St. John The Baptist Church dates its presence in what is now El Cerrito from 1908. It began as a mission and became a parish of the traditional Catholic Church in the Diocese of Oakland. In addition to traditional masses, the church offers a Brazilian mass, in Portuguese Sundays at 6 p.m. and a mass in Mandarin every fourth Sunday at 2 p.m. The former pastor, the Rev. John Maxwell, died June 1, 2010, and the church is currently led by Rev. Thuong Nguyen. The Rev. Rolando Bartolay, popularly known as "Father Bart," serves as Parochial Vicar. The church is affiliated with Saint John The Baptist School next door.