About St. Peter · Columbia, Pennsylvania
St. Peter Roman Catholic Church is a historic parish in Columbia, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Harrisburg, founded in 1829 to serve the small but growing community of Catholic families in the Susquehanna River borough. The parish currently ministers to about 600 families and, in addition to its main church at 121 S. Second Street, also oversees the Mission Chapel of Our Mother of Holy Purity (originally Saint Mary Chapel) in nearby Wrightsville. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening and twice on Sunday, with weekday Masses and adoration offered at both locations. The parish is currently served by Rev. Augustine Joseph, MSFS — a member of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales — along with Deacon Jeffrey A. Baylor.
- Established
- 1829
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Augustine Joseph, MSFS
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Peter is a close-knit, mission-minded parish where worship, formation, and outreach are tightly woven together. Daily and weekend Masses, weekday adoration and confessions, and a parish-administered mission chapel in Wrightsville mean the sacraments are accessible throughout the week. Parishioners are notably involved in service — St. Vincent de Paul, local food banks, Off The Streets Lancaster, the Council of Catholic Women, and the Holy Name Society's annual fish fry — making it a place where faith is lived out as much as it is celebrated.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:14–5:45 PM at Saint Mary Chapel, Wrightsville
- Thursday: 8:45–9:15 AM at St. Peter Church, Columbia
- Saturday: 3:00–4:00 PM at St. Peter Church, Columbia (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 5:00–5:50 PM at Saint Mary Chapel, Wrightsville
- Thursday: 8:30 AM (following morning Mass) at St. Peter Church, Columbia
- 1st Friday: 6:00 PM Adoration and Rosary at St. Peter (with Prayer of Reparation to the Sacred Heart at Saint Mary Chapel, Wrightsville, 7:00–8:00 PM)
Parish History
St. Peter Parish was founded in 1829 to serve a small Catholic population in Columbia on the Susquehanna River. Before the parish existed, Catholics walked 10–12 miles on foot to Lancaster, York, or Elizabethtown for Sunday Mass. Bishop Francis P. Kenrick laid the cornerstone and dedicated the first church on September 12, 1828, on a site purchased after an earlier 1826 lot was judged too remote. Growth was so rapid that the original structure had to be expanded by 1850, and parishioners envisioned an even larger church by the 1880s. More than 3,000 visitors attended the cornerstone laying for the new church on August 18, 1895, which was then dedicated on June 20, 1897. The old church was converted into a three-room school in 1894, replaced by a purpose-built school in 1913. A notable archaeological find during railroad construction uncovered a 17th-century Jesuit missionary burial ground in Columbia with Catholic articles, attesting to the deep Catholic roots of the region.
- First cornerstone laid September 12, 1828 by Bishop Francis P. Kenrick
- Parish formally founded 1829
- Original church expanded by 1850
- New church cornerstone August 18, 1895; dedicated June 20, 1897
- Old church used as 3-room school from 1894 until 1913
- 190th anniversary Mass celebrated June 23, 2018 with Bishop Ronald Gainer
Our Mother of Holy Purity Chapel (Wrightsville Mission)
Catholic life in neighboring Wrightsville began in 1871 when land was bought for a school and cemetery; a log-house school opened in 1874 but later closed. In 1903, the chapel of Our Mother of Holy Purity (also referred to as Saint Mary Chapel) was constructed and has been administered from St. Peter Parish in Columbia ever since. Many of the parish's weekday Masses, confessions, and adoration hours are celebrated in this chapel.
- Catholic activity in Wrightsville began in 1871
- Log-house school opened 1874 (later closed)
- Chapel constructed 1903 and administered from St. Peter Parish, Columbia
- Hosts Wednesday 6:00 PM Mass, Wednesday 5:00 PM Adoration, Thursday 8:00 AM Adoration, 1st Saturday 8:00 AM Mass, 1st Friday Prayer of Reparation 7:00–8:00 PM
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
The parish celebrates Mass at St. Peter Church in Columbia on Saturdays (Vigil at 4:30 PM), Sundays (8:00 AM and 10:30 AM), and several weekdays, with additional Masses at the Wrightsville mission chapel. All Masses listed by the parish and the Diocese of Harrisburg are celebrated in English. Liturgical devotions include a First-Sunday Divine Mercy Chaplet and a First-Friday Prayer of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM (St. Peter, Columbia)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM (St. Peter, Columbia)
- Monday 8:00 AM; Tuesday 8:00 AM; Thursday 8:00 AM; Friday 8:00 AM
- Wednesday 6:00 PM at Saint Mary Chapel, Wrightsville
- 1st Saturday 8:00 AM at Saint Mary Chapel, Wrightsville
- First Sunday: Divine Mercy Chaplet
- 1st Friday: Adoration, Rosary, and Prayer of Reparation to the Sacred Heart
Parish Leadership
St. Peter Parish is staffed by a Fransalian (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales) pastor and a permanent deacon. The pastorate is currently shared with neighboring Holy Trinity Parish in Columbia, a longtime collaborative arrangement that lets both parishes share liturgical and formation resources.
