About St. Peter · Tenino, Washington
St. Peter Mission is a Roman Catholic mission church in Tenino, Washington, serving the Catholic faithful of that small Thurston County community since 1891. It is one of two worship sites of Saint Columban Parish (the other being St. Columban Church in Yelm), and together they are now partnered with Sacred Heart Parish in Lacey within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. The mission is named for Saint Peter the Apostle, the first pope, and offers Sunday morning Mass, First Friday daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Rosary, Bible Study, and outreach through St. Vincent de Paul. All sacramental preparation, faith formation, and parish administration are coordinated through St. Columban Parish in nearby Yelm.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- Saint Peter the Apostle (first pope)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Bryan A. Ochs (Pastor of the St. Columban / St. Peter / Sacred Heart parish family)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
Why belong here
St. Peter Mission offers a small, rooted Catholic community in Tenino with Sunday Mass, Holy Day Mass, First Friday daily Mass, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation every week. Parishioners are supported with faith formation, RCIA, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, Bible Study, Rosary, Anointing of the Sick, and outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — all coordinated with neighboring St. Columban Church in Yelm. Worshippers are welcomed into a parish family that now includes Sacred Heart Parish in Lacey within the Archdiocese of Seattle.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday before Mass: 7:30 – 7:45 AM
- By appointment (call 360-458-3031)
Saint Peter Mission at a Glance
Saint Peter Mission, located at 149 Keithahn Street S, Tenino, WA 98589, has been the Roman Catholic community in Tenino, Washington since 1891. It is the Tenino worship site of Saint Columban Parish and is also part of a parish family with Sacred Heart Parish in Lacey within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. The mission is named for Saint Peter the Apostle and first pope. The faith community proclaims the Gospel through Word and Sacrament, seeking to place God first, to know Him, to love Him, and to grow in holiness together.
- Type: Mission (parish site)
- Founded: 1891
- Address: 149 Keithahn Street S, Tenino, WA 98589
- Part of: Saint Columban Parish (Yelm) and the parish family with Sacred Heart (Lacey)
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
Mass and Sacraments
St. Peter Mission celebrates Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM, Holy Day Masses (call the parish office), and daily Mass on the First Friday of each month at 9:00 AM. Confessions are heard Sunday morning before Mass from 7:30 to 7:45 AM or by appointment. The Rosary is prayed beginning thirty minutes before Mass. Anointing of the Sick is given on request, and a priest can be reached for sacramental emergencies in danger of death by calling 360-338-3180.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM
- Holy Days of Obligation: contact parish
- First Friday daily Mass: 9:00 AM
- Confession: Sunday 7:30–7:45 AM and by appointment
- Rosary: 30 minutes before Mass
- Anointing of the Sick: by request
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Religious Education, Faith Formation, and Sacramental Preparation for school-age youth are administered through Saint Columban Parish in Yelm for everyone who attends Saint Peter Mission. Families stop by the St. Columban Parish Office to register. Adult initiation (RCIA) is coordinated parish-wide, and Bible Study gatherings are offered by appointment; Bible Study resumed every Wednesday at 11 AM beginning April 19, 2023.
