About St. John · Wapakoneta, Ohio
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church sits at the heart of the tiny village of Fryburg in Pusheta Township, Auglaize County, Ohio — about five miles from Wapakoneta. Founded in 1848 by German-Bavarian farming families and completed in 1850, it is one of the oldest Catholic churches in continuous use in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and a member of the historic 'Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches.' Since July 1, 2024 it has been part of the merged Holy Face of Jesus Parish, which unites St. John with Immaculate Conception (Botkins), St. Joseph (Wapakoneta) and St. Lawrence (Rhine). Today St. John's retains its original brick-and-stucco footprint, its frescoed interior and its role as a beloved devotional hub within the larger parish family.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Sean M. Wilson
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. John invites Catholics into one of the oldest churches in continuous use in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati — a small, historically Bavarian parish where Mass is celebrated in an 1850 brick church decorated by a beloved pastor's own hand. Worshippers share the church with three sister congregations (Immaculate Conception in Botkins, St. Joseph in Wapakoneta and St. Lawrence in Rhine) as one parish family, the Holy Face of Jesus, while St. John keeps its own identity, its daily 8:00 AM Mass schedule, Holy Hour and Morning Prayer, and the community tradition of the annual Fryburg Homecoming Festival. It is a place to encounter Christ in a setting steeped in prayer, art, and family heritage.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After all daily Masses at St. John
- Sunday: 7:15–7:45 AM (St. John)
- Tuesday: 5:00–6:00 PM (St. John)
Adoration times
- Monday–Saturday: 6:30–7:30 AM Holy Hour & Morning Prayer at St. John Church (Morning Prayer at 7:15 AM)
About St. John the Evangelist & Holy Face of Jesus Parish
St. John the Evangelist Church is the historic Fryburg worship site of the Holy Face of Jesus Parish, a single Roman Catholic parish that since July 1, 2024 has united four former parishes: St. John (Fryburg), St. Joseph (Wapakoneta), St. Lawrence (Rhine) and Immaculate Conception (Botkins). All four church buildings are kept in use under their original names. The parish mission is to share 'the treasure of Jesus Christ, so that all might seek and find the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Catholic Faith and choose to live in friendship with Christ.' The parish office moved in 2024 to a newly renovated Faith Center at 107 West Pearl Street in Wapakoneta.
History & Heritage
Founded in 1848 by German-Bavarian families and dedicated on November 23, 1850, St. John is one of the oldest Catholic churches in continuous use in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The brick church, with its locally made bricks and Gothic Revival pilasters and lancet windows, has been in continual worship for more than 175 years. A parish school opened in 1877 and is still attached to the church, now serving as the parish hall. The parish's 1949–50 interior redecoration by Father Lawrence Tebbe — frescoes, angels, Pieta and the 'Where Dwellest Thou' inscription — is considered a defining feature of the building.
- Founded 1848 by German-Bavarian farming families
- Church dedicated November 23, 1850
- Parish school opened 1877 (now parish hall)
- Interior redecorated 1949–50 by Fr. Lawrence Tebbe
- Listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1979 (NRHP #79003451)
- Joined 'Petersburg Pastoral Region' in 2014
- Merged into Holy Face of Jesus Parish on July 1, 2024
Father Lawrence Tebbe — Pastor, Artist, Builder
Father Lawrence Tebbe (1901–1972), born in nearby McCartyville, served St. John from 1938 until his death and is the dominant figure in the parish's modern memory. A painter, woodworker and stone mason, he redecorated the church interior in 1949–50, painted frescoes around the statues, windows and high altar, designed the part-brick, part-stone, part-Lourdes-Grotto rectory next door, and erected a wooden Bavarian-style wayside crucifix on the front lawn. He chose to remain at a small parish for his health and was never transferred; he presided at the marriages of people he had once baptized. His paintings, raffled off at the annual Fryburg Homecoming Festival, are still passed down within local families.
The 'Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches'
St. John is one of the small, historically German Catholic churches along Ohio's 'Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches' state scenic byway in western Ohio — a region long served by the Society of the Precious Blood. Most contemporary 19th-century churches in the area were log structures that have not survived; only St. Augustine in Minster (significantly modified) and St. John remain as recognizable early churches. According to the Archdiocese, St. John is among the oldest churches in the region retaining its original brick-and-stucco exterior and original footprint.
Worship & Liturgical Schedule at St. John
St. John offers a quiet, traditional schedule of daily and Sunday Mass along with morning prayer and a Holy Hour every day of the week. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin and posts the full liturgical calendar of all four church buildings online. The pastor encourages visitors to come for daily Mass, then stay for coffee and fellowship.
- Saturday Mass — 8:00 AM
- Sunday Mass — 8:00 AM
- Wednesday Mass — 8:00 AM
- Holy Hour & Morning Prayer — Monday–Saturday, 6:30–7:30 AM
- Morning Prayer — 7:15 AM, Monday–Saturday
- Confession — after daily Masses, Sundays 7:15–7:45 AM, Tuesdays 5:00–6:00 PM
Sacraments
The Holy Face of Jesus Parish celebrates all seven sacraments at its four church buildings. Baptisms of children normally occur during or immediately following the Saturday Vigil or Sunday Masses; marriage preparation is scheduled at least six months in advance; the Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting the parish office. Adults seeking Baptism or Confirmation, as well as those returning to the Church, are welcomed through the Becoming Catholic / RCIA process.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
Becoming Catholic & Adult Faith Formation
The parish welcomes adults who are unbaptized, uncatechized or have been away from the Church. The Becoming Catholic page invites inquirers to fill out an inquiry form or contact the Director of Evangelization, Angie Soules. Adult sacramental preparation is coordinated by Lisa Fullenkamp. The parish also offers Alpha, homebound ministry and other adult formation opportunities across all four church communities.
