Our Parish History
In the early 19th century, a substantial influx of Irish immigrants into Middletown, Connecticut, gave rise to a close-knit Catholic community by the 1830s. These early settlers, many of whom labored in the brownstone quarries of nearby Portland, longed for a spiritual home that reflected both their heritage and their faith. Their determination culminated in the acquisition of two acres of land in 1841 at the present location of St. John Church. The land purchase and initial construction were made possible through the sacrificial generosity of parishioners, supported in no small part by quarry owners who donated massive brownstone blocks—a gift of both faith and stone that laid the foundation for a church that would stand for generations.
St. John Church was formally established in 1843, making it the oldest Catholic church within the present-day Diocese of Norwich. For over a century, it fell under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Hartford, until Pope Venerable Pius XII established the Diocese of Norwich on August 6, 1953. The church’s enduring spiritual and architectural presence is further distinguished by its design—crafted in the Gothic Revival style by renowned church architect Patrick Charles Keely. Keely, whose legacy includes over 600 churches across North America, brought sacred dignity and visual grandeur to St. John's. The structure was built under the supervision of master builder Barzialli Sage, with the labor of Irish immigrant craftsmen whose devotion is etched into every stone.
The original wooden-frame church, completed in 1843, was soon outgrown by the flourishing Catholic population. In response, construction of the present brownstone edifice began in the late 1840s and concluded in 1852, creating a sanctuary that could accommodate approximately 1,000 congregants. The spire, which now defines the city's skyline, was added in 1864. The church interior was further enhanced by the fresco work of local artist William Borgett, whose contributions remain visible amid periodic renovations that have preserved the sacred beauty of the space.
Over the decades, the church has undergone three major exterior renovations, all carried out with a reverence for its historical character. Today, St. John Church is not only a place of worship but also a treasured architectural and historical landmark. It is recognized as a contributing property within the City of Middletown’s Historic District, a testament to its cultural and civic importance.
A new chapter in the church’s life began in 2017 when the parishes of Saints John and Sebastian were formally yoked under the pastoral care of Reverend James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D., who became the first pastor of the newly yoked parishes. This pastoral reorganization reflects a continued commitment to unity and shared mission in the face of contemporary challenges. In 2018, St. John Church joyfully celebrated its 175th Anniversary with a rededication Mass on September 30, presided over by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Michael Richard Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich. This historic occasion served as a reminder of the parish’s unwavering faith, deep roots, and enduring role in the life of the local Catholic community.
St. John Church was formally established in 1843, making it the oldest Catholic church within the present-day Diocese of Norwich. For over a century, it fell under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Hartford, until Pope Venerable Pius XII established the Diocese of Norwich on August 6, 1953. The church’s enduring spiritual and architectural presence is further distinguished by its design—crafted in the Gothic Revival style by renowned church architect Patrick Charles Keely. Keely, whose legacy includes over 600 churches across North America, brought sacred dignity and visual grandeur to St. John's. The structure was built under the supervision of master builder Barzialli Sage, with the labor of Irish immigrant craftsmen whose devotion is etched into every stone.
The original wooden-frame church, completed in 1843, was soon outgrown by the flourishing Catholic population. In response, construction of the present brownstone edifice began in the late 1840s and concluded in 1852, creating a sanctuary that could accommodate approximately 1,000 congregants. The spire, which now defines the city's skyline, was added in 1864. The church interior was further enhanced by the fresco work of local artist William Borgett, whose contributions remain visible amid periodic renovations that have preserved the sacred beauty of the space.
Over the decades, the church has undergone three major exterior renovations, all carried out with a reverence for its historical character. Today, St. John Church is not only a place of worship but also a treasured architectural and historical landmark. It is recognized as a contributing property within the City of Middletown’s Historic District, a testament to its cultural and civic importance.
A new chapter in the church’s life began in 2017 when the parishes of Saints John and Sebastian were formally yoked under the pastoral care of Reverend James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D., who became the first pastor of the newly yoked parishes. This pastoral reorganization reflects a continued commitment to unity and shared mission in the face of contemporary challenges. In 2018, St. John Church joyfully celebrated its 175th Anniversary with a rededication Mass on September 30, presided over by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Michael Richard Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich. This historic occasion served as a reminder of the parish’s unwavering faith, deep roots, and enduring role in the life of the local Catholic community.
