About St. John the Evangelist · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
St. John the Evangelist is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, founded on December 27, 1830, and serving the community for over 186 years. It is staffed by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars (O.F.M. Cap.) — who took responsibility for the parish in 1991 — and belongs to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The parish is known for its deep historical ties to two American saints (St. John Neumann and St. Katharine Drexel), its role as Philadelphia's Proto-Cathedral from 1838 to 1864, and its extensive sacramental and outreach ministries that serve commuters, Center City workers, the homeless, the hospitalized, and the Asian-American community through its Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic mission chapel.
- Established
- 1830
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas R. Betz, O.F.M. Cap.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Why belong here
St. John's is one of the most pastorally active parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia — known for offering multiple daily Masses and frequent confession times despite a relatively small registered population of about 821 households, because it primarily serves the roughly 200,000 workers, commuters, and visitors of Center City. Under the Capuchin Franciscans, the parish blends a downtown 'oasis of prayer' (with daily Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Saturday and the historic Lower Church of Our Lady of Lourdes) with hands-on outreach: the parish founded and still supports St. John's Hospice, ministers to the sick at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Liberty Court Elder Care, sustains a special Chinese apostolate through Holy Redeemer Church in Chinatown, and runs a broad range of ministries — RCIA, a Young Adult Community in their 20s and 30s, Secular Franciscans, a Pro-Life group, an LGBT prayer group, and a Health Care Ministry. Belong here if you want a historic, urban, mission-minded Catholic home that is intentionally welcoming to all people, including those on the margins.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- Thursday: 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- Friday: 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- No confessions on holy days
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday – Saturday, 3:00 PM – 4:50 PM
- Evening Prayer & Benediction: 4:50 PM (Monday – Saturday)
About St. John the Evangelist Parish
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, founded in 1830 and served since 1991 by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars in union with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The parish describes itself as 'a community without bounds, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, in both word and deed, from the Heart of Philadelphia to a world aching for God's boundless love and mercy.' Its mission extends to commuters, neighbors, the homeless, the poor, the aged and abandoned, hospital patients, and the Asian-American community through its Holy Redeemer mission chapel in Chinatown. St. John's is affectionately known simply as 'St. John's' by its parishioners.
- Founded: December 27, 1830 (feast of St. John the Evangelist)
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Deanery: Philadelphia West and Central)
- Current pastor: Rev. Thomas R. Betz, O.F.M. Cap.
- Staffed by: Capuchin Franciscan Friars (since 1991)
Parish History
From its 1830 charter through two fires, anti-Catholic riots, a stint as the diocesan cathedral, and the transformation of its neighborhood into a commercial district, St. John's has continually adapted to serve the people of Philadelphia. Bishop Francis P. Kenrick granted the founding charter to the Rev. John Hughes, and the church was consecrated on Passion Sunday 1832. The parish hosted the U.S. premiere of Mozart's Requiem in 1834, served as Proto-Cathedral from 1838 to 1864, survived the 1844 Nativist Riots under the protection of General George Cadwalader, and counted both St. John Neumann and St. Katharine Drexel among its people in the 1850s. A catastrophic 1899 fire killed four firefighters — commemorated each year in a special Mass — and led to a major 1902 renovation. The parish founded Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church in 1941 and St. John's Hospice in 1963, and has been managed by the Capuchin Franciscans since 1991.
- 1830: Parish charter granted by Bishop Francis P. Kenrick
- 1832: Church consecrated on Passion Sunday (April 8)
- 1834: U.S. premiere of Mozart's Requiem Mass held at the church
- 1838–1864: Served as the Proto-Cathedral of the Diocese of Philadelphia
- 1844: Survived the Nativist Riots; cannon placed to protect the building
- 1850s: St. Katharine Drexel received First Communion and Confirmation; St. John Neumann became Bishop of Philadelphia
- 1855–1860: Brief Jesuit administration of the parish
- 1899: Fire destroyed much of the block; four firefighters killed
- 1902: Major renovation (granite facing, towers extended, balconies removed)
- 1937: Daily Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins
- 1941: Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church opened in Chinatown
- 1963: St. John's Hospice blessed
- 1977: St. John Neumann canonized (June 19)
- 1991: Capuchin Franciscan Friars accept responsibility for managing the parish
Architecture & Building
The historic Gothic Revival church at 21 South 13th Street was designed by architect William Rodrigue, built in 1830, and consecrated in 1832. The building has been remodeled several times, most notably in 1902 and 1906 by the firm Watson & Huckel, when the upper balconies were removed, the exterior was sheathed in granite, and the towers were extended higher. Around 1900, the famed Munich studio of Franz Mayer & Company installed the parish's stained glass windows, which remain a notable feature of the interior. The basement was lowered to create a lower church — dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes — and the supporting pillars were sunk through the basement into the ground to make the double-decker worship space possible. The Gothic Revival church is one of the oldest buildings in continuous use in Center City.
