The History of St. John XXIII Catholic Community & Resurrection Academy

St. John XXIII Catholic Community was formally known as Resurrection Parish in Fontana and was established in 1953 when the city was still part of the Diocese of San Diego. Located on the city's north side, it developed from St. Joseph Parish a mile south west. Both parishes at the time and until 2010 were administered by the priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Resurrection. Fr. Clement Weiss, C.R., was the first pastor.

By 1978, an increase in the Catholic population called for the creation of the new Diocese of San Bernardino, to which Resurrection Parish would now belong. As growth continued, during the pastorate of Fr. Timothy Keppel, C.R., a large parish hall was built in 1989, and six years later, three classrooms were added. Easter 1990 saw the celebration of the first Mass in Spanish. Today, four Masses in English and four Masses in Spanish are offered every weekend. There is also a small, but notable, presence of Filipinos in the parish today. A major event that brings several parish communities together is the annual three-day summer fest held on the last weekend of June. Fr. Leonard Krzywda, C.R., was the pastor at the time that Resurrection Church and St. Thomas More in Rialto merged to become Blessed John XXIII in 2006. In 2025, St John XXIII Catholic Community became a stand alons site in Fontana. While St Thomas More in Rialto, also re-established their own parish community.

Resurrection Academy

Since its founding in 1961, Resurrection Academy has consistently upheld a standard of academic excellence and a rich tradition of Catholic values as an integral part of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Resurrection Academy is a ministry of St. John XXIII.

Originally established as a modest four-room facility in 1964 and staffed by the Daughters of the Divine Charity, Resurrection Academy has grown over the years. A second structure was added in the same year to facilitate the annual inclusion of new grade levels. Early on, grades kindergarten through fourth functioned as self-contained classrooms, while grades five and six, and seven and eight operated as combination classes. In response to changing needs, the seventh and eighth-grade combination classes were discontinued in 1980 due to low enrollment. Subsequently, the school adapted to community needs with the addition of a preschool in 1985. Recognizing a need for extended care services, an extended care program was established in 1986. The construction of the social hall in 1988 further addressed the growing needs of both the school and the parish. 

In 1994, Resurrection Academy took a significant step by constructing a dedicated middle school building to accommodate grades six through eight. Grade seven was established that year and grade eight the following year. In 2003, the preschool was expanded to accommodate 30 students through a capital improvement grant of $50,000 from the Children and Families Commission of San Bernardino County. 

Resurrection Academy prides itself on being a parish school with a dedicated and qualified administration, faculty, and staff. Our parents have chosen our school because of the Christian values taught, our high-quality education, our dedication to service, and our small school environment. Parental support is evident through both financial contributions and volunteerism in various school activities. 

Guided by parent expectations, the administration, and teachers have set high academic standards for our students, fostering a culture of lifelong learning. Typically, over half of our graduates pursue a Catholic education in high school. Many alumni return to share their success in high school and college. Additionally, some alumni choose to return to the school as educators and some entrust the education of their children to Resurrection Academy.

Throughout the years, Resurrection Academy has embraced students with diverse ethnic backgrounds and various learning abilities. We celebrate this diversity through cultural events and provide differentiated educational support, including tutoring, and small-group instruction. The thriving success of Resurrection Academy is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the administration, faculty, staff, parents, and students.