About St. Peter Lithuanian Parish · Boston, Massachusetts
St. Peter Lithuanian Parish is a historic Catholic parish at 75 Flaherty Way in South Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1896 by Lithuanian immigrants and today part of the South Boston–Seaport Catholic Collaborative alongside St. Monica. It is the only remaining Lithuanian parish in the Archdiocese of Boston and serves as the spiritual home of the Lithuanian community throughout New England. Weekly Masses are offered in both English and Lithuanian, and the parish supports a wide Lithuanian Apostolate, religious education program, food pantry, and outreach through the Knights of Lithuania and Boston Lithuanian Scouts.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. William M. Kennedy
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Peter Lithuanian is a living bridge between Lithuanian Catholic heritage and the wider South Boston community. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Lithuanian every Sunday, runs an active religious education program (First Penance, First Communion, Confirmation), sustains a Lithuanian Apostolate with bilingual bulletins, devotions and retreats, and supports community groups such as the Knights of Lithuania Council 17, the Boston Lithuanian Scouts, and a parish food pantry. Anyone seeking a parish where faith, language, and cultural tradition are woven together — and where newcomers are warmly welcomed — will feel at home here.
Mass times at St. Peter Lithuanian Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00 AM (at St. Peter, before the 9:00 AM Mass)
History of St. Peter Lithuanian Parish
St. Peter parish was established in 1896 under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Joseph Gricius to serve Lithuanian immigrants in South Boston. In 1899 the Lithuanian community purchased the land the church was to be built on, and in 1904 Reverend Peter Zilinskas officiated at the blessing of the new church. The walls of that original church were, by tradition, raised by the immigrants themselves with money they raised and materials they gathered. The parish grew through three waves of Lithuanian immigration — late 19th / early 20th century, post-WWII, and post-1990 — and today the small but devoted community travels in from across Greater Boston to keep that heritage alive.
- 1896 — Parish established under Rev. Joseph Gricius for Lithuanian immigrants.
- 1899 — Lithuanian community purchases the land for the new church.
- 1904 — Rev. Peter Zilinskas blesses the newly built church.
- 1934 — Rev. Francis Virmauskis invites the Sisters of Jesus Crucified to teach Sunday School.
- 1945 — Sisters of Jesus Crucified officially open St. Peter School.
- June 2001 — Sisters of Jesus Crucified retire from St. Peter School.
- Early 1990s — First major renovation of St. Peter Church.
- 2004 — Parish placed on archdiocesan closure list; parishioners successfully campaign to save it.
- 2015 — St. Peter Lithuanian and St. Monica merge into the South Boston–Seaport Catholic Collaborative.
- October 20, 2024 — 120th anniversary of the church celebrated at a special Mass.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Through its Religious Education program, St. Peter Lithuanian Parish prepares children for the three sacraments of Christian initiation: First Penance (Reconciliation), First Communion, and Confirmation. The program is directed by Dr. Aldona Lingertat, who also serves as co-director of the Lithuanian Apostolate. The parish has also hosted the Archdiocese's Why Catholic? (formerly Arise) small-group faith-sharing program, with materials translated into Lithuanian by parishioner Mirga Girnius and her committee.
- First Confession preparation
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Religious Education Director: Dr. Aldona Lingertat ([email protected])
- Why Catholic? / Arise small-group program (Lithuanian-language materials)
The Lithuanian Apostolate
The Lithuanian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Boston is based at St. Peter Lithuanian Parish and serves Lithuanian Catholics across New England. In 2018 — after the reassignment of longtime Lithuanian-descent pastor Fr. Steve Žukas — the Archdiocese established a new lay-led structure for the Apostolate, a first in the archdiocese, with parishioners Gloria Adomkaitis and Dr. Aldona Lingertat appointed co-directors and Daiva Navickas as administrative assistant. The Apostolate publishes a bilingual monthly bulletin (now distributed by email, on the website, and on Facebook, with printed copies still available at the church), organizes bilingual Masses, an annual children's Mass, Advent and Lenten retreats for Lithuanian speakers, a Christmas Eve Mass with a children's Nativity procession, and joint events with the Boston Lithuanian Scouts and the Boston Lithuanian School.
- Co-Directors: Gloria Adomkaitis and Dr. Aldona Lingertat
- Administrative Assistant: Daiva Navickas
- Bilingual monthly bulletin (email, website, Facebook, and printed copies in church)
- Annual children's Mass (bilingual)
- Advent and Lenten retreats for Lithuanian speakers
- Christmas Eve Mass with Nativity procession
- Advisory Board: Aldona Adams, Birutė Banaitis, Vilija Bonda, Dan Bonda, Gita Kupčinskas, Vida Penikas, Dalia Zikas
- Contact: [email protected] • 617-433-0015
- Donations: mailed to PO Box 270799, South Boston, MA 02127, checks payable to 'Lithuanian Apostolate'
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Peter is led by a collaborative pastoral team that serves both St. Peter Lithuanian Parish and partner parish St. Monica. The team includes ordained clergy, deacons, lay ecclesial ministers, and a Lithuanian Apostolate staff dedicated to the heritage community.