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Architect (1830): William Rodrigue
- Stained glass: Franz Mayer & Company of Munich, c. 1900
- 1902 / 1906 renovations: Watson & Huckel, architects
- Lower Church: dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. John's describes itself as 'a community of communities,' with a group for everyone — from young adults to healthcare professionals to the musically inclined. The parish is intentional about welcoming people from many backgrounds, cultures, professions, and lifestyles.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and/or First Communion
- St. John's Young Adult Community (20s and 30s) — hosts the 6 PM Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, plus speakers, prayer nights, Bible studies, socials, and service events
- Secular Franciscan Order (O.F.S.) — meets the 4th Sunday of every month
- Health Care Ministry — Eucharistic Ministers to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, the Jefferson Center for Neuroscience, and Liberty Court Elder Care
- Pro-Life movement
- LGBT Prayer Group — meets the 2nd Sunday after 10:30 AM Mass in the parish center
Outreach & Social Ministry
Outreach to the poor, homeless, sick, and marginalized has been part of St. John's identity since the 19th century — Msgr. Wastl's Depression-era feeding program served around 700 men a day. Today, the parish continues that mission through its founding institutions and partnerships.
- St. John's Hospice — founded 1963 by then-pastor Fr. Anthony O'Neill; now part of Catholic Social Services; serves 350+ men daily with meals, showers, mail service, case management, and a 52-bed shelter (12 beds for men in fragile medical condition)
- Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church — Chinatown mission chapel opened 1941; serves as the parish's Asian-American ministry
- St. John the Evangelist House — transitional housing program for formerly homeless people, operated in partnership with Project H.O.M.E. and Bethesda Project
- Hospital and elder-care ministry — pastoral care at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, the Jefferson Center for Neuroscience, and Liberty Court Elder Care
Clergy & Staff
St. John's is staffed by Capuchin Franciscan Friars (O.F.M. Cap.), with additional priests in residence and a permanent deacon. The Capuchin community, as pastor Fr. Tom Betz notes, intentionally lives community life as 'an ongoing call to holiness.'
- Rev. Thomas R. Betz, O.F.M. Cap. — Pastor (also Coordinator of the Chinese Apostolate)
- Rev. John P. McCloskey, O.F.M. Cap. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Stephen Shin, O.F.M. Cap. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Joseph Lei Jin — In Residence (Chinese Apostolate)
- Rev. Akolla Etuge, O.F.M. Cap. — In Residence (Chaplain, Neumann University)
- Rev. Francis Ezeh, O.F.M. Cap. — In Residence
- Rev. Br. Luke (Dong-Gun) Kim, O.F.M. Cap. — Permanent Deacon / Brother in Residence
- Elizabeth Thrasher — Administrative Assistant
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Hughes1830 (founding pastor)
Received the parish charter from Bishop Francis P. Kenrick on Dec. 27, 1830.
- Fr. KavanaughApril 1943–1949
Added a street-side display box explaining Catholic doctrine; renovated the rectory; started daily scheduled confessions; installed air conditioning in the Lower Church.
- Fr. Boyle1949–1954
Initiated the St. John's Night School for Adults (later the St. John's Evening School). Died of a heart attack in 1954.
- Fr. Anthony O'Neill1951–
Concern for the poor and homeless in Center City led to the establishment of St. John's Hospice for Transient Men, blessed in September 1963.
- Fr. Greg Chervenak, O.F.M. Cap.1991
First Capuchin Franciscan pastor after the order accepted responsibility for managing the parish in 1991.
- Fr. Fred Krause1995–1997
Capuchin pastor.
- Fr. Jim Menkhus1997–2001
Capuchin pastor.
- Fr. Frank Yacobi, O.F.M. Cap.c. 2004–c. 2009
Helped launch the St. John the Evangelist House transitional housing program with Project H.O.M.E. and Bethesda Project; led the parish during its 175th anniversary.
- Rev. Thomas R. Betz, O.F.M. Cap.Current pastor
Also serves as Coordinator of the Chinese Apostolate / Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church; resides at the St. John's Friary.