About St. John the Evangelist · Tucson, Arizona
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in south-side Tucson, Arizona, part of the Diocese of Tucson, with a congregation that today is largely Hispanic and bilingual. It is pastored by Msgr. Raúl P. Trevizo, V.G. (also the Vicar General for Hispanic Affairs in the diocese), who has served the parish since September 1993, with Fr. Bardo Antunez Olea as Parochial Vicar and Deacon José Duarte assisting. The parish is best known for two enduring ministries rooted in its south-Tucson neighborhood: its Catholic elementary school (K–8, a former Notre Dame ACE Academy that today serves roughly 300+ students), and Casa San Juan, the parish outreach that provides food assistance, health services, and free income-tax preparation. Across 90+ years, six Sunday Masses and daily Mass, plus an extensive list of choirs and ministries, feed the parish's stated mission of 'worship, family, and healing' under the inspiration of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Established
- 1941 (canonically erected as a parish; chapel established 1933–34)
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Msgr. Raúl P. Trevizo, V.G. (pastor since September 1993; also Vicar General of Hispanic Affairs for the Diocese of Tucson)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a deeply rooted south-side Tucson parish whose mission statement — 'Inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe and united in faith with the universal Catholic Church, we build God's Church in our parish community through focus on worship, family, and healing' — is lived out in real programs you can walk into. Up to half the people who come for spiritual support are not yet parishioners. The parish offers six Sunday Masses (English, Spanish, and bilingual), daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday at 4:00 p.m., and full sacramental preparation for Baptism, Marriage, Quinceañera, and Anointing of the Sick. Through Casa San Juan it provides food assistance, health services, and free income-tax help to neighbors in need, and its K–8 Catholic school serves 700–900 students each year through religious education and elementary/middle school.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m.
Parish History
St. John the Evangelist was first established as a chapel of All Saints Parish in 1933–34, then canonically erected as an independent parish on September 14, 1941 under Bishop Daniel J. Gercke. The present Mission-style church on 12th Avenue and Ajo Way was blessed by Bishop Gercke on September 25, 1949, and the parish school opened in September 1950 under the Sisters of Charity. The Holy Ghost Fathers directed the parish from 1948 until 1991, when diocesan priests resumed pastoral care; Msgr. Raúl P. Trevizo, V.G., became pastor in September 1993.
- Chapel ground broken August 14, 1933 at 3709 South 7th Avenue
- First Mass celebrated by Fr. Victor Stoner on September 4, 1934
- Canonically erected as a parish on September 14, 1941 by Bishop Daniel J. Gercke
- 192 families actively attending Mass by 1947
- Present church blessed September 25, 1949
- School opened September 8, 1950 with 104 students in grades 1–4
- Holy Ghost Fathers served 1948–1991; Msgr. Trevizo pastor since September 1993
Architecture & Sacred Features
The exterior of St. John the Evangelist is a deliberate echo of Tucson's earliest Catholic heritage: a Mission-style façade modeled after the 1775 church at the foot of A Mountain that was built by the martyred Fr. Garcez and known as San José de Tucson. The open gable of the front façade holds a trinity of bells, one of which is a memorial to Fr. Garcez.
- Mission-style front modeled on the 1775 San José de Tucson church
- Trinity of bells in the open gable
- Bell in memory of the martyred Fr. Garcez
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are available through the parish office, with bilingual registration for Baptisms Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Marriage preparation requires at least six months of advance planning. Quinceañeras are coordinated through Msgr. Raúl Trevizo and should be scheduled six months in advance; the parish welcomes Anointing of the Sick for the homebound and hospitalized by appointment.
- Baptism / Bautismos — register Mon–Thu 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at the Parish Office
- Marriage / Matrimonios — 6 months advance preparation
- Quinceañera — call 6 months before the 15th birthday
- Anointing of the Sick / Unción de los Enfermos — by appointment
- First Communion and Confirmation through Religious Education program
Parish Mission & Parish Identity
The parish's mission statement ties its identity to Our Lady of Guadalupe and to three pillars — worship, family, and healing — lived out concretely in the parish's daily and Sunday Mass schedule, its hundreds of sacraments celebrated each year, its food/health/tax help through Casa San Juan, and its Catholic school and religious education programs serving 700–900 students each year. The parish notes that as many as half the people who come to it for spiritual support are not yet registered parishioners, and it welcomes them as a regular part of its mission.
- Mission: 'Inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe and united in faith with the universal Catholic Church, we build God's Church in our parish community through focus on worship, family, and healing.'
