A Parish Approaching 160 Years on Church Street
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church sits at 0S233 Church Street in Winfield, Illinois, and is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Joliet. The parish was opened in 1867 to serve the growing community, and stone from the Naperville Quarry was used to build the foundation that still stands in the present chapel. Father Dan Bachner, the current pastor, has been leading the parish as it approaches its 160th anniversary and describes the community as a place where members "come together, with everyone pitching in for various events." The parish motto, "Leading Souls to Heaven," appears throughout its communications and is shared by the school.
The parish grounds include the church, a chapel, the parish office, Sebahar Hall, and a school complex just up the street at 0S259 Church Street. St. John the Baptist Catholic School has been educating Winfield and the surrounding area since 1882, when Sisters Paula, Euphamia, and Michaela of the Order of the School Sisters of St. Francis came from their mother house in what is now Milwaukee to staff the first classes.
Mass Times, Confession, and Adoration
The regular Mass schedule centers on the church for weekend liturgies and the chapel for weekday Masses. On Saturday morning, Mass is offered at 8:00 a.m. in the church, followed immediately by Confession. The Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, Mass is offered at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m. in the church. Monday through Friday, a daily Mass is celebrated at 8:00 a.m. in the chapel.
Confession is heard on Friday at 3:00 p.m. in the church and on Saturday immediately following the 8:00 a.m. Mass. Parish Reconciliation services are also held during Advent and Lent.
Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Thursday in the chapel. It begins after the 8:00 a.m. Mass and Rosary and continues until 6:00 p.m. The parish describes Adoration as a time of being in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, with time for prayer, meditation on Scripture, the Rosary, or simply being still. When the parish office is closed for a holiday, Adoration is not held.
The Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the seven Catholic sacraments.
- Baptism. Baptisms are scheduled on the first and third Sundays of the month at 1:30 p.m., immediately following the noon Mass. Families must be registered and active parishioners for at least three months and attend weekly Mass before scheduling.
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Children typically receive these sacraments in the second grade, after two years of preparation through either the parish school or the Religious Education program.
- Confirmation. Preparation is a three-year program beginning in sixth grade and culminating with the reception of Confirmation in the fall of the freshman year of high school, scheduled by the Bishop's Office of the Diocese of Joliet.
- Marriage. Couples must contact the Parish Office at least six months before the wedding. Weddings are held on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., either in the chapel or the church, and not on Sundays.
- Anointing of the Sick. Available to anyone struggling with illness, not only at the time of death. The parish office can be reached after hours through extension 655.
- Holy Orders. Men discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life are referred to the Diocese of Joliet Office of Vocations.
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Adults interested in becoming Catholic, or baptized Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation or First Eucharist, are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The process usually begins in early fall and culminates with the reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The parish describes OCIA as a "no strings attached" inquiry and welcomes questions from anyone considering the Catholic faith. Fr. Pat Mulcahy, Director of Adult Faith Formation, OCIA, and Liturgy, oversees the program.
The School: Three-Year-Old Preschool Through Eighth Grade
St. John the Baptist Catholic School enrolls 235 students from 3-year-old preschool through eighth grade on its campus at 0S259 Church Street. The school is recognized with Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) certification and is endorsed by the Illinois State Board of Education. The mission statement describes the school as a community that prepares young people to impact the world for Christ, with Jesus as the model, and that supports parents as the primary educators of their children.
Joanne Policht has served as principal since 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Special Education from Wartburg College, a Master of Arts in Reading Education from National-Louis University, and a Master of Science in Educational Administration and Supervision from Northern Illinois University. Before joining St. John's, she was one of the first job-share principals in the state of Illinois. The school's assistant principal is Arlita Ancheta, who also teaches seventh- and eighth-grade social studies.
Class sizes average 22 in grades 1-8 with one class per grade, 22 in kindergarten, and 20 in preschool. The teacher-student ratio is 1:10 in the three-year-old preschool and 1:12 in the four-year-old preschool. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are 1:1 on Chromebooks, four-year-old preschoolers are 1:1 on iPads, and every classroom has a Smartboard. The school does not provide bus service; families use a streamlined arrival and dismissal car line.
