The St. John parish seeks to support and intensify the vitality of its ministry. The mission is to nurture the faith of its entire church community and foster an active practice of that faith among all parishioners. This mission will be achieved, respecting the individually of each member parish, through a sharing of resources, personnel and programming, as well as through a coordination of ministerial activities.
In 1856, the Catholics of Independence built a frame church dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Previously, traveling priests served area Catholics. After church construction, Father James Slattery came regularly from Saint Martins in Cascade.
Father John Gosker was the first resident pastor in December of 1862. During his stay of 16 years, a brick church was built in 1864 facing 4th Ave NE. This was probably when they changed the name to Saint John the Evangelist. That same year, a log school was built near the church. Parish sacramental records began with Father Gosker.
In 1882, several German families formed Saint Joseph Parish, where they could be instructed in their own language. Their church was completed in 1884, and Father Joseph Drexler was appointed pastor. In 1958, the two parishes united, when the so–called German parish was discontinued.
The present gothic church was erected in the last years of Father Peter O’Dowd, pastor from 1881 until his death in 1912. It was severely damaged by a tornado in 1943 and underwent repairs and redecoration that served the parish until its remodeling and redecoration according to Vatican II guidelines in 1984-1985.
A new rectory replaced the old in 1941 under Msgr. Charles Miller, who was pastor from 1939 to his death in 1966. It was large enough to house the four priests who served the parish in an era when priests were plentiful.
By 1990, the parish once again had only one priest, Father James J. Duster. All Saints, Rowley, was attached to Saint John’s in 1927. In 2005, All Saints was closed, and St. John, Independence and St. Patrick, Winthrop became the John Paul II Cluster under Father Aloysius Vorwald. Father Donald Plamondon, was assigned to both parishes and 1.000 families July 2008.
Our current pastor is Father David Beckman, who came to us in July 2016.
From its beginning in 1854, the education program of the parish has had a varied history. In the 1870’s, the Sisters of Mercy organized Notre Dame Seminary, later becoming a combined St. John grade and high school. The high school closed in 1989. The kindergarten through 8th grade school now serves the area.
At least 30 women of the two parishes have entered religious communities. Three men of the parish became permanent deacons; thirteen men have entered the priesthood. One of them, Father Raymond Herman, was murdered while serving as a missionary in Bolivia and is looked upon as a martyr for the faith.
Today, our parish is vibrant and growing as it is considered a vital force in our lives. We are served by our pastor, deacon, pastoral associate and lay people.