DUNNELLON | St. John the Baptist Parish in Dunnellon gathered June 27, 2026, to celebrate the parish’s 50th anniversary.
Father Ramon Bolatete, pastor, presided over the Mass with concelebrants and former pastors, Father Emmanuel Akalue and Father Robert Fucheck.
A special papal blessing from Pope Leo XIV, presented by Missionary Sister of Faith Sister Roviesa Orias Jadlocon, was read and presented to Father Bolatete.
Located near the beautiful Rainbow River in Marion County, the story of St. John the Baptist Parish begins with early Catholics in the region beginning in 1903. At the time, the Benedictine Fathers of St. Leo Abbey in Dade City began traveling to minister to scattered families in the area, according to the parish website. With a booming phosphate industry, the area swelled in population and the William F. Barrett family opened their home for the monthly celebration of Mass.
A decade later, St. John the Baptist Church was built thanks to the gracious donation of land by J.A. Grumbles. In 1914 Benedictine Father Charles Mohr, the first abbot of St. Leo Abbey, dedicated the church. But World War I forced the closure of European ports, shutting down the phosphate business, leading many Catholics to leave the area. Unable to sustain itself economically, the church was leased to the county to be used as a schoolhouse and was later sold.
The website states, “the altar and statues were taken to St. Leo Abbey, and furnishings were donated to Blessed Trinity Parish in Ocala.”
Until the 1960s, Catholics in Dunnellon traveled almost 50 miles to Ocala to participate in the celebration of Mass. As residential development grew, Archbishop Joseph Hurley of St. Augustine purchased 10 acres north of Rainbow Lakes Estates along Highway 41 for a permanent church site. With the realignment of diocesan boundaries in 1966, the mission became part of the newly established St. Theresa Parish in Belleview.
The mission broke ground in 1968, and opened that same year. In June 1976, Bishop Thomas Grady elevated the mission to parish status. But in 1981, a fire destroyed the church parish hall and rectory. “Miraculously, Father Philip Stegeman escaped after being awakened by two strangers who had taken a wrong turn that night,” according to Jane Quinn.
Through a great ecumenical friendship, the United Methodist Church extended use for Mass until construction of a new church in 1982 was complete. A church, hall, offices and classrooms were completed in 1985 at the new, more central location.
Since then, the church has grown adding a Walk with the Lord Prayer Path, the memorial garden, icons of St. John the Baptist, addition of the St. Francis Garden — a memorial garden for unborn children, the rosary garden and more.
Under the guidance of pastor, Father Jean Desir, it also developed a parish mission statement: “United as one body in Christ, we show passion for our faith through compassion for our neighbors.” Through faith and perseverance, the Catholic community continues to thrive and looks forward to its next 50 years by burying a time capsule with the directories from the past 50 years as well as letters from the children attending Vacation Bible School.
Information for this story was obtained from the book, The Catholic Presence in Central Florida, and the St. John the Baptist website.
Staff report, July 10, 2026