About St. Peter · Huber Heights, Ohio
St. Peter is a Roman Catholic parish in Huber Heights, Ohio, founded in 1961 to serve the growing Catholic population in the suburbs of north Dayton. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and today is one of five parishes that make up the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes, formed under the Archdiocese's Beacons of Light initiative. The parish serves approximately 2,400 families, operates St. Peter Catholic School (K–8, a Purple Star School honoring military-connected children), and runs an active outreach network including a parish food pantry (est. 1996) and a St. Vincent de Paul conference. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a Hispanic ministry staffed by a dedicated priest.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- St. Peter (Simon Peter, Prince of the Apostles)
- Rector
- Father Kyle Schnippel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. Peter is one of the largest and most active parishes in the Huber Heights/north Dayton area, with worship offered daily in English and several weekends Masses in Spanish for the Hispanic community. It pairs a strong Catholic K–8 school (a designated Purple Star School for military families) with robust parish-school faith formation, a director of evangelization and stewardship, vibrant youth ministry, and a longstanding tradition of outreach through its St. Vincent de Paul Conference and 1996-founded food pantry that now feeds roughly 100 households a week. Its modern 1979 church, family life center, Father Victor Ries Center, athletic fields and active liturgical music program give newcomers multiple entry points into parish life.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
- Tuesday 7:00–7:45 AM (following the 6:30 AM Mass)
- Wednesday 5:30–6:15 PM
- Thursday 5:30–6:00 PM (Spanish)
- Friday 5:30–6:15 PM (only before First Friday Masses)
- Sunday 4:00–4:30 PM (Spanish, before the 4:30 PM Spanish Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday – Adoration after the 6:30 AM Mass until 4:00 PM
- Friday – Adoration after the 8:30 AM Mass until 4:00 PM
History of St. Peter Parish
St. Peter was established in 1961 by Archbishop Karl J. Alter as a mission parish for Catholics in the rapidly suburbanizing Wayne Township and Huber Heights area north of Dayton. From humble beginnings — Mass in a converted garage chapel and a nearby public school — it grew into one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, with about 2,400 families today. The parish has been led by five pastors across more than six decades, and its built campus has expanded continuously since the first church was constructed in 1962 on Chambersburg Road.
- 1961 – Parish founded by Archbishop Karl J. Alter
- 1962 – First church built on Chambersburg Road
- 1963 – School and convent addition completed
- 1968 – Fr. Leander Schweitzer concludes his pastorate
- 1979 – Present church with 47-foot bell tower dedicated by Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin (Dec. 16)
- 1994 – Family Life Center opens
- 1996 – St. Peter Food Pantry established
- 2004 – Father Victor Ries Center dedicated
- 2011 – 50th anniversary celebrated; closing Mass with retired Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk
- 2024 – Joined the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes (Beacons of Light)
St. Peter Catholic School (K–8)
St. Peter Catholic School is a parish school serving grades K through 8, operating under the authority of the pastor and the direction of Principal Kelly Kadel. It is accredited through the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and provides Religion, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Physical Education, and basic Spanish instruction (Rosetta Stone) for grades 4–8, with Algebra/Pre-Algebra exposure in middle school. The school has earned the State of Ohio's Purple Star designation in recognition of its long-standing support for military-connected children — a distinction especially meaningful in Huber Heights near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
- Principal: Mrs. Kelly Kadel ([email protected])
- School Office: 6185 Chambersburg Rd., Huber Heights, OH 45424 — 937-233-8710
- School Hours: 8:30 AM – 3:15 PM
- School Age Childcare Program (SAPP) — before/after care
- Early Childhood Center (ECC) for younger children
- Tuition Manager: Mrs. Kellie Jobe
- PTO organizes Autumn Harvest, Victoria Theater field trips, Family Movie Night, Book Fairs, staff appreciation, and the Mum Sale fundraiser
- Special needs services: Intervention Specialist, Speech/Language Pathologist, Reading Specialist, School Clinician
- Purple Star School designation honoring military families
- School feeder faith events: 8th Grade Graduation Mass, weekly school Mass on Wednesdays
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides catechetical instruction for parish children who do not attend St. Peter School, supporting preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The Director of Evangelization (Elise Sas) coordinates adult faith formation, while the Director of Worship (Paula Kern) and Director of Music (Katy McCormick) oversee liturgical catechesis. Two Youth Ministers (Jeanne Fairbanks and Elena Pope) lead middle-school and high-school youth ministry programs.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) office: 937-237-3516
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- Adult evangelization programs
- Liturgical music ministry and choirs
- Middle school and high school youth ministry
- RCIA / adult initiation into the Catholic Church (coordinated through the Evangelization office)
Outreach, Charity and Social Justice
Outreach is one of the defining marks of St. Peter Parish. The parish hosts a St. Vincent de Paul Conference that visits neighbors in need in the 45424 zip code and helps with rent, utilities, medicine, food and household items. Since 1996 the parish has operated the St. Peter Food Pantry, a volunteer-run, non-denominational food assistance ministry that now serves roughly 100 households per week across the 45424, 45404 and 45431 zip codes. Parishioners also cook and serve meals for the St. Vincent de Paul Shelter in downtown Dayton, and the parish hosts an annual free Thanksgiving dinner open to the entire Huber Heights community.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — phone 937-237-2111; [email protected]
- St. Peter Food Pantry — Saturdays 10 AM–12 noon; est. 1996; serves ~100 households/week
- St. Vincent Shelter Meals program — 937-233-0594
- Annual free Thanksgiving Dinner for the Huber Heights community
- Nursing Ministry and parish visitations to the homebound
- Young Marines youth program
Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano
St. Peter maintains an active Hispanic ministry staffed by Father Carlos Moreno (Director of Hispanic Evangelization). The community gathers for a Spanish-language Sunday evening Mass at 4:30 PM, a Thursday evening Spanish Mass at 6:00 PM, and Spanish-language Confessions on Sundays before Mass and on Thursday evenings. The ministry welcomes Spanish-speaking Catholics from across the Huber Heights and north Dayton area.
