Founded in 1892 to serve the growing Polish-immigrant community in the Bridesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia, St. John Cantius became one of the city’s cultural and religious centers for Polish Catholics.

 In 1898–1899 the current church building was completed and dedicated, marking a milestone in the parish’s mission to provide a permanent place of worship. Over the years the parish adapted to changing demographics and circumstances: in 2013 it merged with the nearby All Saints Parish to form a larger territorial parish, while continuing to honor its heritage and serve a diverse community.

Our Mission Statement

We, the faithful community of St. John Cantius Parish, aware of our baptismal privilege and our universal call to holiness, and motivated by a genuine love and loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ, proclaim to all our pledge to:

• Live out our common Priesthood as representatives of Christ here on earth.
• Worship God, especially through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament.
• Encourage one another to make use of the seven Sacraments which are the chief sources of God's Grace.
• Honor our Blessed Mother through the recitation of the Rosary and other forms of Marian devotion.
• Serve faithfully our Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ, here on earth.
• Strive to be of service to each other, especially the sick, the elderly and those most in need.
• Work to help sustain and strengthen the family unit and preserve the sanctity of life.
• Strive to be of service to one another, especially the sick, the elderly, and those in most need
• Provide a solid Catholic Education for our children by means of our Parish PREP (Parish Religious Education Program, and for adults through our Adult Education programs.
• Foster an understanding of and appreciation for our parish's unique combined heritage as Catholic Christians.
• Seek out those who have strayed from the Church and encourage them to return.
• We pray to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of Our Lady of Czestochowa and Saint John Cantius, our Patron Saint, that they sustain us in our search for holiness as we continue our pilgrimage to the Heavenly Kingdom.