The early history of the parish comes from reports of the oldest settlers in the early 1860's.  According to their memories, the few Catholic families i the area were first served by a priest named Father Smith.  Following him were Reverend Ackley, Reverend P. J. Gormley, Reverend Nigh and Reverend John Kilkenny, who would come from Fulton once a month until 1880.

The first Catholic Church in Savanna was the original public school building located on the corner of Third and Van Buren Streets.  It was purchased in November 1870.  In 1880, it was sold and Turner Hall, located on the corner of Third and Quincy Streets, was purchased. In that same year, Savanna received its first resident pastor, Father George Ratz, a Lutheran convert and  native of Freeport.  He built a rectory on land adjacent to the church and bought 4 acres in the Chestnut Park area for a cemetery.
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Father Francis J. Antl became pastor in May 1884.  He is remembered most for his holiness and his extraordinary love for his people.  He immediately built a school and entrusted it to Religious Sisters.  In 1896, in spite of the scarcity of money and the number of followers, Father Antl started to build the current church at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Firth Street.  Three years later the church was finished and it opened with a solemn Mass on August 27, 1899.  Father Antl died May 1926 after serving 42 exemplary years as our pastor.

Father William McGuire succeeded Father Antl.  He had all the parish property, including the cemetery, surveyed and he purchased a building for the convent. In 1928, Father John P. Quigley became pastor; he remodeled the rectory and the convent during his tenure as pastor.  Father Edward A. O'Brien was appointed pastor in January 1939.  He did well in reducing the parish debt and working with the growing Hispanic population.

Father Walter J. Ryan became the pastor in 1945.  He completely redecorated the church and made improvements in the other buildings and was still able to eliminate the parish debt and strengthen its finances.

Father Edward J. McIsaac succeeded Father Ryan in 1952.  He initiated additional needed repairs to the school and rectory.  Also, during his tenure, a new altar was consecrated by Bishop Lane.

Father Francis P. Kennedy was pastor from 1963 to 1966.  He was especially attentive to the health and well being of St. John's parishioners.

Father Henry L. Weckerle holds the distinction of being the second longest serving leader of the parish.  He was pastor from 1966 until his untimely death in 1986 in the crash of his own airplane.  Father Weckerle was known for his kindness to those who were facing adversity and his firm fiscal management practices.

Father Vincent Shindelar became pastor in 1986.  He started to organize a Parish Pastoral Council and initiated plans for a new parish center.

Father James Tranel was the pastor from 1991 to 1993.  Father Tranel had an ability to uplift the members of the parish.  He inspired many parishioners' individual participation in the maintenance and improvements in the parish campus.

Father Joseph Jarmoluk became pastor in 1993.  Aside from his personal and pastoral ministry, he spearheaded the construction of the new St John the Baptist Parish Center.  With joy and hope the community had its dedication and blessing on August 25, 1996 with the presence of Bishop Thomas Doran.  

Father Timothy Siegel succeeded Father Jarmoluk in 1998. Father Tim was instrumental in enhancing the lay  ministries of the parish. He also excelled in inspiring parishioners in supporting urgent repairs and in reducing the parish debt. 

Father Moises Apostol served as pastor from 2001 until 2006.  His down-to-earth manner of preaching lead parishioners to meaningful faith.  He reorganized the Parish Pastoral Council and brought about greater participation and involvement in parish ministries.

Father Dennis Atto served the parish for nine years from 2006 until 2015.  Father Atto came from a military background and practiced firm fiscal management.  As a consequence he was able to undetake a major renovation of the church in 2015 which included painting the dome and tiling the floor of the sanctuary, and the installation of a massive mural behind the altar.  Also included was the restoration of the Stations of the Cross.

Father Moises Apostol returned to St. John's in late 2015 in a temporary capacity at the request of the Vicar of the Clergy.  In 2016 Father Moises became our spiritual leader on a permanent basis for the second time. He brought back the Parish Pastoral Council and continued the initiative he began a decade earlier to promote ecumenical activities among the churches of Savanna and Mt. Carroll.
 

Father Thomas Doyle is currently serving as St. John's Pastor, a role that he assumed on January 16, 2021.