About Saint Peter (Parish of St. Peter and Our Lady of the Rosary) · New York, New York
St. Peter's Church – Our Lady of Victory Parish (spcolr.org) is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in New York State, founded in 1785 on the corner of Barclay and Church Streets in Lower Manhattan. The parish today operates two worship sites — St. Peter's Church on Barclay Street and Our Lady of Victory Church at 60 William Street — and was formed by the 2015 merger of St. Peter's Parish with Our Lady of the Rosary, itself founded in 1886 by Charlotte Grace O'Brien to care for Irish immigrant women arriving at Castle Garden. Worship is offered in English with daily Mass, weekend Masses, a livestream, confession, Eucharistic adoration, and a thriving Young Adult Ministry.
- Established
- 1785
- Patron
- Saint Peter (Apostle); also Our Lady of the Rosary and Our Lady of Victory
- Rector
- Fr. Jarlath Quinn
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
St. Peter's is the mother church of Catholic New York — a 240-year-old parish that has stood on the same Lower Manhattan corner through revolution, riots, and the rebuilding of the World Trade Center. Today it offers daily and Sunday Mass in English at two historic worship sites (St. Peter's on Barclay Street and Our Lady of Victory at 60 William Street), a livestreamed liturgy, daily Eucharistic adoration and confession, a robust Religious Education / CCD program, a flourishing Young Adult Ministry with weekly Sunday Mass and social hour, and a music program led by an organist and cantors. Worshiping here means joining a community that takes seriously both its heritage of serving immigrants and a present-day mission of outreach and renewal in the Financial District.
Mass times at Saint Peter (Parish of St. Peter and Our Lady of the Rosary)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday 12:45 PM – 1:15 PM (Our Lady of Victory)
- Monday–Friday 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM (St. Peter's Church)
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (St. Peter's Church)
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (St. Peter's Church, Holy Hour live-streamed after 12:30 PM Mass)
- Wednesday 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM (Our Lady of Victory), with Benediction at 1:45 PM
Parish History
St. Peter's was founded in 1785 on the corner of Barclay and Church Streets — the oldest Catholic parish in New York State, predating the first U.S. bishopric (Baltimore, 1789). The original church's cornerstone was laid October 5, 1785 by Spanish Ambassador de Gardoqui, who placed Spanish coins of King Charles III in the stone; a gift of 1,000 silver dollars from King Charles III helped fund construction, and the first Solemn High Mass was offered on November 4, 1786. After an unstable early period, Dominican priest Fr. William O'Brien (pastor 1787–1807) led twenty years of growth; by 1836 the congregation had overflowed the old church, and a larger Greek Revival replacement was begun, opening in the basement on September 3, 1837 and completed on the exterior by 1840.
- Founded 1785 — first Catholic parish in New York State
- Cornerstone laid Oct. 5, 1785 by Spanish Ambassador de Gardoqui
- King Charles III of Spain donated 1,000 silver dollars
- Fr. William O'Brien, O.P., pastor 1787–1807 (20-year ministry)
- Current church exterior completed 1840; designed by John R. Haggerty and Thomas Thomas in Greek Revival style
- 20,000 parish members by 1893
First Catholic Free School
In 1800 — before any public school existed in New York City — St. Peter's founded the first free Catholic school in New York State. The school offered a primary education, core secondary subjects, and Catholic doctrine, Bible history, and morality. By 1805 enrollment had grown to 500 students, requiring a second location on the Bowery. In 1831 the Sisters of Charity (founded by Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton) took charge of the girls' school; in 1873 the Christian Brothers began teaching the boys at a new location on Trinity Place and Cedar Street. Enrollment peaked at 1,810 students in 1874.
- First free Catholic school in New York State — founded 1800
- 500 students by 1805; second location opened on the Bowery
- Sisters of Charity took charge of the girls' school in 1831
- Christian Brothers began teaching boys in 1873 at Trinity Place and Cedar Street
- Peak enrollment: 1,810 students in 1874
Our Lady of the Rosary and the Irish Immigrant Mission
In 1881 Charlotte Grace O'Brien — Protestant-born daughter of Irish patriot William Smith O'Brien — watched young Irish women being herpherded aboard an assisted-immigration steamship in Dublin. She sailed to New York as an emigrant in 1882 to witness conditions firsthand, then proposed a mission of an information bureau at Castle Garden, a temporary shelter, and a chapel. With Bishop John Ireland of St. Paul as her advocate and Cardinal McCloskey's support, Fr. John Joseph Riordan was appointed in 1883 to establish the mission. By 1886 Cardinal McCloskey divided St. Peter's Parish and constituted the 1,500 Catholics of Lower Manhattan and the Harbor Islands as the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, centered at 7 and 8 State Street — the latter being the home where Elizabeth Ann Seton had lived from 1801 to 1803 and borne her fifth child.
