We, the parish family of St. John of the Cross, are a Catholic Christian Community, dedicated to sharing our faith and deepening our love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Proclaiming God’s Word through the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments is central to our identity. We strive through the ministries of the Church and the gifts of the Holy Spirit to nurture our faith in prayer, religious education and serving other needs within and outside our parish family.
A Brief History of Saint John of the Cross Parish
Middlebury, Connecticut
The story of Saint John of the Cross Catholic Parish begins with the efforts of Catholics to establish first a mission and then a parish in Middlebury, Connecticut. The baptismal records of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury indicate that there were Catholics living in Middlebury as early as 1864. In subsequent years, St. John of the Cross, as well as its sister church, St. Teresa of Avila, in Woodbury, would become mission churches of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Watertown.
On August 23, 1904 St. John of the Cross Parish was granted ecclesiastical status and the Certificate of Organization was officially signed. However, a decade would pass before the newly constructed stone church on the Middlebury Green was dedicated on November 22, 1914.
The first resident pastor, Reverend William Judge, was assigned on March 1, 1916.
Fr. Lawrence Symolon, a Connecticut native, and former Pastor at Holy Angels in Meriden, Connecticut, was appointed Pastor on June 30, 2017.
Our Boards
Parish Council
The parish council consists of adults both elected and appointed by the pastor to assist in promoting the spiritual growth of the parish community and to plan ways for the parish to carry out the mission of the church. The council’s mission is to focus upon the community and pastoral needs of the parishioners.
Finance Council
Members are appointed by the pastor to serve as his advisors and consultants regarding financial matters, personnel, and capital assets. This Committee reviews and approves the operating and capital budgets prepared by the parish accountant, endorses the appropriate annual financial reports for the Archdiocese, and compares actual results from operations with established budgetary levels.
Parish Trustees
All Parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford are separate Corporations under Connecticut State Law. As such, each Parish is composed of a five member Corporation with the Archbishop as President, the Pastor as Vice President, the Vicar General as a Trustee and two Lay Trustees from the Parish. The Lay Trustees are appointed annually by the Pastor and Archbishop.
Our current lay Trustees are Ronald Vitarelli 203-758-1130 and Lorraine Zionkowski 203-598-7599.
Building & Grounds
In conjunction with the setting of priorities to improve and maintain our church facility, this committee will inspect the building and grounds once or twice a year to monitor progress and offer suggestions. This group will consist of members from the Planning Committee and volunteer parishioners who have special skills to offer in the areas of building maintenance and appearance.
Growing In Faith Together
“G.I.F.T.” is an approach to religious education through which all generations gather together in order to learn, share, reflect, and celebrate. Adults, as well as youth and children, will be invited to participate in three faith formation events throughout the church year. These three intergenerational event-centered programs are part of the curriculum for our Religious Education students.
Each event session begins with a community meal and an introductory presentation after the meal. Participants will then break into age-appropriate learning groups.
Each year we offer high school teens the opportunity to participate in a mission where they serve those in need, while joining in prayer and growing in faith. Participating in our summer mission involves attending a week long mission where students serve those in need, learn why those needs are present in the society and conclude their days by attending faith building workshops and prayer services.
They will join teens from other parishes, who want to love, serve and transform the world. We are all called to make a difference in this world. Join us for a summer mission that will change hearts.
