About St. Peter · Saint Charles, Missouri
St. Peter Catholic Church is a historic parish in the heart of downtown Saint Charles, Missouri, established in 1850 to serve the German-speaking Catholic settlers of the river city. Located a short walk from Missouri's First Capitol and across the street from the former St. Joseph Health Center, the parish belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Louis and is named for Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles. For more than 175 years, generations of Catholics have worshipped in its Romanesque-style church, which was once one of the largest churches west of the Mississippi River. Today the parish shares pastoral staff and the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School with neighboring St. Charles Borromeo Parish, and offers a daily 6:30 a.m. Mass, weekend liturgies, Eucharistic adoration, OCIA, a Saint Vincent de Paul conference, and an Early Learning Center.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles
- Rector
- Rev. James Theby
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Peter offers a chance to be part of a downtown Saint Charles parish with more than 175 years of Catholic heritage, while still serving a living, active community. Daily 6:30 a.m. Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration on Tuesdays, a robust OCIA program, Saint Vincent de Paul outreach, and ministries to the homebound make it easy to find a way to pray, serve, and belong. Families with young children benefit from the on-site St. Peter Early Learning Center, and parishioner families are welcomed at the shared St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School nearby.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Tuesday: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Last Tuesday of the month: 6:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 8:30 a.m.
- Tuesday: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Welcome & Parish Mission
St. Peter Catholic Church describes itself as 'a people united in faith and sharing in the life of Christ,' called to be 'ministers of the word of Christ and His work of salvation' and 'signs of the Lord's love, peace, justice and mercy.' The parish welcomes visitors and newcomers, noting that generations of Catholics have worshipped here since 1850 and inviting all to join in the prayer of the parish and the powerful intercession of its patron, Saint Peter.
- Located in the historic downtown district of Saint Charles
- Walking distance from Missouri's First Capitol
- Across the street from the former St. Joseph Health Center
- Welcomes visitors during religious and civic festivals
- Chapel available for daytime prayer by contacting the parish office
History of St. Peter Parish (1848–Present)
Founded in response to the German Catholic immigration wave of the 1830s and 1840s, St. Peter has worshipped continuously in a Romanesque-style church since 1861. Generations of pastors and parishioners enlarged the church in 1910, restored it repeatedly through the 20th and 21st centuries, and built schools, convents, halls, a parish center, and a chapel building that still serve the parish today. The parish celebrated its Sesquicentennial on Pentecost, June 11, 2000.
- 1848 — Organizing meeting May 6; cornerstone laid September 19
- 1850 — First Mass offered January 1; Father Joseph Rauch named first pastor
- 1860 — Notre Dame sisters arrive as schoolteachers (remain until 1996)
- 1861 — Storm damages church; cornerstone laid June 13 for current Romanesque building; dedicated December 18
- 1864 — Consecrated by Archbishop Peter Kenrick on September 4
- 1872 — Steeple, tower clock, and original organ installed
- 1882 — Father Francis X. Wilmes begins 50-year pastorate
- 1888 — Two-story chapel and hall built east of the church
- 1900 — New school and auditorium dedicated September 23
- 1910 — Enlarged sanctuary, sacristies, and transept added; length now 164 feet
- 1932 — Father Anthony Strauss begins 34-year pastorate
- 1935 — Current rectory built
- 1944 — Extensive church remodeling (lighting, tabernacle, confessionals, organ)
- 1949 — New convent for the sisters dedicated July 3
- 1956 — High school closes with the opening of Duchesne High School
- 1985 — Parish Center dedicated November 17
- 1999 — New chapel building blessed January 1; new pews and carpeting installed in church
- 2000 — Sesquicentennial Mass on Pentecost, June 11
- 2006 — Capital Campaign 'Preserving our Heritage' launched
- 2008 — Church tuck-pointed; new sanctuary altar consecrated
- 2009 — New standing-seam roof installed
- 2010 — Main parking lot at 2nd Street & 1st Capitol resurfaced
- 2012 — All stained-glass windows removed and fully restored
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by Father James Theby as Pastor, with Father George Staley serving as Part-Time Associate Pastor, Transitional Deacon Michael Laugeman, and Permanent Deacon Lawrence 'Larry' Boldt as Pastoral Associate. A full parish office staff supports the clergy with administration, communications, music, child safety, weddings, and the bulletin.
