About Saints Peter and Paul · Huntington, Indiana
SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Huntington, Indiana is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, with its founding date traced to the first Mass celebrated on August 15, 1843 on land donated by Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville. The parish is the only one in the diocese named in honor of the 'princes of the apostles' — Saints Peter and Paul — and today counts roughly 990 registered families. The current church building, dedicated in 1865, is visible throughout the city thanks to its hilltop location and 185-foot steeple, and the parish continues to operate Huntington Catholic School jointly with neighboring St. Mary Parish.
- Established
- 1843
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (the 'Princes of the Apostles')
- Rector
- Fr. Tony Steinacker
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
SS. Peter and Paul is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, with deep roots in northeast Indiana going back to a log church built on land donated by Miami Chief Richardville in 1843. Worshippers are drawn by the historic 1865 brick church with its landmark 185-foot steeple, the parish's 175+ year legacy of Catholic education (Huntington Catholic School, jointly operated with St. Mary), and a robust sacramental life that includes daily Mass, regular confession, Eucharistic adoration, and active faith formation for children, youth, and adults.
Mass times at Saints Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 9:15–10:00 AM
- Wednesday 5:00–5:30 PM
- Friday 9:00–10:00 AM (at St. Mary)
- Friday 5:00–5:30 PM (at St. Mary)
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (at St. Mary)
- Saturday 7:15–7:45 AM (confessions offered before 8:00 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:10 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (at St. Mary)
- Saturday 7:15–7:45 AM (Confessions offered during adoration)
History & Heritage
SS. Peter and Paul traces its origins to August 15, 1843, when the first Mass was celebrated in a small log church on land donated by Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville. The present brick church was dedicated in 1865, built on adjacent land donated by Richardville's son-in-law and successor, Miami Chief Francis Lafontaine. The parish is considered the fourth oldest in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend and the only one in the diocese named in honor of the 'princes of the apostles.'
- First Mass celebrated August 15, 1843 in a log church
- Current brick church dedicated in 1865
- Land donated by Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville
- Additional land donated by Miami Chief Francis Lafontaine
- 185-foot hilltop steeple visible throughout Huntington
- Only parish in the diocese named for the princes of the apostles
- Marked 180th anniversary in June 2024 with Bishop Rhoades
Parish Staff
Father Tony Steinacker serves as the 14th pastor in the parish's history, supported by a team of parish staff, faith formation directors, and ministry leaders.
- Fr. Tony Steinacker — Pastor
- Deacon Roger Dinius — serves SS. Peter and Paul and St. Mary, Huntington
- Drew Stuart — Director of Faith Formation / Religious Education / Adult Education / Youth Ministry ([email protected], 260-224-0522)
- Kelly Jennings — Director of Music
- Greg Holzinger — Director of Altar Services
- Dennis Wiegmann — President of Parish Council
- Derek Boone — Principal (Huntington Catholic School)
- Courtney Wiegmann — Parish Business Manager
- Sue Meadows — Parish Secretary
- Joan Johnson — Director of Maintenance
- Larry Bonbrake — Maintenance
- Beth Fulton — Maintenance
- Amy Wilcox — Bulletin Editor
Sacraments
The parish prepares children and adults for the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion — following diocesan guidelines of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received in 2nd grade, and Confirmation in 8th grade after a two-year preparation process.
- Baptism (infant and older-child)
- First Reconciliation / First Penance (2nd grade)
- First Communion (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (8th grade, two-year preparation)
- RCIA / OCIA for adults and older teens
- Matrimony (contact parish office)
- Anointing of the Sick (contact parish office)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Faith Formation at SS. Peter and Paul and St. Mary Church seeks to help children and teens grow and continue on a journey of faith by educating them about Catholic teaching, practice, and spirituality. The goal is to bring them to an encounter with Jesus Christ and equip them to live as His disciples.
- Religious Education Classes K–8, Sunday mornings 9:10–10:10 AM at the former Huntington Catholic Middle School building at St. Mary
- Kindergarten uses 'Allelu!' series from Our Sunday Visitor
- Grades 1–7 use 'Spirit of Truth' series from Sophia Institute
- Grade 8 uses Ascension Press's 'Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation'
- Confirmation Preparation: 8th grade, two-year diocesan process
- Vacation Bible School (late June, K–5th grade)
- Contact: Drew Stuart, [email protected], 260-224-0522
RCIA / OCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), also known by its newer name Ordo Initiationis Christianae Adultorum (OCIA), is the Catholic Church's process for prospective converts above the age of infant baptism. Classes begin each year in late August and extend through Pentecost. Catechists and childcare volunteers are always needed.
Huntington Catholic School
In cooperation with the neighboring St. Mary Parish, SS. Peter and Paul continues to operate Huntington Catholic School, serving students in preschool through eighth grade. The parish school system traces its roots to 1858, making it one of the longest-running Catholic school systems in northeast Indiana.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Jointly operated with St. Mary Parish, Huntington
- School Sisters of Notre Dame served the school from 1868 to 2018 (150 years)
- Principal: Derek Boone
Ministries & Groups
SS. Peter and Paul offers a wide variety of ministries and parish groups for parishioners of all ages and stages of life.
- Religious Education Volunteer — Teachers & Aides
- Vacation Bible School
- RICA Leaders (RCIA)
- Walking with Moms (ministry for expecting mothers)
- Music Ministry (Director: Kelly Jennings)
- Altar Services (Director: Greg Holzinger)
- Parish Council (President: Dennis Wiegmann)
- Various men's and women's retreats
Diocese & Vicariate
SS. Peter and Paul is part of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, which comprises 14 counties of northeastern Indiana and has a Catholic population of more than 160,000. The parish is part of Vicariate F (Huntington), currently led by Vicar Rev. David Ruppert.
- Diocese: Fort Wayne–South Bend
- Vicariate F (Huntington)
- Vicar: Rev. David Ruppert
- Bishop: Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades
Visit, Contact & Location
The parish church is located at 860 Cherry Street in Huntington, Indiana. The parish office can be reached by phone at (260) 356-4798. The church is open for all scheduled Masses, confession times, and Eucharistic adoration. Livestream Masses are available on the parish YouTube channel, and an interactive map with driving directions is posted on the parish website.
- Address: 860 Cherry Street, Huntington, IN 46750
- Phone: (260) 356-4798
- Faith Formation contact: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sspeterpaulparish.org/
- Historic hilltop location with 185-foot steeple
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Various 19th-century missionaries and visiting priests (Father Stephen T. Badin, Father Ghisholm Bohême, Father Louis Payet, and others)pre-1857
Missionary priests who served the upper Wabash area out of Fort Wayne before the parish was formally established.
- First formally assigned pastor(s) following 1857 establishment1857–1865
Period of parish organization and construction of the present church.
- Father Anthony (Tony) Steinacker2021–present
14th pastor in parish history; arrived 2021. CatholicMatch biography notes he is the 14th pastor.
- 13 prior pastors (names not fully enumerated in sources found)1865–2021
Bishop Rhoades and parish histories refer to Father Steinacker as the 14th priest to serve as pastor; individual names of pastors 2 through 13 were not surfaced in available sources.