- Mission inspired by Charlotte Grace O'Brien; led by Fr. John Joseph Riordan from 1883
- Mission befriended over 100,000 young Irish immigrant women; 65,000 listed in parish archives
- 8 State Street — home of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1801–1803
- 7 State Street — Watson House (built 1793 by importer James Watson)
- Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary constituted 1886 by Cardinal McCloskey
- Merged back into St. Peter's Parish in August 2015 by Cardinal Dolan
Our Lady of Victory Church
By the early 1960s the original Watson House / 8 State Street buildings had deteriorated badly; 8 State was demolished and Watson House was gutted and rebuilt as a rectory. Architects Walter Knight Sturges and Joseph Sanford Shanley (Shanley a descendant of Mother Seton) designed a new church for the 8 State Street site in a Federal-Georgian style to complement Watson House. The sanctuary was reportedly planned to recall a ballroom, in honor of Elizabeth Seton's love of dancing; a white marble statue of Mother Seton by Robert E. Gaspari stands above the entrance looking out over New York Harbor. Francis Cardinal Spellman dedicated the shrine on September 8, 1965. The parish now lists 60 William Street as the address of the Our Lady of Victory site used for several Masses.
- Designed by Walter Knight Sturges and Joseph Sanford Shanley
- Federal-Georgian style complementing Watson House
- Dedicated by Francis Cardinal Spellman, September 8, 1965
- White marble statue of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton by Robert E. Gaspari above the entrance
- Sisters of Life became custodians in April 2023
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Jarlath Quinn as Pastor, with two parochial vicars — Fr. Edwin Ezeokeke and Fr. Roshan Sovis — assisting him. Maiwenn Jaffres serves as both Director of Religious Education and Parish Manager, and Patricia Molinari is the Parish Secretary. The music program is led by Perry Bundy (Director of Music and Organist), Claudia Wigent (Director of Music for Weddings), and Wendy Watt (Cantor). John Martelotti is the Director of Hospitality, while Carlos Gomez (Director of Maintenance) and William Alvarado (Maintenance Manager) oversee the buildings.
- Fr. Jarlath Quinn — Pastor (pastorspcolr.org)
- Fr. Edwin Ezeokeke — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Roshan Sovis — Parochial Vicar
- Maiwenn Jaffres — Director of Religious Education & Parish Manager
- Patricia Molinari — Parish Secretary
- Perry Bundy — Director of Music and Organist
- Claudia Wigent — Director of Music for Weddings
- Wendy Watt — Cantor
- John Martelotti — Director of Hospitality
- Carlos Gomez — Director of Maintenance
- William Alvarado — Maintenance Manager
Religious Education / Faith Formation (CCD)
St. Peter's Parish Religious Education (CCD) welcomes new and returning families each year, with online registration handled through Parish Giving. Maiwenn Jaffres is the Director of Religious Education. The program publishes a Parent/Student Handbook and an annual CCD Calendar; the current cycle is the 2025–2026 academic year. New families complete a separate New Family Registration form, after which credentials are issued through Parish Giving to select sessions and submit payment.
- Director: Maiwenn Jaffres (reledspcolr.org / religiouseducationspcolr.org)
- New Family Registration via Parish Giving
- Returning families receive an automated email when registration opens
- Parent/Student Handbook available
- CCD Calendar published annually (current: 2025–2026)
Young Adult Ministry
St. Peter's hosts a lively Young Adult Ministry anchored by the 6:00 PM Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Victory, followed by a wine social hour. The schedule, visible on the parish events calendar, generally runs weekly with breaks for major holy days and parish observances (e.g., no social on Father's Day weekend, Memorial Day weekend, or Independence Day weekend). It also offers an Adult Confirmation Class.
- Young Adult Mass: Sundays 6:00 PM at Our Lady of Victory
- Wine Social after Mass (weekly, with announced exceptions)
- Adult Confirmation Class — offered periodically
Music and Liturgy
The parish's Liturgy Committee coordinates the planning and scheduling of seasonal and special celebrations, supports and trains liturgical ministers (readers, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, lectors, ushers, greeters, cantors, musicians), and ensures compliance with Archdiocesan and Church-wide liturgical norms. The music program is led by Director of Music and Organist Perry Bundy, with Claudia Wigent directing music for weddings and Wendy Watt serving as Cantor.
- Liturgy Committee coordinates all liturgical celebrations
- Director of Music and Organist: Perry Bundy
- Director of Music for Weddings: Claudia Wigent
- Cantor: Wendy Watt
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William O'Brien, O.P.1787–1807
Dominican priest whose 20-year ministry brought remarkable growth after a tumultuous early period for the parish.
- Fr. John Joseph Riordan1883–
Founded the Irish immigrant mission on State Street in 1883 at the inspiration of Charlotte Grace O'Brien; became first pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary when it was constituted in 1886.