Saint John the Baptist Catholic Community has been serving the Springbrook-Colesville area of Silver Spring, Maryland for forty-three years. On Sunday, June 19, 1960, a total of 275 people attended the first Mass in the parish, celecbrated by the founding pastor, Rev. Monsignor E. Carl Lyon in the living room of the temporary rectory. By 1962, the church, rectory and school were erected and in use. Additional buildings were added by the second pastor, Rev. Francis G. Kazista: the Lyon Center in 1988 and the Visitation Chapel and Parish Center in 2001. The parish has also grown in membership -- 2162 families, over 6,000 persons.

From its very beginning in 1960, St. John the Baptist Community has developed a spirit of Christian community and ministerial outreach. Central to this Christian community life is the celebration of the Eucharist, Baptism and the other sacraments. Formation in the Catholic tradition has been nurtured in St. John's parochial school, and religious education for children, teens and adults. The parish participates in ecumenical activities along with nineteen other churches and synagogues in the Colesville area.

Through its Community Fund and other ministries, St. John's social outreach addresses many needs, including the emergency aid given by the St. Vincent De Paul Society, parish support for many local soup kitchens and agencies as well as agencies of the Archdiocese of Washington. A special connection of personal relationships and financial support has been made with a sister parish, St. Pierre, Baraderes, Haiti.

MISSION STATEMENT OF
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

St. John the Baptist Catholic Community shares the mission which Jesus received from His Father and handed on to His disciples. This mission is to evangelize so that those who do not believe in Jesus may hear the call to faith, and those who do not believe may grow in faith.

Our parish ministries endeavor to witness to the continuing presence of Jesus in our Eucharistic worship and prayer, and in our hospitality and service to others.

Now John [the Baptist] in prison heard about the works Christ was
performing, and sent a message to his disciples to ask him, “Are you
‘He who is to come’ or do we look for another?” In reply, Jesus said
to them: Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind
recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached
to them. (Matthew 11: 2-5)

As a ministering community, we strive to preach and teach compassion and justice as well as to exemplify it in lives of service to others. The parish is committed to reflecting the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and does so by growing in unity, and by nurturing and promoting the gifts and ministries of each of its members.

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