About St. Peter and St. Paul · Panama City, Florida
Sts. Peter and Paul is a Roman Catholic parish in Panama City, Florida, founded in 1982 and administered as a Vietnamese-language Catholic community (also known as the Vietnamese Mission of Sts. Peter and Paul) within the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee. The parish serves approximately 95 families and celebrates Mass in both Vietnamese and English, with the pastor, Rev. Anthony Tin Nguyen, SDD, leading worship at 1003 N. East Avenue. The community provides a spiritual home for Vietnamese Catholics in the Florida Panhandle and has shown remarkable resilience, particularly after Hurricane Michael in October 2018 destroyed the parish rectory.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- St. Peter and St. Paul (Saints Peter and Paul)
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony Tin Nguyen, SDD
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
Why belong here
Sts. Peter and Paul offers a welcoming Catholic community for Vietnamese Catholics and English-speaking parishioners in the Panama City area, with Mass celebrated in both languages. The parish provides a tight-knit family atmosphere with about 95 registered families, faithful Vietnamese liturgical traditions, and a pastor (Rev. Anthony Tin Nguyen, SDD) known for his hands-on leadership, including personally helping rebuild the church after Hurricane Michael. As part of the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, it offers the Sacraments, devotions, and parish life characteristic of a Vietnamese Catholic mission.
Mass times at St. Peter and St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (2nd and 4th Sunday)
- Sunday: 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM (2nd and 4th Sunday)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Or by appointment
About Sts. Peter and Paul Parish
Sts. Peter and Paul is a Vietnamese Catholic mission parish in Panama City, Florida, founded in 1982 to serve the Vietnamese Catholic community in the Florida Panhandle. Located at 1003 N. East Avenue, the parish operates under the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee as part of the East Central Deanery. The parish celebrates Mass in both Vietnamese and English and serves approximately 95 registered families, providing a spiritual home for Vietnamese Catholics in the region.
- Founded: 1982
- Approximately 95 families
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
- East Central Deanery
History and Hurricane Michael Recovery
Established in 1982, Sts. Peter and Paul has served the Vietnamese Catholic community in Panama City for over four decades. In October 2018, Hurricane Michael, a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane, struck the Florida Panhandle and destroyed the parish rectory. Pastor Father Anthony Nguyen was displaced and slept in a classroom inside the parish hall for weeks. The Knights of Columbus provided significant relief, including $100,000 to the diocese and a 29-foot camper trailer for the pastor. Father Anthony, described as 'a builder,' has led efforts to repair the damaged church buildings.
- Founded 1982
- Hurricane Michael struck October 2018
- Rectory destroyed
- Knights of Columbus provided $100,000 to diocese
- 29-foot camper trailer donated for pastor
Clergy and Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Anthony Tin Nguyen, SDD, a member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), who was ordained on June 3, 2006. Father Anthony previously served as administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul Vietnamese Mission and associate pastor of St. Dominic Church in Panama City before being appointed pastor. He is recognized for his pastoral care and hands-on leadership, particularly during the parish's recovery from Hurricane Michael.
- Pastor: Rev. Anthony Tin Nguyen, SDD
- Ordained: June 3, 2006
- Society of the Divine Word (SVD) member
Vietnamese Catholic Community
As a Vietnamese Catholic Community within the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, Sts. Peter and Paul serves as a spiritual and cultural anchor for Vietnamese Catholics in the Florida Panhandle. The parish maintains Vietnamese liturgical traditions while also welcoming English-speaking parishioners, reflecting the multicultural character of the local Catholic community. It is one of several Vietnamese Catholic communities across Florida, including Our Lady of La Vang in Hallandale Beach and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Pensacola.
- Vietnamese liturgical tradition
- English-language Mass also offered
- Part of the network of Vietnamese Catholic communities in Florida
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Anthony Tin Nguyen, SDD2010-present
Served as administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul Vietnamese Mission and associate pastor of St. Dominic Church in Panama City before becoming pastor. Ordained June 3, 2006. Lost his rectory in Hurricane Michael (October 2018) and was given a camper trailer by the Knights of Columbus to live in.