The School Day and Specials
Grades K-8 may be dropped off at 7:25 a.m., with the school day beginning at 7:45 a.m. Preschool begins at 7:45 a.m.; half-day preschool ends at 11:30 a.m. and full-day preschool at 2:55 p.m. Before-school care runs from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and the after-school program, Children's Choice After Care, runs from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on most regular dismissal days.
The school day includes "specials" from preschool through eighth grade: Religion, Spanish, Technology, Physical Education, Music, and Art. Religion is integrated into every class and includes preparation for the sacraments, service projects, and varied prayer forms. Spanish is taught as a communication skill across listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Technology follows International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards. Physical Education covers movement, fitness, team building, health, and decision making. Music progresses from songs and movement in preschool to rhythm, tone, tempo, and harmony in the upper grades, with second through eighth graders invited to sing in the Children's Choir at Mass. Art covers painting, drawing, sculpture, textures, and religious imagery.
Faith on Campus: Faith Families and the Buddy Program
Two traditions knit the school together. Faith Families group preschoolers through eighth graders into mixed-age "families" that gather to learn about Catholicism, share activities, and serve the wider community. The Buddy Program pairs each younger student with an older student for crafts, service projects, and shared time together.
Every Tuesday at 8:15 a.m. the school community gathers for All-School Mass in the church, attended in Faith Families. Students serve as greeters, readers, and gift bearers; the Adoremus Children's Choir sings; and student altar servers assist. The Mass is open to the community.
Athletics, Arts, and Clubs
St. John's offers no-cut athletics for students in grades 5-8, including girls' and boys' volleyball and cross country in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track in the spring. Drama Club, open to students in grades 2-8, produces a Christmas musical and a spring musical. Band is offered to students in grades 4-8, and Choir to grades 2-8. Academic clubs include a STEM Club (grades 6-8), Battle of the Books teams (grades 4-8), and a Student Council (grades 6-8). A Chess Club, run by a coach from Elite Chess, welcomes students in grades 2-8 who already know the basics of the game.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For the 2026-27 school year, half-day preschool runs from $2,900 to $5,090 depending on the schedule, and full-day preschool from $3,702 to $7,280. Tuition for kindergarten through eighth grade is $6,750 for one child, $12,054 for two, and $16,580 for three or more. The new family registration fee is $165, and late registration after March 15 is $365. Tuition payment may be made in one annual payment (with a 3% discount), two semi-annual payments, or ten monthly payments.
Families may apply for tuition assistance through FACTS, with applications due by April 1. The school also offers a Tuition Transfer Grant of $1,000 per student in the first year and $500 in the second year for families transferring children into grades 1-7 from any local private, public, charter, or home school by July 31. After the Illinois Invest in Kids Act ended on December 31, 2023, the parish established the Monsignor Cloos Educational Assistance Fund to bridge the gap for affected families.
Religious Education and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
The parish Religious Education program serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade who do not attend the parish school. K-5 classes meet weekly on Tuesday evenings from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Sixth grade meets every other Tuesday from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m., alternating with seventh and eighth grade, which are on the same schedule and include Confirmation preparation.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), offered for children ages 3-6, uses a Montessori-based approach rooted in Scripture and the Liturgy. Sessions meet weekly from September through May in a specially prepared "atrium" with child-sized materials, miniature liturgical objects, and tactile Scripture models. Sessions are offered on Tuesday evenings from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. and on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Adult Faith Formation and Bible Study
Adult Faith Formation is described as a lifelong journey rather than a one-time program. Fr. Pat Mulcahy oversees adult faith formation along with OCIA and liturgy. A Bible Study Group meets Friday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in Sebahar Hall, September through May, for a comprehensive study of the books of the Bible along with prayer, fellowship, coffee, and refreshments. A monthly Book Club gathers parishioners for discussion. A Women's Retreat is offered in person or virtually. Adult programming also links parishioners with external Catholic resources, including Ascension Press, Word on Fire, EWTN, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Catholics Come Home.
