About St. Peter Claver · Tampa, Florida
St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida is the historic African-American Catholic parish of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, founded in 1893 by the Jesuits in Tampa's black community near downtown and historic Ybor City. The parish describes itself as 'a spirited, diverse, multicultural community' whose mission is to evangelize, form and educate, welcome and serve, and share its gifts. Today it serves a multicultural flock that includes a Haitian Creole community worshiping in their own language, runs St. Peter Claver School, and continues ministries in faith formation, music, youth ministry, RCIA, Bible study, and the Ladies of the Knights of Peter Claver. The current church building was dedicated on June 8, 1969, by Bishop Charles B. McLaughlin, the first Bishop of St. Petersburg.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- St. Peter Claver, S.J. (1580–1654), the Jesuit 'Apostle of the Slaves' who ministered to enslaved Africans arriving at Cartagena
- Rector
- Rev. Agustinus Seran, SVD (Society of the Divine Word)
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Petersburg (Tampa Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Peter Claver is Tampa's historic African-American Catholic parish, founded in 1893 and rooted in the same neighborhood near downtown Tampa and Ybor City. Worshippers can attend Mass in English on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and a 1:00 p.m. Sunday Mass in Haitian Creole — making it a true multicultural home for Haitians, African-Americans, and anyone drawn to a spirited, welcoming community. The parish runs St. Peter Claver School on Governor Street, offers RCIA for adults discerning the faith, Bible study on Zoom, faith formation and youth ministry, and the Ladies of the Knights of Peter Claver gather to pray the Rosary weekly. It is a small parish with a long memory: the same building Bishop Charles B. McLaughlin dedicated in 1969 still welcomes worshippers today, and it stands less than a mile from the Port of Tampa for visiting cruise passengers.
Mass times at St. Peter Claver
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
- Sunday: 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
- Any time upon request
Our Parish Story (Founded 1893)
St. Peter Claver began in late 1893 when the Jesuits purchased an old Methodist church on Morgan Street in Tampa. Two Sisters of the Holy Names opened school on February 2, 1894 with sixteen students; the building was burned by arsonists ten nights later. Father William Tyrell, S.J., working with Bishop Moore, moved the parish to a property at Scott and Governor Streets in Tampa's black community, where the school reopened in October 1894. Within seven years students were earning teaching certificates from the Board of Public Instruction — a remarkable achievement for the era. Mother St. Katharine Drexel of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament personally donated to the school in 1904 after visiting it, and her sister Mrs. L.D. Morreil funded the construction of the first church in 1915. The current church building was dedicated June 8, 1969, by the Most Reverend Charles B. McLaughlin, the first Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
- Late 1893 — Jesuits acquire a former Methodist church on Morgan Street
- Feb 2, 1894 — Sisters of the Holy Names open school with 16 students
- Feb 12, 1894 — Building destroyed by arson
- Oct 1894 — School reopens at Scott & Governor Streets
- 1904 — Mother St. Katharine Drexel donates to the school
- 1909 — First chapel set up on the second floor of the school
- 1915 — First church built with gift from Mrs. L.D. Morreil
- June 8, 1969 — Present church dedicated by Bishop Charles B. McLaughlin
Mission & Identity
The parish describes itself as the historic African-American parish of the diocese and as a 'spirited, diverse, multicultural community.' Its stated mission is to evangelize, to form and educate, to welcome and serve, and to share its gifts. The parish community gathers as 'an association of people who come together to respond to God's call to enter a love relationship with the creator,' striving to be people of prayer and loving service to all.
- To evangelize
- To form and educate
- To welcome and serve
- To share our gifts
Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish welcomes adults discerning the Catholic faith — those unbaptized, baptized in another tradition, or baptized Catholic but not yet confirmed — through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.).
- R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Faith Formation — contact Kaye Wisdom or Enid Jordan
Bible Study & Prayer Groups
Bible Study meets online on Thursdays at 6:30 PM, led by Deacon Ben Hooks, via Zoom. The Ladies of the Knights of Peter Claver host a weekly Rosary on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM, also on Zoom. Both use Flocknote for notifications — text SPCTPA to 84576 to subscribe.
- Bible Study — Thursdays 6:30 PM, Zoom, Deacon Ben Hooks
- Ladies of the Knights of Peter Claver Rosary — Tuesdays 8:00 PM, Zoom
- Flocknote signup: text SPCTPA to 84576
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry supports the parish's liturgical life, led by Margretta Carrington and Dale Brown.
