About St. Peter · Mary Esther, Florida
St. Peter Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Mary Esther, Florida, part of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Located at 100 Francis Street just north of U.S. Highway 98, the parish serves Catholics in south Okaloosa County and the surrounding panhandle communities — including many military families connected to nearby Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base. The parish offers weekend Masses on Saturday evening and twice on Sunday, daily weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration, while supporting ministries for youth, young adults, and families.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Fr. Doug Martin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Why belong here
St. Peter is a long-established Catholic parish on the Emerald Coast whose roots go back to 1975, with a long tradition of warmly welcoming newcomers — a reputation that began with its founders' door-to-door census of Catholic neighbors. It is a parish deeply connected to the military community around Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base, prays especially for military families, and offers ministries for every stage of life — Family Life Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and ongoing faith formation. With daily and weekend Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confessions, and the support of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and Bishop William A. Wack, St. Peter provides a stable, prayerful home for Catholics in south Okaloosa County and beyond.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- First Saturday: following the 8:00 AM Mass
- By appointment — email Fr. Doug Martin at [email protected]
Adoration times
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (immediately after the 8:00 AM Mass)
- First Saturday: 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Parish History
St. Peter Catholic Parish traces its origin to a gift of land and money by Pensacola businessman John H. Kelly, who donated 9.91 acres plus $50,000 to the Diocese of Saint Augustine on January 17, 1974 in memory of his parents Peter W. and Molly P. Kelly. Bishop Paul Tanner accepted the property just north of U.S. Highway 98, 2.5 miles west of Hurlburt Field, with the stipulation that a church be built within five years. Father James K. Bluett was appointed founding pastor on August 29, 1975, and the parish was officially established on October 1, 1975 — just six days before Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.
- Property donated January 17, 1974 by John H. Kelly
- Parish officially established October 1, 1975
- First Mass held in Mary Esther Elementary School cafeteria
- First Baptism: April Rene Nolan, April 4, 1976
- First First Communion: Donnie Dineen, December 25, 1975
- First Marriage: Stephen Kirby and Jacqueline Hagan, April 3, 1976 (Hurlburt Field Chapel)
- Church groundbreaking: May 21, 1978
- Church dedicated by Bishop Gracida: April 19, 1979
- Annual outdoor 'Mass on the Grass' at Liza Jackson Park, Fort Walton Beach, for ten Easters
Parish Ministries and Faith Formation
St. Peter offers ministries and formation opportunities for parishioners at every stage of life, with a particular focus on families and young adults. The parish also partners with Formed.org to provide Catholic movies, audio books, podcasts, and studies for parishioners' home use.
- Family Life Ministry — 'If you have a family, are about to start a family, or have ever been a part of a family, this ministry is for you!'
- Young Adult Ministry — opportunities for adults in their 20s and 30s to grow in faith and community.
- Youth / High School Youth Ministry — ongoing activities for middle and high school students.
- Religious Education / CCD — faith formation for parish children.
- Bible Study and adult faith formation
- Formation for the Family — Formed.org access (movies, audio books, podcasts, studies)
Military Family Outreach
Because the parish sits just 2.5 miles west of Hurlburt Field Air Force Base and within the larger Eglin Reservation, St. Peter has a long tradition of ministering to military families. The parish website includes a dedicated section praying for military families and welcomes service members, veterans, and their loved ones into parish life.
- Parish boundaries include Hurlburt Field AFB and the Eglin Reservation
- Active prayer support for military families highlighted on the parish homepage
- Pastoral sensitivity to deployments, transfers, and the rhythms of military life
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Schedules and preparation requirements are coordinated through the parish office. Confession is available at the regular Saturday time and by appointment with Fr. Doug Martin; baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and marriages are scheduled with the pastor.
- Baptism — preparation required; celebrated throughout the year
- First Holy Communion — annual parish celebration
- Confirmation — coordinated with the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
- Eucharist — daily and weekend Masses; weekly Eucharistic Adoration
- Confession — Saturday 8:30–10:00 AM and by appointment
- Matrimony — please contact the parish office to schedule preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — please contact the pastor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James K. Bluett1975–1983
Founding pastor; organized the parish, celebrated its first sacraments, oversaw construction and dedication of the church in 1979.
- Monsignor James AmosSeptember 1983 – January 1984
Second pastor; began the Book of Life remembering deceased parishioners; later named Rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Tallahassee.
- Father Edward A. KirbyJanuary 1984 – February 1998
Third pastor (formerly founding pastor of St. Sylvester Parish, Tiger Point); oversaw new rectory (1986) and Parish Center (1994), introduced St. Patrick's Day Dinner Dances, Oktoberfest, and 'Just for Fun' bingo for seniors.
- Father Joseph P. CallipareFebruary 21, 1998 – February 6, 2009
Fourth pastor; retired parish debt; began his well-known weekly 'Holy Hit List' visits to parishioners' homes; retired to Limerick, Ireland.