Pastoral Center

In the Summer of 2014, the parish school was remodeled and assigned a new purpose. Rededicated with the title of St. John the Baptist Pastoral Center, the building currently houses:

• CCD School of Religion - SJB location
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• Faith Formation Center - SJB location
• St. Vincent dePaul Society for SJB
• Monsignor Farri Hall
• Gymnasium/Basketball Court
• Bowling Alleys
• Safe Environment Office

The Pastoral Center now serves in the spirit of the original St. John's Lyceum, which geographically once stood on the same spot.

The Lyceum was built circa 1910 under then pastor Fr. Modesto Parolini to provide a place for spiritual and educational formation, along with cultural, social and athletic activities, held for the benefit of the parish as well as the local community. Maybe some individuals in your family were a part of the Lyceum Ladies Auxiliary? Or in later years, perhaps you and/or others among your family and friends were members of the Lyceum Club?

The Lyceum building continued functioning according to its original purpose until August 1913, when it was converted into the second St. John the Baptist Church. The first parish church, a small wooden structure located at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street, was then repurposed as a parish hall. And so, more than a century later, the Lyceum lessons of 'parish-in-action', of service, and of 'parishioner involvement' continues within the Pastoral Center at our MQS parish's St. John the Baptist location.