HISTORY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH
For the past quarter century, immigrants from Central and South America have been moving into New Jersey, and the Church has continued its long history of welcoming people of diverse ethnic and racial heritages into its parishes.
In June 1965, the Most Rev. George W. Ahr designated the old St. Dorothea’s Church, Eatontown, as the spiritual center for Monmouth County’s Spanish-speaking people. The church was renamed Immaculate Conception Church. Due to the growing population of Spanish-speaking people in Monmouth County, Immaculate Conception was divided into three churches with St. John the Baptist, Long Branch, being one o them.
In 1977, a garment factory was purchased and remodeled for the people who had emigrated here from Puerto Rico and Latin American countries. Bishop Ahr dedicated the church on September 18, 1978, as a mission of Immaculate Conception. On October 24, 1984, St. John the Baptist was established as an independent parish, with Rev. Manuel Fernandez as the first pastor. Services were conducted in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Msgr. Fernandez was pastor for 27 years. He entered into eternal rest on August 1, 2006.
Father Victoriano Sandoval became the second pastor of St. John the Baptist in May 1997. Father George Berrios came to the parish in August 2002 and served as administrator for three years prior to becoming pastor. Father Aduato Alves came to St. John’s in August 2005.
In 2007, the diocese was undergoing changes due to many reasons, the most important, perhaps, being a shortage of priests. A study was underway to determine if some parishes could be merged. Father Sam Sirianni was appointed pastor of St. John’s as well as pastor of Holy Trinity and Our Lady Star of the Sea Parishes on June 16, 2007. After Father Sirianni’s transfer on December 1, 2008, Father Juan Daniel Peirano became administrator of all three churches.
St. John the Baptist, Our Lady Star of the Sea, and Holy Trinity Parishes were merged into a new parish – Christ the King Parish – on July 1, 2009, at which time, Father Peirano became the new Parish’s pastor.
It has been determined that the building that housed St. John’s Church is unsafe; therefore, mass celebrations are now being held in Spanish and Portuguese at Holy Trinity and Our Lady Star of the Sea Churches.
The Spanish and Portuguese communities continue to thrive as they worship at these sites.
