Parish History
     Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley established the Manchester Mission in 1868 in response to the needs of Irish railroad workers in Lakehurst.  Our first church was constructed in 1874 at 300 Center Street and now serves as the location of the Lakehurst Historical Society.  The first Mass was celebrated on May 3, 1874 with Fr. Stanislaus Danielou of St. James, Red Bank, in charge.
     Priests from Asbury Park, Egg Harbor, and Trenton served the parish until 1884 when Fr. Joseph F. Flanagan was appointed first resident pastor.  Fr. Michael A. Dolan served at St. John's in 1887.  Then the parish became a mission of St. Mary of the Lake, Lakewood in 1887 and then St. Josph, Toms River, in 1915.
     On November 8, 1969, Fr. Philip Matera was appointed first pastor in modern times.  Our new church was built at 619 Chestnut Street with the first Mass celebrated on May 26, 1973.  Fr. James A. Thompson served from 1982-1989 as our second pastor.  Fr. Ronald J. Bacovin was pastor from 1989-1999.  Fr. Bernard J. Keigher followed him as pastor from 1999-2017.  Our current pastor is Fr. Jim O'Neill who arrived in August 2017.

Parish Cemetery
     We have a parish cemetery at Old St. John's.  More then 50 years ago, the cemetery book was lost.  As far as we know there is room for only one more burial in a family plot.  You can see more about the cemetery at Find A Grave or BillionGraves.