitian Youth Group activities and concerts
- Coordination with the Archdiocesan Haitian Apostolate
- Bilingual cultural and pastoral leadership
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education program, directed by Maureen Megnia (ext. 102), prepares children for First Eucharist and continues faith formation through the elementary years. Older students and adults prepare for Confirmation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) welcomes new Catholics each Easter Vigil — most recently Kiefer Fuller, Paula Grieb, and Rebecca Joy (2025), and Matthew Orlik in 2021.
- Religious Education (K–8) — Maureen Megnia, ext. 102
- RCIA — Louise Dussault, Director, ext. 102
- Confirmation preparation (English and Haitian tracks)
- Sponsors and mentors for RCIA candidates
Prayer, Devotions & Small Groups
Beyond Sunday Mass the parish sustains a rhythm of weekday prayer: a Thursday-evening Charismatic Prayer gathering, a twice-monthly Faith Sharing Group that reads and discusses works like Bishop Barron on the Nicene Creed and Thomas Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation, and the Anointing of the Sick on the last Saturday of each month after the 4:00 PM Mass.
- Charismatic Prayer — Thursdays 7:00–9:00 PM, Chapel
- Faith Sharing Group — 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 5:30–6:30 PM, Church Hall
- Anointing of the Sick — Last Saturday after the 4:00 PM Mass
- First Friday Mass — 6:00 PM, Chapel
- Friday 7:00 AM Communion Service, Chapel
Knights of Columbus — COR Men's Ministry
Through Bishop Cristiano Barbosa and the local Knights of Columbus council, St. John's offers COR, a men's faith-formation framework focused on prayer, formation, and fraternity that builds Christ-centered brotherhood. COR is open to all adult men of the parish and does not require Knights of Columbus membership.
- Open to all adult men of the parish
- Framework of prayer, formation, and fraternity
- Sponsored through the Knights of Columbus
Get Involved: Volunteer Opportunities
Parishioners are invited to offer their time and talents as lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, RCIA sponsors, bakers for the annual Christmas Fair, visitors to the homebound, or 'spiritual elders' sharing lived faith. Newcomers can simply reach out to the parish office or speak with a ministry leader after Mass to find a good fit.
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- RCIA sponsors and mentors
- Bakers and helpers for the Annual Christmas Fair
- Visitation of the homebound
- Spiritual elder / faith-sharing mentors
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Families are asked to call the parish office for Baptism and Matrimony; Reconciliation is heard Saturdays 3:30–3:50 PM; the Anointing of the Sick is offered on the last Saturday of each month after the 4:00 PM Mass; and RCIA welcomes adults seeking Baptism, Eucharist, and/or Confirmation.
- Baptism — call the parish office
- First Eucharist / Religious Education
- Confirmation
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Matrimony — call the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — Last Saturday after 4:00 PM Mass
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturdays 3:30–3:50 PM
Our Mission & Mission Statement
The parish's mission statement declares: 'We, the faith community of St. John the Evangelist Church, are trusted to continue the mission of Jesus through the Catholic Church. Toward this goal, we serve, teach, and worship. We strive to meet these ends in a spirit of love and compassion, tempered by justice and peace, through the grace of the Holy Spirit.' A second formulation calls St. John's 'a welcoming Catholic community, united in faith and dedicated to living the teachings of Jesus Christ… a vibrant and loving family of believers… where God's love transforms lives, and great things happen in His name.'
- Serve, teach, and worship
- Spirit of love and compassion, tempered by justice and peace
- Welcoming Catholic community for newcomers and long-time parishioners alike
Visit & Contact
St. John the Evangelist is at 2254 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140, on MBTA Bus Route 77. The parish office is open Monday through Wednesday 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, closed Thursday, and open Friday 10:00 AM–3:00 PM (closed on Holy Days and state holidays). Phone: 617-547-4880; fax 617-441-8028; email [email protected]. The church is served by a commercial elevator and is handicapped accessible.
- Address: 2254 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
- Phone: 617-547-4880
- Fax: 617-441-8028
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Wed 10:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thu closed; Fri 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Transit: MBTA Bus Route 77
- Accessibility: Commercial elevator access; handicapped accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John B. Halloran1893–
First pastor when the parish was carved out of St. Peter's on January 1, 1893.
- Rev. Joseph MacCarthy (Fr. Joe)
Current Administrator.