History of St. John the Evangelist

On April 26, 1916, Fr. Mark Pakiz, with the blessing of Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, purchased a former Jewish Synagogue at 4th Ave. and Mineral St. (now 9th St. and Mineral St.) for the price of $5,500, and St. John the Evangelist was formed. Until 1929, St. John’s was the mission church of St. Mary Help of Christians, upon the death of Fr. Pakiz, Rev. Wencelaus Solar, O.S.B., and Msgr. August Breig was instrumental in dividing the churches into two separate parishes. St. John’s grew rapidly and, in 1938, built a new rectory and, in 1952, built a new parish hall. Also in 1952, the Archdiocese entrusted St. John’s to the Slovenian Franciscan Fathers from Lemont, IL. They would serve the parish's needs until 1992.

Due to the creation of the I-94 expressway, St. John’s needed to relocate. On September 10, 1965, Archbishop William E. Cousins approved the relocation to 84th & Cold Spring Road. 28.5 acres were purchased for $90,000. Masses were held every Sunday at the Mellody Bar on Hwy 100 and Layton from January 1966 until June 25, 1967, when the first Mass was held in the new church.

1968 was a milestone year. The first festival was held that summer and raised $9,000. The festival continues today and raises over $70,000 annually. Next was the opening of our grade school in September. It started with only three grades. Through expansion, it graduated its first class in 1974. The school continues to serve grades K4-8.

The 1970s and 1980s saw continued expansion, including the current rectory, expansion of the narthex, raising the roof for the choir loft, and the tower. The school building also expanded with the addition of a K5 classroom, music and computer rooms, and a multipurpose building (gym).

The early 1990s also saw several changes. In the fall of 1991, Fr. Lawrence Grom, O.F.M., our pastor since 1980, passed away. Because of the priest shortage the Slovenian Franciscan Fathers were experiencing, they entrusted the care of St. John the Evangelist back to the Archdiocese. In June of 1992, Fr. Richard Talaska was assigned as Pastor, and Fr. Richard Verberg as our Associate Pastor. They continued in their positions until their retirements in 2008 and 200,9, respectively.

From 2008 to 2012, we had three pastors: Fr. Quentin Heck (2008-2009), Fr. Richard Verberg (temporary administrator 2009), and Fr. Daniel Volkert (2009-2012). In 2012, Fr. Michael Merkt was appointed administrator, and in 2013, he was appointed and installed as pastor.

Having celebrated over 100 years and looking to our future, we also look back at our past. We look at the families that started St. John’s on 9th and Mineral, the families that helped with the relocation to 84th and Cold Spring, and those families that are currently members, all of which make us who we are today.