About St. John the Evangelist · Severna Park, Maryland
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in Severna Park, Maryland, within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The community was founded in 1902 as a small mission by the Redemptorist Fathers of Annapolis and has worshipped at its current site on Ritchie Highway (at Cypress Creek Road) since 1964. Today it serves about 2,200 Catholic families through weekend and daily Mass, a parish elementary school (Preschool through Grade 8), faith formation for children and youth, a vibrant music ministry, an active St. Vincent de Paul conference, a sister-parish mission in Jamaica, and a monthly Filipino Mass. The church building was fully renovated and re-dedicated by Archbishop William E. Lori on August 20, 2025.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Erik Arnold
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a full Catholic life in one place — multiple Sunday Masses (including a monthly Filipino Mass), daily Mass, a robust Reconciliation schedule, and 47+ hours of weekly Eucharistic Adoration from Thursday morning through Saturday morning. Families can send their children to the National Blue Ribbon parish school (Preschool–Grade 8) and to faith formation programs for every age, from Children's Liturgy of the Word and SPRED for children and adults with special needs, through Middle School Faith Formation and the Life Teen high school group, to adult OCIA (Becoming Catholic) and ChristLife. Outreach runs deep through a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and assistance office, a Jamaica sister-parish mission, Ministry to the Sick and Homebound, Our Daily Bread service, and a community vegetable garden — giving parishioners tangible ways to live the Gospel beyond Sunday.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 6:00–7:00 PM
- Fridays 4:30–6:00 PM (also First Fridays 9:00–10:00 AM)
- Saturdays 3:30–5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM through Saturday 8:00 AM — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Oratory (Gathering Space)
- Second Tuesday of the month 7:00–8:00 PM — communal Holy Hour with praise & worship, Gospel reflection, and Benediction (sponsored by Regnum Christi teams)
Our Story & Heritage
St. John the Evangelist began in 1902 as a small mission church founded by the Redemptorist Fathers from Annapolis. The growing community moved into its current church at 689 Ritchie Highway in 1964. Six decades later, after pastors including Msgr. Rick Woy and Fr. James Proffitt had studied plans to renovate, Fr. Erik Arnold (named pastor in 2019) launched and fully funded a multi-million-dollar renovation that was solemnly dedicated by Archbishop William E. Lori on August 20, 2025.
- Founded 1902 by the Redemptorist Fathers from Annapolis
- Current church building opened 1964 at Ritchie Highway & Cypress Creek Road
- Parish serves approximately 2,200 Catholic families
- Re-dedicated August 20, 2025 after a multi-million-dollar renovation
Clergy, School & Parish Staff
The parish is led by pastor Fr. Erik Arnold, with associate pastors Fr. Maurice Afor and Fr. Jeremy Smith, permanent deacon Dcn. Mike Tiné, and pastoral-year seminarian Sam Huffer. The parish school is led by Principal Dr. Glenna Blessing and serves 557 students (Preschool–Grade 8) with 69 staff and faculty. Helen Kirby directs Music & Worship, Adam Novotny directs Campus Operations, and Cindy Halloran runs the St. Vincent de Paul Assistance Office.
- Rev. Erik Arnold, Pastor (since 2019)
- Rev. Maurice Afor, Associate Pastor
- Rev. Jeremy Smith, Associate Pastor
- Dcn. Mike Tiné, Permanent Deacon
- Sam Huffer, Pastoral Year Seminarian
- Dr. Glenna Blessing, Principal of St. John the Evangelist School
Faith Formation for Children & Youth
Faith formation at St. John is a partnership between the parish and parents. Programs serve children from preschool through high school, including the parish school, Children's Ministry Faith Formation (Preschool–Grade 5), Middle School Faith Formation (Grades 6–8 on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays), Vacation Bible School, and Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 9 AM and 11 AM Masses. Children with special needs are welcomed in SPRED. Sunday childcare is available for ages 1–4.
- Children's Ministry Faith Formation (Preschool–Grade 5)
- Middle School Faith Formation — 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 PM
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) at 9 AM & 11 AM Sunday Masses
- SPRED for children with special needs
- Sunday Childcare for ages 1–4
- Vacation Bible School
Teens & High School Ministry
High-school teens are served by Life Teen (a Sunday-evening youth group meeting once a month from 6:15–8:00 PM), Confirmation preparation, and the teen-led Hic Sum group. Middle-schoolers also have dedicated faith formation on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.
- Life Teen — one Sunday a month, 6:15–8:00 PM (food, fellowship, talk, small groups, prayer)
- Confirmation preparation coordinated by Youth Minister Monique Gill
- Hic Sum — teen-run high school Catholic youth group
- Contact: [email protected]
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Adults interested in the Catholic Church — whether unbaptized, baptized in another denomination, or Catholic but seeking First Eucharist or Confirmation — are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. OCIA meets Monday evenings 7:00–8:30 PM in the Gathering Space Meeting Room. Discovering Christ (Thursday evenings) is offered as a low-commitment first step, with refreshments and relaxed faith conversation.