- Sunday 4:30 PM Mass in Spanish
- Thursday 6:00 PM Mass in Spanish
- Sunday 4:00–4:30 PM Confessions in Spanish
- Thursday 5:30–6:00 PM Confessions in Spanish
- Fr. Carlos Moreno, Director of Hispanic Evangelization
Parish Staff and Administration
The parish is led by Pastor Father Kyle Schnippel and a professional staff that includes directors for Worship, Evangelization, Music and Stewardship, plus two Pastoral Associates, two Youth Ministers, and a COO. The business side is handled by a Business Manager, Finance Administrator, Bookkeeper, Office Manager and HR lead. St. Peter School is led by Principal Kelly Kadel with its own administrative assistant and tuition manager.
- Pastor: Fr. Kyle Schnippel
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Andrew Smith, Fr. Chibueze Asiegbulem
- Director of Worship: Paula Kern
- Director of Evangelization: Elise Sas
- Director of Music: Katy McCormick
- Director of Stewardship: Samuel Ritze
- Chief Operating Officer: Cameron Haller
- Business Manager: Kelly Collier
- Finance Administrator: Lonnie Adkins
- Pastoral Associates: Andrea Parker, Joy Blaul
- Youth Ministers: Jeanne Fairbanks, Elena Pope
- Communications: Laura Joliat
- Office Manager: Victoria Hammermeister
- School Principal: Kelly Kadel
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
St. Peter celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation is offered through both the parish school and the Parish School of Religion, with 8th-grade students culminating their Confirmation preparation at a graduation Mass. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least six months in advance. Anointing of the Sick is available on request and is offered communally during seasons of illness.
- Baptism (infant and adult via RCIA)
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
- Confirmation (typically in 8th grade)
- Marriage (six months preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals and Christian burial
- Pastoral care for the homebound and hospitalized
Facilities and Campus
The parish campus on Chambersburg Road has grown over six decades into a full service community center. The present church (1979) anchors the property; nearby stand the original school/convent (1963), the Family Life Center (1994) and the Father Victor Ries Center (2004). Athletic fields and ample parking surround the buildings, and the campus is used daily for worship, school, faith formation, youth events, fellowship and outreach programming.
- Present church dedicated 1979 with 47-foot bell tower
- School building (1963) at 6185 Chambersburg Rd.
- Family Life Center (1994)
- Father Victor Ries Center (2004)
- Parish office in the administration wing
- Athletic fields and parish grounds
- Ample free parking adjacent to church and school
Getting Involved
Visitors and parishioners are invited to become part of parish life through one of many ministries. The Pastoral Council meets quarterly across the Family of Parishes, and most apostolates welcome new volunteers without long-term commitments. Practical needs — particularly at the food pantry and St. Vincent de Paul Conference — are always in need of additional hands.
- Volunteer at the St. Peter Food Pantry (Mon/Wed/Fri mornings or Saturdays)
- Join the St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Volunteer for the St. Vincent Shelter Meals program
- Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, usher or altar server
- Music ministry — choirs, cantors, instrumentalists
- Faith formation catechist for PSR
- Youth ministry volunteer
- School volunteer (PTO, classroom helper, athletics)
- Pastoral Council member
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Leander Schweitzer1961–1968
Founding pastor; high-school teacher when Archbishop Karl J. Alter named him to lead the new parish. Lived in a house on Rosalie Road whose garage was converted to office/chapel; celebrated weekday Masses there and Sunday Masses in a nearby public school.
- Father Victor Ries1968–1982
Second pastor. Oversaw construction of the present church with its 47-foot bell tower, dedicated Dec. 16, 1979. Honored posthumously when the parish's Ries Center was dedicated in 2004.
- Father Lawrence Krusling1982–1992
Third pastor; presided over continued growth in Huber Heights during the 1980s.
- Father Simone1992–
Fourth pastor; led St. Peter for nearly two decades. Opened the Family Life Center in 1994 and the Father Victor Ries Center in 2004. Served until succeeded by Fr. Schnippel under the Beacons of Light reorganization.
- Father Kyle Schnippelpresent
First pastor of the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes (Beacons of Light), assigned 2024. Also notable nationally for his appearance on 'The Great American Baking Show.'
