This page outlines the history of our church, our mission statement, and our welcome message.
Our History.....
The church of St. John the Baptist, located in Searles, has a history deeply connected to the railroad, a fire during the height of the Great Depression and a church community that works and worships together.
In 1905, after more than a year of discussion, a congregation decided to build a church. Celebrating Mass in a parish member’s house was becoming too constricting. The name "St. John the Baptist" was chosen after John Reinhart won a wager with Henry Scheibel – the first to raise $1,000 was to name the church.
The first church was functional for more than 30 years. March 30, 1935 was a day that would forever change the church. The furnace malfunctioned and a subsequent fire burned the church to mere ashes. The Blessed Sacrament and the vestments were the only items saved.
The fire did little to deter the parishioners. By September 1935, dignitaries placed the cornerstone for the new church. Parish members celebrated the first Mass Christmas morning 1935.
In 1936 St. John's opened their own Catholic School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1968 due to declining enrollment and financial considerations the school consolidated with Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Ulm and became known as Central Catholic Schools. As part of the school system, St. John's taught grades one through four in their school building. In 1999, a new elementry building was erected on the campus in New Ulm, thus ending the long history of catholic education at St. John's. The school system today is known as New Ulm Area Catholic Schools (NUACS)(see Links).
Our Present.......
Just as our forefathers before us, St. John's has witnessed many changes and challenges. Not only has the school closed but St. John's also became a cluster of The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. With change comes growth and opportunity. Today the commitment to the church of St. John is as strong and vibrant as was our forefathers.
The community of St. John’s is blessed with many members who contribute their time and talents to the church. Parish members regularly volunteer for decorating, singing, outreach and organizing. Parish members work together, pray together, celebrate together and genuinely care for others in their parish family.
Our Mission Statement
We, the St. John’s Catholic Community of Searles, are a small rural parish who strive to be good stewards of the land. The mission of our parish community is to continue the mission of Jesus—to know God, to love God and to serve God. We strive to do everything to build up our community as one body—constantly looking to the future as an active parish. We aim to help the less fortunate people of the world through our outreach, working for a more just society and peace in our world.
Thank you for visiting us on the web. Our Sunday Liturgy is at 10:30 A.M. If you are visiting the New Ulm area come and worship with us. We would love to have you!
We are a small parish with big hearts and helpful hands!
Our History.....
The church of St. John the Baptist, located in Searles, has a history deeply connected to the railroad, a fire during the height of the Great Depression and a church community that works and worships together.
In 1905, after more than a year of discussion, a congregation decided to build a church. Celebrating Mass in a parish member’s house was becoming too constricting. The name "St. John the Baptist" was chosen after John Reinhart won a wager with Henry Scheibel – the first to raise $1,000 was to name the church.
The first church was functional for more than 30 years. March 30, 1935 was a day that would forever change the church. The furnace malfunctioned and a subsequent fire burned the church to mere ashes. The Blessed Sacrament and the vestments were the only items saved.
The fire did little to deter the parishioners. By September 1935, dignitaries placed the cornerstone for the new church. Parish members celebrated the first Mass Christmas morning 1935.
In 1936 St. John's opened their own Catholic School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1968 due to declining enrollment and financial considerations the school consolidated with Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Ulm and became known as Central Catholic Schools. As part of the school system, St. John's taught grades one through four in their school building. In 1999, a new elementry building was erected on the campus in New Ulm, thus ending the long history of catholic education at St. John's. The school system today is known as New Ulm Area Catholic Schools (NUACS)(see Links).
Our Present.......
Just as our forefathers before us, St. John's has witnessed many changes and challenges. Not only has the school closed but St. John's also became a cluster of The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. With change comes growth and opportunity. Today the commitment to the church of St. John is as strong and vibrant as was our forefathers.
The community of St. John’s is blessed with many members who contribute their time and talents to the church. Parish members regularly volunteer for decorating, singing, outreach and organizing. Parish members work together, pray together, celebrate together and genuinely care for others in their parish family.
Our Mission Statement
We, the St. John’s Catholic Community of Searles, are a small rural parish who strive to be good stewards of the land. The mission of our parish community is to continue the mission of Jesus—to know God, to love God and to serve God. We strive to do everything to build up our community as one body—constantly looking to the future as an active parish. We aim to help the less fortunate people of the world through our outreach, working for a more just society and peace in our world.
Thank you for visiting us on the web. Our Sunday Liturgy is at 10:30 A.M. If you are visiting the New Ulm area come and worship with us. We would love to have you!
We are a small parish with big hearts and helpful hands!