About St. John the Evangelist · Everett, Pennsylvania
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in Everett, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Established as an independent parish on September 1, 1971, it grew out of an earlier mission church that had served Catholics in the Everett area since 1965. The parish is known for its beautiful church — featuring a marble sanctuary, sacred art, and a distinctive lit bell tower that rings daily at noon and 6:00 p.m. — and for its warm, welcoming community often described as a 'family of families,' echoing Pope John Paul II's words about the parish. Active in charitable giving both locally (Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Love Inc., the local food pantry, Everett Elementary's backpack program) and internationally (Haiti Missions, New Hope Hospital), St. John's also maintains beloved traditions like homemade candy making and an annual Marian devotion between the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary.
- Established
- 1971
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Derek Fairman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers the close-knit feel of a small parish with a notably active liturgical and devotional life — daily weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Friday afternoons, and the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed communally before every weekend Mass. The parish supports strong faith formation for children (K through 10th grade) and adults through OCIA, and welcomes participation in lecturing, music, altar service, the Ladies of St. John, and parish or finance council work. Its charitable reach extends well beyond Everett, from the Haiti Missions and New Hope Hospital eye-care ministry to the local Saint Vincent de Paul Society, the food pantry, Love Inc., the Breezewood Trucker Traveler Ministry, and Everett Elementary's backpack program. Visitors and travelers — especially those passing through nearby Breezewood in summer — are warmly welcomed.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Sunday 8:00 AM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Fridays at 3:00 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Fridays of Lent at 3:15 PM
- Friday afternoon Holy Hour (added under Fr. Tomkosky)
Parish Mission & Identity
St. John the Evangelist describes itself as a Eucharistic community that gathers to celebrate communion with God the Father, Christ the teacher, and the Holy Spirit, through worship, prayer, education, and community service. Quoting Pope John Paul II's description of the parish as the 'family of families,' the parish presents itself as a haven where all are welcomed, all are loved, and all are challenged to proclaim and live the Gospel. Founded as an independent parish in 1971, it continues to give thanks for the love, dedication, and generosity of parishioners across the decades.
History of the Parish
The parish's story stretches back to a log-cabin St. John the Evangelist church in Clearville, whose cornerstone was laid October 10, 1853 by Fr. Heyden of Bedford; it was dedicated in 1855 and sold only seven years later in 1862. After 1881 Mass was celebrated in private homes. Catholics in the Everett area then drove to St. Thomas in Bedford until 1965, when a mission church was established in a former Church of God building and dedicated by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick on December 19, 1965. On September 1, 1971 Bishop James Hogan established St. John the Evangelist as an independent parish with Fr. Paul Robine as its first pastor.
- 1853: Cornerstone laid for the Clearville church by Fr. Heyden of Bedford
- 1855: Clearville church dedicated
- 1862: Clearville church sold and later razed
- 1965: Everett mission church dedicated December 19 by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick
- 1971 (Sept. 1): Established as an independent parish by Bishop James Hogan; Fr. Paul Robine named first pastor
- 1972: Rectory next to the old mission church purchased
- 1981: Grounds for current church and rectory purchased
- 1985: Rectory and CCD classrooms built and blessed
- 1989 (Nov. 12): Bishop Joseph Adamec consecrates the current church
- 2000: Fr. Norm Imgrund named sixth pastor — begins candy-making, bell tower, and sanctuary renovations
- 2010: Fr. Richard Tomkosky named seventh pastor
- 2013: Fr. Derek Fairman named eighth pastor — meditation area and Marian devotion follow
Architecture & Grounds
The current church building was constructed in the late 1980s and consecrated by Bishop Joseph Adamec on November 12, 1989. Its most striking external feature is the bell tower, whose bells ring at noon and 6:00 p.m. each day and before weekend and Holy Day Masses; in autumn, winter, and spring the tower is illuminated and lights East First Avenue. Inside, a marble sanctuary, stained-glass windows, and an extensive collection of sacred art — expanded by an anonymous donor under Fr. Fairman — give the church a quiet, prayerful beauty. The parish also maintains an outdoor meditation area added under Fr. Fairman. The older 1965 mission church still stands at the corner of East First Avenue and North Hopewell Street.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education at St. John's spans childhood through adult initiation. The youth program covers Kindergarten through 10th grade, with classes meeting Sundays from 10:00 to 10:45 AM between Catechetical Sunday in September and the first Sunday in May, taught by volunteer parishioners. Adult faith formation follows the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process for both unbaptized catechumens and already-baptized candidates seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Fr. Derek Fairman serves as Director of Religious Education and Adult Religious Director.
