About St. Peter · Lorain, Ohio
St. Peter Parish is a Catholic parish in Lorain, Ohio, founded in 1909 by the local Italian immigrant community who wanted a church where their language and customs were celebrated. Today it serves Lorain and surrounding Lorain County as a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, with Sunday Masses, a daily Mass schedule, a K-8 parish school, religious education and youth ministry, a vibrant music program, and a food pantry that feeds the wider community. The parish's current pastor is Rev. Craig M. Hovanec, leading a staff that includes a Director of Religious Education, Director of Liturgy and Music, Communications/Athletics Director, bookkeeper, and parish secretary.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Craig M. Hovanec
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Peter Parish is a welcoming, multi-generational Italian-rooted Catholic community in Lorain that combines the traditions of a parish founded in 1909 with the active ministries of a contemporary faith community. Families can send their children to St. Peter School (K-8), teenagers and adults can journey through OCIA to become Catholic, and parishioners can join a traditional choir, Project Praise, or the Junior Praise children's choir. Beyond the church walls, the parish feeds Lorain County through a food pantry open on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, and welcomes new faces to weekday and Sunday Masses celebrated in the parish center chapel and main church.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM in the Church (or by appointment)
Parish History
St. Peter Parish traces its roots to 1909, when Lorain's Italian Catholic families organized their own congregation under the leadership of Rev. John Salerno. The first Gothic brick church was completed in 1914, remodeled and rededicated in 1931–32, and in 1962 the parish moved to its present Oberlin Avenue campus where a new church seating about 800 was opened on Christmas Eve. Read the full parish history on stpeterlorain.org/parish-history.
- Founded 1909 by Lorain's Italian community
- First church completed 1914 (architect Henry Wurmser)
- Remodeled and rededicated 1932 by Bishop Schrembs
- New Oberlin Avenue church opened Christmas Eve, December 24, 1962
- Pastors: Salerno → Leone → Weismuller → Reia → O'Dea → Hovanec
Pastoral Staff
St. Peter Parish is led by Pastor Rev. Craig M. Hovanec alongside a lay staff that directs liturgy, communications, religious education, senior ministry, and parish operations. The full staff directory is published on stpeterlorain.org/pastoral-staff.
- Rev. Craig M. Hovanec — Pastor
- Sr. Cordell Kopec, SND
- Mr. Anthony Trifiletti — Director of Liturgy and Music
- Mrs. Melissa Anderson — Director of Communications and Athletics
- Ms. Lenore Hales — Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry / Senior Ministry
- Mrs. Paula Bansek — Parish Bookkeeper
- Ms. Karen Counts — Parish Secretary
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the worship life of St. Peter as ushers, greeters, altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and through the Art and Environment committee, which plans and maintains the worship space for each liturgical season and special occasion.
- Ushers and Greeters
- Art and Environment committee
- Volunteer opportunities for Christmas, Easter, and throughout the year
Music Ministry
St. Peter's music ministry welcomes both seasoned musicians and anyone who loves to sing. The program is directed by Mr. Anthony Trifiletti, Director of Liturgy and Music, and includes opportunities for adults, contemporary ensembles, and children.
- St. Peter Traditional Choir
- Project Praise (contemporary ensemble)
- Junior Praise Children's Choir
- Contact: [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs Religious Education and Youth Ministry under Ms. Lenore Hales, complemented by OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for teens 13 and older and adults preparing to become Catholic. Sessions begin in September and the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist — are received at the Easter Vigil.
- Religious Education and Youth Ministry (Ms. Lenore Hales)
- OCIA for teens 13+ and adults
- Easter Vigil reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- OCIA Rites and Scrutinies
St. Peter School (K-8)
St. Peter School is the parish's K-8 elementary school, rooted in Catholic faith, academic excellence, and community service. The school handbook emphasizes weekly Mass, sacramental preparation in Grade 2 (First Reconciliation and First Eucharist) and Grade 8 (Confirmation), Virtus-trained teachers, and an aftercare program.
- Mission: rooted in Catholic faith, academic excellence, service
- Kindergarten through Grade 8
- Weekly Mass for all students
- Grade 2 — First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Grade 8 — Confirmation preparation
- Aftercare program available
Outreach & Food Pantry
St. Peter Parish operates a community food pantry that serves Lorain County residents, listed in the Northeast Ohio Food Resource Directory as open on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. The parish works alongside Catholic Charities' Lorain Family Center and other local agencies in caring for those in need.
- Food Pantry — 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 9:00–11:00 AM
- Parish address: 3655 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, OH 44053
- Phone: (440) 282-9103
Devotions & Community Life
Beyond Mass and confession, St. Peter offers Sunday Bible Study in the school cafeteria, a weekly Children's Liturgy of the Word at the Sunday Noon Mass, Vacation Bible School, and Senior Ministry under Ms. Lenore Hales. The parish also fields an athletics program under Mrs. Melissa Anderson.
- Sunday morning Bible Study (school cafeteria)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (weekly at Sunday Noon Mass)
- Vacation Bible School
- Senior Ministry
- Athletics program
Visit & Contact
St. Peter Parish is located at 3655 Oberlin Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44053, with the Parish Center open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The parish phone is (440) 282-9103 and fax (440) 282-9490. St. Peter School shares the campus and can be reached at (440) 282-9909.
- Address — 3655 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, OH 44053-2759
- Parish Phone — (440) 282-9103
- Parish Fax — (440) 282-9490
- Parish Center Office Hours — Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- St. Peter School — 3601 Oberlin Ave., (440) 282-9909
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Salerno1909–1914
Priest from southern Italy sent by Bishop Koudelka to organize Lorain's Italian community; directed the building of the first church but was not the resident pastor.
- Rev. Damian Leone1914–1922
First resident pastor; appointed when Bishop Schrembs laid the cornerstone; served eight years.
- Rev. Martin Weismuller1922–1923
Followed Father Leone as pastor; served about one year.
- Rev. Emmanuel Reia1923–c.1936
Succeeded Fr. Weismuller; served during a period of several successive pastors between 1922 and 1936.
- Rev. Vincent O'Dea1936–(post-1962)
Appointed Associate Pastor May 1936; became administrator January 1944; led the move to the new Oberlin Avenue church and school, opened Christmas Eve 1962.
- Rev. Craig M. Hovanecpresent
Current pastor, as listed by the Diocese of Cleveland and the parish website.