About Saint Peter · Fort Wayne, Indiana
Saint Peter's Catholic Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a historic parish founded in 1872 to serve the German and French Catholic immigrants who had settled southeast of downtown. The parish is based on the three tenets of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty — desiring the truth of the Catholic faith, aiming to be good neighbors in its south-side community, and preserving the beauty of its landmark Gothic sanctuary. Designated the 'Splendor of the South Side since 1872,' it celebrated its sesquicentennial in January 2023. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend and is currently served by its fourteenth pastor, Fr. Bartholomew Okorie.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- Saint Peter (the Prince of the Apostles, first pope)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Bartholomew Okorie (appointed 14th pastor, effective June 2024)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend (currently under Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades)
Why belong here
Saint Peter's offers a genuinely close-knit parish family rooted in 150+ years of south-side Fort Wayne history, with daily Mass, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration, daily confession before Mass, and a vibrant mix of family, youth, and outreach ministries. The parish actively serves its neighborhood — running a weekly food pantry (Thursdays 12–2pm) and a Community Harvest produce truck (Fridays 1pm) through its St. Vincent de Paul Society, while parish members join the Knights of Columbus, Rosary Sodality, OCIA, youth ministry, and Family Formation to grow together in faith. Worship takes place in one of Fort Wayne's most beautiful historic sanctuaries, where a rebuilt Aeolian-Skinner organ and restored stained-glass windows lift up the prayer of the community.
Mass times at Saint Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM
- Sundays 8:15–9:00 AM
- Tuesdays 8:30–8:50 AM
- Wednesdays 5:00–5:20 PM
- Thursdays 8:30–8:50 AM
- Fridays 8:30–8:50 AM
- Also by appointment (30 minutes before all Masses as posted on the home page)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, as posted on the homepage)
History of the Parish — 'The Splendor of the South Side since 1872'
Saint Peter's was founded in 1872 to serve the German and French Catholic families who had moved southeast of downtown Fort Wayne into the neighborhoods known as 'Germantown' and 'Frenchtown.' A committee led by layman Peter Mettler approached Bishop Joseph Dwenger in 1871 and received his approval to form Fort Wayne's fourth parish. The first pastor, Fr. John Wemhoff, built the original combination church-and-school (dedicated December 27, 1872) on the LaSalle Addition block that became 'Saint Peter's Square.' His successor, Fr. Anthony Messmann, built the present Gothic church (dedicated by Bishop Joseph Rademacher, November 4, 1894) for $75,000 — a structure that still draws architects and visitors today.
- Founded 1872 by Bishop Joseph Dwenger at the request of Catholic layman Peter Mettler
- First pastor: Fr. John Wemhoff (1872–1880); died Dec. 1, 1880
- Present Gothic church built 1892–1894 by architect Peter Diedrich and builder John Suelzer, Sr.
- National Register of Historic Places listing — 1991
- Full interior redecoration for 100th anniversary, 1992–93
- 46 stained-glass windows restored 1997–98
- Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1337 organ installed 1998
- Current steeple (with cross and three circles of the Trinity) erected 2009
- Statue of St. Peter dedicated at DeWald and Warsaw Streets
- Sesquicentennial Mass with Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades — January 8, 2023
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Bartholomew Okorie, the fourteenth pastor, appointed by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades in June 2024. A small, dedicated staff runs the daily life of the parish — religious education, youth ministry, music, OCIA, wedding and funeral coordination, and parish administration.
- Pastor — Rev. Fr. Bartholomew Okorie ([email protected])
- Religious Education Director — Grace Johnston
- Youth Minister — Kate MacDonald (260-710-9811)
- Music Director — Parker Maas ([email protected])
- OCIA Coordinator — Kathy Wendell ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary — Susan Lalor ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper — Kate Rodriguez ([email protected])
- Pastoral Assistant / Wedding & Funeral Coordinator — Grace Johnston
- Organist Emeritus — Meg Hanlon
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Parish formation centers on the whole family: Family Formation meets on First Saturdays with a 9:00 AM Mass, breakfast, a talk from Father for the adults, age-appropriate classes for children, and a nursery for the littlest ones. A separate youth ministry program gathers middle-school and high-school teens twice monthly during the school year for community, catechesis, and Christ-centered fun.
- Family Formation — 1st Saturday, 9:00 AM Mass + breakfast + Father’s talk
- Middle School Youth Group — 2nd Saturdays & 4th Mondays, 5:30–7:30 PM
- High School Youth Group — 2nd Mondays & 4th Saturdays, 5:30–7:30 PM
- Contact: Youth Minister Kate MacDonald, (260) 710-9811
- Religious Education Director: Grace Johnston
Becoming Catholic — OCIA (formerly RCIA)
Adults interested in full initiation into the Catholic Church (or baptized Christians seeking full communion) walk through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults at Saint Peter's, coordinated by Kathy Wendell. The parish welcomes inquirers, sponsors, and team members into the journey.