- Up to 50% of those coming for spiritual support are not parishioners
- Daily Mass and 6 Sunday Masses
- Hundreds of sacraments celebrated each year
- Casa San Juan — food, health, and income-tax help
- Religious education and Catholic school for 700–900 students annually
St. John the Evangelist Catholic School (K–8)
St. John's parish school opened on September 8, 1950 with 104 students in grades 1–4 under the Sisters of Charity. After decades of service, the school nearly closed in the late 2000s when enrollment fell below 130. A transformative 2010 partnership with the University of Notre Dame ACE Academies (NDAA), combined with Arizona's tax-credit scholarship programs, reversed that decline: enrollment more than doubled to over 300 students in five years. In 2019–20 the school transitioned to self-administration while retaining its Catholic identity. It now serves roughly 300+ students in kindergarten through 8th grade, with two classrooms per grade and a 15:1 student-teacher ratio, in the Sunset Villa neighborhood of south Tucson.
- Founded 1950 by the Sisters of Charity
- Now K–8 with two classrooms per grade
- Notre Dame ACE Academy partnership from 2010 to 2019–20
- Self-administered starting 2019–20
- Roughly 300+ students; ~15:1 student-teacher ratio
- Affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
- Located in the Sunset Villa neighborhood of south Tucson
Casa San Juan — Parish Outreach
Casa San Juan is the parish's social-outreach center, providing food assistance, basic health services, and free income-tax preparation to neighbors in south-side Tucson. It also hosts the Monday evening English Bible Study. The parish's own mission statement lists Casa San Juan among its three most visible ministries, alongside the Catholic school and the sacramental life of the parish.
- Food assistance
- Health services
- Free income-tax preparation
- Hosts Monday 7:00 p.m. English Bible Study
Ministries, Music & Choirs
St. John the Evangelist sustains one of the larger parish ministry rosters in the Diocese of Tucson, with active choirs in both English and Spanish supporting every Sunday liturgy, an Ignite Youth Leadership Ministry, a Knights of Columbus council, a St. Vincent de Paul conference (with truck pickups for donations), and a bilingual Bible Study program. The seven Sunday choirs include the Coro 8 A.M., the 10:00 a.m. choir under Chris Sarti, the noon Divina Misericordia choir, the 2:00 p.m. ensemble led by María Pineda and including Discipulo, Familia Castellano, Mariachi San Juan and Jose & Ana Tapia, and the 7:00 p.m. Coro Jesús Amigo Fiel.
- Altar Servers / Monaguillos
- Choirs / Coros for every Sunday Mass (English, Spanish, and bilingual)
- Eucharistic Ministers / Ministros de Eucaristía
- Lectors / Lectores
- Pastoral Council / Mesa Parroquial
- School Board / Mesa Escolar
- St. Vincent de Paul / San Vicente de Paúl — phone 520-622-2821, truck pickups
- Knights of Columbus / Caballeros de Colón
- La Anunciación Grupo Adultos
- Grupo de Oración / Spanish Prayer Group (lunes)
- Catholic Social Services counseling — 520-623-0344
- Ignite Youth Leadership Ministry
- Youth Ministries
Staff & Parish Office
The parish is led by Msgr. Raúl P. Trevizo, V.G. (Pastor), assisted by Fr. Bardo Antunez Olea (Parochial Vicar) and Deacon José Duarte. The parish office is staffed by Chris Price (Receptionist), Fely H-Ojeda (Finance Manager), and Lydia Lopez (Religious Education Director). Mr. Price also serves as the parish's Compliance Officer for 'Our Call to Protect'.
- Msgr. Raúl P. Trevizo, V.G. — Pastor, ext. 105
- Fr. Bardo Antunez Olea — Parochial Vicar, ext. 106
- Dcn. José Duarte — Deacon, ext. 100
- Chris Price — Receptionist / Compliance Officer, ext. 100
- Fely H-Ojeda — Finance Manager, ext. 107
- Lydia Lopez — Religious Education Director (520-901-1995 / 520-901-1997)
Visiting, Hours & Contact
The parish office and gift shop welcome visitors at set hours during the week. The church itself is at the northwest corner of 12th Avenue and Ajo Way, west of I-19, in the 85713 ZIP code of south Tucson. Sacramental certificates and other records can be requested through the parish office.
- Address: 602 W. Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713
- Phone: 520-624-7409
- Fax: 520-740-1145
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Tue–Thu 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Fri 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; closed Sat/Sun
- For other services: 520-624-7409, ext. 100
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Victor R. Stonerto 1948
Celebrated the first Mass in the chapel on Sept. 4, 1934 and continued as pastor when Bishop Gercke canonically erected the parish on Sept. 14, 1941. Served until the Holy Ghost Fathers assumed direction of the parish in 1948.
- Fr. Joseph B. Murphy, C.S.Sp.1948–
First pastor appointed under the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) by Bishop Daniel J. Gercke; immediately began planning the present church and a parochial school.
- Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans)1948–1991
Directed the parish for more than four decades; oversaw construction of the present church (1949) and opening of the school (1950).
- Diocesan priests1991–
Pastoral direction returned to the Diocese of Tucson in 1991.
- Msgr. Raúl P. Trevizo, V.G.September 1993–present
Current pastor; also Vicar General of Hispanic Affairs for the Diocese of Tucson.