Church of St. Peter

About the Apostles Peter and Paul Area Faith Community

The Church of St. Peter is one of three Catholic worship sites that make up the Apostles Peter and Paul Area Faith Community (AFC) in south-central Minnesota. The AFC brings together the Church of St. Peter (Saint Peter), the Church of St. Paul (Nicollet), and Holy Rosary (North Mankato) under a single pastoral team so that parishioners across these small towns can share priests, deacons, faith-formation programming, and ministries. The AFC's stated mission is 'United and inspired by the Holy Trinity, we are disciples guiding disciples.' Sharing resources is a practical necessity for small-town parishes in the Diocese of New Ulm, and the AFC structure allows each site to keep its own identity while pooling staff and programs.

History of the Parish

The Church of St. Peter was established in 1856, just two years after the town of Saint Peter itself was platted in 1854 by Captain William Bigelow Dodd. The parish has served local Catholic families continuously ever since, even as the surrounding community grew around Gustavus Adolphus College and the Minnesota River valley. The current church building was completed in 2001 to replace the parish's earlier worship space. Today, the parish is part of the Apostles Peter and Paul Area Faith Community and shares its clergy and programs with the neighboring Church of St. Paul in Nicollet.

• Established 1856 — one of the earliest Catholic parishes in the Saint Peter area.
• Current church building completed in 2001.
• Now part of the Apostles Peter and Paul Area Faith Community.

Pastoral Staff

The parish is currently served by Msgr. Douglas Grams as pastor, with Fr. Gregory Dungdung, O.S.B., serving as parochial vicar. Three deacons assist the AFC: Dcn. Russ Blaschko, Dcn. John Reed, and Dcn. Steve Spilman. Msgr. Grams also serves the wider diocese as Vicar General of the Diocese of New Ulm. Lay staff include a Business Manager (Jennifer Schugel) and a Director of Music (Barbara Frank).

• Pastor: Msgr. Douglas Grams
• Parochial Vicar: Fr. Gregory Dungdung, O.S.B.
• Deacon: Russ Blaschko
• Deacon: John Reed
• Deacon: Steve Spilman
• Business Manager: Jennifer Schugel
• Director of Music: Barbara Frank

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

Faith formation for children is coordinated across the AFC, with a Faith Formation Director working with families to prepare children for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and ongoing religious education. A dedicated Youth Minister runs programs for middle- and high-school students, including an annual trip to the Steubenville youth conference (recently held in Rochester, MN). The parish also hosts Vacation Bible School each summer — a multi-night program for grade-school children — and a parish Fall Festival that brings the AFC together each September.

• Faith Formation Director: Mary Grack
• Youth Minister: Charlie Berneche
• Steubenville Youth Conference trip
• Vacation Bible School (summer)
• AFC Fall Festival (September)

Music and Liturgy

Music for weekend and weekday Masses is led by Director of Music Barbara Frank, who supports the parish choir and musicians who serve the liturgy at the Church of St. Peter.

Parish Office and Contacts

Parish office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with the office closed on Fridays during the summer. The mailing address is 1801 W Broadway Ave, Saint Peter, MN 56082, and the main office line is (507) 931-1628. Email is directed to [email protected].

• Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (closed Fridays in summer)
• Phone: 507-931-1628
• Email: [email protected]
• Alternate website: churchofstpeter.org

Diocese and Wider Church

The Church of St. Peter belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm and sits in Deanery 1 of that diocese. As part of the Apostles Peter and Paul AFC, the parish is linked with the Church of St. Paul in Nicollet and Holy Rosary in North Mankato, and shares pastoral leadership with Msgr. Douglas Grams, who also serves as Vicar General of the diocese.

• Diocese: New Ulm
• Deanery: 1
• AFC partners: Church of St. Paul (Nicollet), Holy Rosary (North Mankato)