About St. Peter · Somerset, Pennsylvania
St. Peter's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving the borough of Somerset and surrounding communities in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The parish was founded in 1920 when Bishop John J. McCort commissioned Rev. Michael Brett to establish a new congregation, with the first Mass celebrated on Christmas Day of that year. Today the parish worships in a church built in 1954 on West Church Street and continues to operate St. Peter Catholic School (K-6), staffed by clergy, religious, and laity committed to worship, service, and fellowship in imitation of Christ.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Angelo J. Patti, VF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Peter's is a parish where the fullness of Catholic life — Sunday Mass, confession, Eucharistic Adoration, sacramental preparation, faith formation, and a parish school — is offered within a tight-knit Somerset County community. The parish runs St. Peter Catholic School (K-6), an active adult choir, an altar-server program, religious education for children, outreach events such as Project Lunch Bag, and regular opportunities for stewardship of time and treasure. The clergy and staff are approachable, the schedule is steady, and parishioners are warmly invited to share in the parish's mission of worship, service, and fellowship.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45 pm
- Anytime upon request
- Additional times during Advent and Lent
Parish Mission & Welcome
The parish mission statement reads: 'Through the grace of God and the commitment of the Catholic Community, we a parish devoted to imitating the life of Christ, as proclaimed in the Holy Gospels, offer a gathering place for worship, service, and fellowship for all. As ambassadors for Christ, we serve the faithful, those who have strayed from the faith, and those who are not members of the faith community so that all may be reconciled to God.' The parish welcomes visitors, returning Catholics, and new residents to its Somerset campus.
History of St. Peter Parish
Catholic ministry in southwestern Somerset County began in 1832 through German missionary priests from Meyersdale; Ss. Philip and James parish was founded there in 1847. After 1868 the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and later the Diocese of Altoona (1901), cared for the area. In 1915 English-speaking St. Joseph in Boswell was carved out of the Polish St. Stanislaus parish. Bishop John J. McCort commissioned the founding of St. Peter Parish in 1920, with the first Mass on Christmas Day that year.
The Present Church
In 1951 Father Albert Gartland purchased 9.5 acres on West Church Street. Groundbreaking occurred in October 1953; the cornerstone was laid August 15, 1954; and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1954 — at a cost of $176,700, paid off without borrowing. The parish hall was completed in 1955 for $81,300.
Pastoral Succession
The parish has been served by ten pastors since 1920, from founding pastor Rev. Michael Brett to the current pastor, Rev. Fr. Angelo J. Patti. Notable tenures include Father John Manning (1930–1943), Father Albert Gartland (1943–c.1968), Msgr. Samuel J. Tomaselli (1968–2008), and Father Daniel J. O'Neill (2008–2018).
- Rev. Michael Brett (1920–1921)
- Rev. Joseph Brett (1921)
- Rev. Charles Gallagher (1921–1927)
- Rev. John Hackett (1927)
- Rev. Maurice Buck (1927–1930)
- Rev. John Manning (1930–1943)
- Rev. Albert Gartland (1943–c.1968)
- Rev. Msgr. Samuel J. Tomaselli (1968–2008, Pastor Emeritus)
- Rev. Fr. Daniel J. O'Neill (2008–2018)
- Rev. Fr. Angelo J. Patti (2018–present)
100th Anniversary (2020)
To mark a century since the founding of St. Peter's Catholic Church in 1920, the parish produced a professional 100th Anniversary Directory that was distributed free to every parish family after Masses on April 29–30, 2020, celebrating the parish's story and family.
Sacramental Preparation
Information for the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick is published on the parish Sacramental Schedule page. Couples are asked to make the priest their initial contact as early as possible, and Anointing of the Sick can be arranged by calling the Rectory. Communion is brought to the hospital, nursing homes, and the home-bound on a regular basis.
- Baptism — registration and baptismal-preparation class required
- Marriage — priest is the first contact; interview precedes date-setting
- Anointing of the Sick — call the Rectory
- Communion to the sick — hospital, nursing homes, and home-bound on a regular basis
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Fr. Angelo J. Patti, VF, assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. Michael Raj Arokiasamy, HGN, and Deacon Rev. Mr. Mark Komula. Msgr. Samuel J. Tomaselli serves as Pastor Emeritus and Deacon Fred Weaver as Deacon Emeritus. Parish and school staff support religious education, music, administration, maintenance, and governance.
