About St. Peter · Cambridge, Massachusetts
St. Peter Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston located at 100 Concord Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts — a neighborhood set between Fresh Pond and Harvard Square. A welcoming community led today by its pastor Rev. J. Americo Santos, the parish offers weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a daily Mass schedule with Thursday evening adoration and reconciliation, a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, on-site elementary school, and faith formation for children and adults. Its front-door motto — "Welcomed, Accepted, Loved, Respected" — reflects an explicit outreach to people of every background, family situation, or season of faith.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. J. Americo Santos
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Peter Parish welcomes everyone — married, single, partnered, returning to the faith, or just visiting — into a multilingual worshipping community with Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, a live-streamed 11:30 AM Mass, weekday Masses, and a regular Communal Penance Service during Advent and Lent. Parishioners grow in faith through graded religious education (Grades 1–6), the new two-year Confirmation program for Grades 7–8, ongoing Scripture study, and Dinner & Discussion evenings; they put faith into action through the parish Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Harvard Square Churches Meal Program, and CYO basketball. The parish also operates St. Peter School, an on-site Catholic elementary school preparing to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2026–2027.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM (in the church)
- Thursday 6:00 PM (Adoration and Reconciliation, before the 7 PM Mass)
- Communal Penance Service offered twice each year — during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00 PM (immediately followed by Reconciliation and the 7 PM Mass)
Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Peter Parish is presented as a lifelong, communal endeavor — for adults, children, families, single people, married people, retired people, and the homebound. Children's programming centers on Religious Education for Grades 1–6 and a two-year Confirmation program for Grades 7 and 8. Adult formation includes periodic Dinner & Discussion evenings, Saturday morning retreats, ongoing Scripture Study (e.g., 'Walks in the Bible' with Olga at 10:15 AM Sundays in the parish center), and one-hour lectures or six-week series on topics such as the parables and St. Matthew's passion and infancy narratives.
- Grades 1–6 Religious Education
- First Eucharist Preparation (Grade 2+; Cheryl DePasquale, coordinator)
- Grade 7–8 Confirmation Program (two-year; began Sept 25, 2025)
- Adult Scripture Study (Sundays 10:15 AM, parish center)
- Dinner & Discussion (Sunday 6–8 PM, periodic)
- Saturday Morning Retreats (8:30 AM–noon, periodic)
- Director of Religious Education & Faith Formation: Hector Cortes
Confirmation Program
Following Cardinal Seán O'Malley's April 2024 decision to lower the Confirmation age from Grade 10 to Grade 8, St. Peter Parish launched a two-year Confirmation preparation program for students in Grade 7 and Grade 8. Candidates may choose either a Thursday or Sunday session, must submit certificates of Baptism and First Communion, and are expected to participate regularly in Sunday Mass. Public-school candidates complete both years; Catholic-school students entering 8th grade who have already received religious education need only the one-year program.
- Two-year (Grades 7 and 8) Confirmation preparation
- Thursday or Sunday class options
- Coordinator: Monica Carrasco
- Age of Confirmation lowered to Grade 8 in April 2024
Outreach & Charity
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Peter Parish is the parish's principal outreach arm, helping neighbors in need with rent, utilities, food, and other essentials. Assistance requests are taken in confidence via the parish office line (ext. 113). The parish has also been a long-time contributor to the Harvard Square Churches Meal Program (HSCMP), which especially relies on St. Peter volunteers during the summer college break.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — contact: [email protected] or 617-547-4235 x113
- Donation via poor boxes in church or online giving through the parish's giving page
- Follow @svdp.cambridge on Instagram and 'Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Cambridge' on Facebook
- Harvard Square Churches Meal Program (HSCMP) — summer volunteer initiative
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by pastor Rev. J. Americo Santos (pastoral extension 143, [email protected]), supported by assisting Jesuits Rev. John Baldovin, SJ and Rev. James Keenan, SJ, by the French Community priests Rev. André Brouillette, SJ and Rev. Jean-Sébastien Laurent, C.C.N., and by Deacon Joshua Choong, SJ. Lay staff run the parish's music, religious education, faith formation, business, and facilities operations, and a Parish Pastoral Council provides parish-level governance and discernment alongside the St. Vincent de Paul conference.
