Longtime Pastor of Downtown Rochester Church is Retiring

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A longtime local church leader has announced retirement plans.

Reverend Monsignor Gerald Mahon, who is 79-years-old, announced last weekend that he intends to step down as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Rochester later this year and retire. Mahon has served as pastor of the prominent downtown Rochester parish since 1995.

During his three decades long tenure, Mahon led the church through a major renovation project that was completed in 2002, and helped with the transition of the parish into becoming the Co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. He was also involved in the process that led to the construction of the new Lourdes High School, which opened in 2013, and revamping the Rochester Catholic Schools system.

Mahon's leadership at St. John's included an instrumental role in launching the popular Block Party concert series in downtown Rochester, which ended in 2013 after a nine-year run. He also helped in organizing the ongoing annual Good the Friday Way of the Cross in downtown Rochester.