About St. Peter, Prince of Apostles · San Antonio, Texas
St. Peter Prince of the Apostles is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio serving the historic communities of Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, and the northeast corner of San Antonio. Established in 1923 by Bishop Arthur J. Drossaerts and dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926, the parish sits at 111 Barilla Place near Alamo Heights and offers daily and Sunday Masses in English, regular Confession, weekday Adoration, a robust Faith Formation program with RCIA, youth ministry featuring the Teen ACTS Retreat, and a long-running parish school founded by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word. The parish describes itself as 'Growing Together in Christ's Love' and welcomes both newcomers and returning Catholics into a community rooted in the Eucharist, Adoration, and service.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles
- Rector
- Rev. Martin Leopold (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio (Metropolitan Archdiocese)
Why belong here
St. Peter Prince of the Apostles offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life in a single, walkable community near Alamo Heights: Sunday Masses at three times plus a Saturday Vigil, weekday Masses each morning or evening, four regular Confession slots every week, and all-day Thursday Adoration after the 7:00 AM Mass. Parents have on-site Faith Formation for children, sacramental preparation, and a Confirmation-track youth ministry that runs the Teen ACTS Retreat at Well Springs Retreat Center in Blanco. Adult seekers are walked through the RCIA process, and a Bible and Church Fathers men's group supports ongoing formation. The parish welcomes returning Catholics and visitors alike with open arms, rooted in prayer and committed to forming disciples in Christ's love.
Mass times at St. Peter, Prince of Apostles
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Wednesday: 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Friday: 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM (immediately following the 7:00 AM Mass)
Parish Identity and Welcome
St. Peter Prince of the Apostles describes its mission as growing together in Christ's love — Rooted in Faith and United in Love. The parish presents itself as 'a beacon of faith, hope, and love' called to be a living witness to the Gospel, grounded in prayer, animated by the Spirit, and united in love. Its front door message is intentionally a 'Welcome Home': whether a visitor is new to San Antonio, returning to the Church after time away, or a lifelong Catholic looking for a parish community, the parish says it offers open and welcoming arms, a personalized path through the Catholic faith, and a safe place to explore. The parish motto language, 'Time – Adoration, Talent – Get Involved, Treasure – Online Giving,' signals how it speaks to a visitor's three classical stewardship responses in the body of its homepage.
- Motto: 'Rooted in Faith. United in Love.'
- Stewardship triad on homepage: Time (Adoration), Talent (Get Involved), Treasure (Online Giving)
- Welcome Home / I AM NEW / I AM RETURNING prompts for visitors
History of the Parish
The parish was established in 1923 by Bishop Arthur J. Drossaerts, then the bishop of San Antonio, to serve a wide swath of northeast San Antonio that included Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, and surrounding Bexar County neighborhoods. The church itself was dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926, giving the parish its worship home just as the suburb of Alamo Heights was taking shape. The parish also founded an elementary school in 1926 with the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, an institution that served K–8 families of the area for generations before its eventual closure. Across nearly a century, the parish has remained a stable Catholic presence in the northeast quadrant of San Antonio.
- 1923: parish established by Bishop Arthur J. Drossaerts
- April 4, 1926 (Easter Sunday): church dedicated
- 1926: Sisters of the Incarnate Word found the parish school at 141 Grove Place, Alamo Heights
Faith Formation for All Ages
The parish runs a full Faith Formation program under the heading 'Faith for all Seasons.' For adults considering Catholicism or seeking full communion, the parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — described on the parish site as 'Becoming Catholic, also known as the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults' — a process that welcomes newcomers from other Christian traditions, those new to Christianity, and those curious about the faith.
- RCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Registration for Religious Education (fillable form 2024–2025 on the website)
- Faith Formation for children and teenagers
- Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist preparation
- Bible and Church Fathers — Men's Group
Catechetical Instruction and Sacramental Preparation
The parish's Faith Formation program provides age-appropriate instruction in Catholic teachings, Scripture, and sacramental preparation for children, with interactive lessons, activities, and prayer experiences that introduce children to Jesus Christ and disciple-life. For high schoolers pursuing Confirmation, the youth ministry supports retreats, small groups, service projects, and participation in the sacraments.
- Religious Education classes for children
- Baptism preparation class (required for parents and godparents)
- Confirmation preparation for high schoolers
Youth Ministry and Teen ACTS Retreat
The parish's youth ministry is coordinated by Deacon Rich De Hoyos and offers teens a community of faith alongside retreats, small groups, and service projects. The annual Teen ACTS Retreat is held at Well Springs Retreat Center in Blanco, Texas, with transportation to and from the parish at 111 Barilla Place. The most recently published Teen ACTS retreat on the parish site ran Thursday, August 1 through Sunday, August 4, 2024, opening with check-in at the parish from 5:00–5:30 PM and closing with the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass followed by a reception for retreatants, families, and the ACTS community.
- Retreat site: Well Springs Retreat Center, Blanco TX
- Cost: $125 per retreatant
- Eligibility: incoming high school sophomores through recently graduated seniors
- Transportation provided to and from the retreat center
Liturgical Ministry and Music
Liturgical ministry is coordinated through Kim Morrison ([email protected]), who assists with MSP (Ministry Support Program / liturgical scheduling) and welcomes inquiries from parishioners interested in serving in liturgical roles. Nicole Cabello Medrano leads the parish's Music ministry.
- Liturgical Ministry coordinator: Kim Morrison
- Music Director: Nicole Cabello Medrano
- Contact for liturgical volunteers: [email protected]
Parish Staff
The parish is staffed by two priests (an Administrator and an associate priest), three deacons, and a full lay staff for ministry, formation, music, and parish operations. Daily operations and parish life flow through the Church Office, open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Administrator: Rev. Martin Leopold
- Associate Priest: Rev. Thumma Prathap
- Deacons: John Benage, Rich De Hoyos, Bob Kusenberger
- Director of Pastoral and Liturgical Ministries: Becky Finley
- Business Manager: Lora Balusik
- Parish Secretary: Alma Linda Palacios
- Bookkeeper: Elizabeth Evans
- Music: Nicole Cabello Medrano
- Religious Education: Diana Galicia
- Youth Ministry: Deacon Rich De Hoyos
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments of Catholic life. The published bulletin instructs families to call the Church Office to arrange a Baptism, with a Baptism Preparation Class required for parents and godparents. Confession is offered on the regular weekly schedule and by appointment. The RCIA process welcomes adults into full communion, and youth prepare for Confirmation through the parish youth ministry.
- Baptism of a Child — call Church Office; Baptism Preparation Class required for parents and godparents
- Reconciliation / Confession — Mon, Wed, Fri 4:30–5:15 PM; Sat 4:00–5:00 PM; or by appointment
- Eucharist / Holy Communion — daily and Sunday Mass schedule above
- Confirmation — parish youth ministry
- RCIA — Becoming Catholic for adults
Parish School (Historical)
St. Peter Prince of the Apostles operated an elementary school in Alamo Heights that was part of parish life for nearly a century. The school was founded in 1926 by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word at 141 Grove Place in Alamo Heights and taught kindergarten through eighth grade. After generations of service to northeast San Antonio families, the parish later announced the school would close following the spring semester, a decision it acknowledged with the wider school community in the context of financial pressures facing small parish schools.
- Founded 1926 by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word
- Location: 141 Grove Place, Alamo Heights
- Grades: K–8
- Closed after the spring semester following the parish's announcement