About St. Peter · Steubenville, Ohio
St. Peter Catholic Church, located at 425 North 4th Street in the historic North End of Steubenville, Ohio, is the oldest Catholic parish in the city — its origins as 'Saint Pius' date to 1832, making it the first Catholic church built in Steubenville. Sitting just minutes from Franciscan University of the Steps, the parish serves a faithful community with a full schedule of daily and Sunday Masses, two weekly confession opportunities, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Parish Hall, and a robust mix of adult, youth, and outreach ministries under the Diocese of Steubenville. The present cruciform church, designed in French Renaissance style by Emil Ulrich of Cleveland, rises 145 feet in twin towers over a 95-foot dome and houses rare 1907 Munich stained glass and Italian marble altars.
- Established
- 1832 (land purchased 1830; church blessed July 26, 1835; originally named St. Pius)
- Patron
- Saint Peter (Apostle)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Timothy Huffman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
St. Peter's offers the rare combination of a deeply historic parish — Steubenville's oldest Catholic church, with its 1907 Munich stained glass and Italian marble altars — and a vibrant sacramental life centered on daily Mass, two weekly confession schedules, and 24/7 Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Parish Hall. The community gathers around faithful devotions like the Sunday rosary for the priests, Latin Mass traditions, and a wide network of ministries for every stage of life: high school youth group (GS), the Encounter prayer apostolate for ages 13–25, adult formation groups like Miles Christi and Spiritual Cup of Coffee, a bereavement ministry, and a visitation program bringing Holy Communion to the homebound. Its location in the North End, just steps from Franciscan University, makes it a welcoming spiritual home for students, families, and longtime residents alike.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
- Wednesday: 6:30 – 7:30 pm (listed as 6:30–8:00 pm on the home page)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the Adoration Chapel in the Parish Hall (sign up via https://stpetersteub.weadorehim.com/en)
- Monthly First Friday Adorations (part of the GS High School Youth Group schedule)
History of St. Peter Catholic Church
St. Peter's history began in 1830 when, under Bishop John B. Purcell, Fr. John McGrady purchased the land on Fourth and Logan streets in Steubenville from James Ross of Pittsburgh and Bezaleel Wells. On July 26, 1835, Bishop Purcell solemnly blessed the new Catholic church of Saint Pius — the first Catholic church built in the city — a small brick structure only 30 by 45 feet, with no organ, statues, or shrine, just a pulpit and candlesticks. In 1841 Father Neumann (later St. John Neumann) stopped at the church and baptized three children on December 5 of that year. Fr. James Kearny became the parish's first permanent resident pastor in 1845, and on May 4, 1845, the parish's first women's association — 'The Society of Ladies' under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin — was formed. An entire book, 'Upon this Rock,' was written about the parish, though it is no longer in print.
- 1830 – Fr. John McGrady purchases the land under Bishop Purcell
- 1832 / July 26, 1835 – Original Saint Pius church blessed (first Catholic church in Steubenville)
- 1841 – Fr. (later St.) John Neumann baptizes three children at the parish, Dec. 5
- 1845 – Fr. James Kearny becomes first permanent resident pastor; 'Society of Ladies' formed May 4
- 1853–1854 – Fr. Emmanuel Thienpont rebuilds; parish renamed Saint Peter's; consecrated by Archbishop Purcell in 1854; parochial school founded (first in Steubenville)
- 1864 – Fr. William Thomas Bigelow doubles the church's length and invites Sisters of Charity from Cincinnati
- 1879–1904 – Fr. Martin Michael Hartnedy liquidates debt, establishes high school
- 1904–1939 – Fr. Thomas Powers oversees new church (1908), school (1912), Temperance Cadets
- 1993 – Msgr. Lawrence Lucianna directs $1 million exterior renovation
- 1995–2012 – Msgr. George Yontz repairs towers and bells; begins monthly Latin Mass (2007)
- January 1, 2013 – Fr. Timothy Huffman installed as pastor by Bishop Jeffrey Monforton
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present cruciform church is designed in the French Renaissance style by Emil Ulrich of Cleveland, Ohio. Two towers rise 145 feet, and the central dome rises 95 feet from a marble mosaic floor; the center aisle is 75 feet long. The exterior is built of Amherst sandstone, and the roof, towers, and dome are framed in locally produced steel. Inside, fifteen major stained glass windows made in Munich, Germany in 1907 depict the Mysteries of the Rosary, alongside marble altars, statues, and a Communion rail imported from Italy. A painting behind the high altar depicts Christ, St. Peter, and Pope John Paul II, illustrating the unbroken line of popes from St. Peter onward. The high altar holds relics of more than twenty saints.
