The Vicariate Apostolic of New Mexico was established as the Diocese of Santa Fe in 1853 and became the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1895. Upon the creation of the Vicariate, Father Jean Baptiste Lamy was named Vicar Apostolic. He arrived in Santa Fe in August of 1851.

Few figures of nineteenth-century America have appealed more to the modern imagination than Juan Bautista Lamy, first archbishop of Santa Fe. Born in France, he served a pioneer apprenticeship in the American Middle West until he was sent to New Mexico as a bishop at the relatively youthful age of thirty-seven. A prime civilizer of the frontier Southwest, Father Lamy made his presence felt from the Rocky Mountains across New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona into old Mexico -- and as far as Rome.

Almost alone in the beginning, Father Lamy faced up, physically, to a desert and mountain domain larger than his native France. As the works and institutions of knowledge, mercy, and amenity came alive under his touch in a land of ignorance and savage terror, yet of ample promise, he gave his life to the founding of today's great American Southwest. Father Lamy was a pioneer hero, then, of the raw American frontier -- a man as strong as he was unpretentious, and as charming as he was wise. America's history rests in the end on her good men and women who were more concerned for their fellows than for themselves. Such was Father Lamy.

Father Lamy's definitive biography is a life filled with hardy, often extraordinary, adventure. It is a chronicle sustained by Father Lamy's magnificent strength of character, which grew and deepened during his long life. The saga follows the young priest of twenty-five from France to Cincinnati in 1839, and then to his "Desert Diocese" in 1851. He faces antagonists, scandal at Taos, repercussions of the Civil War at Santa Fe, and even an attempt on his life. He attends the Vatican Council in Rome, and in 1875 is made an archbishop. In his last years, his fame spreads as an ecological pioneer in the frontier region, especially as tree planter and gardener.

In 1953, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Santa Fe in 1853. As part of the celebrations and in honor of its first Bishop/Archbishop, the parish St. John the Baptist was established by the eighth Archbishop of Santa Fe, the Most Reverend Edwin Vincent Byrne.

When the parish of St. John the Baptist was established, the number of parishioners at St. Anne and Our Lady of Guadalupe, mother parishes, had far exceeded their means and abilities. It was also determined that a new parish was needed for the growing population on the south side of the city of Santa Fe. The parish was established on September 13, 1953. The parish was dedicated to St. John the Baptist in honor of the first Bishop /Archbishop of Santa Fe Jean Baptiste Lamy and was established during the centennial celebration of the establishment of the Diocese of Santa Fe by Pope Puis IX in 1853. The first parish pastor was Rev. Carlos Blanchard.

First masses for the new parish were celebrated at the Chapel of St. Michael (now the College of Santa Fe). The site chosen for the new parish was located on Osage Avenue which had been purchased in 1952. Construction of an all purpose building or gym was begun immediately and completed by Sunday, January 21, 1954 when it was dedicated by Archbishop Byrne. This building was used as a worship space and for all other parish needs until the church and other facilities could be built. Archbishop Byrne visited the parish and dedicated the all-purpose building/gym named the Archbishop Lamy Hall on January 24, 1954 and the hall was first used for mass on January 31^st.

By April 22, 1963 the model for the new church and rectory were finished and approved and permission was received from the Archbishop to proceed with construction. The new church was blessed on October 6^th followed by a High Mass.

On October 8^th Father Nathan Libaire was appointed administrator of the parish after Father Flaska took a leave due to illness and medical treatment. On May 15, 2003, Father Libaire is named pastor of the parish at the resignation of Father Flaska. On August 31^st the parish will celebrate its Golden Anniversary with a mass celebrating its 50^th Anniversary.