Parish History
About St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish
St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish is a welcoming and diverse faith community located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Milpitas, California. United by our love for Christ, we celebrate our cultural diversity and share our God-given gifts through worship, service, and fellowship. Together, we strive to grow as disciples and serve God with faith, compassion, and joy.
Our parish has a rich and inspiring history spanning more than 150 years. Established as a mission in 1866 and officially becoming a parish in 1877, St. John the Baptist is the first Roman Catholic Church in Milpitas. The original wooden church stood near what is now the Main Street parking lot from approximately 1870 to 1900. After it was destroyed by fire, a second church was built on the same site, continuing the parish's enduring mission.
St. John the Baptist Parish was originally founded to serve the growing Portuguese Catholic community that immigrated from the Azores. Even before the church was established, priests from Mission San José and Mission Santa Clara traveled to the area to celebrate the sacraments for local Native people and farmers in a small adobe chapel known as a penitencia, believed to have stood near Penitencia Creek.
Today, St. John the Baptist Parish continues this legacy of faith by welcoming people of every age and background. Through the celebration of the Eucharist, the sacraments, faith formation, outreach ministries, and community service, we remain committed to proclaiming the Gospel and building God's Kingdom in Milpitas and beyond.
Memories of Church
Looking Back
List of Pastor’s
Rev. Fedre (Fedry) 1868 – 1872 (construction of church)
Rev. Mulville 1872 – ? (first pastor )
Rev. William Federy 1877 (first resident pastor)
Rev. Terence Caraher 1878 – 1897
Rev. Charles Franchi 1897 – 1900
Rev. Charles Browne 1900 – 1901
Rev. John Villadomat 1901 – 1905
Rev. Joseph Montaner 1905 – 1920
Rev. Michael A. da Cruz 1920 – 1931
Rev. John E. Silver 1931 – 1952
Rev. Patrick O’Brien 1952 – 1955 (Administratior)
Rev. William B. Flatley 1955 – 1959
Rev. Victor Pavalkis – 1968 – 1986
Rev. Kieran L. Murray 1984 – 1985
Rev. Charles Doherty – 1986 – 1998
Rev. G. Robert Legér 1998 – 2002
Rev. Norman Segovia 2002 – 2011
Rev. Ritche Bueza 2011 – 2018
Msgr. Wilfredo S Manrique 2018 – Present