By 1903, these hardworking newcomers built their own church right on Hebert Street, with a cozy school next door. Years later, opportunity knocked-and, proving that every good story has a twist, the parish scooped up a recently closed Baptist church on St. Peter Street and turned it into their own. They even added a whole new floor to fit everyone in. It sounds like a renovation show, but with a lot more holy water and less drywall dust.
The 1960s brought a big parking lot and a brand-new school, making this place a lively hub of activity. But as times changed and the number of students faded faster than chalk after Sunday class, the school closed in the early 70s.
Fast forward to the early 2000s, when parish life became a team sport. The Archdiocese combined St. John’s with other Salem parishes, forming what some might call the “Catholic Avengers.” In 2013, for the first time, a non-Polish pastor led the flock-talk about a plot twist! Then came more changes, including the closure of the beloved bingo night that had kept the lights on for nearly half a century.
But St. John the Baptist stands strong, one of the last Polish-American parishes in New England. If you visit during Mass, you’ll still hear prayers in Polish and English, and on Monday nights, a novena to St. Jude brings the faithful together. The walls here hold echoes of hope, community, and maybe, just maybe, the faint sound of someone shouting “Bingo!” from years gone by.
