Our Parish history

Saint John Nepomuk Parish of Yukon, Oklahoma dates back to 1889 and a small Indian Territory called Frisco, the forerunner of the present city of Yukon. The initial Catholic pioneers of the area were of mostly Bohemian, German, and Irish blood. The church at that time was known as Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.

The mission grew and was served by several priests. In June of 1894, a small frame building with a tower and no sacristy was built in the town of Yukon under the direction of Fr. Lanslots, near what is now 1st and Birch Streets. They built a rectory and a shed where the priest could keep his horse and buggy.

On November 7, 1894, Bishop Meerschaert dedicated the church and administered the sacrament of confirmation to its first class. Fr. Vander Aa performed the first baptism on record on April 7, 1895. He also performed the first marriage ceremony in the new church on September 2, 1895.

In 1901, Fr. Metter began a drive to build a new church, since the original was now too small. The church was built in what was then a field west of Yukon. It was completed in 1902 and dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk on the 13th of May, 1903, by Bishop Meerschaert. The building was capable of holding 250 parishioners.

The church continued to grow and was ministered by several priests during the early 1900’s. Land was purchased to add a rectory in 1907. In August of 1920, more land was purchased and a new rectory was built, as the old one had become unfit. During the early years, many groups were formed within the parish. The oldest, formed in 1902, was called the Katolicky Delnik, or Catholic Workmen. Next came the Apostleship of Prayer in League with the Sacred Heart in 1921. The first Altar Society of St. John Nepomuk Church was organized before 1920, but it soon disbanded. It was re-formed in November of 1923.

During the 1920’s and 30’s, the parish continued to grow. In the 30’s, Frs. O’Keefe and Van Dorpe began bible schools on the front porch of the rectory and later at the Yukon Central Grade School.

On April 26, 1952, Fr. Meis was appointed resident pastor and was responsible for instilling a new spirit in the parish by urging the parishioners to work toward the realization of a long standing goal:

a Parochial School. Ground breaking was held on October 13, 1952.

The school spoke well for the future of the parish. Before it was built, religious teaching was provided for the children by ladies of the parish teaching Baltimore Catechism, then by The Sisters of the Orphanage, and later by two Carmelite Sisters from Villa Teresa.

Bishop Eugene McGuinness dedicated the new $38,000 school on

April 26, 1953. There were 50 children enrolled in the first six grades on September 1, 1953, and the Carmelite Sisters staffed the four-room schoolhouse. Later, eight grades were being taught. The first eighth grade graduation was celebrated in 1956.

St. John School soon began to outgrow itself, so construction of the present school building, cafetorium, and Sisters’ convent was started. The new school was completed in 1963 and dedicated by Bishop Reed. Sister Imelde, C.S.T., was the first principal in the new building. The rectory was completed in 1968.

The 1980’s and 90’s saw the city of Yukon and St. John parish continue to grow, leading to discussions of another church building to fill the needs of the parish. Instead of starting over, the church planners and architects were able to combine the existing church with new facilities. In 1997, the old sanctuary became the chapel, and the old seating area became the gathering area. The new church was designed to fill the needs for spiritual and community growth for many years.

After the new church building was completed, the Parish Activity Center was added. It included a gym, classrooms, and meeting rooms that provided parishioners a place for many activities. A full kitchen serves the students at the school. Moving the school cafeteria to the Parish Activity Center allowed the old gym/cafeteria to be converted into a new hall. Named after the Virgin Mary, called Marian Hall.

In 2010, parking was added and a beautiful new plaza at the front entrance of the church. The Marian Shrine was moved to create an area where the faithful are invited to offer prayers of intercession to the Blessed Mother. The central focus of the plaza is the bell tower that contains the bell that was cast in 1904 by the Stuckstede Foundry of St. Louis, MO and hung in the first Catholic Church in Yukon.

In 2011, the chapel was renovated to allow for more seating, an additional confessional, and a space better suited for celebration of the sacraments. The construction and design of the chapel consisted of fine material, craftsmanship and furnishings that reflect the dignity of worship and give praise to God. The chapel was named, Assumption Chapel to honor those who first came to the Yukon area and established a parish in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the summer of 2014 the Parish Office, the former convent, received a complete renovation, down to the studded walls. All electrical wiring and sewer lines were upgraded, bathrooms redone to enlarge office, and storage space. In addition, the Parish Activity Center Gym floor was upgraded with a “Tarkett” covering that allows for shock absorption. The flooring is a simulated wood floor in maple color for the court and a reddish color for the perimeter. In the summer of 2015 the St. John’s Crest was added to the flooring at center court.