About St. Peter the Apostle · Naples, Florida
St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church is a multicultural, stewardship parish of the Diocese of Venice located at 5130 Rattlesnake Hammock Road in Naples, Florida. Founded on June 11, 1974, the parish now serves more than 4,500 registered families with weekend Masses celebrated in three languages — English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. The parish describes itself as 'a communion of cultures united by the love of Christ,' reaching out through prayer, spiritual formation, compassion, and service, and striving to be 'the hands and feet of Christ' in south Naples. Today it operates a 1,500-seat church (dedicated 1995), a Parish Spirit Center (dedicated 2019), and a full slate of ministries from OCIA and youth ministry to St. Vincent de Paul and a Columbarium.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. David A. Portorreal (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida (Southern Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Peter the Apostle is one of the largest and most culturally diverse parishes in the Diocese of Venice, with weekend Masses in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole — a fit for nearly anyone in south Naples. Beyond Mass, the parish runs a robust Religious Education program (Pre-K through 12), OCIA for adults, Youth Ministry, Adult Faith Formation (Bible studies, book discussions, and the free FORMED platform), and an active outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Gabriel Network for crisis pregnancies, Knights of Columbus councils (English and Spanish-speaking), and a Bereavement Ministry that takes the Eucharist to the homebound. With its 1,500-seat church, a dedicated Spirit Center, a Columbarium, and live-streamed Sunday Masses in all three languages, it offers a place to worship, to be formed, and to serve.
Mass times at St. Peter the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday: 8:45 AM (after the 8:00 AM Mass)
- Saturday: extended confessions 8:30–9:45 AM (after the Saturday morning Mass)
- Wednesday: 5:20 PM (in Spanish)
Adoration times
- Monday–Wednesday and Friday: 8:45 AM Adoration in the Chapel (following the 8:00 AM Mass)
- Thursday: 9:00 AM Adoration
- Friday: 9:00 AM Adoration
- First Friday of the month: 6:00 PM Adoration
About St. Peter the Apostle Parish
St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church is a multicultural, stewardship parish of the Diocese of Venice in Florida, located at 5130 Rattlesnake Hammock Road in south Naples. The parish's mission statement describes it as 'a communion of cultures united by the love of Christ,' reaching out through prayer, spiritual formation, compassion, and service. The parish runs weekend Masses in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole and has more than 4,500 registered families — making it one of the larger and more diverse congregations in the diocese. Parish Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 noon, with phone (239) 774-3337 and email [email protected].
- 5130 Rattlesnake Hammock Road, Naples, FL 34113
- Phone: (239) 774-3337
- Email: [email protected]
- Part of the Diocese of Venice in Florida (Southern Deanery)
- Website: stpeternaples.org
History: From a School Gym to a 1,500-Seat Church
The parish was erected on June 11, 1974, with Father Michael Hickey as its founding pastor; the first Mass was celebrated in a local school. The first church building was dedicated on June 4, 1978, and the larger current church was dedicated on February 26, 1995, with seating for 1,500 people. In 2019 the Parish Spirit Center, which includes the Parish Hall and offices, was dedicated. The parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee on June 9, 2024, with a trilingual Mass celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane and concelebrated by Father Gerard 'G' Critch and other priests who had served the parish through the years.
- Erected June 11, 1974 — Diocese of Venice
- Founding pastor: Father Michael Hickey
- First church dedicated June 4, 1978
- Current church dedicated February 26, 1995 (1,500 seats)
- Parish Spirit Center dedicated 2019
- Golden Jubilee Mass: June 9, 2024 (trilingual, with Bishop Dewane)
Multicultural Identity: English, Spanish, and Creole
What began as a predominantly Anglo-Saxon congregation has grown into a trilingual community, with Hispanic and Haitian ministries woven into the parish's identity. Corrina Hernandez helped found the Hispanic Ministry, originally reaching out to farmworkers; the Haitian outreach followed the same pattern and eventually grew into a Creole Mass. A separate mission, San Pedro Mission, merged into St. Peter's in the early 1990s, and the parish was incorporated into the diocese at that time. The parish now celebrates seven weekend Masses across three languages, with live-streamed Sunday Masses in English, Spanish, and Creole.
- Hispanic Ministry — founded by Corrina Hernandez, beginning with farmworker outreach
- Haitian (Creole) Ministry — began as farmworker outreach, grew into Creole Mass
- San Pedro Mission merged into St. Peter's in the early 1990s
- Weekend Masses in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole
- Annual cultural festivals (e.g., Hispanic Festival, October 22, 2023)
Clergy and Staff
St. Peter the Apostle is currently led by Rev. David A. Portorreal as Administrator, with Rev. Roderick Mitial serving as Parochial Vicar for the Creole community and Rev. Wilian Montalvo Tello, I.V.E. as Parochial Vicar for the Spanish-speaking community. The parish is also served by four deacons: Jeff Tenbarge, John-William Trainer III, Peter M. Pavlyshin, and William Fred Passauer. Joan Wohlers serves as Director of Religious Education, and Anita Price is the Ministry Coordinator. Office staff include an Office Coordinator, Accountant, Events Coordinator (Jeff Baker), Administrative Assistants, and a Maintenance team.
