About St. Peter · Danbury, Connecticut
St. Peter Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Danbury, Connecticut and the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic communities of Danbury, Bethel, Redding, Ridgefield and Georgetown. Founded in 1851 by Bishop Bernard O'Reilly of Hartford and currently pastored by Rev. Gregg D. Mecca, the parish serves a richly diverse community that has grown over more than 175 years from its predominantly Irish roots to embrace large Brazilian and Latino Catholic populations. On January 1, 2025, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (est. 1925, originally serving the Polish community) was merged into St. Peter Parish under a decree of Bishop Frank Caggiano, with both church buildings remaining open. The parish's present neo-Gothic church building sits at 104 Main Street in the heart of downtown Danbury, anchoring the historic Main Street Historic District.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Gregg D. Mecca
- Diocese
- Diocese of Bridgeport
Why belong here
St. Peter offers daily and Sunday Mass in three languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese/Brazilian) across its two campuses — the historic Main Street Gothic Revival church and the recently merged Sacred Heart campus — making it one of the most linguistically welcoming parishes in the Diocese of Bridgeport. A parish school (Pre-K through Grade 8), a robust Religious Education program led by Carmen Tarazona, sacramental preparation in both English and Spanish, weekly Reconciliation, and a year-round calendar of devotions (Adoration, Healing Services, Stations of the Cross, fish fries) make it a full spiritual home for families, young adults, and longtime Danbury Catholics alike.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30–7:00 PM (Español)
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Periodic Adoration and Healing Services (e.g., Father Sean Kulacz, June 23, 2023 at 7:00 PM in St. Peter Church) — check parish calendar
Parish History — From 1845 Mass in a House to a 175-Year Landmark
The first Mass in Danbury was offered in 1845 in the Grassy Plains home of James Doyle by Fr. Michael Lynch of St. James in Bridgeport. For years the town's small Catholic population was served by periodic visits from pastors of neighboring parishes. On March 30, 1851, Bishop Bernard O'Reilly of Hartford formally created St. Peter Parish and appointed Fr. Thomas Ryan as its first pastor; the 400-family congregation initially worshiped in a former Universalist church on the corner of Main and Wooster Streets. By 1900 the parish had grown to about 6,000 members — predominantly Irish, with German, Italian, Hungarian, French, Polish, and Slav families as well. The 1870 cornerstone was laid by Bishop Francis Patrick McFarland, and the present Gothic Revival church was dedicated in January 1876. Through the generations, St. Peter's has served as the Mother Church of Danbury, Bethel, Redding, Ridgefield, and Georgetown, and today also serves large Brazilian and Latino communities.
The Church Building and the Main Street Historic District
The present church is a neo-Gothic (Gothic Revival) edifice designed by the Philadelphia firm of Keely and Murphy. Its façade features three entrances set into polychrome Gothic porches, with stained-glass windows above each in Gothic arches; the stained glass itself was produced in Munich by the Royal Bavarian Art Institute and the F. X. Zettler Company. The 1870 church, together with its rectory, convent, and school, forms a contributing complex within the Main Street Historic District listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The complex sits at 104 Main Street, in the heart of downtown Danbury.
St. Peter School
St. Peter School opened in 1885 during the tenure of pastor Thomas L. Lynch, originally staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. A preschool program for three- and four-year-olds was added in 1982. Today the school serves children in Pre-K through Grade 8 with lay teachers, continuing a tradition of Catholic education that has run for more than 135 years on the Main Street campus.
Religious Education and Faith Formation
The Religious Education Office coordinates sacramental preparation and ongoing catechesis for children whose families attend the parish schools or who attend public schools. The office is led by Director Carmen Tarazona and her assistant Deysi Illescas, reachable at 203-743-1048 or [email protected]. Children aged 7 and older preparing for Baptism follow a special formation program, and First Communion and Confirmation preparation is organized through the same office. Adults preparing to enter the Church do so through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
The Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments, with bilingual (English/Spanish) preparation where appropriate. Baptisms in English are scheduled at 1:15 PM on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, with required parent baptism classes held at the rectory (1:15–2:30 PM) on the 2nd Sunday. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education Office; Reconciliation is offered weekly; Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the parish office; Marriage and Holy Orders inquiries are also handled by the parish office and Diocese of Bridgeport Vocation Office respectively.
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is pastored by Rev. Gregg D. Mecca, who has administered both St. Peter and Sacred Heart parishes since the latter's pastor, Rev. Norm Guilbert, retired at the end of September 2024. The parish also benefits from the ministry of Deacon Timothy Bolton, who leads periodic 'Night of Reflection' talks such as 'Accompaniment.' The Religious Education Office is staffed by Director Carmen Tarazona and Assistant Deysi Illescas, and the parish school and faith-formation team carry out the catechetical mission in English and Spanish.
Devotions, Healing Services, and Parish Life
Beyond Sunday Mass, St. Peter offers a year-round devotional life. Periodic Adoration and Healing Services have been hosted with Father Sean Kulacz of Holy Family Parish and Encounter Ministries, including Laying on of Hands for healing in body, mind, and spirit. During Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed at 7:00 PM after a parish Fish Fry at Sacred Heart Church Hall ($10 per meal, 5:15–6:00 PM). The parish also hosts Night of Reflection evenings presented by Deacon Timothy Bolton, baptism preparation classes in English and Spanish, and other seasonal events advertised on the parish website and Facebook page.
The 2025 Merger with Sacred Heart of Jesus
In December 2024 Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport issued a decree merging Sacred Heart of Jesus Church into St. Peter Parish, effective January 1, 2025. Sacred Heart, founded in 1925 to serve Danbury's Polish community, had come to reflect the changing demographics of the city. The unified parish retains the name St. Peter Parish, and both church buildings remain open and active, each with its own Sunday schedule. The merger was carried out 'to strengthen the pastoral care of the People of God in this area of my diocese, to enhance the pastoral vitality and to improve the management of material resources,' according to the bishop's decree.
Getting Involved and Contact
Parishioners can participate as lectors, Eucharistic ministers (monthly schedules are published on the parish website), youth group members, members of the RCIA team, and through service at special events like the Lenten Fish Fry and Adoration & Healing nights. The parish office can be reached at 203-743-2707, with the Religious Education Office at 203-743-1048 ([email protected]). Online giving is available through OSV Hub, and the parish maintains a presence on Facebook (St. Peter's Church – Youth Group).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Ryan1851–
First pastor; appointed by Bishop Bernard O'Reilly of Hartford at the parish's founding on March 30, 1851.
- Rev. John Quinn1870s
Resumed construction of the present Gothic Revival church after work was halted by the Panic of 1873.
- Rev. Henry J. Lynchfrom December 1886
Became Rector; purchased land for the second St. Peter's cemetery; oversaw the addition of the spire and the chime of bells donated by the ladies of the parish.