About Ss. Peter and Paul · Alton, Illinois
Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish on Christian Hill in Alton, Illinois, serving the community since 1855. The parish is the oldest standing Catholic church in Alton, originally built of native limestone in the pure Gothic style with graceful arches, clustered columns, hood-molded windows, and a spacious choir loft. Today it is a 347-parishioner, 231-family parish in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, pastored since 2020 by Fr. Jeff Holtman, O.F.S., with Deacon John J. Bretz assisting. Beyond Sunday worship, the parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a Pro-Life Committee, Friends In Time of Need, Helping Hands food and financial assistance, H.I.S. Ministry (cards, calls, and visits to the homebound), as well as liturgical ministries of lectors, altar servers, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Rev. William Jeffry Holtman, O.F.S. (Fr. Jeff Holtman, O.F.S.)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Ss. Peter and Paul offers a small, family-sized community where parishioners are known by name. With only 347 parishioners in 231 families, the parish combines the beauty of a 168-year-old Gothic limestone cathedral-church on Christian Hill with a remarkably active lay life: RCIA for adults joining the Church, a Pro-Life Committee that participates in 40 Days for Life and Lifechain and prays the Divine Mercy Chaplet each Wednesday, Helping Hands providing food or financial assistance to neighbors in need, Friends In Time of Need serving a free luncheon to grieving families, and the H.I.S. (Hearts in Service) Ministry sending cards and making visits to the homebound. Readers, altar servers, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are needed and welcomed — the parish is large enough to live the faith, and small enough for everyone to belong.
Mass times at Ss. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
- Anytime by appointment (call the rectory at 618-465-4221)
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the 8:15 a.m. Mass until 12:00 p.m. (noon)
Welcome to Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Ss. Peter and Paul is a historic Roman Catholic parish sitting at 717 State Street on Christian Hill in Alton, Illinois. The stone church visible today was begun in 1855 and completed two years later — for more than 165 years it has been the spiritual home of Catholics in Upper Alton. The parish is pastored by Fr. Jeff Holtman, O.F.S., and assisted by Deacon John J. Bretz, with Chrissy Lewis as Business Manager and Theresa Stegvilas as Secretary. According to the diocesan directory, the parish is home to 347 parishioners in 231 families.
History of the Parish
Catholics in Alton worshipped in private homes in Upper Alton from 1838, then built a temporary stone church called St. Matthew in 1843 (destroyed by fire ten years later). The lot at 717 State Street was purchased from Peter and Harriet Wise on April 7, 1854, for $600, and the present native-limestone church — designed in the pure Gothic style — was begun in 1855 and completed two years later. While it was under construction, the Catholic diocese was officially transferred to Alton from Quincy on January 9, 1857, making Ss. Peter and Paul briefly the cathedral of the new Diocese of Alton under its first bishop, Henry Damien Juncker. Two bishops, Juncker and Peter Joseph Baltes, are buried in a crypt beneath the church; the third, James Ryan (d. 1923), rests at St. Patrick Cemetery.
School and Education
A parish school was first built in 1860. The cornerstone for a new school was laid on October 3, 1908; the building was completed in February 1909 and dedicated on May 26, 1909, at a cost of $32,938.25. The Ursuline Nuns staffed the school, which once ran first through twelfth grades; the high school years ended in 1927 with the founding of Marquette Catholic High School. After years of shrinking enrollment and financial strain, the parish grade school closed in May 2019.
- First school: 1860
- New school cornerstone: October 3, 1908
- Dedication: May 26, 1909 — cost $32,938.25
- Staffed by the Ursuline Nuns
- High school grades ended in 1927 (handoff to Marquette Catholic High School)
- Grade school closed: May 2019
The Building: Gothic Limestone on Christian Hill
The architecture of Ss. Peter and Paul is described on the parish history page as a 'beautiful specimen of pure Gothic,' built with local native limestone. The interior features graceful arches, clustered columns, capitals, hood-molded windows, and a spacious choir loft. The date is carved in stone above the main entrance and rose window. The building measures 125 feet long by 60 feet wide and includes two sacristies with attics; the twin towers were topped with 'space-age steeples' after the 1949 lightning fire.
- Style: pure Gothic
- Material: native local limestone
- Dimensions: 125 ft long × 60 ft wide
- Notable features: rose window, clustered columns, hood-molded windows, choir loft, twin towers
Storms, Fire, and Restoration
On July 21, 1949, a lightning bolt struck the belfry and shattered the Hook and Hastings pipe organ; the Alton Fire Department saved the church from total destruction at damage exceeding $75,000. Two of the three original bells were lost, the smallest — cast in 1871 in honor of St. Brigida — was saved only by recasting, and two replacement bells were added. A Mass of thanksgiving for the reconstruction was offered on September 25, 1950. In 1982, under Fr. Peter Donohoe, altars and statues were removed; in 2022, under Fr. Roger Schoenhofen, O.M.I., colors, lighting, the Stations of the Cross, and statues were restored, and the sanctuary was returned to some of its former glory.