- Rev. Fr. Angelo J. Patti, VF — Pastor
- Rev. Fr. Michael Raj Arokiasamy, HGN — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Msgr. Samuel J. Tomaselli — Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. Mr. Mark Komula — Deacon (814-233-9285)
- Rev. Mr. Fred Weaver — Deacon Emeritus
- Jill Harris — School Principal
- Tiffany Foy — School Secretary
- Renee Meager — Parish Administrator
- Nancy Rose — Parish Administrator
- Paula Vinzani — Director of Religious Education
- Jason June — Director of Music / Choir Director
- Dan Paugh — Maintenance Supervisor
- Brett Wilmotte — Pastoral Council
- Sean Isgan — Finance Council
- Abby Bristor — Social Media & Bulletin
St. Peter Catholic School (K–6)
St. Peter Catholic School has served the parish and the wider Somerset community since it opened on September 18, 1961, under the leadership of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, Pennsylvania. The school continues to offer a K–6 Catholic education on the parish campus at 433 West Church Street, sharing facilities and faith life with the parish. The school phone is 814-445-6662.
- Opened September 18, 1961
- First principal: Sr. Francis Regis, SSJ of Baden
- Current principal: Jill Harris
- Grades served: K–6
- Phone: 814-445-6662
- Website: stpetersschoolsomerset.com
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music is led by Director of Music Jason June. The parish choir rehearses at 6:45 pm on Wednesday evenings in the choir loft and sings at the 10:00 am Sunday Mass. New members (8th grade and up, all ability levels) are welcome year-round; contact Jason June at (814) 279-8132 to join.
- Choir Director: Jason June — (814) 279-8132
- Rehearsal: Wednesdays 6:45 pm in the choir loft
- Sings at the 10:00 am Sunday Mass
- Members accepted year-round, ages 8th grade and up
Altar Servers
The altar-server program is coordinated by Deacon Mark Komula (814-233-9285). Servers assist at Mass by carrying the Cross, presenting the bread, wine, and water, holding the book for the priest, and gathering the gifts. New servers participate in a comprehensive training program covering the parts of the Mass, liturgical objects, and server duties, and they serve alongside experienced servers as they learn.
- Contact: Deacon Mark Komula — (814) 233-9285
- Training dates announced in the bulletin
- Open to new servers of all ages
Parish Building Repair Fund
St. Peter's maintains an active Building Repair Fund to care for its 1950s-era church, rectory, hall, and 1961 school. Recent completed projects include online giving, roof and gutter repairs with heat tracing, hall electric-panel replacement, replacement of deteriorating church-entrance pavers with concrete, hall air-conditioning replacement, and new school boilers. Future projects include phased parking-lot replacement ($300,000), roof replacement on the church/hall/rectory ($200,000), back/side/basement steps at the hall ($30,000), gutter drainage repairs ($20,000), rectory air conditioning ($25,000), and east-end school sidewalk ($10,000).
- Completed: roof and gutter repairs, heat tracing
- Completed: hall electric panel
- Completed: church entrance pavers replaced with concrete
- Completed: hall air-conditioning replacement
- Completed: school boiler replacement
- Future: parking lot replacement ($300,000)
- Future: roof replacement (church, hall, rectory; $200,000)
- Future: hall steps ($30,000) and gutter drainage ($20,000)
- Future: rectory A/C ($25,000) and east-end school sidewalk ($10,000)
Outreach & Stewardship
The parish regularly engages in community outreach and diocesan stewardship. Project Lunch Bag is held annually at the Parish Hall, providing free clothing, shoes, household items, linens, dishes, small appliances, and seasonal décor, with parish-wide donations in the days beforehand. The parish also participates in the annual Catholic Ministries Drive and the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, with the 2026 parish CMD target set at $53,000; funds raised beyond target go toward the electrical upgrade needed for the Parish Hall.
- Project Lunch Bag — annual community giveaway at the Parish Hall
- Catholic Ministries Drive — 2026 parish target $53,000
- Catholic Home Missions Appeal — annual USCCB collection
- Online Giving program available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Brett1920–1921
Founding pastor; commissioned by Bishop John J. McCort; purchased the first church on West Union Street for $8,000; celebrated the first Mass on Christmas 1920.
- Rev. Joseph Brett1921
Brother of Michael Brett.
- Rev. Charles Gallagher1921–1927
Served the Somerset and Boswell churches together.
- Rev. John Hackett1927
Short tenure.
- Rev. Maurice Buck1927–1930
Served as pastor of both Somerset and Boswell.
- Rev. John Manning1930–1943
First census: 130 Catholics in Somerset, 50 in Boswell; oversaw parish growth to 311 souls by 1940; added St. Michael in Listie as a mission in 1938.
- Rev. Albert Gartland1943–c.1968
Grew parish from 438 to 1,019 souls; purchased the current West Church Street site in 1951; built the present church (1954) and church hall (1955); opened the parish school in 1961 with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden.
- Rev. Msgr. Samuel J. Tomaselli1968–2008
Long-serving pastor; honored with the title Monsignor; retired on his 75th birthday in 2008 and remains Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Fr. Daniel J. O'Neill2008–2018
Ninth pastor, appointed by Bishop Joseph Adamec in July 2008; died of multiple myeloma on October 29, 2018, at age 68.
- Rev. Fr. Angelo J. Patti2018–present
Appointed pastor in December 2018; currently serving as pastor with the title VF.