Pastors of St. John Church
Rev. John Brady, Sr. (1837-1845)
Rev. John Brady, Jr. (1845-1855)
Rev. Lawrence Mangan (1855-1857)
Rev. James Lynch (1857-1873)
Rev. Edward J. O'Brien (1873-1876)
Rev. Francis P. O'Keefe (1876-1881)
Rev. Denis Desmond (1881-1885)
Rev. Bernard O'Reilly Sheridan, P.R. (1885-1903)
Rev. James Patrick Donovan, D.D., P.R. (1903-1928)
Rev. Denis F. Baker, P.R. (1928-1931)
Rev. William J. Fitzgerald, P.R. (1931-1934)
Rev. John C. Brennan, P.R. (1934-1944)
Rev. Bernard F. McCarthy (1944-1948)
Mgsr. John J. McGrath (1948-1961)
Mgsr. Edward J. McKenna (1962-1986)
Rev. Joseph C. Ashe (1986-2002)
Rev. Dennis G. Carey (2002-2004)
Rev. Anthony P. Gruber (2004-2005)
Rev. James J. Sucholet (2005-2009)
Rev. Michael L. Phillippino (2009-2017)
Rev. James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D. (2017-Present)
Note that P.R. means Permanent Rector
Rev. John Brady, Jr. (1845-1855)
Rev. Lawrence Mangan (1855-1857)
Rev. James Lynch (1857-1873)
Rev. Edward J. O'Brien (1873-1876)
Rev. Francis P. O'Keefe (1876-1881)
Rev. Denis Desmond (1881-1885)
Rev. Bernard O'Reilly Sheridan, P.R. (1885-1903)
Rev. James Patrick Donovan, D.D., P.R. (1903-1928)
Rev. Denis F. Baker, P.R. (1928-1931)
Rev. William J. Fitzgerald, P.R. (1931-1934)
Rev. John C. Brennan, P.R. (1934-1944)
Rev. Bernard F. McCarthy (1944-1948)
Mgsr. John J. McGrath (1948-1961)
Mgsr. Edward J. McKenna (1962-1986)
Rev. Joseph C. Ashe (1986-2002)
Rev. Dennis G. Carey (2002-2004)
Rev. Anthony P. Gruber (2004-2005)
Rev. James J. Sucholet (2005-2009)
Rev. Michael L. Phillippino (2009-2017)
Rev. James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D. (2017-Present)
Note that P.R. means Permanent Rector
Curates/Parochial Vicars of St. John Church
Rev. Michael O’Neale (1864)
Rev. William H. Rogers (1871-1873)
Rev. William F. O’Brein (1873-1874)
Rev. E.E. Norbert (1874)
Rev. Patrick Duggan (1874-1876)
Rev. Joseph Synnott (1878-1883)
Rev. John H. Carroll (1882-1885)
Rev. D.M. Lawlor (1884-1885)
Rev. Michael St. Mary (1885-1890)
Rev. Andrew F. Harty (1886)
Rev. M.J. O’Donohoe (1886-1891)
Rev. Michael E. McCarten (1890-1892)
Rev. Matthew J. Traynor (1891-1892)
Rev. Patrick Joseph McGivney (1892-1901)
Rev. James A. Walsh (1891-1902)
Rev. Michael J. Lynch (1901-1902)
Rev. C. Brennen (1902)
Rev. John Joseph Elty (1902-1906)
Rev. Michael Lynch (1901-1904)
Rev. James E. Derwin (1902)
Rev. Joseph William Barry (1904-1918)
Rev. Alexander Francis Mitchell (1906-1912)
Rev. Joseph E. Joyce (1912-1916)
Rev. Patrick L. Dolan (1916-1924)
Rev. Michael Kearney (1918-1919)
Rev. Thomas Henry Boland (1925-1934)
Rev. James Dorgan (1918)
Rev. Edmund Cotter (1918-1925)
Rev. Peter J. Coffey (1920)
Rev. Charles Morgan Kavanaugh (1923-1931)
Rev. James M. Coughlin (1923)
Rev. William Popor (1925)
Rev. John Patrick Byrne (1932-1943)
Rev. John K. O’Connor (1934-1939)
Rev. John E. Henning (1935-1943)
Rev. Edward Joseph Duffy (1939-1943)
Rev. Leonard Myles Conlan (1943-1953)
Rev. Edward Jerome McKenna (1943-1952)
Rev. Edward John Benedict (1952-1956)
