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St. John's High School: Ryken Center, St Johns High School, Shrewsbury MA
Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Catholic high school

St. John's High School

  • LocationShrewsbury, MA
  • Type and sizeIndependent Catholic school · Grades 7–12 · 916 students
  • SponsorXaverian Brothers

All-male

Official website

Saint John's High School is a Xaverian Brothers sponsored, college-preparatory school for boys in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Campus Ministry publishes a Mass each Wednesday at 7:30 AM in the school chapel, daily morning prayer, and retreats in grades 7 through 12.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Wednesday7:30 AMSchool chapel

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Prayer & Liturgy | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234963&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Mass is celebrated each Wednesday at 7:30 AM in the school chapel where all faculty, staff, students, and families are welcome.”
    A Mass is celebrated each Wednesday at 7:30 AM in the school chapel.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. John's High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.5 mi1 mi2 miSt Anne's Roman Catholic Church: 1.6 mi1Notre Dame Du Lac: 1.8 mi2Campus Ministry Center (Conal Hall): 0.1 miSt. John's High School (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. St Anne's Roman Catholic Church — 1.6 mi · 130 Boston Turnpike
  2. Notre Dame Du Lac — 1.8 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Faith scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ASacramental life: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Sacramental life

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearA few times a year (The weekly Wednesday Mass is described as open to faculty, staff, students and families; it is not counted as a school or class Mass.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Prayer & Liturgy | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234963&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Each day, the community pauses during the second period where prayer is read over the loudspeaker by two seniors.”
      Students and staff pause for prayer each day during second period.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Daily Mass available to students on campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolVisiting or shared priest (A school Mass is published each Wednesday. Campus Ministry staff are listed by name without a priest designation.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Prayer & Liturgy | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234963&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Mass is celebrated each Wednesday at 7:30 AM in the school chapel where all faculty, staff, students, and families are welcome.”
      A Mass is celebrated each Wednesday at 7:30 AM in the school chapel.
N/ATheology and curriculum: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Theology and curriculum

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Years of theology or religion requiredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (Bioethics is described as taught from the perspective of Catholic ethics, and Business Ethics is offered in the department.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Religious Studies | Saint John's High Schoolstjohnshigh.org/curriculum-detail · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “This course will examine the biomedical considerations which arise at all stages of human life from the perspective of Catholic ethics.”
      The Bioethics course is taught from the perspective of Catholic ethics.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
ACampus culture: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Campus culture

90 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (A Freshman Retreat for grade 9, the Storm retreat for sophomores, and Kairos for juniors and seniors. Kairos is open to juniors and seniors rather than required, and the retreat for grade 10 is off-campus.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Retreats | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234960&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Freshman Retreat kicks off each school year, occurring the first few Monday's of the year.”
      A Freshman Retreat is held at the start of each school year.
      “Conducted off-campus and led by campus ministers, faculty, and selected senior leaders, Storm provides opportunities for guided meditation”
      The sophomore Storm retreat is held off campus.
      “Open to juniors and seniors, Kairos is a highly-effective and popular four-day retreat”
      Kairos is offered to juniors and seniors.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Campus ministry staffTwo or more (Campus Ministry staff listed by name: a Director, an Associate Director, and a Campus Minister, plus two faculty members who are also campus ministers.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Saint John's High Schoolstjohnshigh.org/student-life/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “John Berger Director of Campus Ministry”
      John Berger is Director of Campus Ministry.
      “Eileen Dwyer Associate Director of Campus Ministry”
      Eileen Dwyer is Associate Director of Campus Ministry.
      “Andrew McNeil Campus Minister”
      Andrew McNeil is a Campus Minister.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsOne (The Campus Ministry club for grades 9 to 12 is listed. Monday Morning Meditation and an Orthodox Christian Fellowship club are listed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Clubs & Activities | Saint John's High Schoolstjohnshigh.org/student-life/clubs-and-activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Campus Ministry Moderators: Mr. Berger & Mr. McNeil”
      A Campus Ministry club for grades 9 to 12 is listed, moderated by Mr. Berger and Mr. McNeil.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes (Morning prayer and intentions are shared every morning, and a prayer is read over the loudspeaker during second period.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Prayer & Liturgy | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234963&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Morning prayer and intentions are shared with the school every morning.”
      Morning prayer is shared with the school every morning.
DService and Catholic social teaching: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Service and Catholic social teaching