- OCIA meets Monday evenings 7:00–8:30 PM
- Discovering Christ meets Thursday evenings
- ChristLife coordinated by Debbie Rickert ([email protected])
- Contact: [email protected] or Fr. Jeremy Smith
St. John the Evangelist School
Established in 1959, St. John the Evangelist School is a Catholic Preschool through Grade 8 parish school under the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It was designated a National Blue Ribbon School in 2009 and again in 2024, and is also a Maryland Green School. Enrollment is 557 students with 69 staff and faculty; over 70% of the faculty hold master's degrees. The Sisters of St. Joseph have lived in community on campus and served as educators throughout the school's history.
- Preschool through Grade 8
- National Blue Ribbon School (2009, 2024)
- Maryland Green School
- 557 students; 69 faculty and staff
- Principal: Dr. Glenna Blessing ([email protected])
- Phone: 410-647-2283
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music ministry at St. John engages professional and lay musicians of all ages and styles, with the goal of music that glorifies God and ministers to those at worship. The Jubilate Singers (Grades 4–8) rehearse weekly and sing at the second-Sunday Mass from September through May plus Christmas and Easter liturgies. Liturgical lay ministries include lectors, altar servers/acolytes, cantors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers/ministers of hospitality.
- Music Ministry led by Helen Kirby ([email protected])
- Jubilate Singers choir for Grades 4–8 (rehearsals Thursdays 4:30–6 PM)
- Lectors (Ministers of the Word)
- Altar servers / acolytes
- Cantors and music ministers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ushers / ministers of hospitality
Outreach & Service to Others
St. John parishioners put faith into action through a robust network of outreach ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul Society runs a food pantry and financial-assistance office serving neighbors in Severna Park, Arnold, Millersville, Pasadena, and Severn. Volunteers also serve at Our Daily Bread Employment Center in Baltimore twice monthly, visit the sick and homebound (including those at BWMC and local nursing homes), tend the St. Vincent de Paul Garden, and travel each winter to the parish's sister parishes in Jamaica.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — food pantry & limited financial assistance (443-261-0109)
- St. Vincent de Paul Garden — fresh vegetables for the food pantry
- Ministry to Sick and Homebound — contact Fr. Maurice Afor
- Jamaica Outreach — sister parishes St. Philomena & St. Margaret Mary since 2007 ([email protected])
- Our Daily Bread Employment Center — twice-monthly lunch service in Baltimore
- Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets; Giving Tree gifts for children
Prayer Groups & Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. John sustains a vibrant prayer life through ongoing weekly Adoration, the Joy in the Spirit prayer group, and Regnum Christi-sponsored monthly Holy Hours. The parish also marks the third Sunday of each month with the Filipino celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 2 PM.
- Joy in the Spirit — Sunday evenings in the Gathering Space Meeting Room (except 3rd Sunday)
- Filipino Mass — 3rd Sunday at 2:00 PM
- Monthly communal Holy Hour — 2nd Tuesday 7–8 PM
- Contact: Agnes Nepomuceno ([email protected]) for Joy in the Spirit
Renovation & Re-dedication (2024–2025)
From September 2024 through summer 2025 the church underwent a comprehensive renovation funded entirely by parishioner donations. Crews removed asbestos ceiling tiles, replaced HVAC, boiler, roof, ventilation, insulation, and rewired lighting, audio, visual, fire-alarm and security systems. The redesign introduces a shallow dome above the main altar featuring a mural of Jesus as the victorious Lamb of God from Revelation 5, alongside new sacred art that deepens the parish's connection to St. John the Evangelist while preserving the original architectural warmth. Archbishop William E. Lori celebrated the solemn dedication Mass on August 20, 2025.
- Capital campaign approved by the Archdiocese of Baltimore in late 2023
- Work began September 1, 2024; Masses moved to parish activities center
- Renovation fully funded by parishioner donations and pledges
- New dome with Lamb-of-God mural above the main altar
- Re-dedicated by Archbishop William E. Lori on August 20, 2025
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Erik Arnold2019–present
Named pastor in 2019; led COVID-era livestreamed Masses, spearheaded the 2024–2025 multi-million-dollar renovation and re-dedication on Aug. 20, 2025.
- Rev. James ProffittPrior to 2019
Predecessor pastor who, along with Msgr. Rick Woy, studied plans and capital campaigns to renovate the aging church.
- Msgr. Rick WoyPrior to 2019
Predecessor pastor; together with Fr. Proffitt laid the groundwork for the eventual renovation.