- Pastor: Rev. J. Americo Santos
- Music Director: Doreen Gulledge
- Business Manager: Diane Consigli
- Parish Secretary: Mary Ann Savoie
- Director of Religious Education & Faith Formation: Hector Cortes
- First Eucharist Coordinator: Cheryl DePasquale
- Confirmation Coordinator: Monica Carrasco
- Facilities Manager: John Murphy
- Parish Pastoral Council
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference
Saint Peter School
Saint Peter School, located at 96 Concord Avenue immediately adjacent to the parish church, is the parish's parish-school elementary program. Its staff — including Head of School Evan Kristiansen and Director of Admissions Wendy Burns — and its CYO basketball program are active parts of parish life, with games and practices held in the school gym throughout the week. The school community is preparing to celebrate its Quasquicentennial (125th anniversary) during the 2026–2027 academic year; Archbishop Richard G. Henning will celebrate the opening Mass on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 11:30 AM, with a reception to follow.
- Address: 96 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-2297
- Head of School: Evan Kristiansen
- Director of Admissions: Wendy Burns
- CYO Basketball (school gym)
- Quasquicentennial (125th) celebration begins September 27, 2026
Music & Liturgy
Doreen Gulledge serves as Music Director, coordinating the parish's liturgical music and the Youth Choir, which rehearses on Wednesdays at 4:30 PM in the church. The 9:00 AM Sunday Mass is identified as the parish's Family Mass.
- Music Director: Doreen Gulledge
- Youth Choir rehearsal: Wednesdays 4:30 PM
- Sunday 9:00 AM designated as the Family Mass
Welcoming & Becoming a Parishioner
St. Peter Parish extends an unusually broad welcome — explicitly including people of any age, background, race, self-image, current family or marital situation, or 'who you love.' Registration is a one-page form completed through the parish office, and notices of upcoming events are sent via Constant Contact. The 'I'm New' page links to Catholics Come Home for those returning to or exploring the Catholic faith.
- Parish motto: 'Welcomed, Accepted, Loved, Respected'
- Simple one-page registration form; call 617-547-4235
- Link to Catholics Come Home for returning Catholics
French Community at St. Peter
A French-speaking community worships at St. Peter Parish, with French Community religious education on Saturdays at 4:00 PM and the French Community Mass at 5:30 PM, served by Rev. André Brouillette, SJ and Rev. Jean-Sébastien Laurent, C.C.N. This ministry is a direct continuation of Notre Dame de Pitié, originally carved out of St. Peter's territory in the 19th century.
- Saturday French Community Religious Education: 4:00 PM
- Saturday French Community Mass: 5:30 PM
- Priests: Rev. André Brouillette, SJ; Rev. Jean-Sébastien Laurent, C.C.N.
Visit, Hours & Emergencies
The parish office at 100 Concord Avenue is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9 AM–4 PM (closed Tuesday and Thursday). For emergencies requiring a priest, parishioners are asked to call the parish office at 617-547-4235 ext. 119. The parish fax number is 617-547-1525.
- Office hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9 AM–4 PM
- Emergency priest line: 617-547-4235 ext. 119
- Parish fax: 617-547-1525
- Bulletin published regularly at saintpetercambridge.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Manasses P. Dougherty1848–1877
Founding pastor; built the original church on Concord Avenue while still pastor of St. John's, East Cambridge; led the new parish from its first services in December 1848 until his death in July 1877.
- Rev. James E. O'Brien1877–1888
Succeeded Father Dougherty the month of his death; served until his own death in July 1888.
- Rev. John Flatley1888–
Took charge July 1888; during his pastorate three new parishes were created out of St. Peter's territory, including St. John the Evangelist (North Cambridge) and Notre Dame de Pitié.