St. John Church
Middletown CT
06457
Who we are
St. John Church is a Roman Catholic church in Middletown, Connecticut.
We are a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our communities.
We are a place to believe, belong, and become!
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We are a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our communities.
We are a place to believe, belong, and become!
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Church Website
St. John Church on Social Media
Leadership
Leader Name:
Fr. James Thaikoottathil Â
Leader Position:
Pastor Â
Formal Title:
Reverend Father Â
Leader Address:
19 St. John Sq.
Middletown
Connecticut
06457 Â
Middletown
Connecticut
06457 Â
Phone:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Fr. James Thaikoottathil Â
Leader Bio:
Rev. James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D. was born in Cochin, India on July 23, 1961 being the third of seven children to the late Joseph and Teresa Thaikoottathil. He joined Minor Seminary at age 15 and at age 18 was called to study Philosophy and Theology in Rome. He was ordained into the priesthood on December 18, 1984 at age 23. He received his first pastorate at age 24. Father holds degrees in Philosophy, Theology and a Master of Arts in History. He also received a Licentiate in Theology with specialization in Pastoral Liturgy and he also holds a Doctorate in Canon Law (Summa cum Laude). He was assigned to St. Sebastian Church in Middletown in 2007 and was assigned pastoral duties over St. John Church when the Most Rev. Michael Richard Cote yoked the two parishes in 2017. Â
Other Church Leaders:
Mary Ann Majors, Bookkeeper
Sr. Marykutty, DRE
Sr. Lizzy, DRE Â
Sr. Marykutty, DRE
Sr. Lizzy, DRE Â
Administration
Admin Name:
Linda R. McCarty Â
Admin Position:
Parish Secretary Â
Admin Address:
19 St. John Sq.
Middletown
Connecticut
06457 Â
Middletown
Connecticut
06457 Â
Phone:
Admin Email:
Click here to contact Linda R. McCarty Â
Mailing Address
St. John Church Rectory
19 St. Johns Square
Middletown
06457 Â
19 St. Johns Square
Middletown
06457 Â
Parking
Within and around Church Grounds Â
St. John Church Mass Times
Sunday: 9:00am
Sat. Vigil: 4:00pm
Tues & Thurs Daily Mass: 7:30am
8:00am (1st Thursday of the Month) Adoration
It's been more than a year since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
Sat. Vigil: 4:00pm
Tues & Thurs Daily Mass: 7:30am
8:00am (1st Thursday of the Month) Adoration
It's been more than a year since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Worship Languages
English Â
Dress Code
Prayers and Hymns
Main Bible:
The New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) Â
Hymns and Songs:
The Church currently uses OCP music hymnbooks. Â
Other information
St. John Church History
In the early 19th Century, immigrants from Ireland moved in large numbers to Middletown. By 1830 there were enough families there to form a vibrant and close-knit Irish community that desired its own place of worship. In 1841, two acres of land were purchased on the current site of the Church. Most of the future parishioners of St. Johns worked across the river in the brownstone quarries of Portland and the owners of the quarries donated large blocks of brownstone to help build the first church.
Since Saint John was built back in 1843, and the Diocese of Norwich was not created until August 06, 1953, by His Holiness Pope Venerable Pius XII, the Church is the oldest Church in the Diocese (as it actually pre-dated it) and is lovingly known as the Mother Church of the Diocese. The Archdiocese of Hartford, in fact, had ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church until 1953. The imposing Irish influenced ecclesiastical Gothic Revival church building was designed by architect, Patrick Charles Keely and it was built by local Irish immigrants that were led by prominent local builder Barzialli Sage.
​The original church that was completed in 1843 was just a small church building and the existing spire for the Church was erected in 1864. There has been three renovations to the exterior of the building. The 1864 building is now the sacristy for St. John and the current church was finished in 1852. The Church can hold up to one thousand worshipers. The interior walls of the Church were frescoed by William Borgett, a local artist and there have been several interior renovations over the years. The building is listed as significant contributing property of the City of Middletown Historic District.
In 2017, the Parishes of SS John & Sebastian were yoked together with Rev. James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D. becoming the first Pastor of the yoked parishes. ​ The Church celebrated their 175th Anniversary of serving the Catholic faithful of Middletown on September 30, 2018. Where His Excellency, Bishop Michael Richard Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich re-dedicated the Church.
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Since Saint John was built back in 1843, and the Diocese of Norwich was not created until August 06, 1953, by His Holiness Pope Venerable Pius XII, the Church is the oldest Church in the Diocese (as it actually pre-dated it) and is lovingly known as the Mother Church of the Diocese. The Archdiocese of Hartford, in fact, had ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church until 1953. The imposing Irish influenced ecclesiastical Gothic Revival church building was designed by architect, Patrick Charles Keely and it was built by local Irish immigrants that were led by prominent local builder Barzialli Sage.
In 2017, the Parishes of SS John & Sebastian were yoked together with Rev. James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D. becoming the first Pastor of the yoked parishes. ​ The Church celebrated their 175th Anniversary of serving the Catholic faithful of Middletown on September 30, 2018. Where His Excellency, Bishop Michael Richard Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich re-dedicated the Church.
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Open our ears to hear
Blessed Lord, open our ears to hear what Thou speakest and our eyes to see as Thou seest. Give us hearts to beat in sympathy with Thine at the sight of every little child; and above all, our Lord, to understand and experience how surely and how blessedly Thou fulfilest Thy promise, "Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."
St. John Church listing was last updated on the 28th of January, 2023
