About Saint Peter · Montgomery, Indiana
Saint Peter Catholic Church in Montgomery, Indiana is the second oldest Catholic parish in the state, established in 1818 when the first Mass was celebrated at the home of James Montgomery by early settlers working under the direction of Father Anthony (Napoleon) Blanc. The parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Evansville (North Deanery) and today serves the wider Daviess County area after a 2014 merger that brought All Saints Parish in Cannelburg and St. Patrick Chapel in Corning into St. Peter's care. Full of spirit and tradition, the parish still gathers for daily and weekend Mass, runs a robust religious education and youth ministry program, and looks after an historic church whose iconic dome was re-gilded in 2018 to mark the parish's bicentennial.
- Established
- 1818
- Patron
- Saint Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen McGinnis (Administrator since June 2024)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Evansville (North Deanery)
Why belong here
Saint Peter is a parish where history is lived, not displayed: it is the second oldest Catholic parish in Indiana (founded 1818), and parishioners worship in a church consecrated in 1869 that Father Bartholomew Piers himself helped design. Whether you are new to the area, returning to the Church, or simply curious about the Catholic faith, the parish welcomes doubters and believers, seekers and long-time faithful alike — and offers weekday and Sunday Mass, Saturday confessions, adoration, religious education for grades 1-12, a women's and men's Bible study, RCIA, a St. Vincent de Paul Society, and ministries for children, youth, choir, and hospitality. It is also a regional hub, caring for All Saints in Cannelburg and St. Patrick Chapel in Corning.
Mass times at Saint Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:30-5:10 PM (per diocesan yearbook) / 4:30-5:00 PM (per parish contact page)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Mondays 5:00-6:00 PM
About Saint Peter Parish
Saint Peter Parish is a member of the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, which serves the 12 counties of Southwest Indiana as part of the Indianapolis Province, the Indiana Catholic Conference, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The parish family professes the Catholic faith, celebrates the seven sacraments, and pledges to witness to that faith in the community as an example of Christian love and service to all, regardless of religious affiliation. Whether you are new to the area, returning to the Church, or simply curious about the Catholic faith, the parish welcomes everyone — the doubter and the believer, the active in faith and the seeker.
Parish Mission Statement
We, the people of St. Peter Parish, Montgomery, IN, profess our Catholic faith. We celebrate the seven sacraments of the Church. We pledge to witness to our Catholic faith in this community and to be examples of Christian love and service to all, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Parish History
Founded in 1818, St. Peter's is the second oldest Catholic parish in Indiana. The first Mass was celebrated at the home of James Montgomery by early settlers working under Father Anthony Blanc, who built a log church at Black Oak Ridge on the land that is now the parish farm and cemetery. A hewed-log church followed by 1823, a frame church in 1827 (blessed by Bishop Flaget in 1829), a brick church, and finally the present church built by Father Bartholomew Piers and consecrated on July 18, 1869, at a cost of about $8,000. The bell tower and steeple were added in 1887 with a new bell, and the dome was regilded in 2018 to celebrate the parish's 200th anniversary.
Church Architecture and the 2018 Bicentennial
The present church is the fifth building to serve the parish. Father Bartholomew Piers reportedly carved a perfect penknife model of the structure before construction began; the church was completed in 1869 with much of the work done by parishioners themselves. The bell tower, steeple, and new bell were added in 1887. To mark the parish's 200th anniversary in 2018, the iconic dome was regilded — a visible renewal that capped a bicentennial of continuous Catholic worship on this ridge.
Religious Education and Youth Ministry
Religious Education is coordinated by Jami Snyder. Students in Grades 1-5 attend weekly religious education classes at Barr Reeve Elementary School during school hours. Students in Grades 6-12 meet Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at St. Peter School (September through April). The parish also offers a Youth Ministry Program with a Parent Youth Ministry Committee.
Adult Faith Formation
Adults can grow in their faith through RCIA (for those preparing to enter the Church), a Women's Bible Study Group, a Men's Bible Study Group, Formed Sessions (online faith formation), and a Lighthouse Kiosk.
