About St. Peter · Cleveland, Ohio
St. Peter Parish is a historic Roman Catholic parish in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, located at 1533 E. 17th St. at Superior Avenue. Founded in 1853 as the first German Catholic congregation in the Diocese of Cleveland, it is the oldest Catholic church building in continuous use within the diocese. Since 2019 the parish has been entrusted to the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of St. Augustine Province, and today it is pastored by Brother Philip (Phil) Bernier, OFM Cap, who celebrates Mass in a monastic-style worship space whose simple white interior has made the church a popular downtown wedding venue.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Fr. Philip (Phil) Bernier, OFM Cap
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Peter's offers a rare combination in downtown Cleveland: a 19th-century historic worship space that has been reordered into a monastic, intimate setting where the assembly faces one another around the altar. It is pastored by the Capuchin Franciscans — a community known for simplicity, hospitality, and service to those on the margins — and the parish is actively extending that mission beyond its walls through partnerships like The Friars' Table restaurant in Playhouse Square. Members and visitors describe the hospitality as gracious, the music as uplifting, and the preaching as challenging, and the parish welcomes families with young children, downtown residents, neighbors, and visitors alike.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — speak with Brother Phil after Mass or email [email protected]
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Peter Parish describes itself as 'Welcoming. Engaging. Catholic.' Mass is celebrated by the Capuchin Franciscan pastor, Brother Phil. The worship space is monastic in style, with seating arranged so the congregation faces one another, and the simple white interior makes the church a popular downtown Cleveland venue for weddings. The parish greets visitors, downtown residents, nearby neighbors, and lifelong Clevelanders alike, and notes that families with young children, bikes, and skateboards are all welcome.
- Tagline: 'Welcoming. Engaging. Catholic.'
- Pastored by Capuchin Friar Brother Phil
- Monastic-style seating (congregation faces each other)
- Popular downtown wedding venue
History
St. Peter's is the oldest German Catholic parish in the Diocese of Cleveland, founded in 1853 by Fr. John H. Luhr, who transferred from Canton. The present Superior Avenue / E. 17th Street church was dedicated on 23 October 1859. The parish ran a school staffed by the Brothers of Mary, the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and (from 1922) the Sisters of Notre Dame. A commercial high school opened in 1924 and later merged into Erieview Catholic High School, which closed in 1993. Bishop Lennon closed the parish in April 2010; it reopened on 9 September 2012 under Fr. Robert J. Kropac, and in 2019 Bishop Nelson Perez entrusted it to the Capuchin Franciscans of St. Augustine Province.
- Founded 1853 — first German Catholic parish in the diocese
- Church dedicated 23 October 1859
- Grade school closed 1962; high school merged into Erieview 1971 (closed 1993)
- Closed by Bishop Lennon April 2010; reopened 9 September 2012
- Entrusted to Capuchin Franciscans in 2019
- 170th anniversary celebrated 12 September 2022 with Bishop Malesic
Leadership & Clergy
The parish is pastored by Fr. Philip (Phil) Bernier, OFM Cap, of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of St. Augustine Province. He was appointed Parish Administrator by Bishop Edward Malesic on 1 October 2020 and named Pastor on 19 April 2023. He is also administrator of the Conversion of St. Paul Shrine in Cleveland and parochial vicar at St. Malachi Parish. Brother Phil keeps stated office hours and is available after Mass for sacramental inquiries.
- Pastor: Fr. Philip (Phil) Bernier, OFM Cap
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland (Bishop Edward Malesic)
- Religious order: Capuchin Franciscan Friars of St. Augustine Province
- Office hours: Mon 1:00–4:30 PM; Wed 9:00 AM–9:00 PM; Fri 9:00–11:30 AM
Sacraments
The Sacraments page directs parishioners to see Brother Phil after Mass or email [email protected] to arrange Reconciliation (Confession) or Anointing of the Sick. Weddings are handled through [email protected].
- Reconciliation — by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Weddings — [email protected]
Weddings
St. Peter's simple, light-filled white interior and downtown location have made it a popular Cleveland wedding venue. Couples can inquire via [email protected].
- Email: [email protected]
- Popular downtown Cleveland wedding venue
Outreach & The Friars' Table
Pastor Fr. Philip Bernier is a co-founder of The Friars' Table, a mission-based restaurant in Cleveland's Playhouse Square district (E. 13th Street and Euclid Avenue), developed in partnership with Edwins founder Brandon Chrostowski. The restaurant is conceived as a place of second chances — for people coming out of incarceration, immigrants, and refugees — and aims to be affordable while building hospitality careers.
- The Friars' Table at Playhouse Square
- Partnership with Edwins (Brandon Chrostowski)
- Second-chance employment and hospitality training
- Corner of E. 13th St. and Euclid Avenue
Campus Ministry
The parish hosts the Cleveland State University Newman Center. The diocesan directory lists the CSU Newman Center at St. Peter Church, 1533 East 17th St., Cleveland, OH 44114.
- Cleveland State University Newman Center hosted at St. Peter's
Contact & Visit
Parish offices are at 1533 E. 17th St., Cleveland, OH 44114. Phone: (216) 344-2999. Email contacts include [email protected] (general), [email protected] (weddings), and [email protected] (registration). Brother Phil's office hours are Monday 1:00–4:30 PM, Wednesday 9:00 AM–9:00 PM, and Friday 9:00–11:30 AM. Homily slides are shared on the parish YouTube channel.
- 1533 E. 17th St., Cleveland, OH 44114
- Phone: (216) 344-2999
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- YouTube: homily slides with Brother Phil
Architecture & Interior
The present-day church — begun in 1857 and dedicated 23 October 1859 — was reordered in the early 1990s under Fr. Robert J. Marrone: most ornamentation was removed from the sanctuary and nave, pews were replaced by chairs, and the assembly gathers around the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer. The result is the monastic-style, simply white worship space that defines St. Peter's identity today and has earned it recognition as a hallmark church for Liturgical Renewal.
- Church dedicated 23 October 1859 ($36,000)
- 1989–91: $300,000 interior renovation
- 1990s liturgical renewal: monastic seating, white interior, assembly around altar
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John H. Luhr1853 (founding pastor)
Transferred from Canton, Ohio; purchased the Superior/Dodge site in 1854.
- Fr. Francis Westerholt
Succeeded Luhr (who departed for Cincinnati); first 'rector' under Bishop Gilmour's 1889 synod.
- Fr. Robert J. Marrone1990s–2010
Led the parish's liturgical-renewal transformation; oversaw the school closure aftermath.
- Fr. Robert J. Kropac2012–
Appointed pastor by Bishop Lennon on 10 July 2012 to reopen the parish; reopened it 9 September 2012.
- Fr. Philip (Phil) Bernier, OFM Cap2020 (administrator); 2023–present (pastor)
Capuchin Franciscan of St. Augustine Province; appointed by Bishop Malesic.