Delphos St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish

The formation of St. John the Evangelist Parish and the establishment of Delphos are due to the shared dream of the Rev. John Otto Bredeick and his brother, Ferdinand. Since Fr. Bredeick was unable to leave Germany due to his pastoral duties at the time, Ferdinand came to America from Germany in 1834 with a group of pioneers and settled in the area now known as Glandorf. After hearing plans to extend the Miami Erie Canal, Ferdinand purchased 92 acres of land in the territory known as “Ten Mile Woods.”

In 1842, the first group of immigrants was organized to build the settlement in America. Another group traveled the following year. In 1844, Fr. Bredeick was released from his duties in Germany and came to America to fulfill his dream. He celebrated the first Mass on October 18, 1844 – one day after arriving at the colony. In 1848, Fr. Otto Bredeick assisted the German Catholic families in the area at that time known as “Sixteen” – and as a result, established the parish today we call Ottoville. In 1851, four settlements near the canal united, and at the suggestion of Fr. Bredeick, adopted the name Delphos, from the Greek word adelphos meaning “brother.”

Over the years that would follow, St. John the Evangelist Parish would face many joys, tragedies, successes, and major global changes. Through the faith and fortitude of its parishioners, our parish would face a quickly changing industrial landscape, World Wars, scientific progress, and reform through the Second Vatican Council.

Today, St. John the Evangelist in Delphos, Ohio is part of the Diocese of Toledo led by the Most Reverend Daniel Thomas, and we are affiliated with the Saint Junipero Serra Deanery.

You can find out more about the Toledo Diocese online at www.toledodiocese.org.