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic — contact Angie Soules
- Adult Sacramental Preparation — Lisa Fullenkamp
- Alpha program
- Homebound Ministry
Youth Ministry & Religious Education
PreK through 6th grade religious education is led by Denise Sheipline as Coordinator of PreK–6 Youth Ministry. The parish supports junior high CCD, Alpha for youth, and provides faith formation that draws on the resources of all four worship sites. Seminarian intern David Morand taught junior high CCD during his 2024–2025 internship while learning parish life alongside Fr. Sean and Fr. Hoying.
- PreK–6 Youth Ministry — Denise Sheipline
- Junior High CCD
- Alpha youth program
- Seminarian internship program
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music at St. John and St. Joseph (SJF) is directed by Adam Fahncke. Music at St. Lawrence and Immaculate Conception (SL/IC) is directed by Tim Alley. Deacons Rick Westbay and Terry Coleman also serve the parish as cantors and liturgical ministers, including presiding at Benediction.
- Adam Fahncke — SJ/SJF Director of Music
- Tim Alley — SL/IC Director of Music
- Deacon cantors and liturgical ministers
Outreach, Charity & Stephen Ministry
Outreach across the four worship sites is coordinated by Lori Wilson. The parish supports a Stephen Ministry program under Pam Coon, providing one-on-one Christian care to those experiencing difficult times. Other outreach efforts flow through the Evangelization Team and parish staff, supported by the work of deacons in home visits, hospital visits and the homebound ministry.
- Coordinator of Outreach — Lori Wilson
- Stephen Ministry — Pam Coon
- Hospital visits and homebound ministry
Parish Staff, Deacons & Pastoral Council
Fr. Sean M. Wilson serves as pastor of the merged Holy Face of Jesus Parish, with Fr. Ethan M. Hoying as Parochial Vicar. Four permanent deacons — Terry Coleman, Rick Westbay, Jeff Little and Nicholas Jurosic — assist throughout the parish. Lay staff include directors of music, business, facilities, communications, evangelization, youth ministry, outreach, sacramental preparation, adult formation and Stephen Ministry. A combined Pastoral Council serves all four church communities.
- Pastor — Fr. Sean M. Wilson
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Ethan M. Hoying
- Deacons — Terry Coleman, Rick Westbay, Jeff Little, Nicholas Jurosic
- Seminarian Intern — David Morand
- Business Manager — Carla Heitz-Ream
- Facilities Director — Domenic Belgiovane
- Communications Coordinator & Assistant to the Pastor — Grace Weatherhead
- Director of Evangelization — Angie Soules
- Coordinator of Outreach — Lori Wilson
- Coordinator PreK–6 Youth Ministry — Denise Sheipline
- Coordinator of Adult Sacramental Preparation — Lisa Fullenkamp
- Stephen Ministry Leader — Pam Coon
- Bookkeeper — Sarah Prenger
- Director of Music (SJF) — Adam Fahncke
- Director of Music (SL/IC) — Tim Alley
Visiting St. John
St. John is the easiest church to find in the tiny village of Fryburg: a spired brick-and-stucco church at the intersection of Schemel and Van Buren Streets, just off Interstate 75 between Wapakoneta and Botkins in Auglaize County. Visitors are warmly welcomed and are encouraged to attend weekday or Sunday Mass, spend time in the church's history, and introduce themselves to the parish office at the new Faith Center in Wapakoneta.
- Address: 11319 Van Buren St., Fryburg (Wapakoneta), OH 45895
- Parish office: 107 W. Pearl St., Wapakoneta, OH 45895
- Phone: 419-738-2115
- Office email: [email protected]
- Social: facebook.com/HolyFaceParish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Winandscirca 1850
Early priest associated with St. John Fryburg; in its first years the parish had its own priest while Petersburg and Wapakoneta shared a different pastor.
- Father Muckerheide1854
Pastor at Fryburg who also took charge of the dwindling mother church at Petersburg.
- Father Lawrence Tebbe1938–1972
Beloved pastor for 34 years; painter, woodworker and stone mason who redecorated the church interior in 1949–50 and designed the rectory and wayside crucifix.
- Fr. James O'Connorfrom 1989
Pastor of St. Lawrence and Immaculate Conception who began the broader regional collaboration.
- Fr. Patrick Slonekerfrom July 2009
Pastor of St. Lawrence and Immaculate Conception who also became pastor of St. Joseph; the term 'Petersburg Parishes' was coined for this regional grouping under his leadership.
- Fr. Sean M. WilsonJuly 1, 2018 – present
Ordained May 21, 2016; first assigned to Holy Face as Parochial Vicar, then became pastor; leads the merged Holy Face of Jesus Parish since 2024.
- Fr. Ethan M. HoyingOctober 14, 2024 – present
Ordained May 21, 2022; previously at Holy Cross Family of Parishes in Coldwater and Ft. Recovery; currently Parochial Vicar.