About St. Peter · Fulton, Missouri
St. Peter Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Fulton, Missouri, in Callaway County, served by the Diocese of Jefferson City. The parish community worships at 700 State Road Z and operates both a parish school (PK–8) and an Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) on its grounds. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning, with the parish also serving as the mother church for the nearby mission community of St. Jude Thaddeus in Mokane. Rooted in small-town Mid-Missouri Catholic life since the late 19th century (GCatholic lists a founding year of 1875), St. Peter's is known for its parish school, Eucharistic Adoration each Tuesday, Knights of Columbus fish fries, and an annual Fall Festival that draws the wider community together.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- St. Peter (Prince of the Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Alexander Gabriel (effective July 1, 2024)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Peter is a parish that centers its life on the Eucharist, with daily Mass four days a week, weekly Tuesday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament beginning at 8:00 a.m., and Saturday-evening Confession before Mass. Families with children benefit from an on-site Catholic school (PK–8) and an Early Childhood Learning Center with extended-day hours, while adults can grow through parish groups like 'Topics in Catholicism' for high-school and college-aged parishioners. The parish also has a strong communal identity — its annual Fall Festival (dinner, country store, silent auction, games and raffle), Knights of Columbus Council 4454 Lenten Fish Fries, and an active parish prayer line make St. Peter a gathering place for Catholics across Callaway County.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:20 PM
- Other days by appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Tuesdays beginning at 8:00 AM
Parish at a Glance
St. Peter is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Jefferson City serving Fulton, Missouri, and the wider Callaway County area. Identified as a parish since 1875, it maintains an active sacramental schedule, a parish school, a child-care center, and a calendar of parish fundraisers and devotions. The pastor also serves as Parochial Administrator of the partner mission parish of St. Jude Thaddeus in nearby Mokane.
- Diocese: Jefferson City
- Pastor (since July 1, 2024): Rev. Alexander Gabriel
- Founded: 1875
- Address: 700 State Road Z, Fulton, MO 65251
- Phone: (573) 642-5562
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stpeterfulton.diojeffcity.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stpeterfulton
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor supported by two deacons, a parish-secretary/bookkeeper, a director of youth and music ministry, and the principals/directors of its school and Early Childhood Learning Center.
- Pastor: Rev. Alexander Gabriel (since 7/1/2024)
- Deacon John Neudecker ([email protected])
- Deacon Burdett Wilson ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary / Bookkeeper: Amy Reinhard ([email protected])
- Youth & Music Ministry: Shannon Cerneka ([email protected])
- School Principal: Erin Polson ([email protected])
- School Secretary: Sue Kyle ([email protected])
- ECLC Director: Gwen Medrow ([email protected])
Office Hours & Contact
The parish operates three front-of-house offices — the main Parish Office, the School Office, and the ECLC — each with its own phone line and posted weekday hours, plus a shared fax number.
- Parish Office: (573) 642-5562 — 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Mon–Fri
- School Office: (573) 642-2839 — 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Mon–Fri
- ECLC: (573) 642-9359 — 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Mon–Fri
- Fax: (573) 642-2839
- Main email: [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish prepares couples and families for the sacraments. Parents expecting a child should contact the parish office prior to the due date to arrange Baptism, and engaged couples are asked to contact the office at least six months before their proposed wedding date — and to confirm the church date before making other reservations. Reconciliation is available weekly before the Saturday Vigil Mass or by appointment, and Communion is brought to the homebound through the parish's 'Eucharist at Home' ministry.
- Baptism — call the office before the baby's due date
- Marriage — contact office at least 6 months in advance; book church date first
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:30–5:20 PM and by appointment
- Eucharist at Home — Carolyn Risch-Darron, (573) 590-1143
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
St. Peter Catholic School
St. Peter Catholic School has educated students in the Callaway County area since 1934. The school is co-educational and serves prekindergarten through eighth grade, and is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). Beyond the classroom, students participate in interscholastic athletics including basketball, cheering, cross country, track and field, and volleyball.
- Founded: 1934
- Grades: Prekindergarten–8, co-ed
- Enrollment: about 126 students; ~9 teachers (~14:1 ratio)
- Member: National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
- Sports: Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Track and Field, Volleyball
- Principal: Erin Polson
- Secretary: Sue Kyle
- Office: (573) 642-2839 — 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Mon–Fri
Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC)
On the same campus as the church and school, the St. Peter Early Childhood Learning Center provides extended-day care for the youngest children of the parish and community. Its long weekday hours make it workable for working parents across the Fulton area.
- Director: Gwen Medrow ([email protected])
- Phone: (573) 642-9359
- Hours: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday–Friday
Parish Life & Community Events
Parish life at St. Peter revolves around a few signature gatherings. The annual Fall Festival — held on a Sunday in September — is a community-wide fundraiser featuring a dinner, country store, silent auction, games, and raffle. During Lent, the Knights of Columbus Council 4454 host parish Fish Fries on Fridays. Faith formation outside of Mass includes the 'Topics in Catholicism' discussion series aimed at high-school- and college-aged parishioners.
- Fall Festival (September) — dinner, country store, silent auction, games, raffle
- Knights of Columbus Council 4454 Lenten Fish Fries — Fridays during Lent
- Topics in Catholicism — discussion group for high-school & college-aged parishioners
- Lenten Mission (annual multi-evening event with guest priest)
Missions & Outreach
St. Peter maintains strong ties to its surrounding rural mission. St. Jude Thaddeus in Mokane was organized as a mission of St. Peter on April 1, 1909 by Fr. George W. Hoehn and became an independent parish in 1969; today the two communities share a pastor (St. Peter's pastor also serves as Parochial Administrator of St. Jude's). Ministry to the homebound is coordinated through the Eucharist-at-Home program, and the parish prayer line offers prayer support to anyone in need.
- Partner mission: St. Jude Thaddeus, Mokane (Sunday 9:15 AM Mass)
- Eucharist at Home visits (Carolyn Risch-Darron, 573-590-1143)
- Parish Prayer Line (Helen Hosenfelt, 573-642-5855)
Visiting & Contact
Visitors can find the parish at 700 State Road Z in Fulton, Missouri — the same campus that houses the school and ECLC. The Parish Office is open weekdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and can be reached at (573) 642-5562, with general inquiries handled at [email protected]. The parish also maintains a Facebook page (facebook.com/stpeterfulton) with event photos and weekly bulletin announcements.
- Address: 700 State Road Z, Fulton, MO 65251
- Phone: (573) 642-5562
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stpeterfulton.diojeffcity.org / stpeterfultonmo.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stpeterfulton
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Alexander Gabriel2024–present
Appointed Pastor of St. Peter, Fulton and Parochial Administrator of St. Jude Thaddeus, Mokane by Bishop McKnight, effective July 1, 2024. A priest of the Diocese of Daltonganj, India, ordained 1983. Previously pastor of Holy Family Parish, Hannibal and St. Joseph, Palmyra.
- Rev. Joseph A. Abah, Ph.D.2018–2024
Served as pastor of both St. Peter, Fulton and St. Jude Thaddeus, Mokane. Reassigned to ministry outside the Diocese of Jefferson City effective July 1, 2024.