- Style: French Renaissance, cruciform, designed by Emil Ulrich (Cleveland)
- Towers: 145 ft (twin); dome: 95 ft; center aisle: 75 ft
- 15 rare stained glass windows (Munich, 1907) depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary
- Marble altars, statues, and Communion rail imported from Italy
- Relics on the high altar include St. Maria Goretti, St. Catherine Labouré, St. John Vianney, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Pius X, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, St. Rose of Lima, St. Gemma, and others
- 1993 renovation by Msgr. Lucianna: roof, dome, towers, and exterior stone (~$1 million)
- Painting behind altar: Christ, St. Peter, and Pope John Paul II
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Reverend Timothy Huffman, pastor (installed January 1, 2013), assisted by Very Reverend Bradley Greer as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Tom Maedke. Office Administrator Monique Sammut handles parish operations Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. The parish office is closed on Holy Days and holidays.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Timothy Huffman — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Very Rev. Bradley Greer — [email protected]
- Deacon: Tom Maedke — [email protected] / 740-381-2115
- Office Administrator: Monique Sammut — [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 am – 2:00 pm (closed Holy Days and holidays)
Adult Ministries
St. Peter's offers a wide array of adult formation and service groups, including a men's spiritual formation circle (Miles Christi), a Saturday-morning Catholic faith discussion (Spiritual Cup of Coffee), the Una Voce chapter promoting the Latin Mass, the St. Francis Society fellowship, and the EnCourage support group for family and friends of those with same-sex attractions. A Bereavement Ministry prepares funeral luncheons for parishioners who have lost a loved one.
- Miles Christi Group — men's spiritual formation, Mondays 7:00 pm; Jeff King, 443-854-4863
- Spiritual Cup of Coffee — Saturdays 9:00 am, school building; Jeff or Mary King, 740-424-5112
- Una Voce — Latin Mass apostolate, 4th Monday 6:30 pm, old school; Dr. Michael Sirilla, 740-282-4813
- St. Francis Society — 3rd Thursday lunch; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Welsch, 740-282-8624
- EnCourage — [email protected] (confidential)
- Bereavement Ministry — funeral luncheons; Fiona Ruminski, 740-275-8754
Youth & Family Ministries
St. Peter's is unusual in the strength of its youth apostolate, rooted in its proximity to Franciscan University of Steubenville. Encounter is a prayer apostolate for ages 13–25 and their families, while GS (Gioventù Studentesca) is the parish high school youth group, founded in the friendship of Fr. Luigi Giussani with students in Milan and now present in 70 countries. Children not attending Catholic school are served through the city's Catechetical Program (Catholic Faith Formation in Steubenville).
- Encounter — prayer apostolate for ages 13–25 and families (encounter-steubenville.com); Iwona & Keith Major, [email protected]
- GS (Gioventù Studentesca) High School Youth Group — Sun 5:00–6:15 pm at Holy Rosary or Tue 3:30 pm at Mary, Seat of Wisdom; Suzanne Lewis, 740-424-6382 / [email protected]
- Catechetical Program for Children — catholicfaithformationinsteub.org
- Activities include hikes, classical music concerts, NYC trips, charitable work with TOR Sisters, film nights, first-Friday Adorations, mercy service, retreats
Outreach & Pastoral Care
Deacon Tom Maedke organizes the Ministry to Shut-ins, in which Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion visit the hospitalized, homebound, and those in nursing homes to bring the Eucharist. A parish Prayer Line keeps the sick and homebound in the daily prayers of the community. The parish notes that, due to privacy regulations, hospitals do not notify the parish of parishioner hospitalizations — a family member must contact the parish office.
