About St. John the Evangelist · Girard, Pennsylvania
St. John the Evangelist is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Erie located in Girard, Pennsylvania, a small borough in Erie County in northwestern Pennsylvania. Established in 1853, the parish currently worships in a newly renovated church building at 1001 Main Street East, which was formerly the parish center and is now fully accessible with ample parking. The parish is led by Father Scott P. Detisch and a small staff, and partners with neighboring Holy Cross Parish in Fairview for shared faith formation (Religious Education and the Edge/Confirmation youth program). The community describes itself as a Family of Faith committed to loving God, loving others, and making disciples.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Scott P. Detisch
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a small, accessible, family-style parish community in Girard with a newly renovated church, ample parking, and a personal touch from a dedicated pastor and staff. Members can expect full pastoral care including baptisms, anointing of the sick, funerals, and marriage preparation, and families have access to shared K-5 faith formation classes and a joint Edge/Confirmation youth program with neighboring Holy Cross Parish. Joining also connects a household to the wider mission of the Diocese of Erie through the Catholic Services Appeal, which funds ministries across all thirteen counties of northwest Pennsylvania.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30-4:00 p.m. (per the parish website and diocesan listing)
About St. John the Evangelist Parish
St. John the Evangelist is a welcoming Catholic Family of Faith in Girard, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Erie. Founded in 1853, the parish is committed to loving God, loving others, and making disciples. Founders, long-time parishioners, newcomers, and visitors are all warmly received. The parish worships in a newly renovated church at 1001 Main Street East — a building that originally served as the parish center and is now fully accessible with great parking.
- Established 1853
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
- Newly renovated worship space at 1001 Main Street East
- Fully accessible with great parking
Parish History & Buildings
The parish was established in 1853 to serve Catholics in the borough of Girard, Erie County. Its historic church building at 101 Olin Avenue was constructed in 1945 as a two-story, front-gable brick structure with stained-glass windows, and is recorded as a contributing building in the Girard Historic District's National Register of Historic Places nomination. In recent years the parish converted its former Parish Center at 1001 Main Street East into its primary worship space, a renovation the parish describes as its 'newly renovated Church.'
- Founded 1853
- Historic church built 1945 at 101 Olin Avenue
- 1945 brick building is a contributing structure in the Girard Historic District
- Newly renovated church at 1001 Main Street East
Parish Staff
St. John the Evangelist is served by a small but committed parish staff led by the pastor. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and by appointment. Bulletin submissions are due 10 days before publication.
- Rev. Scott P. Detisch — Pastor — [email protected] — ext. 3
- Mary Hickin — Director of Faith Formation — [email protected] — ext. 4
- Nancy Tometsko — St. John On-Site Faith Formation Facilitator — ext. 4
- Kallie Marino — Office and Financial Manager — [email protected] — ext. 2
- Dean Zimmer — Cemetery Manager and Director of Maintenance — ext. 5
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. John's is offered in partnership with neighboring Holy Cross Parish in Fairview. The K-5 program meets at St. John's Church from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., while the Edge middle-school and Confirmation program meets at Holy Cross from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Registration is due September 1 each year, and a mandatory parent meeting introduces families to the teachers. Sacramental milestones include First Reconciliation (typically in early March) and First Communion (typically in early May).
- K-5 Faith Formation — classes at St. John's, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Edge & Confirmation — classes at Holy Cross, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Registration due September 1
- Mandatory parent meeting in early September
- First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation
- Confirmation retreat in January; Confirmation celebrated at St. Jude the Apostle
Becoming a Parish Member
Parishioners are asked to complete a confidential registration/census form, available by calling the parish office at ext. 2 or downloading it from the website. Registered members may receive pastoral care including baptisms, anointing of the sick, and funerals, and registration is required to celebrate a Catholic wedding at the parish. Children remain members with their parents until age 18, at which point they are encouraged to register independently.
- Complete a registration/census form (download from website or request from the office)
- Participate at Sunday and Holy Day Mass
- Go to Confession at least once a year
- Receive Communion at least once during the Easter season
- Join in Lenten fast and abstinence
- Adult children (18+) should register independently
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Faith Formation prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation (with Confirmation celebrated at St. Jude the Apostle). Registered members may request baptisms, anointing of the sick, funerals, and Catholic weddings.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation
- First Communion (Eucharist)
- Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage (Catholic wedding — registration required)
- Funerals
Support Your Parish & Catholic Services Appeal
St. John's embraces a stewardship model of giving — recognizing that all we have and all we are are gifts from God. Donations can be made during weekend Masses, dropped off at the parish office during regular hours, mailed to the P.O. Box, or given online through Vanco. The parish also takes part annually in the Catholic Services Appeal (CSA), the Diocese of Erie's shared fundraising effort across all 13 counties of northwest Pennsylvania. Bequests may be made to the St. John the Evangelist Parish Charitable Trust.
- Drop off donations at the office (Tue, Thu, Fri 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m.–noon)
- Mail to P.O. Box 32, Girard, PA 16417
- Online giving via Vanco
- Remember the parish in your will (legal name: St. John the Evangelist Parish Charitable Trust)
- Catholic Services Appeal — 2025-26 diocesan goal: $4,235,000
Outreach: Christian Cupboard
The parish supports the Christian Cupboard food pantry by promoting a quarterly list of suggested donation items. Bulletin announcements identify the items needed for January, February, and March, and April through June, helping parishioners contribute to local families in need.
- Quarterly suggested donation lists published in the bulletin
- Coordinated with the Christian Cupboard food pantry
Visit, Contact & Office Information
The parish office is located in the church building at 1001 Main Street East, Girard, PA 16417, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and by appointment. The mailing address is P.O. Box 32, Girard, PA 16417. The main phone line is (814) 774-4108 with extensions connecting callers to the pastor, faith formation, the office/financial manager, and cemetery/maintenance.
- Church address: 1001 Main Street East, Girard, PA 16417
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 32, Girard, PA 16417
- Phone: (814) 774-4108
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Fri 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and by appointment
- Fully accessible with great parking