- 1949 lightning strike destroyed the Hook & Hastings organ
- St. Brigida bell (1871) preserved by recasting
- Reconstruction Thanksgiving Mass: September 25, 1950
- 1982 altars and statues removed (Fr. Peter Donohoe)
- 2022 interior restoration (Fr. Roger Schoenhofen, O.M.I.)
Preserving the Past for the Future — Capital Campaign
To repair the limestone stonework and tuckpointing on the 1857 building, the parish launched an $800,000 capital campaign called 'Preserving the Past for the Future,' aimed at keeping the old cathedral an integral part of Christian Hill for future generations. The campaign reached its goal in August 2024. Donations can be made online through the parish website or by contacting the parish office.
- Campaign name: Preserving the Past for the Future
- Goal: $800,000
- Goal reached: August 2024
- Focus: stonework and tuckpointing of the 1857 limestone church
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments. Baptisms require attendance at the Baptism Preparation Program — call the rectory for an appointment. Weddings require contacting the rectory at least six months in advance. Confession is heard Saturday afternoons and by appointment. Anointing of the Sick and other pastoral needs are coordinated through the parish office at (618) 465-4221.
- Baptism — preparation program required
- Matrimony — at least 6 months advance notice
- Penance — Saturday 3:15–3:45 p.m. or by appointment
- Eucharist — see Mass Schedule
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment through the rectory
Parish Ministries
Ss. Peter and Paul runs a wide range of ministries for its size. The Pro-Life Committee participates in 40 Days for Life and Lifechain Sunday, prays the Divine Mercy Chaplet every Wednesday, hosts First Friday Adoration, and publishes a monthly bulletin article. Helping Hands meets on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. to provide food or financial assistance to neighbors in need. Friends In Time of Need serves a free luncheon for family and friends after a parishioner's death. H.I.S. (Hearts in Service) sends cards and makes phone calls or visits to those who are ill, grieving, or struggling. RCIA welcomes non-baptized adults into the Catholic Church. Liturgical ministries include lectors, altar servers, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Pro-Life Committee (40 Days for Life, Lifechain, weekly Chaplet, First Friday Adoration)
- Helping Hands (Tuesdays 9:00 a.m.)
- Friends In Time of Need (funeral luncheons)
- H.I.S. Ministry — Hearts in Service (cards/calls/visits)
- Altar Servers (Deacon John Bretz; Sue Fitzgerald)
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Knights of Columbus (parish picnic)
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is led by Fr. Jeff Holtman, O.F.S. (the formal directory lists him as Rev. William Jeffry Holtman), Pastor since 2020. He is assisted by Deacon John J. Bretz. Office staff includes Chrissy Lewis (Business Manager) and Theresa Stegvilas (Secretary). The office is open Monday through Friday and can be reached at (618) 465-4221 (fax 618-465-0346) or [email protected]. The parish publishes weekly bulletins on its website.
- Rev. William Jeffry Holtman, O.F.S. — Pastor (2020–present)
- Deacon John J. Bretz
- Chrissy Lewis — Business Manager
- Theresa Stegvilas — Secretary
Visiting and Becoming a Parishioner
New parishioners are welcomed and registered through the parish office, which can be reached at (618) 465-4221 or [email protected]. The parish website (ssppalton.com) hosts weekly bulletins, the Mass and Sacraments pages, current ministries, and a Donate page for online giving. Anyone interested in scheduling a tour of the historic church or meeting with Father Jeff can also contact the parish office.
- Address: 717 State Street, Alton, IL 62002
- Phone: (618) 465-4221
- Fax: (618) 465-0346
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ssppalton.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Carroll1855 to 1857
Built the first St. Matthew church in 1843 and oversaw construction of the current limestone church.
- Rev. John J. Menge1857 to 1862
- Rev. Thomas F. Mangan1862 to 1865
- Rev. James Harty1865 to 1868
- Rev. Patrick Dee1868 to 1870
- Rev. John F. Mohr1870 to 1873
- Rev. T. F. Cowley1873 to 1875
- Rev. M. Kane1875 to 1876
- Rev. Charles J. Zwiesler1876 to 1888
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. E. L. Spaulding, V.C.1888 to 1935
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. J. Driscoll1935 to 1937
- Very Rt. Rev. Msgr. William T. Sloan1937 to 1961
- Msgr. James J. Haggerty1961 to 1968
- Rev. Michael J. McGovern1968 to 1976
- Rev. James J. Sullivan1976 to 1977
- Rev. Peter J. Donohoe1977 to 1990
In 1982 oversaw removal of altars and statues, giving the Gothic interior a modern, sparse look.
- Rev. Thomas Meyer, OMI1990 to 1998
- Rev. Roger P. Schoenhofen, OMI1998 to 2009
In 2022 (after his pastorate) credited with the restoration of interior colors, lighting, Stations of the Cross, statues, and sanctuary.
- Fr. Délix Michel2009 to 2013
- Msgr. Kenneth C. Steffen2013 to 2016
- Rev. Albert F. Allen2016 to 2017
- Rev. Jason P. Stone2017 to 2020
- Fr. Jeff Holtman, O.F.S.2020 to present
Current pastor; oversaw the 'Preserving the Past for the Future' capital campaign that reached its $800,000 goal in August 2024.