- Margretta Carrington — [email protected]
- Dale Brown — [email protected]
Youth Ministry
The parish offers Youth Ministry programming under the same coordinators as Faith Formation.
- Kaye Wisdom — [email protected]
- Enid Jordan — [email protected]
St. Peter Claver School
St. Peter Claver Catholic School has been part of the parish's mission since 1894 — making it one of the oldest continuously operating Catholic schools for African-American children in Florida. The school sits just down the block from the church, on Governor Street, and shares the parish's commitment to form and educate.
- Address: 1401 Governor Street, Tampa, FL 33602
- Phone: 813-224-0865
- Fax: 813-223-6726
- Principal: Mr. John Davidson
Sacraments
Baptism is celebrated after preparation of parents and godparents; families should call the parish office to schedule an appointment with Deacon Ben. Reconciliation is offered weekly before Masses or any time by request. Adults seeking full initiation are invited to join R.C.I.A. For pastoral emergencies (including Anointing of the Sick), the parish emergency line is 813-455-0128.
- Baptism — preparation required; schedule with Deacon Ben
- Reconciliation — see schedule, or by request
- R.C.I.A. for adult initiation
- Pastoral emergencies: 813-455-0128
Staff & Parish Councils
Day-to-day parish life is supported by a small, dedicated lay and ordained staff, plus active Pastoral and Finance Councils.
- Pastor: Rev. Agustinus Seran, SVD
- Deacon: Deacon Ben Hooks
- Parish Secretary: Sarah Walker — [email protected]
- Finance Council President: Barbara Grate — [email protected]
- Pastoral Council President: Cedric Carrington — [email protected]
- Music Ministry: Margretta Carrington, Dale Brown
- Faith Formation / Youth Ministry: Kaye Wisdom, Enid Jordan
- School Principal: Mr. John Davidson
Visiting Tampa?
The parish is located near downtown Tampa and historic Ybor City, and is less than a mile from the Port of Tampa cruise terminals — making it a convenient Mass stop for cruise passengers and visitors. Visitors are warmly welcomed.
- Near downtown Tampa and historic Ybor City
- Less than one mile from the Port of Tampa (cruise terminals)
Contact & Office Hours
Parish office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The parish can be reached by phone, fax, email, or in person. For after-hours pastoral emergencies, call the dedicated emergency line.
- Address: 1203 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
- Phone: (813) 223-7098
- Fax: (813) 223-6520
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Parish Emergencies: 813-455-0128
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William J. Tyrell, S.J.1903–1913
Founded the parish; with Bishop Moore acquired the Scott & Governor Streets property after the 1894 arson fire
- Rev. L.P. White, S.J.1913–1919
- Rev. M.A. Grase, S.J.1919–1920
- Rev. Francis X. Entz, S.J.1920–1923
- Rev. Fred Waymemans, S.J.1923–1926
- Rev. S.J. Kelly1926–1929
- Rev. S. _____ (S.J.)1929–1931
First name illegible on parish website
- Rev. Anthony Keil, S.S.J.1931–1938
Josephite era begins
- Rev. Arthur Flanagan, S.S.J.1938–1944
- Rev. Joseph M. Schmutz (S.S.J.)1944–1946
- Rev. Joseph A. Szuhy, S.S.1946–1951
- Rev. James E. Fitzpatrick, S.S.J.1951–1955
- Rev. James V. Clarke, S.S.1955–1956
- Rev. William J. Dodd, S.S.J.1956–1961
- Rev. Timothy J. Holland, S.S.J.1961–1964
- Rev. John D. Lennon, S.S.J.1964–1966
- Rev. Thomas G. Moore1966–1970
Diocesan priest; oversaw transition to current church building (dedicated 1969)
- Rev. _____ Ferdinand, S.S.J.1970–1973
- Rev. Rocco D'_____1973–1979
- Rev. Desmond Daly1979–1980
- Rev. Joseph O'_____1980–1992
- Rev. Callist Nyambo1992–1997
- Rev. Edward Lamp1997–2002
- Rev. Paul Kochu2002–2006
- Rev. Hugh Chikawe2006–2019
- Rev. Theobald Weria, ALCP2019–2021
African Life Community Priests
- Rev. Agustinus Seran, SVD2021–present
Society of the Divine Word; current pastor