St. John the Evangelist

Welcome & Mission

The parish describes itself as 'a vibrant Catholic Community of faith,' welcoming both members and visitors to participate in parish life. Its mission statement, published on the collaborative website, reads: 'Baptized into Christ, we are a community of believers, bonded by our desire to learn and to live the Gospel message. As a Eucharistic people, we share a commitment to foster our personal and communal growth in faith and to witness to Christ's presence by our service to those in need, both within and beyond our parish community.'

Parish History

Although the parish itself was formally established on November 21, 1890, the Catholic community that became St. John the Evangelist traces its roots to the 1860s, when Irish immigrants working in Lower Falls mills and on the railroad first gathered for Mass at St. Mary's in Upper Falls. A mission was started in Lower Falls in 1867 in Boyden Hall, and in 1873 thirty-five parishioners raised $2,550 to buy land for a church. Architect Ernest J. Boyden designed the building; the first Mass was celebrated in the basement in May 1875, and the upper church was dedicated on May 8, 1881 — making it the oldest religious building in Wellesley.

• 1867 — First Mass for the Lower Falls community celebrated in Boyden Hall.
• 1873 — Land purchased (two acres) through a 'straw' amid concern about Protestant opposition.
• 1875 — First Mass celebrated in the basement of the partially completed church (May).
• 1881 — Upper church completed and dedicated on May 8.
• 1890 — Parish officially established November 21; Rev. Patrick Callanan appointed first pastor.
• 1901 — Tower, transepts, rectory, and stable added at a cost of $17,200.
• 1965 — Saint John School and convent opened; Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur invited to teach.
• 1993 — Father Philbin succeeded by Rev. Thomas F. Powers.
• 2015 — Parish celebrates 125th anniversary of founding and 140th anniversary of first Mass in the church.

The Building & Architecture

Designed by architect Ernest J. Boyden and built between 1873 and 1881, St. John the Evangelist Church remains the oldest religious building in Wellesley. Major additions came in 1901 when the tower and transepts were added during a comprehensive overhaul under Father Callanan's pastorate. A rectory, stable, and graded grounds completed that project, all funded by about 300 families in advance of construction.

• Architect: Ernest J. Boyden
• First Mass in building: May 1875 (basement)
• Dedication of upper church: May 8, 1881
• 1901 addition: tower and transepts, rectory, and stable

Clergy & Staff

The parish is currently led by Rev. James J. Laughlin, Pastor of the St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative, with Rev. Gabriel Afumbom Tokoh serving as Parochial Vicar. Rev. J. Bryan Hehir is in residence at St. John, and Rev. James Taah is Scholar Priest in Residence at St. Paul. Deacon Rick Vatcher assists in the collaborative. A full team supports pastoral care, finance and operations, faith formation, music, facilities, and communications.

• Rev. James J. Laughlin — Pastor ([email protected])
• Rev. Gabriel Afumbom Tokoh — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
• Rev. J. Bryan Hehir — In Residence
• Rev. James Taah — Scholar Priest in Residence (St. Paul)
• Deacon Rick Vatcher
• Kelly Meraw — Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy
• Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ — Coordinator of Pastoral Care
• Angela DeProspo — Volunteer and Liturgical Life Coordinator
• Jackie Welham — Director of Finance and Operations
• Tilde Gigliotti — Business Manager
• Sarah Connolly — Administrative Assistant
• Donna Tosti — Administrative Assistant
• Tricia Amend Bombara — Technology and Communications
• William Endicott — Director of Music Ministries for the Collaborative
• Christian Wilson — Coordinator of Sunday 5pm Youth Music Group
• Dave Pini — Collaborative Property Manager
• George Cronin — St. John and Saint John School Facilities Manager
• Linda Messore — Director of Children's Faith Formation
• Elsi Ojanen — Interim Coordinator of Youth Ministry
• Svea Fraser & Alan LaFleur — Collaborative Coordinators of O.C.I.A.

