1953 - 2001

Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Parish dates back to 1889 and a small Indian Territory community called Frisco. The town of Yukon was founded in 1892 but Saint John's parish had its beginning with the Catholic community of Frisco. The pioneers were mostly of Bohemian, German, and Irish blood.

On April 26, 1952, Father F. Meis was appointed resident pastor of Saint John Nepomuk. It was under Father Meis' inspiration that the parishioners began seriously considering opening a Parochial School. Ground breaking for the new school took place on October 13, 1952. Just one year later Bishop Eugene McGuinness dedicated the new school building at 8^th and Oak located in Yukon, Oklahoma.

School opened on September 1, 1953 with 50 children enrolled in grades 1- 6. It was a four-classroom school staffed by two Carmelite Sisters from Villa Teresa, Oklahoma City. Sister Helena Heinly, C.S.T. was the first principal of the new Saint John Nepomuk School. The Carmelite Sisters from Villa Teresa served Saint John's from 1953 to the summer of 1989. Sister Maria Francesca Forst was the last Carmelite Sister to serve as principal of Saint John's in 1988-1989.

Father James Ross became pastor in 1956. It was during his pastorate that Saint John's School graduated its first eighth grade class of five young people.

Just as the parish outgrew it's first church and a new and bigger structure was dedicated May 16, 1961, the school outgrew its needs. The present school structure, cafeteria, and parish offices (then Sisters' convent) were completed in 1963. Sister Imelda C.S.T. was the first principal in the new school, which stands at 600 S. Garth Brooks Boulevard (formerly 11th Street), Yukon. *Catholic Extension Society volunteers helped to staff the eight room School in the 1960's.

During the 1961-62 school year, a Parish Board of Education was established. It was learned that Saint John's had the first Catholic Parochial School Board ever to exist in the United States.

During the 1960's; children from Saint Joseph's Orphanage, Bethany, were bussed to Saint John's for classes. After the Orphanage was moved across Oklahoma City enrollment dropped. 1968 was the last 8^th grade graduation class until 1999-2000.  During the school year 1998-99 Saint John's again began 7^th grade with 8^th grade to open the following year.

Once again the school and parish outgrew their facilities and more room was needed. Ground was broken the summer of 1998 to begin construction of a new Parish Activity Center, which would house a gym, large parish meeting room, Youth Room, Knights of Columbus Room, and eight classrooms. We have currently completed two full years of occupancy in our new PAC.

Saint John Nepomuk Catholic School now has grades PreSchool through 8`" Grade. We have an enrollment of approximately 190 students.

*Extension volunteers belonged to the Extension Society and provided services to the Church for room & board..