About St. John the Evangelist · Lafargeville, New York
St. John the Evangelist is a small Catholic oratory church located at 35923 NYS Route 180 in LaFargeville, New York, in the Thousand Islands region of Jefferson County. Originally founded as a mission church in the 1840s and formally named St. John the Evangelist in 1859, it has been a 'sister parish' of St. Mary's Church in Clayton since 1983 and today shares its Sacramental Minister, staff, and pastoral life with that parish in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. The parish is also notable for the beautiful Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes on its grounds, built by Father Arthur J. Viau and opened to the public in 1940, which has long drawn pilgrims from across the North Country.
- Established
- 1849
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Arthur J. LaBaff, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist and its sister parish St. Mary's in Clayton are explicitly open to everyone — 'no matter what your present status in the Catholic Church … your current family or marital situation … your past or present religious affiliation … age, background, race, or color.' Parishioners are welcomed, accepted, loved, and respected at both churches. The parish serves the wider Thousand Islands community through ministries such as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including visits to the homebound and those in nursing facilities), religious education, the music ministry, Knights of Columbus Council work, food-pantry outreach, and Adopt-a-Highway service, making it a small but actively engaged faith community.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
History of St. John the Evangelist, LaFargeville
The parish traces its origins to a March 1, 1838 deed in which John LaFarge and his wife Louisa conveyed two acres to Rt. Rev. John DuBois, Bishop of New York, 'for the purpose of erecting a church for the use of the Roman Catholic religion of LaFargeville.' The same LaFarge family mansion briefly housed a St. Vincent de Paul seminary — an early chapter of Fordham University — under Father Francis Guth, but the harsh winters and remote location forced its closure in 1843. Father Michael Guth built a frame church (30' x 49', seating 100) in 1848–1849; Bishop John McCloskey dedicated it on August 22, 1849. Originally a mission of Watertown called the 'new St. Mary's,' it was officially named St. John the Evangelist in 1859 and incorporated by Rev. Edward Brice on August 22, 1883. Its parishioners were largely of Irish and French descent, many from the Mohawk Valley.
- Land deed: March 1, 1838 (John & Louisa LaFarge to Bishop DuBois)
- First church built 1848–1849 by Father Michael Guth
- Dedicated August 22, 1849 by Bishop John McCloskey
- Officially named St. John the Evangelist, 1859
- Incorporated by Rev. Edward Brice, August 22, 1883
- Sister parish of St. Mary's, Clayton since 1983
Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes
Behind the church and parish hall sits the Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes, begun in 1934 by Father Arthur J. Viau and opened to the public in June 1940. Father Viau, who credited a double novena honoring the 18 apparitions at Lourdes with curing his tuberculosis of the bone in 1912, built a wall of native stone with a rosary-shaped planter, a great 'M' fountain for Mary, a simple stone altar from a neighboring farm, and a grotto enlarged with an eighteen-inch wall in which he set a stone brought from the original Shrine at Lourdes in France. A prie-dieu was placed before the altar, and in 1939 a 36-inch marble statue of the Blessed Mother, imported from Italy, replaced an earlier plaster figure. In its first summer over 10,000 visitors came, and on August 15, 1940 Monsignor Joseph Creeden blessed the rosary wall with ten neighboring priests before an estimated 1,500 people. A small 18-by-15-foot chapel was later added for winter Mass and devotion.
- Built by Father Arthur J. Viau, 1934–1940
- Opened to the public June 1940
- Stone from the original Lourdes Shrine inlaid in the grotto wall
- Stones from Apparition Hill, Medjugorje embedded in a cross at the altar base
- Mass has been celebrated in the shrine in summer months over the years
Parish Life & Staff
St. John's is served jointly with its sister parish St. Mary's in Clayton. Rev. Arthur J. LaBaff, V.F., serves as Sacramental Minister; Deacon Neil J. Fuller is the Pastoral Life Coordinator. They are assisted by Deacons Gary A. Frank, JB Kavanaugh, Bernie Slate, and Joel Walentuk, by Director of Religious Education Jennifer Barton, Secretary/Bookkeeper Kerry Wahl, and St. Mary's Music Ministry leader Corrine Willis. The parish office at 521 James Street, Clayton is the hub for both parishes and is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–noon and 12:30–4:00 p.m.
- Parish Office: 521 James Street, Clayton, NY 13624
- Phone: 315-686-3398 | Fax: 315-686-2700
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00–noon and 12:30–4:00
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the standard Catholic sacraments — including Baptism, Marriage, and Holy Communion. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) assist the priest at Mass and carry Communion to the homebound, hospitalized, and those in nursing facilities, extending the worshipping community's embrace to those unable to be physically present. Training is provided for new EMHCs; interested parishioners may contact the parish office or speak to Fr. LaBaff.
- Baptism
- Marriage
- Holy Communion, including visits to the sick and homebound
Ministries & Outreach
The parish supports a range of ministries serving the Thousand Islands community. Beyond the Eucharist-centered ministries, the community participates in a Knights of Columbus Council, supports seminarians, runs a local food pantry, and takes part in Adopt-a-Highway. Pastoral and Finance Councils, plus a Buildings & Grounds Committee, meet regularly through the year; the parish office can connect interested parishioners with any of these.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Director of Religious Education — Jennifer Barton
- St. Mary's Music Ministry — Corrine Willis
- Knights of Columbus Council
- Food pantry outreach
- Adopt-a-Highway
- Seminarian support
- Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Buildings & Grounds Committee
Cemeteries
The parish maintains historic cemeteries as part of its ministry to the community. St. John's Cemetery sits on NYS Route 180 approximately two miles north of the village of LaFargeville. St. Mary's Cemeteries, run by the sister parish, are on Route 12 at the edge of the village of Clayton — the 'old side' on the western side of Route 12 and the 'new side' on the eastern/right side as you enter the village. For information about either cemetery, contact the parish office.
- St. John's Cemetery — NYS Route 180, ~2 miles north of LaFargeville
- St. Mary's Cemeteries — Route 12, Clayton ('old side' and 'new side')
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Guth1838–1843
First rector of the St. Vincent de Paul seminary at the LaFarge Mansion (the early Fordham University chapter in LaFargeville).
- Father Michael Guth1848–1849
Brother of Francis Guth; built the original frame church (30' x 49', seating 100), dedicated August 22, 1849.
- Father Joseph Pontur1898–
First resident pastor; served after the 1898 rectory was built for $3,200.
- Father J. Eugene Derome1902–1906
Improved church and rectory; built hitching sheds and a small barn (~$450).
- Father Anthime Constantineau1906
- Father Clarence A. Kitts1907
- Father Hugh O'Reilly1913
- Father Hollis D. Burns1917
- Father Raphael A. Hoffman1920–1928
- Father George Racette1928–1932
Pastor of St. Mary's, Clayton; served as Administrator when St. John's was again a mission.
- Father Arthur J. Viau1932–1954
Built the Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes (opened 1940) after being cured of tuberculosis in 1912.
- Father Howard P. McCasland1954–
- Father John M. Crable1962–
- Lawrence E. Cotter and Father Joseph F. Quinn1964 (part)
Administrators.
- Father Louis Gardner1964–
Plans made for parish hall in May 1966; hall dedicated October 1967.
- Father Normand C. Cote1969
- Father Lawrence E. Mallette1972
- Father Gilber Faucher1973–1981
Retired 1981.
- Father Patrick O'Reilly1981–1983
Last resident pastor of St. John's.
- Monsignor Herbert Hannan1983–
First joint pastor of St. John's and St. Mary's; resided at St. Mary's rectory in Clayton.