- Pastor: Rev. Augustine Joseph, MSFS
- Deacon: Deacon Jeffrey A. Baylor
- Father Augustine is a member of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (Fransalian Missionaries)
- Shared ministry with Holy Trinity Parish, Columbia
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education and faith formation are coordinated cooperatively with Holy Trinity Parish in Columbia. The shared Faith Formation office (led by Faith Murphy at Holy Trinity) prepares children for First Reconciliation and First Communion, supports catechumens and candidates through RCIA, and coordinates Adult Faith Formation opportunities. The young-adult and youth ministry is jointly branded Columbia Catholic Youth Ministry and serves both parishes.
- Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Columbia Catholic Youth Ministry (shared with Holy Trinity)
Music Ministry
St. Peter's Music Ministry has historically combined with Holy Trinity's for special liturgies — most notably the Anniversary Choir formed for the 2015 Mass celebrating 150 years of Catholic Education in Columbia, which combined adult choirs of Holy Trinity and St. Peter's, St. Peter's Youth Choir, and a chamber orchestra.
- Adult Choir at St. Peter's
- St. Peter's Youth Choir
- Combined Anniversary Choir (special liturgies with Holy Trinity)
Parish Organizations & Outreach
St. Peter is known for active lay organizations and consistent outreach to the surrounding community. The Council of Catholic Women and the Holy Name Society partner to run the parish's annual fish fry, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society works directly with neighbors in need. Parishioners also volunteer with Off The Streets Lancaster (helping homeless individuals secure housing through security-deposit assistance and furniture) and Columbia's local food banks.
- Council of Catholic Women
- Holy Name Society (annual fish fry)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Off The Streets Lancaster (housing assistance)
- Columbia food banks
Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares parishioners for the seven Catholic sacraments through ongoing formation. Infant baptisms, marriage preparation, First Reconciliation/First Communion (via PREP), Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and adult initiation through RCIA are all coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism (infant and adult)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (see Sacramental schedule)
Parish Life & Pilgrimages
Beyond weekly Mass and devotions, St. Peter builds community through anniversary celebrations, fund-raising events, and pilgrimage. Father Augustine Joseph is hosting a France pilgrimage from September 28 to October 8, 2026, with daily Mass and stops including Lourdes, the newly restored Notre Dame de Paris, Ars, Chartres Cathedral, Lisieux, Mont Saint-Michel, Nevers (tomb of St. Bernadette), the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, and the Normandy D-Day sites.
- Annual fish fry (Council of Catholic Women & Holy Name Society)
- Parish picnic / anniversary celebrations
- France pilgrimage September 28 – October 8, 2026 (sponsored by Pentecost Tours, leaving from Philadelphia)
Visiting the Parish
St. Peter Church is located at 121 S. 2nd Street in the heart of Columbia, with on-site parking, restrooms, and accessibility noted by the Diocese of Harrisburg. The parish office can be reached at (717) 684-7070 or [email protected], and weekly bulletins are posted online.
- Address: 121 S. 2nd Street, Columbia, PA 17512
- Phone: (717) 684-7070
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stpetercolumbiapa.org
- Amenities on site: Church, Parking, Restrooms
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Anthony Swamy, MSFSthrough June 23, 2018 (190th anniversary)
Celebrated the 190th anniversary Mass with Bishop Ronald Gainer on June 23, 2018, and commended the parish's outreach work in Columbia.
- Rev. Augustine Joseph, MSFScurrent pastor
Member of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (Fransalian Missionaries); shares ministry across St. Peter and Holy Trinity parishes in Columbia.