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Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter
MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday - 10:00 a.m. (Solemn Mass with music and incense)
followed by fellowship in the parish hall
Monday - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. (healing prayer and laying on of hands after Mass)
Thursday - 6:00 p.m.
Friday - 12 p.m.
Saturday - 9:00 a.m.
All Masses are offered according to the Ordinariate's Divine Worship Missal.
All Catholics may fulfill their Sunday or holy day obligation by attending our form of Mass.
CONFESSION SCHEDULE
Sunday - 9:00-9:45 a.m.
Monday - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday - 5:30 p.m.
DAILY OFFICE SCHEDULE
Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (Terce)
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday - 5:00 p.m.
Our clergy lead the public prayer of the Church, known as the Divine Office or the Liturgy of the Hours, every day according to the Ordinariate's approved breviary, Divine Worship: Daily Office.
The Ordinariate's Office may also be prayed online at this link.
During the Mass of installation of Father William Cantrell as Pastor of St. John the Baptist, celebrated by Bishop Steven Lopes. September 5, 2021.
St John's has the care of a Catholic church formerly known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel: formed in 1926 to serve the Italian-American community of Bridgeport, PA. The upper church was built in 1940 and dedicated in 1949.
The Last Gospel at the end of our solemn Mass on the eve of the Presentation (Candlemas): February 1, 2022.
During the Mass of installation of Father William Cantrell as Pastor of St. John the Baptist, celebrated by Bishop Steven Lopes. September 5, 2021.
News & Events
**Ash Wednesday: Feb 22 - The first day of Lent is this Wednesday, February 22. The law of the Church obliges all Roman Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 to fast on this day. Additionally, all are invited to begin a holy Lent by attending Mass and receiving the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, at 7pm. (The usual 10 am Mass on Wednesday is canceled.)
**Fridays in Lent: Soup Supper, Stations & Benediction - All Roman Catholics above the age of 14 are obliged to abstain from meat (without allowing for substituting another penance) on all the Fridays of Lent, in remembrance of the Lord’s passion and death on Good Friday. As is our usual custom, St John’s invites you to sanctify these days by joining us for a soup supper at 6:30pm in the parish hall, followed by Stations of the Cross & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the church at 7pm.
**Complete video of Requiem for Pope Benedict XVI - A complete video recording of the "month's mind" Requiem Mass offered for Pope Benedict XVI on February 3 is now online. Click HERE to view.
Photo Gallery
On February 3, 2023, St John's offered a solemn "month's mind" Requiem Mass for the repose of Pope Benedict XVI. The liturgy was enhanced by a music program centering on the Requiem for five voices by Cristobal de Morales.
On February 3, 2023, St John's offered a solemn "month's mind" Requiem Mass for the repose of Pope Benedict XVI. The liturgy was enhanced by a music program centering on the Requiem for five voices by Cristobal de Morales.
On October 9, 2022, we celebrated our annual Ordinariate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Philadelphia in celebration of Saint John Henry Newman.
On October 9, 2022, we celebrated our annual Ordinariate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Philadelphia in celebration of Saint John Henry Newman.
Photos from the Great Vigil of Easter, 2022 at St John's. Photos by Peter Tulay.
Photos from the Great Vigil of Easter, 2022 at St John's. Photos by Peter Tulay.
October 7, 2021, with Bishop Lopes and Archbishop Perez. Photos by Peter Tulay.
October 7, 2021, with Bishop Lopes and Archbishop Perez. Photos by Peter Tulay.
On September 14, 2022, the clergy of St. John the Baptist visited St. Agatha-St. James Church in west Philadelphia to officiate Evensong according to the Ordinariate's form of the Divine Office, for the benefit of the student community of Penn and Drexel universities.
On September 14, 2022, the clergy of St. John the Baptist visited St. Agatha-St. James Church in west Philadelphia to officiate Evensong according to the Ordinariate's form of the Divine Office, for the benefit of the student community of Penn and Drexel universities.
Photos by Allison Girone.
Photos by Allison Girone.
Photos from our solemn Requiem Mass on Memorial Day: May 30, 2022.
Photos from our solemn Requiem Mass on Memorial Day: May 30, 2022.
Photos by Peter Tulay.
Photos by Peter Tulay.
How to join
Are you interested in learning more about the Catholic faith? We invite you to use our contact form at the bottom of this website. Whether you come from another Christian denomination, a different faith tradition, or no religion in particular, our parish offers catechesis (formation and initiation in the Catholic faith) to all.
Are you already Catholic and wish to join our parish? Please contact us and we will register you as a member of the parish and add you to our mailing list. (Note: you do not need to have been formerly an Anglican to register as a member St. John's.)
Are you interested in joining the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter? For those who have not been baptized or confirmed at St. John's (or another Ordinariate community), joining the Ordinariate is a separate process. More info on becoming a canonical member of the Ordinariate may be seen here. To view the Ordinariate member registration form, click HERE. Please fill in the blanks, print and sign the form, then submit or mail it to the parish.
The Baptism of Christ, by Piero Perugino. 1482, Sistine Chapel, Rome.
How to serve
The life of our parish depends upon the sacrifice and support of our members and friends. Below are a few of the several ministries and apostolates we continually need volunteers for. Click on any of the images below for more information.
Altar Servers
Parish Choir
Hospitality
(Coffee Hour)
Altar Guild
Clergy & Staff
Father William C. Cantrell
Pastor
Email
Father Matthew M. Hummel
Parochial Vicar
Email
Deacon Roger W. Converse
Deacon
Email
Dr. William J. Gatens
Organist & Choirmaster
Email
James T.M. Griffin
Master of Acolytes
Email
Parish History
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church was formed in 2015 after acquiring the property of the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. The first liturgy was offered on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, 2015.
Bishop Steven J. Lopes, first Bishop of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, established Saint John the Baptist as a canonical parish of the Ordinariate. He visited Bridgeport on November 18, 2016 to erect the parish, and to install Fr David A. Ousley as the first Pastor. Following Fr Ousley’s retirement in August 2021, Fr William C. Cantrell became the second Pastor in September 2021.
Soon after St. John the Baptist was established, came the development of a variety of ministries in Bridgeport and the surrounding area. Together with the Legion of Mary, the parish regularly makes calls on the homes in Bridgeport through Evangelization Days reaching out to those seeking full Communion with the Catholic Church. A new thrift shop opened in 2017, providing material as well as spiritual service to our neighbors. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which began in 2021, serves families from outside the parish as well as parishioners. St John’s hosts a number of groups from both within and outside the parish. The Holy Family Council of the Knights of Columbus meets monthly at St John’s and has been unfailingly supportive of our mission in innumerable ways.
Safe Environment
“Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, ‘Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” (Luke 18:16)
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and the entire Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, are committed to providing a safe environment for all our parishioners - from the youngest to the oldest.
As a part of that effort, the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter has instituted a robust Safe Environment program. Here at St. John the Baptist, we participate fully in this program. We provide mandatory training (including detailed background checks) for all volunteers who work with children. We also provide parents with materials to use in discussing safe environment issues with their own children.
If you would like to read about the Ordinariate's Safe Environment Policy in detail, please go HERE.
Parish Calendar
Thrift Shop
We are open most Tuesdays and Saturdays (weather permitting) from 10am to 3pm (closed during summer).
Note: the Thrift Shop is accessible from an entrance in the rear parking lot.