- Rev. David A. Portorreal — Administrator
- Rev. Roderick Mitial — Parochial Vicar (Creole)
- Rev. Wilian Montalvo Tello, I.V.E. — Parochial Vicar (Spanish)
- Deacons: Jeff Tenbarge, John-William Trainer III, Peter M. Pavlyshin, William Fred Passauer
- Joan Wohlers — Director of Religious Education
- Anita Price — Ministry Coordinator
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish runs a comprehensive Religious Education program for young people in Pre-K through Grade 12, preparing them for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Confirmation preparation begins in 9th grade with two years of formation and is celebrated in 10th grade. Adult Faith Formation includes Bible Studies, Book Discussions, and the free online platform FORMED. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes unbaptized adults, Christians from other traditions, and Catholic adults seeking full initiation through Baptism, Reconciliation, Communion, and Confirmation — contact Anita Price at ext. 215.
- Religious Education for Pre-K through Grade 12
- Confirmation prep begins 9th grade; sacrament in 10th grade
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adult initiation
- Bible Studies and Book Discussions
- FORMED — free online adult faith formation
- Director of Religious Education: Joan Wohlers
Youth Ministry
The parish operates a Youth Ministry for its middle-school and high-school young people, complementing the family-based Religious Education program. Photo albums and youth-group activities are posted through the parish website and social-media channels.
- Youth Group meetings and events
- Photo albums on parish website
- Youth Ministry Donation program
Parish Ministries and Outreach
St. Peter the Apostle hosts a wide range of lay ministries and service organizations. The Knights of Columbus Council #14839 (English) meets on the 3rd Tuesday, and the Caballeros de Colón (Spanish-speaking) meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays. The Women's Council meets on the 1st Friday after the 8:00 AM Mass. The St. Vincent de Paul Society runs weekly food and contribution drives, and the Gabriel Network supports women and families facing crisis pregnancies. A Bereavement Ministry assists grieving families, and a Homebound Ministry brings the Eucharist to retirement homes and shut-ins. Adult Literacy tutoring is available for those seeking to improve their English.
- Knights of Columbus Council #14839 — 3rd Tuesday
- Caballeros de Colón (Spanish) — 1st & 3rd Fridays
- Women's Council — 1st Friday after 8:00 AM Mass
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — weekly food drives
- Gabriel Network — crisis pregnancy support
- Bereavement Ministry
- Homebound / Eucharistic Ministry
- Adult Literacy / ESL tutoring
Prayer Groups and Devotions
Alongside the regular Mass and Adoration schedule, the parish supports several Spanish- and Creole-language prayer communities that meet in the Ministry Center. These include Emaus (Spanish), Cursillo (Spanish), the Choir 'Rali' (Creole), the Cenacle of Life Prayer Group, the Centering Prayer Support Group, and the Divine Will Prayer Group.
- Emaus (Spanish)
- Cursillo (Spanish)
- Choir 'Rali' (Creole)
- Cenacle of Life Prayer Group
- Centering Prayer Support Group
- Divine Will Prayer Group
Facilities: Church, Spirit Center, and Columbarium
The parish campus includes three main facilities: the church (dedicated 1995, seats 1,500), the Parish Spirit Center (dedicated 2019, includes Parish Hall and offices), and the St. Peter Ministry Center across the street at the light on Hawaii Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road. A Columbarium sits between the office and the church, with visiting hours until 4:00 PM on weekdays and until 9:00 PM on weekends.
- Church (1995) — 1,500 seats
- Parish Spirit Center (2019) — Parish Hall and offices
- St. Peter Ministry Center — 5025 Rattlesnake Hammock Road
- On-site Columbarium
Livestream Masses and Online Giving
The parish live-streams three Sunday Masses — 10:00 AM English, 2:00 PM Spanish, and 3:45 PM Creole — on its YouTube channel and Facebook page, and also posts Christmas and Midnight Masses (English, Spanish, and Creole). Online giving is available through WeShare, and the parish maintains a dedicated mobile app alongside its Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube presences.
- Sunday 10:00 AM (English), 2:00 PM (Spanish), 3:45 PM (Creole) — livestreamed
- Christmas and Midnight Masses — livestreamed in three languages
- YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCGuYFU4Hj9Zx3bIxzt0yvbA
- Facebook: facebook.com/StPeterNaples
- Instagram: instagram.com/stpeternaples
- Parish App
- Online giving via stpeternaples.weshareonline.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Hickey1974–
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass in a local school.
- Rev. Gerard 'G' Critch
Pastor at the time of the 50th Anniversary / Golden Jubilee (June 2024); quoted in jubilee coverage on the parish's multicultural identity.
- Rev. David A. Portorreal2024–present
Current Administrator as listed on the parish website and the Diocese of Venice parish page.