Need for a Church in Annaville
In 1965, the late Bishop Marx and Monsignor Patrick Higgins, Pastor of St.Anthony’s Church in Violet, discussed the need for a Catholic Church in the Annaville area. Negotiations were initiated with Mrs. Mary Kocurek and family for the purchase of ten acres for the new parish site.
Ground Breaking
On June 29, 1967, the Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul, universal patrons of the Church, ground was broken for a new parish. The Parish would be known as St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Mass was held in the Annaville Elementary School Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. and the ground breaking, including blessing of the site by the Most Reverend Thomas L. Drury, was held immediately after Mass. Bishop Drury accepted a golden shovel from Monsignor Higgins and dug the first shovel of dirt.
First Pastor and First Mass on Church Property
Monsignor William Kelly was appointed the first pastor of the parish by Bishop Drury in September of 1967. Monsignor Kelly lived and had his office in a hotel on Leopard Street until the first rectory, located on Guess Drive was purchased. The men of the parish remodeled the rectory and the women helped with the painting. Furnishings were acquired with the assistance of a collection of Gold Stamps. Masses were held in the Clifford-Jackson Funeral Home on Violet Road. As membership increased, the Masses were moved to the Annaville School Cafeteria. On special occasions, such as birthdays and wedding anniversaries, Monsignor Kelly would say a Mass in parishioner’s homes. He served as our Pastor until 1973. The first Mass on Church property was the Midnight Mass at Christmas of 1972. It was held in the Parish Hall which was to be the Church building for the next six years.
First Mass in New Church Building
In 1973, Father John Killeen was appointed our pastor. Soon after he came to our parish, Father Killeen and the Parish Council began plans for our new church building. Louie Sablatura was the president of the Parish Council at the time. The contract for the building was awarded in 1976. Many families made generous donations to help build the new Church. Their gifts are commemorated on a plaque located in the back of the church. On February 19, 1978, the very first Mass was celebrated in the new Church building. It was a celebration in honor of Louie and Minnie Sablatura’s 50th wedding anniversary. The new Church was dedicated on February 26, 1978. After Mass, a reception was held in the hall.
New Rectory, CCD Classrooms, and Hall
Father Matthew Lyng served as our Pastor from August 1, l981 until April of 1992. Soon after his arrival we began planning our new rectory and CCD class-rooms since up until that time sessions were held in Annaville Elementary School. The CCD program has grown over the years and today has more than 500 students. Marian Tajchman serves as coordinator and Priscilla Chapa is office manager for one of the most successful Religious Education programs in the Diocese. Fr. Lyng and the Parish Council saw the need for a larger hall and the contract was awarded in 1992 and the building was completed by Hooker Construction and blessed by Bishop Rene Gracida on March 25, 1993.
25th Anniversary of the Parish
In April of 1992, Father Louis Joseph was appointed pastor of our parish. Msgr. Michael Adams lived at the rectory as a retired priest and helped Father Joseph with Masses and Confessions. The parish celebrated it’s 25th. Anniversary on June 29, l992 with a special Mass and a party. Unfortunately Father Joseph had to retire from the parish and active ministry because of ill health in January of 1994.
Present Parish Staff
Wilma Emshoff has been our parish secretary/bookkeeper since October of 1974 and Aida Deases has been secretary/housekeeper since April of 1992. Joe Contreras is in charge of buildings and grounds.
Our present Pastor, Father Morgan Rowsome was appointed to St. Peter’s on February 2, 1994 and since his arrival has started the Catholic Parish Renewal Retreats, introduced Sacrificial giving of Time, Talent and Treasure, started many new ministries, published a Parish newspaper twice a year, approved of much needed repairs on buildings, driveways and parking lots and made us a “Fully Alive” parish. He was responsible for building the new Youth Center which was completed in March of 2003 and the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto and Rosary Walk in 2005. He has also hired Sr. Jude Janecek IWBS as Director of Ministries at St. Peter’s and Sr. Alicia Garcia of the Pax Christi Institute as Sister in charge of St. Mary’s Mission. Our parish membership now stands at 1225.