When Catholics started gathering for Mass in territorial Lawrence, others took notice.

In fact, a group of non-Catholics met and delivered a message to the first priest in town, the Rev. T.J. McGee: He should leave town before sundown.

He didn’t, and both he and the congregation that started meeting in 1857 survived – in fact, present-day St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church can trace its roots to those early days.

Today, St. John members will gather to commemorate the anniversary of the first Mass in Lawrence. After a noon mass, they’ll have a meal and old-time games on the church grounds.

“We’ve encouraged everyone to come to that one Mass for the weekend,” says Susan Campbell, parish administrator. “The church will be overflowing.”

According to the church’s historical records, McGee, who was from Lecompton, performed Lawrence’s first Mass at the home of Bernard Donnelly, which was near 11th and Rhode Island streets.

After the group of townsfolk told McGee he should leave, Donnelly refused, saying, “Make no mistake about it. The priest is a guest in my home and will remain as long as he wishes. In fact, if possible we intend to begin a congregation here in our little town.”

Colonel Babcock, who owned the toll bridge over the Kansas River, deeded the land that eventually would become home to St. John’s, at 1234 Ky.

“I’m sure all churches, in this history, have a little bit of struggle,” Campbell says. “But we’ve always been here at the same location since.”

St. John’s was officially made a parish in 1859. Campbell says other sesquicentennial events are planned in the next two years.