Prince of Peace

About Prince of Peace Parish

Prince of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Harrisburg serving Steelton, Pennsylvania and the surrounding communities. It worships in the former Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary's) church on South Second Street and continues the ministries and outreach of five earlier ethnic parishes that merged in 1995. The parish mission, drawn from the parish website, commits the people of Steelton — under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Bishop of Harrisburg — to join their diverse historical, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds as one Roman Catholic body to celebrate as a community of faith in love and justice.

Parish History

The Diocese of Harrisburg created Prince of Peace in 1995 by merging five Steelton parishes, each tied to a different immigrant group that came to work in the local steel mills: St. James (Irish), Assumption of the B.V.M./'St. Mary's' (Croatian), St. Ann (Italian), St. John the Evangelist (German-Hungarian), and St. Peter the Apostle (Slovenian). The merged parish was housed in the 1917 gothic-revision church that the Assumption congregation had built on South Second Street. Prince of Peace Parish School opened the same year at the former St. Ann's School site on Reynders Street; by 2010–2011 enrollment had fallen to 182 students and the school closed in June 2011 due to rising costs. The former school building was later sold and converted into a BAPS Hindu temple.

• 1995 — five Steelton ethnic parishes merged to form Prince of Peace
• 1995 — Prince of Peace Parish School opens at the former St. Ann's complex
• 2008 — Sister Sue Ann Steves and parish volunteers found Mary's Helpers Food & Clothing Pantry
• June 2011 — Prince of Peace Parish School closes
• June 16, 2025 — Rev. Matthew R. Larlick appointed Pastor

Liturgical Ministries

Lay faithful take part in the celebration of the Mass through a full set of liturgical ministries coordinated at the parish. Music for the liturgies is led by the parish Liturgical Music/Choir, and the parish welcomes new members to its roster of liturgical volunteers.

• Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist
• Lectors and Altar Servers
• Liturgical Music / Choir

Faith Formation & RCIA

Prince of Peace provides ongoing religious education for parish youth and a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church, complete their initiation, or be received into full communion.

• Religious Education Classes
• Rite of Catholic Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

Parish Life Groups

The parish hosts a range of social, cultural, and pastoral groups that bring parishioners together around shared stages of life, interests, and heritage. The Kolo Club 'Marian' is the Croatian-American folk-dance ensemble that has rehearsed at Prince of Peace since Father William Primorac founded it in 1954; the Spaghetti on Second Committee organizes an annual parish fundraiser; and the Bereavement Committee's 'Circle of Hands, Circle of Hope' accompanies families through the loss of a loved one.

• 50+ Senior Group
• Bereavement Committee / Circle of Hands, Circle of Hope
• Kolo Club 'Marian' (Croatian folk dance ensemble)
• Spaghetti on Second Committee
• Fundraising Committee / Picnic Committee

Parish Leadership & Committees

Parish governance and stewardship are shared between clergy, staff, and lay councils. The Pastoral Council and Finance Committee help the pastor guide the life and temporal affairs of the parish, while the Parish Disability Advocacy group works to ensure the parish remains welcoming to all.

• Pastor: Rev. Matthew R. Larlick
• Finance Manager: Mrs. Georgiann E. Benkovic
• Receptionist / Clerical Assistant: Mrs. Miriam Vukmanic
• Pastoral Council
• Finance Committee
• Parish Disability Advocacy

Outreach & Charity — Mary's Helpers Food & Clothing Pantry

Mary's Helpers was initiated in 2008 by Sister Sue Ann Steves and a group of volunteers from Prince of Peace Parish (Assumption of the BVM Church) who saw a need to assist low-income and needy families in Steelton and the surrounding area. The Pantry purchases food, personal care, and cleaning supplies from the Central PA Food Bank at a discount; receives grants from Matthew-25 (Diocese of Harrisburg), the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the US Government; and accepts donations from local grocery stores, parishioners, and friends. The Pantry also promotes nutrition and food-safety education and distributes turkeys and hams with all the trimmings at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is open three Tuesdays each month (two morning sessions and one evening session) and the staff can be reached in emergencies at 717-985-1332 (Mary Ann Szekeres).

• Founded 2008 by Sr. Sue Ann Steves and parish volunteers
• Affiliated with the Central PA Food Bank
• Funded in part by Matthew-25 (Diocese of Harrisburg) and government grants
• Open three Tuesdays per month (two mornings, one evening)
• Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey and ham distributions

Knights of Columbus Council #3625

The parish hosts Council #3625 of the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization. The council is dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, and its fundraisers support both Prince of Peace Parish and the broader local community.

• Grand Knight: Ivo Fisic (717-652-3970)
• Financial Secretary: Ron Benkovic (717-939-9914)

Devotions & Sacred Sites

On the Assumption of the B.V.M. campus, the parish maintains a Blessed Virgin Mary Grotto where parishioners and visitors are invited to pray to Our Lady for peace in the country and the world and to ask her intercession for friends and family who have drifted from the practice of the faith.

• Blessed Virgin Mary Grotto on the Assumption campus

Visit, Contact & Facilities

Prince of Peace worships at 815 S 2nd St, Steelton, PA 17113. The parish office can be reached at (717) 985-1330 or [email protected]. The Diocese of Harrisburg parish page lists on-site amenities including the Church, Parking, Restrooms, Assistive Listening, and a Social Hall.

• Address: 815 S 2nd St, Steelton, PA 17113
• Phone: (717) 985-1330
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://popsteelton.org/
• Amenities: Church, Parking, Restrooms, Assistive Listening, Social Hall