- Youth Religious Education: K–10, Sundays 10:00–10:45 AM (September–May)
- Adult Religious Education / OCIA: for catechumens and candidates
- Director of Religious Education: Father Fairman
Parish Ministries & Service Opportunities
The parish organizes ministry under three broad headings — Liturgy, Lay Ministry, and Education — and welcomes new volunteers to each. Liturgical roles include lectors (chaired by Margaret Grover), altar servers (under Fr. Fairman), and the music director/organist/choir. The Ladies of St. John, chaired by Krista Maola, is among the most active parish groups, supporting funeral luncheons, fundraisers, social events, Thanksgiving meals for shut-ins, and the Angel Tree program. Parish operations are supported by Finance Council chair Dr. Mark Rakoczy, Parish Secretary Judy Plummer, and Bookkeeper Margaret Grover. The Parish Council chair position is currently listed as vacant on the parish website.
- Lectors — Chair: Margaret Grover
- Music director / organist / choir
- Altar servers — Director: Father Fairman
- Ladies of St. John — Chair: Krista Maola
- Finance Council — Chair: Dr. Mark Rakoczy
- Parish Council — chair currently vacant
- Parish Secretary — Judy Plummer
- Parish Bookkeeper — Margaret Grover
Charitable Giving & Outreach
St. John the Evangelist maintains a robust outreach portfolio stretching from south-central Pennsylvania to Haiti. The parish supports the Haiti Missions and New Hope Hospital (which provides eye care in Haiti), and contributes locally to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Love Inc., the Breezewood Trucker Traveler Ministry, and the local food pantry. The Ladies of St. John provide Thanksgiving meals to shut-in parishioners and run an Angel Tree program at Christmas; the parish also partners with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society to provide Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meals, and participates in Everett Elementary School's backpack program.
- Haiti Missions
- New Hope Hospital (Haiti eye-care ministry)
- Saint Vincent de Paul Society
- Love Inc.
- Breezewood Trucker Traveler Ministry
- Local food pantry
- Thanksgiving meals for shut-ins (Ladies of St. John)
- Angel Tree at Christmas (Ladies of St. John)
- Everett Elementary School backpack program
Sacraments
Beyond the Mass and Confession, St. John the Evangelist celebrates all the usual sacraments. Baptism is offered with required preparation; Confirmation is provided (typically for youth completing religious education); Marriage requires contacting the parish office at least nine months before the expected wedding date; the Anointing of the Sick is available on request; and the OCIA process welcomes adults seeking baptism, Confirmation, and/or full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Baptism (with preparation)
- Confirmation
- Marriage (9-month notice requested)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
- First Eucharist (via Religious Education program)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Derek Fairman, who is also referenced in diocesan communications as pastor of St. Stephen Parish in McConnellsburg. Day-to-day operations are handled by Parish Secretary Judy Plummer and Bookkeeper Margaret Grover. All three can be reached at the parish office phone number and email.
- Pastor: Rev. Derek Fairman
- Secretary: Judy Plummer
- Bookkeeper: Margaret Grover
- Phone: (814) 652-5854
- Email: [email protected]
Visiting, Directions & Contact
The parish welcomes visitors year-round and especially in summer, when travelers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Breezewood often stop in. Driving directions are posted on the Contacts page of the parish website for travelers coming from the West (Route 220/I-99 corridor), the East on Route 30, the North on Route 26, or the South on Route 26. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and donations can be made either by mail or through the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown's online giving portal — selecting parish (022) St. John the Evangelist, Everett.
- Address: 161 East First Avenue, Everett, PA 15537
- Phone: (814) 652-5854
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stjohneverettpa.org/
- Diocesan online giving: select parish 022, St. John the Evangelist, Everett
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Paul Robine1971 – (first pastor)
First pastor of the newly independent parish; lived in a local motel with his dog Molly until a rectory next to the old mission church was purchased in 1972.
- Fr. Norm Imgrund2000 – 2010
Sixth pastor. Brought the parish's candy-making tradition; oversaw construction of the bell tower with its daily-ringing bells; began major 2003 renovations including the marble sanctuary, stained-glass windows, and sacred art.
- Fr. Richard Tomkosky2010 – (approximately 2013)
Seventh pastor. Renewed parish spirituality: added the Friday afternoon Holy Hour, the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet after Mass, and deepened devotion to the Divine Mercy; made improvements to the rectory.
- Fr. Derek Fairman2013 – present
Eighth pastor. Built the outdoor meditation area, added sacred art through an anonymous donor, continued renovations begun in 2003, and instituted the annual Marian devotion from the Assumption (Aug. 15) to the Coronation of Mary (Aug. 22). Also serves as Director of Religious Education (youth) and Adult Religious Director (OCIA).