Worship Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass in a number of liturgical roles. Altar Servers must be in fifth grade or higher and serve on a rotating schedule after required training. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute communion at weekend and Holy Day Masses on a rotating schedule, also after training. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass at least once per month. Cantors lead the congregation in song during weekday and weekend Masses. Ushers prepare the church for Mass, collect the offertory, and assist with seating, committing twenty to thirty minutes before and after Mass.
Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary was founded in Dublin in 1921 as a lay Catholic organization, and the parish hosts a local praesidium. Members meet weekly for prayer, reports, and discussion, and take part in the visitation of families, the sick at home and in hospitals, and other parish apostolates. Auxiliary membership is open to priests, religious, and laity who wish to associate themselves with the Legion through prayer.
Social Ministries and Fellowship
Parish social life centers on Sebahar Hall and the parish grounds.
- Donut Sunday. Coffee and donuts are served after the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Masses one Sunday a month, September through May.
- Dads of Action. A group of fathers involved in the school and parish who pitch in on projects and events while promoting fellowship.
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW). Supports, empowers, and educates Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service through meetings and activities from September through May.
- Knights of Columbus. The parish council of the Knights meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month and hosts a Pancake Breakfast the first Sunday of each month, September through May, after the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Masses. The council also runs Advent and Lenten Fish Fry events.
- Young at Heart. Monthly luncheons for adults 55 and older are generally held on the third Wednesday of the month, September through May, at 11:30 a.m. in Sebahar Hall, with speakers and activities.
Care Ministries
The parish reaches out to those in need of support.
- Ministry of Care. Ministers of Care, trained Eucharistic Ministers, bring Holy Communion, the Word, and the parish's presence to homebound parishioners and those within parish boundaries who cannot attend Mass, visiting about thirty minutes once a week.
- Grief Ministry. A sharing and healing group meets the first Wednesday of the month, August through June.
- Seasons of Hope. A Christ-centered Catholic bereavement program divided into four six-week sessions held throughout the year. Meetings are held on Thursdays in the parish office from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., and registration is required.
- Respect Life. Works to keep parishioners informed and engaged on life issues through an email action network, service projects for mothers and babies, and prayer events.
- Prayer Line. A group of parishioners who receive emailed prayer requests and add them to their daily prayers.
Outreach: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The parish conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul runs a food pantry five days a week and makes home visits to provide financial assistance to individuals and families in need. At Christmas and Easter, the conference distributes baskets to families in the wider community through an adopt-a-family program.
Funerals
Funeral Masses at St. John the Baptist are held Monday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The parish works with the family and the funeral home to arrange readings, music, and the homily. Bereavement ministers walk families through the planning process, including completion of "Notes on the Decedent" to assist the priest with the homily. Materials for selecting readings and music are provided in advance, and the parish follows the Catholic Funeral Rites outlined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Legacy of Faith Campaign
As the parish approached its 160th anniversary, Father Bachner launched the Legacy of Faith campaign, a series of projects the parish hopes to fund without taking on debt. New lighting in the church is estimated at $250,000; sound systems in both the church and chapel are being addressed; the chapel organ is being restored in full by a parishioner; the parish office carpet, in place since 1989, will be replaced along with underlying asbestos; the three church bells are being restored, with two of the three currently usable; and the old sacristy at the back of the church is being evaluated for conversion into a main-floor bathroom. Donations may be made to specific projects, and a donor wall is planned.
The Diocese of Joliet
St. John the Baptist is part of the Diocese of Joliet, established by Pope Pius XII on December 11, 1948, serving approximately 520,000 Catholics across 4,218 square miles in eight deaneries. Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, who previously pastored the local church, was elevated to Archbishop of New York on February 6, 2026, and Bishop Dennis Edward Spies, appointed by Pope Francis as Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet on September 27, 2024, has served as acting administrator. On September 17, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, previously Bishop of Victoria in Texas, as the new Bishop of Joliet, with installation planned for November 2026.
Parish Office and Practical Information
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is closed on Fridays. Messages may be left by voicemail or sent to contactus@stjohnwinfield.org. Online giving is available through Our Sunday Visitor (OSV). Families wishing to register as parishioners may do so online or by submitting a paper form. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin and a weekly newsletter from the school principal.