Rev. F. Bernard Miller (1953-1962)
Rev. Francis William Murphy (1956-1964)
Rev. John Grigonis (1962)
Rev. John E. Kane (1953-1965)
Rev. Frederick Callanan (1964-1966)
Rev. Giles Richard (1965-1966)
Rev. Randolph J. Picknarcik (1966-1968)
Rev. William J. Flynn (1965-1969)
Rev. Robert Burnham Lynch (1968-1973)
Rev. Edward M. Dempsey (1972)
Rev. Richard Francis Roughan (1972-1977)
Rev. S.J. Drummond (1972-1975)
Rev. Richard J. Albimonti (1977-1979)
Rev. John Grigonis (1978-1980)
Rev. Adam Pupsys (1980-1984)
Rev. Marcelius Liotta (1981-1982)
Rev. William J. McNulty (1982-1986)
Rev. Robert William Barnes (1984-1985)
Rev. Gerald S. Kirby (1986-1990)
Rev. John Ralph Kelley (1991-1993)
Sr. Ann Mack, R.S.M. (1990-2013)
Rev. George Joseph Richards, Jr., J.C.L. (2020-2021)
Rev. Brian C. Maxwell (2021)
Rev. Daniel W. Long, Jr. (2022)
Rev. Juan Angel Aguirre Palacio (2024-Present)
Rev. William H. Rogers (1871-1873)
Rev. William F. O’Brein (1873-1874)
Rev. E.E. Norbert (1874)
Rev. Patrick Duggan (1874-1876)
Rev. Joseph Synnott (1878-1883)
Rev. John H. Carroll (1882-1885)
Rev. D.M. Lawlor (1884-1885)
Rev. Michael St. Mary (1885-1890)
Rev. Andrew F. Harty (1886)
Rev. M.J. O’Donohoe (1886-1891)
Rev. Michael E. McCarten (1890-1892)
Rev. Matthew J. Traynor (1891-1892)
Rev. Patrick Joseph McGivney (1892-1901)
Rev. James A. Walsh (1891-1902)
Rev. Michael J. Lynch (1901-1902)
Rev. C. Brennen (1902)
Rev. John Joseph Elty (1902-1906)
Rev. Michael Lynch (1901-1904)
Rev. James E. Derwin (1902)
Rev. Joseph William Barry (1904-1918)
Rev. Alexander Francis Mitchell (1906-1912)
Rev. Joseph E. Joyce (1912-1916)
Rev. Patrick L. Dolan (1916-1924)
Rev. Michael Kearney (1918-1919)
Rev. Thomas Henry Boland (1925-1934)
Rev. James Dorgan (1918)
Rev. Edmund Cotter (1918-1925)
Rev. Peter J. Coffey (1920)
Rev. Charles Morgan Kavanaugh (1923-1931)
Rev. James M. Coughlin (1923)
Rev. William Popor (1925)
Rev. John Patrick Byrne (1932-1943)
Rev. John K. O’Connor (1934-1939)
Rev. John E. Henning (1935-1943)
Rev. Edward Joseph Duffy (1939-1943)
Rev. Leonard Myles Conlan (1943-1953)
Rev. Edward Jerome McKenna (1943-1952)
Rev. Edward John Benedict (1952-1956)
Rev. F. Bernard Miller (1953-1962)
Rev. Francis William Murphy (1956-1964)
Rev. John Grigonis (1962)
Rev. John E. Kane (1953-1965)
Rev. Frederick Callanan (1964-1966)
Rev. Giles Richard (1965-1966)
Rev. Randolph J. Picknarcik (1966-1968)
Rev. William J. Flynn (1965-1969)
Rev. Robert Burnham Lynch (1968-1973)
Rev. Edward M. Dempsey (1972)
Rev. Richard Francis Roughan (1972-1977)
Rev. S.J. Drummond (1972-1975)
Rev. Richard J. Albimonti (1977-1979)
Rev. John Grigonis (1978-1980)
Rev. Adam Pupsys (1980-1984)
Rev. Marcelius Liotta (1981-1982)
Rev. William J. McNulty (1982-1986)
Rev. Robert William Barnes (1984-1985)
Rev. Gerald S. Kirby (1986-1990)
Rev. John Ralph Kelley (1991-1993)
Sr. Ann Mack, R.S.M. (1990-2013)
Rev. George Joseph Richards, Jr., J.C.L. (2020-2021)
Rev. Brian C. Maxwell (2021)
Rev. Daniel W. Long, Jr. (2022)
Rev. Juan Angel Aguirre Palacio (2024-Present)