Parish Ministries and Service
Saint Peter's offers ministries for nearly every age and interest: a Children's Ministry with Vacation Bible School, Children's Liturgy of the Word, and Donuts with Santa; liturgical ministries including Choir, Youth Choir, Cantor, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Gift Bearers, Greeters, Sacristan, Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet Leaders, and a Liturgical Committee; outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and a Bereavement Committee; community life through Hospitality, Welcoming, and Fellowship Committees, a Prayer Chain, Euchre Sunday, Catholics Come Home, St. Peter's Men's Group, and the Divine Mercy Group; plus the Building and Grounds team who handle snow removal, flower gardens, cleaning, and watering plants.
The Garden of Sorrow and Joy
On the parish grounds, the Garden of Sorrow and Joy is a dedicated place of prayer and memory in honor of all beloved deceased — born and unborn. The garden was blessed and dedicated at St. Peter's to help parishioners and visitors bring suppressed grief to the surface and to face the circumstances of death in the light of Christ's promise of life after death.
Regional Parish: All Saints and St. Patrick Chapel
In 2014, All Saints Parish in Cannelburg merged with St. Peter's, expanding the parish's footprint into Daviess County. St. Peter Parish today also has responsibility for St. Patrick Chapel at Corning and the facilities of the former St. Michael Church in Daviess County. All Saints (100 W. 3rd St., Cannelburg) offers a Tuesday 6:00 PM Mass with confession from 5:30-5:50 PM. The Patrick Cemetery is also cared for by St. Peter Parish.
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Administrator Rev. Stephen McGinnis ([email protected]). The staff includes Jami Snyder, Religious Education and Youth Ministry Coordinator; Angie Traylor, Music Director and Organist; and Patty Fuhs, Parish Secretary ([email protected]). The parish office is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:00 AM to (working hours posted in the bulletin).
Visit, Contact, and Giving
Saint Peter Catholic Church is located at 305 North 2nd Street, Montgomery, IN 47558. From US 50/150, turn north on 2nd Street and travel three blocks; the church is on the left. The parish office can be reached at (812) 486-3149 or [email protected]. Online giving is available through the parish website, and recorded Masses can be watched online. Find the parish on Facebook at /stpetermont/.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Napoleon (Anthony) Blanc1818-1820
Founding pastor; directed early settlers to build the first log church at Black Oak Ridge.
- Father M. Champonier1820-1825
- Father S.P. Lalumiere1825-1837
Credited with building a hewed-log church as early as 1823.
- Father Maurice de St. Palais1837-1839
- Father Julian Delaune1839-1840
- Father Granedis1840-1841
- Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C.1841-1842
Later founder of the University of Notre Dame.
- Father Ducondray1842-1847
- Father Bartholomew Piers1847-1895
Longest-tenured pastor (48 years); moved the parish to its present site and built the present church, consecrated July 18, 1869.
- Father Patrick H. Rowan1895-1903
- Father Joseph P. Matthews1903-1920
- Father Theodore J. Mattingly1920-1930
- Father Joseph V. Somes1930-1933
- Father Ambrose J. Sullivan1933-1934
- Father Clarence W. Burkhart1934-1937
- Father Raymond Smith1937-1950
- Father Joseph M. Brown1950-1960
- Father John Foster1960-1966
- Father Robert Wannemuehler1966-1968
- Father Joseph Anders1968-1972
- Father Roman Heerdink1972-1981
- Father Arthur Mergen1981-1986
- Father Matthew Lynch1986-1986
- Father Joseph Clauss1986-1991
- Father Lowell Will1991-1998
- Father Joseph Erbacher1998-2002
- Father James Koressel2002-2018
Served into the parish's bicentennial year.
- Rev. Stephen McGinnis2024-present
Administrator since June 2024; previously parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes, and St. Philip Neri, Bicknell; ordained June 3, 2023.