53 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Required service hoursNo requirement (The Campus Ministry page says service is not a requirement, while encouraging students to take part.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234961&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “While not a requirement, hundreds of students are involved in service activities each and every year.”
      Service is not a school requirement, although many students take part.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Yes (The school runs a March for Life trip.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234961&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The March for Life trip is a three-day 'consistent ethic of life' immersion.”
      The school runs a March for Life trip.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes (Global Encounter immersions, a Junior Urban Encounter, a school-wide Service Day and weekly local service are published.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234961&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Each year, more than 500 members of the local Saint John's community--students, faculty, staff, families--give a day of service”
      A school-wide Service Day is held each year.
      “Designed as a 36-hour urban immersion and offered several times throughout each school year”
      The Junior Urban Encounter is offered several times a year to juniors.
      “all Global participants must be ready to leave behind their creature comforts”
      Global Encounter is a school immersion program with partner agencies in several places.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • A Mass is published each Wednesday in the school chapel, and morning prayer is shared with the school every day.
    Sources (1)
    1. Prayer & Liturgy | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234963&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Mass is celebrated each Wednesday at 7:30 AM in the school chapel where all faculty, staff, students, and families are welcome.”
      A Mass is celebrated each Wednesday at 7:30 AM in the school chapel.
      “Morning prayer and intentions are shared with the school every morning.”
      Morning prayer is shared with the school every morning.
  • Retreats are published for each grade from 9 to 12, including the Freshman Retreat, the Storm retreat and Kairos for juniors and seniors.
    Sources (1)
    1. Retreats | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234960&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Freshman Retreat kicks off each school year, occurring the first few Monday's of the year.”
      A Freshman Retreat is held at the start of each school year.
      “Conducted off-campus and led by campus ministers, faculty, and selected senior leaders, Storm provides opportunities for guided meditation”
      The sophomore Storm retreat is held off campus.
      “Open to juniors and seniors, Kairos is a highly-effective and popular four-day retreat”
      Kairos is offered to juniors and seniors.
  • Published immersion and service programs include Global Encounter, a Junior Urban Encounter, a Service Day and a March for Life trip.
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234961&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Each year, more than 500 members of the local Saint John's community--students, faculty, staff, families--give a day of service”
      A school-wide Service Day is held each year.
      “The March for Life trip is a three-day 'consistent ethic of life' immersion.”
      The school runs a March for Life trip.
      “Designed as a 36-hour urban immersion and offered several times throughout each school year”
      The Junior Urban Encounter is offered several times a year to juniors.
      “all Global participants must be ready to leave behind their creature comforts”
      Global Encounter is a school immersion program with partner agencies in several places.

Concerns

  • Service is stated not to be a graduation or school requirement.
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | Campus Ministrystjohnshigh.org/page/list-detail?pk=234961&fromId=296034 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “While not a requirement, hundreds of students are involved in service activities each and every year.”
      Service is not a school requirement, although many students take part.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Campus Ministry Center (Conal Hall)

  • Address: 378 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: school chapel, study and relaxation space

View on map ↗

Source: stjohnshigh.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, stjohnshigh.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, stjohnshigh.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

11 groups and regular activities · 3 on campus, 6 off campus, 2 location not published

Retreats 3

  • Storm (sophomore retreat)Off campus
    Off-campus retreat for sophomores led by campus ministers, faculty and senior leaders.
    stjohnshigh.org
  • Kairos retreatOff campus
    Four-day retreat for juniors and seniors, most recently held at a retreat center on Cape Cod.
    stjohnshigh.org
  • Freshman Retreat
    First few Mondays of the school year
    Retreat for freshmen, held at the start of the school year.
    stjohnshigh.org

Service 4

  • Global EncounterOff campus
    Immersion programs with partner agencies in Haiti, Ecuador, South Dakota, West Virginia and New Jersey.
    stjohnshigh.org
  • Service DayOff campus
    School-wide day of service to agencies across the greater Worcester region.
    stjohnshigh.org
  • Junior Urban EncounterOff campus
    36-hour urban immersion for juniors with service agencies in Worcester.
    stjohnshigh.org
  • March for Life tripOff campus
    Three-day trip to Washington, D.C., including the March for Life.
    stjohnshigh.org

Faith formation 1

  • P-Cubed (Pizza, Pioneers, and Prayer)On campus
    First Wednesday of each month
    Evening of prayer, music, small-group sharing and a meal for any student, led by student leaders and a campus minister.
    stjohnshigh.org

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Wednesday Mass in the school chapelOn campus
    Wednesdays, 7:30 AM
    Mass celebrated in the school chapel; faculty, staff, students and families are welcome.
    stjohnshigh.org
  • Daily morning prayerOn campus
    Every school day
    Morning prayer and intentions shared with the school; prayer read over the loudspeaker in second period.
    stjohnshigh.org, stjohnshigh.org

Clubs and groups 1

  • Campus Ministry club
    Student club for grades 9 to 12 moderated by Mr. Berger and Mr. McNeil.
    stjohnshigh.org

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
78 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduates going to four-year colleges 75% of scoreThis measure counts for 75% of the Academic Excellence score.93%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.12.1 to 1

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed. Federal data on private high schools is limited to these two measures.

Source: NCES Private School Survey (2023–24 school year)

School facts

TypeIndependent Catholic school
DioceseDiocese of Worcester, MA
Grades7–12
Students (all grades)916
Students in grades 9–12726
Coed or single-sexAll-male
Student–teacher ratio12.1 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges93%
SettingSuburb

Source: NCES Private School Survey 23-24 public-use file (school year 2023–24). The college-going rate and student–teacher ratio feed Academic Excellence; nothing here changes the faith grades.

Local Church

Diocese of Worcester

The Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. John's High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. John's High School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Worcester. Its sponsor is Xaverian Brothers.
Where is Mass celebrated at St. John's High School?
Mass is listed at School chapel. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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