Church History
Early Years
The parish lies in an area with a rich history running back to the early colonial period. Dunellen became a part of Piscataway Township, named by Baptists who came from Pis-cataqua, Maine, and settled in 1667. From 1843 to 1851, the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Elizabeth, Father Howell, had this area as part of his missionary charge, and on his occasional visits he offered Mass in private homes. Subsequently, it became part of the Somerville Parish and then of St. Mary's Parish in Plainfield, whose pastor was then Father James McDonough.
Dunellen came into existence in 1868 at the initiative of president John Taylor Johnston of the New Jersey Central Railroad Company, who wanted to establish several residential communities for commuters along the railroad right-of-way. For the years after its establishment, Catholic residents of Dunellen attended mass elsewhere. But as Dunellen grew–especially the Irish population–there were enough Catholics to establish a parish in the borough. The establishment of the Church was proposed by Joseph Maier, John Moynihan, and John Hunt and with a donation of a plot of land on Washington Avenue by William Moore, a Catholic Church was on the horizon. Under the leadership of Father John P. Morris of Plainfield ,the cornerstone for So.John the Evangelist Church was laid in 1879 with the church being competed the following year. The church was dedicated on October 24, 1880.
In 1881, the Diocese of Trenton was formed, and included Middlesex County. In 1882, St. John’s became of a mission f North Plainfield, and later in the same year, became a mission of Somerville. St. John’s then became a mission of Bound Brook in 1885, and shortly after, once gan became a mission of Somerville. As the parish grew, so did the contributions to the church facility. Catherine Maier, widow of one of the original funders, donated a statue of St. Joseph in 1894 and in 1897, several stained glass windows were given to the church by Maier, Helen Kuldoshes, John Hunt, and William Conley. The following year, more were donated by the Rosary Society, Godfried Maier, John Moynihan and Father Bogaard. In the years that followed, the parish continued to grow as well as did auxiliary organizations associated with the Church. In 1904, South Plainfield was made a mission of Dunellen, and St. John’s later helped finance construction of Sacred Heart Church.
The parish lies in an area with a rich history running back to the early colonial period. Dunellen became a part of Piscataway Township, named by Baptists who came from Pis-cataqua, Maine, and settled in 1667. From 1843 to 1851, the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Elizabeth, Father Howell, had this area as part of his missionary charge, and on his occasional visits he offered Mass in private homes. Subsequently, it became part of the Somerville Parish and then of St. Mary's Parish in Plainfield, whose pastor was then Father James McDonough.
Dunellen came into existence in 1868 at the initiative of president John Taylor Johnston of the New Jersey Central Railroad Company, who wanted to establish several residential communities for commuters along the railroad right-of-way. For the years after its establishment, Catholic residents of Dunellen attended mass elsewhere. But as Dunellen grew–especially the Irish population–there were enough Catholics to establish a parish in the borough. The establishment of the Church was proposed by Joseph Maier, John Moynihan, and John Hunt and with a donation of a plot of land on Washington Avenue by William Moore, a Catholic Church was on the horizon. Under the leadership of Father John P. Morris of Plainfield ,the cornerstone for So.John the Evangelist Church was laid in 1879 with the church being competed the following year. The church was dedicated on October 24, 1880.
In 1881, the Diocese of Trenton was formed, and included Middlesex County. In 1882, St. John’s became of a mission f North Plainfield, and later in the same year, became a mission of Somerville. St. John’s then became a mission of Bound Brook in 1885, and shortly after, once gan became a mission of Somerville. As the parish grew, so did the contributions to the church facility. Catherine Maier, widow of one of the original funders, donated a statue of St. Joseph in 1894 and in 1897, several stained glass windows were given to the church by Maier, Helen Kuldoshes, John Hunt, and William Conley. The following year, more were donated by the Rosary Society, Godfried Maier, John Moynihan and Father Bogaard. In the years that followed, the parish continued to grow as well as did auxiliary organizations associated with the Church. In 1904, South Plainfield was made a mission of Dunellen, and St. John’s later helped finance construction of Sacred Heart Church.
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A School is Built
Bishop Thomas Joseph Walsh, who served the Trenton Diocese from 1918 to 1928, gave special emphasis to parochial schools, and doubled the number in the diocese during his one decade of leadership. It was during his episcopate that Father Dunphy led St. John's in building a parochial school. Building of the school actually involved three projects. A convent was needed for the Sisters who would teach in the school, so the |
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rectory was moved behind the church and enlarged to serve this purpose. Then a new rectory, a brick structure with twelve rooms, was built on the site of the earlier one. And the two-story school was built one hundred feet beyond the convent, on First Street. By the fall of 1924, all three units were ready for use.
The school was staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York. During its first year, the school enrolled 250 students in five grades. A grade was added each year and by 1927, 412 students enrolled in eight grades attended St. John’s School.
