St. John the Baptist was established as a Catholic mission in 1866. Before the church was built, priests from Mission San José and Mission Santa Clara traveled to the area to celebrate the sacraments for local Native people, farmers, and families.

These early celebrations are believed to have taken place in a small adobe chapel known as a penitencia, located near what is now Penitencia Creek.

St. John the Baptist is recognized as the first Roman Catholic church established in Milpitas. The original wood-frame church, distinguished by its steeple, stood near the center of what is now the Main Street parking lot.

The church is believed to have been constructed during the 1870s to serve the growing Portuguese Catholic community whose families immigrated to Milpitas from the Azores.

Before the church was built, priests from Mission San José and Mission Santa Clara traveled to the area to celebrate the sacraments in a small adobe building known as a penitencia. Its exact location is unknown, but it is believed to have stood near Lower Penitencia Creek, south of the present church.

Source Credit:

Historical information adapted from the Milpitas Historical Society

In 1877, St. John the Baptist officially became a parish and welcomed its first resident pastor. As the community continued to grow, the parish became an important center of Catholic faith and life in Milpitas.

Source Credit:

Historical information adapted from the Milpitas Historical Society.

After the original wooden church was destroyed by fire, a second church was constructed on the same site. Through the faith, generosity, and determination of parishioners, St. John the Baptist continued its mission of serving the Catholic community.

The small chapel-like building known as the Imperio is the only historic building from the earlier parish complex still standing on the property.

The Imperio was an important part of the Portuguese Catholic community and played a central role in the annual Feast of the Holy Ghost. The celebration traditionally included a procession along Main Street and the selection of a queen. At the conclusion of the procession, the queen’s crown was placed inside the Imperio for public display.

The building was also occasionally used for small religious services and parish gatherings. Today, the Imperio remains a treasured reminder of the faith and traditions of the Portuguese and Azorean families who helped establish our parish.

Source Credit:

Historical information adapted from the Milpitas Historical Society.

Today, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church welcomes people of every age, culture, and background. Through the Eucharist, the sacraments, faith formation, ministries, outreach, and community service, we remain committed to proclaiming the Gospel and building God’s Kingdom in Milpitas and beyond.

As the parish community grew, St. John’s constructed a larger wood-frame hall on the northern side of the property. St. John’s Hall became an important gathering place for parish celebrations, community events, and church activities.

The historic hall was severely damaged during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and was later demolished to make way for a newer parish facility.

Source Credit:

Historical information adapted from the Milpitas Historical Society.

On October 17, 1989, at 5:04 PM, the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake struck the Bay Area, causing extensive structural damage to older buildings throughout the region, including St. John’s Hall.

Severely damaged by the earthquake, the historic hall was later demolished and replaced with a newer parish facility.

For many years, St. John’s Hall served as an important gathering place for parish celebrations, community events, and church activities. Its legacy remains part of the history and cherished memories of our parish community.

Today, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church continues to serve as a vibrant and diverse faith community in the heart of Milpitas. Our parish welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to worship, grow in faith, and serve one another.

The parish campus includes the present church, rectory, parish offices, Pavalkis Hall, St. John the Baptist Catholic School, and the historic Imperio. Through the celebration of the Eucharist and sacraments, faith formation, ministries, outreach, education, and community events, St. John the Baptist continues its enduring mission of proclaiming the Gospel.

Rooted in more than 150 years of faith and strengthened by generations of parishioners, we move forward together with gratitude, hope, and trust in God.