- OCIA Coordinator: Kathy Wendell — [email protected]
- Open to unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and baptized Catholics seeking Eucharist and Confirmation
Outreach — St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Food Pantry
Being 'good neighbors' is part of Saint Peter's DNA, and the parish runs an active St. Vincent de Paul Society with a weekly food pantry and a fresh-produce truck. Help is offered to parishioners and neighbors alike.
- Food Pantry open Thursdays 12:00–2:00 PM — call (260) 209-4487
- Community Harvest Truck with fresh fruits and vegetables — Fridays at 1:00 PM
- St. Vincent de Paul Society assists with household needs beyond food
- Volunteer opportunities listed on the parish site
Parish Lay Organizations
Lay fraternity and fellowship is woven through several long-standing groups at Saint Peter's, including the Knights of Columbus, the Rosary Sodality (women's prayer and fellowship), and a number of liturgical ministries.
- Knights of Columbus — 1st Wednesdays, 6:15 PM in the Pavilion (contact Aubrey Dettmer, 260-440-4467)
- Rosary Sodality — 3rd Mondays, 6:30 PM in the pavilion
- Care Line
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Greeters / Ushers
- Funeral Ministry
- Evangelization / Door-to-Door Ministry
Liturgical Music and Organ
Music at Saint Peter's centers on a fully rebuilt 1958 Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1337 organ, installed in the church loft in 1998 with three manuals, 37 ranks, and 2,218 pipes (some old Tellers-Kent parts salvaged). Parish music is directed by Parker Maas, with Meg Hanlon serving as Organist Emeritus.
- Music Director: Parker Maas
- Organist Emeritus: Meg Hanlon
- Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1337 — 3 manuals, 37 ranks, 2,218 pipes
The Church Building and Historic Campus
The Gothic sanctuary, completed in 1894, is the visual and spiritual heart of the parish and a recognized historic landmark. The campus — known as Saint Peter's Square — encompasses the church, the former rectory (built by parishioner/contractor John Suelzer, Sr. as his homestead), and the former school building, which was sold in 1972 and later converted into 38 apartments for low-income seniors.
- Gothic Revival church by architect Peter Diedrich
- Dimensions 190 × 80 ft.; steeple ~212 ft. above Warsaw Street
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1991)
- 46 stained-glass windows (restored 1997–98)
- Surrounding 'Saint Peter's Square' bounded by St. Martin, Hanna, DeWald, and Warsaw Streets
Joining the Parish and Getting Involved
New parishioners can register through the parish website and are invited into a wide range of ministries — from Family Formation to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, from youth ministry to funeral ministry. The parish asks: 'Are you looking for a place of truth, beauty, and goodness? You'll find it here at Saint Peter's.'
- Visit saintpetersfortwayne.org/join-our-parish/ to register
- Adoration, Homebound, and Evangelization ministries accept new volunteers
- Parish office hours (summer): Tue–Thu 9:30 AM–3:00 PM; Fri 9:30 AM–2:30 PM
- Address: 518 E Dewald St, Fort Wayne, IN 46803 — (260) 744-2765
- General email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Wemhoff1872–1880
First pastor; born in Minster, Germany, 1837; ordained 1862 by Bishop John Henry Luers; died suddenly Dec. 1, 1880; buried in Fort Wayne Catholic Cemetery.
- Fr. Anthony Messmann1880–1896
Second pastor; served ~16 years; built the present Gothic church (dedicated 1894); transferred to St. Joseph's, LaPorte, 1896; died May 22, 1912.
- Fr. Lawrence Kramer1970–1971
Pastors from 1970 onward.
- Fr. Eugene Koers1971–1973
Died November 25, 2005; buried in Fort Wayne Catholic Cemetery.
- Fr. Richard Hire1973–1974
- Fr. Jacob Gall1974–1988
- Fr. John Delaney1988–1998
Led revival and 100th-anniversary restoration; oversaw National Register listing in 1991.
- Fr. Phillip Widmann1998–2015
- Fr. Tyrell J. Alles, OSB2015–2020
- Fr. Patrick J. Hake2020–2024
Thirteenth pastor; appointed by Bishop Kevin Rhoades.
- Fr. Bartholomew Okorie2024–present
Fourteenth pastor; appointed by Bishop Kevin Rhoades, effective June 2024.