Enrollment in the school declined by 1976, but a kindergarten was added to the school, and the total enrollment increased from less than 200 in 1976 to more than to 250 for the 1979-80 school year. Unfortunately, enrollment would decline years later and St. John’s School was closed in 1989 and in 2012, the school building was demolished and the land sold to private developers.
By 1940, the Parish had over 2,000 members and was considered largest among the New Jersey boroughs. Under the leadership of Father Francis J. Lyons, Pastor from 1949-1976, the St. John’s community grew as parishioners welcomed new programs and services including the building of a new convent 1965.
The school was staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York. During its first year, the school enrolled 250 students in five grades. A grade was added each year and by 1927, 412 students enrolled in eight grades attended St. John’s School.
Enrollment in the school declined by 1976, but a kindergarten was added to the school, and the total enrollment increased from less than 200 in 1976 to more than to 250 for the 1979-80 school year. Unfortunately, enrollment would decline years later and St. John’s School was closed in 1989 and in 2012, the school building was demolished and the land sold to private developers.
By 1940, the Parish had over 2,000 members and was considered largest among the New Jersey boroughs. Under the leadership of Father Francis J. Lyons, Pastor from 1949-1976, the St. John’s community grew as parishioners welcomed new programs and services including the building of a new convent 1965.
The Parish Today
The centennial of St. John's Parish was celebrated on September 4,1979. Bishop Ahr, who announced his retirement on June 23rd of that year, was named apostolic administrator for the interim, and celebrated the centennial Mass. Auxiliary Bishop John C. Reiss was the homilist. In 1986, Father Richard Lyons became pastor of St. John’s, where he would serve for 22 years.
On September 19, 2004, a mass, 125 Years of Faithful Service, was celebrated by Bishop Paul Bootkowski to commemorate the milestone in St. John’s history. At that time, 900 families were registered with the parish and more than 225 children were enrolled in CCD classes. In July, 2008, Father John (“Jay”) C. Siceloff was named Administrator of the parish and on August 30, 2009, was named Pastor. Today, St. John’s is a vibrant and active faith community with more than a dozen ministries and committees and a rich religious education program.
The centennial of St. John's Parish was celebrated on September 4,1979. Bishop Ahr, who announced his retirement on June 23rd of that year, was named apostolic administrator for the interim, and celebrated the centennial Mass. Auxiliary Bishop John C. Reiss was the homilist. In 1986, Father Richard Lyons became pastor of St. John’s, where he would serve for 22 years.
On September 19, 2004, a mass, 125 Years of Faithful Service, was celebrated by Bishop Paul Bootkowski to commemorate the milestone in St. John’s history. At that time, 900 families were registered with the parish and more than 225 children were enrolled in CCD classes. In July, 2008, Father John (“Jay”) C. Siceloff was named Administrator of the parish and on August 30, 2009, was named Pastor. Today, St. John’s is a vibrant and active faith community with more than a dozen ministries and committees and a rich religious education program.
Pastors of Saint John The Evangelist Church
2018-pres. Rev. Msgr. William Benwell, OFS
2009-2018 Father John C. Siceloff, Pastor
2008-2009 Father John C. Siceloff, Administrator
1986-2008 Father Richard Lyons, Pastor
1976-2008 Father Michael Holup, Pastor
1976-1976 Father Kandathiparampil, Temporary Administrator
1949-1976 Father Francis J. Lyons, Pastor
1944-1945 Father Edward O’Connell, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1942-1944 Father Lawrence Donovan, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1940-1942 Father Michael Bakaisa, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1935-1940 Father Walter Byrne, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1933-1935 Father Walter Slattery, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1930-1933 Father Paul Murphy, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1929-1930 Father Ignatius Beryenick, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1929-1929 Father Charles McCarthy, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1927-1929 Father Edward McKenna, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1926-1927 Father Thomas Hannon, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1902-1949 Father Edward J. Dunphy, Resident Priest
1901-1902 Father Richard George Kerr, Pastor
1882-1901 Father Martin A. Van den Bogaard
1881-1882 Father John P. Moris
2009-2018 Father John C. Siceloff, Pastor
2008-2009 Father John C. Siceloff, Administrator
1986-2008 Father Richard Lyons, Pastor
1976-2008 Father Michael Holup, Pastor
1976-1976 Father Kandathiparampil, Temporary Administrator
1949-1976 Father Francis J. Lyons, Pastor
1944-1945 Father Edward O’Connell, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1942-1944 Father Lawrence Donovan, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1940-1942 Father Michael Bakaisa, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1935-1940 Father Walter Byrne, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1933-1935 Father Walter Slattery, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1930-1933 Father Paul Murphy, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1929-1930 Father Ignatius Beryenick, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1929-1929 Father Charles McCarthy, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1927-1929 Father Edward McKenna, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1926-1927 Father Thomas Hannon, Assistant to Fr. Dunphy
1902-1949 Father Edward J. Dunphy, Resident Priest
1901-1902 Father Richard George Kerr, Pastor
1882-1901 Father Martin A. Van den Bogaard
1881-1882 Father John P. Moris