- Ministry to Shut-ins / Ministry to the Sick — Deacon Tom Maedke, 740-381-2115
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring the Eucharist to the homebound
- Prayer Line — parish office, 740-282-7612
- Hospitalization protocol: family members must contact the parish directly
Liturgical Music & Devotions
The Parish Choir welcomes new members who can read music from the hymnal and are familiar with the regular Latin Mass parts — a fitting ministry given the parish's monthly Latin Mass tradition. The Sunday rosary at 9:30 am is offered for the intentions of the parish priests. Una Voce Steubenville promotes the wider use of Latin and chant in the liturgy, and the Encounter apostolate adds monthly first-Friday Adorations, mercy services, and worship.
- Parish Choir — Patrick Richter, [email protected]
- Monthly Latin Mass (since 2007) and Una Voce Steubenville chapter
- Sunday Rosary at 9:30 am for the parish priests
- First Friday Adorations and mercy services through Encounter
School & Catechetical Heritage
Saint Peter's School, founded in 1854, was the first parochial school in Steubenville, and a high school was added in 1879 operating until 1928. By 1957, 504 students attended. The Sisters of St. Dominic from Columbus staffed the school for over a century; sadly, the school closed its doors in 2008 during Msgr. George Yontz's tenure. Today religious education for children not attending Catholic school is coordinated city-wide through Catholic Faith Formation in Steubenville.
- 1854 – Saint Peter's School founded (first parochial school in Steubenville)
- 1879 – High school established (closed 1928)
- Sisters of St. Dominic (Columbus) staffed the school for over 100 years
- 2008 – School closed under Msgr. Yontz
- Today – Catechetical Program links to catholicfaithformationinsteub.org
Contact, Location & Becoming a Parishioner
St. Peter Catholic Church is located at 425 North 4th Street, Steubenville, OH 43952, in the historic North End of the city in close proximity to Franciscan University. The parish office may be reached at 740-282-7612 (fax 740-282-9263) or [email protected]. New parishioners may register using individual, married-couple, or family forms available on the website, submitted in person or by email. Those interested in becoming Catholic are invited to email Father Huffman directly.
- Address: 425 North 4th Street, Steubenville, OH 43952
- Phone: 740-282-7612 | Fax: 740-282-9263
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Registration: forms on stpetersteub.com (individual, married couple, family)
- Becoming Catholic: contact [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John McGrady1830–c.1845
Founder; purchased the land in 1830 under Bishop Purcell and built the original Saint Pius church (1832/blessed 1835), the first Catholic church in Steubenville.
- Fr. James Kearny1845–c.1850
First permanent resident and pastor of St. Pius.
- Fr. Emmanuel Thienpont1850–c.1865
Tore down the original church in 1853 and built a new one on the same site; renamed Saint Pius to Saint Peter's; consecrated by Archbishop Purcell in 1854; founded St. Peter's School, the first parochial school in Steubenville.
- Fr. William Thomas Bigelow1864–c.1879
Doubled the length of the church; invited five Sisters of Charity from Cincinnati to teach; gave his own rectory to the sisters as their convent.
- Fr. Martin Michael Hartnedy1879–1904
Liquidated the $5,000 parish debt in two years; enlarged the school; established Saint Peter's High School (operated until 1928).
- Fr. Thomas Powers1904–1939
12th pastor; organized the Temperance Cadets youth group; began pew-renting; the present larger church was completed and consecrated in December 1908; new school built 1912; took over Dell Hospital in 1930; died in office on 12/13/1939 after 35 years of service, age 81.
- Msgr. Molloy1972–1984
Totally remodeled the interior of the church; current rectory was completed during this period.
- Msgr. Lawrence Lucianna1984–1995
Led the $1 million 1993 renovation of the exterior — roof, dome, towers, and stone — plus overhauling the organ with additional pipes, finishing the basement, and replacing the front steps; installed air conditioning.
- Msgr. George YontzOctober 5, 1995 – 2012
Repaired the twin front towers and bells; started the monthly Latin Mass tradition in 2007.
- Fr. Timothy HuffmanJanuary 1, 2013 – Present
Installed by Bishop Jeffrey Monforton; graduate of Ohio University and St. Vincent Seminary; ordained June 5, 1993.