Mass & Worship Schedule

Masses at St. John the Evangelist follow the regular schedule of the St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative. The Saturday Vigil is celebrated at 5:00 PM at St. John; on Sunday mornings St. John offers the 12:00 PM Mass year-round and the 9:00 AM Family Mass on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays. The Sunday 5:00 PM Youth Mass (and the 9:00 AM Family Mass when it is celebrated at St. Paul) rotates between the parishes. Tuesday and Thursday Masses are at 7:00 AM at St. John; Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Masses are at 9:00 AM at St. Paul.

• Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM at St. John
• Sunday 9:00 AM Family Mass (1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays) at St. John
• Sunday 12:00 PM at St. John
• Sunday 5:00 PM Youth Mass (1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays) at St. John
• Tuesday & Thursday 7:00 AM at St. John
• Summer Sundays (Memorial Day–Labor Day): 11:00 AM at St. John

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith formation at St. John the Evangelist includes Religious Education for grades 1–6 and grades 7–10, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) for adults, and an active youth ministry. Children's faith formation is directed by Linda Messore, and OCIA is coordinated collaboratively by Svea Fraser and Alan LaFleur.

• Religious Education, Grades 1–6 — Linda Messore
• Religious Education, Grades 7–10
• Youth Ministry — Interim Coordinator Elsi Ojanen
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — [email protected]

Saint John School

Saint John School serves children from preschool through grade 6 and has been recognized for academic excellence rooted in Catholic tradition since it opened in 1965. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur have taught in the school since its founding and continue to be part of its identity.

• Opened 1965
• Preschool through Grade 6
• Staffed historically by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
• Director of Enrollment and Advancement: Courtney Sullivan ([email protected])
• Phone: 781-235-0300

Music & Liturgy

Music ministry at the Collaborative is led by William Endicott, Director of Music Ministries for the Collaborative. Christian Wilson coordinates the Sunday 5pm Youth Music Group, and there is a separate Coordinator for the Sunday 5pm Youth Mass music. A Family Mass Music Director and Parish Cantor role support the 9:00 AM Family Mass liturgy.

• William Endicott — Director of Music Ministries for the Collaborative
• Christian Wilson — Coordinator, Sunday 5pm Youth Music Group
• Family Mass Music Director role
• Director of Christmas & Easter Youth Choirs (Maria Wardwell)

Outreach & Charity

Outreach flows through the SJSP Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which provides confidential emergency assistance to those in the community who need it. The parish also runs the St. John Christmas Wish Program, which in recent years has served around 400 children through the generosity of the parish community.

• SJSP Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — confidential emergency assistance
• St. John Christmas Wish Program (~400 children served)
• Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Sacraments

The Collaborative prepares parishioners for and celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, the Eucharist (First Communion / Confirmation through Religious Education), and Anointing / Funeral rites. Couples are asked to contact the parish at least six months before a wedding.

• Baptism — contact the parish
• Marriage — contact the parish (at least six months in advance)
• Funeral — contact the parish
• OCIA — visit sjspwellesley.org/sacraments/rcia, email [email protected], or call either office

Locations, Directions & Contact

St. John the Evangelist Church sits at 9 Glen Road in Wellesley Hills. The Collaborative Administrative Offices are located at 39 Washington Street, Wellesley, in the St. John Parish Center building. Office hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday–Friday (summer hours 9:00 AM–4:00 PM Monday–Thursday). The main parish phone is 781-235-0045 with fax 781-235-6990; the general email is [email protected].

• St. John the Evangelist Church — 9 Glen Rd., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
• Collaborative Administrative Offices — 39 Washington St., Wellesley, MA 02481
• Phone: 781-235-0045
• Fax: 781-235-6990
• Email: [email protected]

St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

St. John the Evangelist Parish is paired with St. Paul Parish in Wellesley as the St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative, which shares clergy, staff, and a common Mass schedule across the two campuses. Many of the programs listed (OCIA, youth ministry, music, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, etc.) are run collaboratively.

• Partner parish: St. Paul, 502 Washington St., Wellesley, MA 02482
• Shared Mass schedule, clergy, and staff
• Collaborative website: sjspwellesley.org