- Pastor: Rev. William M. Kennedy
- In Residence: Rev. Jude Anyanwu, C.M.F. (presides at Mass and remains present to the Lithuanian community)
- Deacon: Deacon Alejandro Iarola (Hispanic Ministry)
- Finance & Operations Manager: Susan McLeod
- Pastoral Associate: Marie Philomène Péan
- Sacristan and Food Pantry Coordinator: Colin McLean
- Caretaker of Buildings & Property: Colin McLean
- Music Ministry: Daiva Navickas (organist), Jean Shifflett (Music Minister & Cantor), Charles Connor, Erin Dilworth
- Faith Formation: Dr. Aldona Lingertat
- Lithuanian Apostolate: Gloria Adomkaitis & Aldona Lingertat (Co-Directors); Daiva Navickas (Administrative Assistant)
Parish Council
The Parish Council advises the pastor on parish concerns and shares those concerns with the wider community. The pastor convenes the council roughly every other month.
- Chair: Glorija Adomkaitienė
- Secretary: Mirga Girniuvienė
- Members: Gintaras Čepas, Phyllis Gendreau, Rima Girniuvienė, Ann Kleponis, Aldona Lingertaitienė, Bill Olevitz, Antanas Shalna, Joanne Shalna, Brenda Wachak
Community Groups and Ministries
Beyond the liturgy, St. Peter Lithuanian Parish is home to a remarkable network of Lithuanian-American organizations that keep heritage, scouting, education, and outreach alive for generations of families.
- Knights of Lithuania, Council 17 (meets after 9 AM Mass in the parish hall; promotes devotion to Our Lady of Šiluva)
- Boston Lithuanian Scouts — Baltijos and Žalgiris Scout troops
- Boston Lithuanian School (founded 1949; teaches Lithuanian literature, history, geography, music, folk dance, and current events)
- Food Pantry (coordinated by the parish; serves local families in need)
- Good Samaritan Ministry — Peace Cook Out community events (volunteer-cooked meals, games, back-to-school supply bags for children)
Annual Events and Devotions
The parish calendar weaves together the liturgical year and Lithuanian national and cultural feasts, drawing the community to the church throughout the year.
- Lithuanian Independence Day — 10:30 Mass with short program after Mass (organized by Lithuanian American Community, Boston chapter)
- St. Casimir's Day Mass
- St. Casimir Fair (Kazimiero Mugė) — hosted by the Lithuanian Scouts
- Senior Appreciation Lunch (Pensininkų Balius) — hosted by Boston Lithuanian Scouts on Palm Sunday
- Taizé Lenten Prayer Service
- Advent Retreat for Lithuanian speakers
- Children's Bilingual Mass
- Christmas Eve Mass with children's Nativity procession
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish at its office on Flaherty Way / Orton Marotta Way in South Boston, by mail at PO Box 270799, South Boston, MA 02127, or by phone at 617-268-8100. The Lithuanian Apostolate maintains its own email line ([email protected]) and phone (617-433-0015) for questions about bilingual Masses, the bulletin, and Lithuanian-heritage programs. Bulletin announcements are posted on the collaborative website and on the parish Facebook page.
- Parish Phone: 617-268-8100
- Lithuanian Apostolate: [email protected] • 617-433-0015
- Parish Office: 50 Orton Marotta Way, South Boston, MA 02127
- Mailing Address: PO Box 270799, South Boston, MA 02127
- Parish website: https://www.stpeterlithuanianparish.org/
- Collaborative website: https://sbscatholic.org/
- Mass intentions and bulletin requests handled through the Lithuanian Apostolate
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Gricius1896–
Founding pastor of St. Peter Lithuanian Parish in 1896, established to serve Lithuanian immigrants in South Boston.
- Rev. Peter Zilinskas1904
Officiated alone at the blessing of the new church in 1904.
- Rev. Francis Virmauskis1934–
In the summer of 1934 invited the Sisters of Jesus Crucified to teach Sunday School; the Sisters later opened St. Peter School in 1945.
- Rev. Stephen P. Žukas (Fr. Steve Zukas)
Long-serving pastor of Lithuanian descent; reassigned to another parish, after which the archdiocese created a new lay-led structure for the Lithuanian Apostolate.
- Rev. Peter DeFazio
Succeeded Fr. Zukas as pastor of St. Peter; worked with the Lithuanian Apostolate to maintain bilingual Masses though he did not himself speak Lithuanian.
- Rev. William M. Kennedy
Current pastor of the South Boston–Seaport Catholic Collaborative, serving St. Peter Lithuanian Parish alongside St. Monica.