- Fr. James Theby — Pastor (ext. 2240, [email protected])
- Fr. George Staley — Part-Time Associate Pastor (ext. 2228, [email protected])
- Rev. Mr. Michael Laugeman — Transitional Deacon
- Deacon Larry Boldt — Pastoral Associate (ext. 2212, [email protected])
- Mary Lorenz — Business Manager (ext. 2210)
- Peggy Oleson — Administrative Assistant (ext. 2200)
- Karen Hortenstine — Communications Coordinator (ext. 2201)
- Tiffany Wittig — Child Safety Coordinator & Events Coordinator (ext. 2270)
- Kate Winker — Music Director (803-730-4000)
- Alexa Ibarra — Administrative Assistant (ext. 2204)
- Abby Klobe — Bulletin Editor (ext. 1173)
- Maureen Minich — Wedding Scheduler (ext. 2211)
Parish Ministries & Service
St. Peter offers a range of liturgical, spiritual, and outreach ministries that allow parishioners to serve both inside the church and in the wider community. From bringing Communion to the homebound to serving those in need through the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, the parish has a place for every talent and stage of life.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ministers to the Homebound
- Ministry of Eucharistic Adorers
- New Parishioner Welcome Committee
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (O.C.I.A.)
- Saint Vincent de Paul Society
- Society of Found Sheep
- Sunday School (children's faith formation after 10:00 a.m. Mass, third Sunday)
Faith Formation & Education
Children's faith formation at St. Peter takes the form of Sunday School, which meets after the 10:00 a.m. Mass on the third Sunday of the month to share the beauty of the faith with the younger generation, and is coordinated by Camie Dickherber. Adult formation happens through OCIA for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Catholic school-age children of registered parishioners are served by the shared St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, while toddlers and preschoolers attend the on-site St. Peter Early Learning Center.
- Sunday School coordinator: Camie Dickherber ([email protected])
- OCIA for adults preparing for Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School (K-8) — shared parish school
- St. Peter Early Learning Center (year-round, on-site)
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School (Shared Parish School)
St. Peter families are welcomed at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, the full-time parish school of neighboring St. Charles Borromeo Parish located at 431 Decatur Street, St. Charles, MO 63301. The school is accredited by the Missouri NonPublic School Accrediting Association, and St. Peter subsidizes the school for parishioner families. The principal is Dr. Daniel Mullenschlader and the pastor listed for the school is Rev. James Theby.
- Address: 431 Decatur St., St. Charles, MO 63301
- Phone: 636-946-2713 | Fax: 636-946-3096
- Email: [email protected]
- Principal: Dr. Daniel Mullenschlader
- Assistant Principal: Mrs. Michelle Winkler
- Pastor for the school: Rev. James Theby
- K-8 Catholic school accredited by the Missouri NonPublic School Accrediting Association
St. Peter Early Learning Center
St. Peter Early Learning Center provides a secure, nurturing, year-round educational environment for young children on the parish campus. The center engages the whole child — cognitively, physically, socially, and spiritually — and keeps parents connected through an interactive mobile app with daily activity descriptions and photos.
- Year-round early childhood program
- Director: Alison Beach (ext. 1162)
- Assistant: Crysten Allen (ext. 1107)
- More info: https://stpeterelc.org/
Sacraments
Information about Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation is available through the parish office. Weddings are coordinated through parish Wedding Scheduler Maureen Minich. Reconciliation is heard regularly on Saturday afternoons and Tuesday evenings.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation
- Marriage (Wedding Scheduler: Maureen Minich, ext. 2211, [email protected])
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation: Saturday 2:30–3:45 p.m. and Tuesday 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Contact, Visiting & Newcomers
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located under the chapel in the main parking lot. To register, call the parish office or email [email protected]; paper registration forms are available in the office and can be returned in the Offertory basket, by mail, or by email.
- Address: 221 First Capitol Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
- Phone: (636) 946-6641 | Fax: (636) 946-9789
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Parish registration available by phone, mail, email, or in person
- Chapel open for daytime prayer by arrangement through the parish office
- Mobile app available via MyParishApp
- Flocknote network: stpeterstcharles.flocknote.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Rauch1848–(1850s)
First pastor. Named to organize the new parish; the cornerstone was laid September 19, 1848 and the first Mass was offered January 1, 1850.
- Father Wapelhorstmid-1800s
Second pastor. Invited the Notre Dame sisters, who arrived in 1860 to teach in the parish school.
- Father Francis X. WilmesJanuary 1, 1882 – ~1932 (50 years)
Longest-serving pastor. In 1896 the parish received an irremovable pastorship (a practice discontinued in 1917). Oversaw new stained-glass windows, steam heating (1885), additional cemetery land, a two-story chapel/hall (1888), and a new school/auditorium (1900).
- Father Anthony Strauss1932 – 1966 (34 years)
Built the current rectory in 1935; oversaw the 1944 church remodeling (lighting, tabernacle, confessionals, organ, choir loft) and the 1949 convent.