- Religious Education and Faith Formation (school-age youth) — register at St. Columban Parish Office
- Sacramental Preparation
- RCIA (adult initiation)
- Bible Study — Wednesdays 11 AM (by appointment)
Our Parish Clergy and Staff
The mission is pastored together with St. Columban Parish in Yelm (and now part of a parish family with Sacred Heart Parish in Lacey) under Very Rev. Bryan A. Ochs as Pastor. The Archdiocesan directory for St. Peter / St. Columban also lists a Parochial Vicar (Rev. William Dodoma), a Senior Priest in Residence (Rev. Martin J. Bourke), and pastoral staff including Gabriela Makinster (Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation & RCIA), Jennifer Langham (Pastoral Assistant for Administration), Chad Lucero (Youth Ministry & Communications), and Matthew Tolar (Bookkeeper, shared with the parish family).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Bryan A. Ochs
- Priest Administrator (site): Rev. Brian Thompson (since 2021)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. William Dodoma
- Senior Priest in Residence: Rev. Martin J. Bourke
- Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation & RCIA: Gabriela Makinster
- Pastoral Assistant for Administration: Jennifer Langham
- Youth Ministry & Communications: Chad Lucero
- Bookkeeper: Matthew Tolar
Parish History
The Catholic community has worshiped in Tenino since 1891 under the patronage of Saint Peter the Apostle. Across many decades, the mission was historically served by priests from St. Martin's Abbey (Benedictine, Lacey). The official parish history records that Fr. Terence Wager, O.S.B. served as pastor until his death in early 2010; Fr. Duc Nguyen was then appointed priest administrator by Archbishop Brunett in 2010. Fr. Paul Weckert, O.S.B. of St. Martin's Abbey followed from 2013 to 2016, and Fr. Dean Mbuzi was appointed by Archbishop J. Peter Sartain effective July 1, 2016, serving until 2021. Fr. Brian Thompson was then appointed priest administrator by Archbishop Paul Etienne in 2021.
- 1891 — Catholic presence in Tenino begins under the patronage of Saint Peter
- 2010 — Fr. Duc Nguyen appointed priest administrator by Archbishop Brunett
- 2013–2016 — Fr. Paul Weckert, O.S.B. (St. Martin's Abbey) serves as priest administrator
- 2016–2021 — Fr. Dean Mbuzi serves as priest administrator (appointed by Archbishop Sartain)
- 2021 — Fr. Brian Thompson appointed priest administrator by Archbishop Paul Etienne
Ministries and Outreach
Parishioners of St. Peter Mission contribute time, talent, and treasure to ministries shared across the Saint Columban faith community. These include faith formation for children and youth, RCIA for adults, Bible Study, the Rosary devotion, Altar Society, Daughters of Mary, Knights of Columbus, and outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. St. Vincent de Paul volunteers staff a voicemail help line (360-458-1904) for parishioners in need of assistance.
- Altar Society
- Daughters of Mary
- Knights of Columbus
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (help line 360-458-1904)
- Youth Ministry
- Bible Study and Rosary groups
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond Sunday Mass and the sacraments, the mission offers the Rosary thirty minutes before each Mass, Bible Study on Wednesdays at 11 AM (resumed April 19, 2023), and Anointing of the Sick on request. The patron saint, Saint Peter the Apostle and first pope, is honored on June 29 (Saints Peter and Paul) and February 22 (the Chair of Saint Peter).
- Rosary — 30 minutes before Mass
- Bible Study — Wednesdays 11 AM (by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Feast of St. Peter: June 29
- Chair of St. Peter: February 22
Contact and Parish Office
All administrative needs for parishioners of both St. Peter Mission and Saint Columban are handled at the St. Columban Parish Office. In-person office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM, and Friday by appointment. For sacramental emergencies in danger of death, call 360-338-3180. For St. Vincent de Paul assistance, leave a voicemail at 360-458-1904.
- Parish Office Phone: 360-458-3031
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:30 AM–2:00 PM; Fri by appointment
- Sacramental Emergencies: 360-338-3180
- St. Vincent de Paul Help Line (voicemail): 360-458-1904
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Terence Wager, O.S.B.1984–early 2010
Benedictine pastor; served until his death in early 2010.
- Rev. Duc Nguyen2010–2013
Appointed by Archbishop Brunett as priest administrator; ushered in deepened volunteer commitment and spiritual growth.
- Fr. Paul Weckert, O.S.B.2013–2016
Monk from St. Martin's Abbey; served as priest administrator of St. Columban and St. Peter Mission.
- Rev. Dean Mbuzi2016–2021
Appointed by Archbishop J. Peter Sartain effective July 1, 2016.
- Rev. Brian Thompson2021–present
Appointed by Archbishop Paul Etienne as priest administrator of St. Columban Parish and St. Peter Mission.