About St. Peter the Apostle · Provincetown, Massachusetts
St. Peter the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish serving the people of Provincetown and North Truro at the tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Fall River. Since its dedication on October 11, 1874, the parish has ministered to a community shaped by Irish, and especially Portuguese-Azorean, seafaring families, and continues to gather around the Eucharist in the rebuilt church on Prince Street. Today the parish offers weekend and weekday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, baptisms and weddings, a parish school of religion, and an active St. Vincent de Paul conference, while supporting the wider community through ministries such as the Knights of Columbus, the parish book club, home visitation, and a rosary group that brings prayer to Seashore Point.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- Saint Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Philip N. Hamel (retirement announced by the Diocese of Fall River, effective September 9, 2026; to be succeeded by Rev. Peter R. Scheffer, Jr., while he remains pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Wellfleet and St. Joan of Arc, Orleans)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Peter's is a small, tight-knit Catholic community at the tip of Cape Cod where everyone is welcomed as a child of God. The parish gathers faithfully around the Eucharist — even managing not to miss a single Mass after the 2005 fire that destroyed its church — and channels that faith into real outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul helpline, the parish nurse, home visitation, the Seashore Point rosary group, and the Knights of Columbus. Whether you are a year-round resident, a seasonal visitor, or new to the area, the parish invites you to register, join a ministry like the parish book club or Parish Council, and share your time and talent in the spirit of the Gospel.
Mass times at St. Peter the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 – 3:45 p.m. (or by appointment, call 508-487-0095 ext 3)
Welcome and Parish Mission
St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church has been ministering to the Catholics of Provincetown and Truro since 1874. The parish's mission calls its members to pray together and share their time, talent and resources centered around the celebration of the Eucharist, welcoming the diversity of the community and embracing the belief that each person is a child of God and that God's presence is in all of us. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly invited to introduce themselves to the priest after Mass or to call the office to register, and the parish urges all to become active members of the parish family.
- Motto: pray together, share time, talent and resources around the Eucharist
- Welcomes diversity; embraces that each person is a child of God
- New parishioners invited to register with the office
A 150-Year Parish Story
Catholic life in Provincetown began in 1852 with about seventy Irish-descent worshipers served by visiting priests. After outgrowing a series of temporary spaces, the parish built its permanent church on Parker's Plain and dedicated it on October 11, 1874 under Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken of Providence. Portuguese-Azorean seafaring families who began arriving in the 1860s transformed and grew the parish — so much so that by the mid-20th century Portuguese-Americans made up the great majority of the community and the parish school.
- 1852: ~70 Irish-descent Catholics; served by visiting priests
- 1874: Church dedicated October 11 by Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken
- 1860s onward: Portuguese-Azorean immigration transforms parish
Fire and Rebuilding (2005–2008)
On January 5, 2005 — the day after a major blizzard — a massive electrical fire destroyed St. Peter's, including the beloved altar mural of Jesus walking on water painted by local artist Eugene Sparks. Volunteer firefighters from across the Cape responded; no one was injured, and remarkably the tabernacle itself was reported to have been spared. Despite the disaster the parish did not miss a single Mass, and under Fr. Henry Dahl the community rebuilt. On July 13, 2008, just over three years later, Bishop George W. Coleman of Fall River dedicated the new St. Peter's Church.
- Fire: January 5, 2005 (day after blizzard)
- Mural by Eugene Sparks destroyed; tabernacle spared
- Rebuild led by Fr. Henry Dahl
- Rededicated July 13, 2008 by Bishop George W. Coleman
The Pastor and Parish Staff
The current pastor is Rev. Philip N. Hamel, assisted by Deacon Joe (Joseph) Kane. The parish secretary is Cathleen Henrique, with Mary Codinha serving as organist and Gerald Cassese as cantor. Lori DaLomba coordinates Religious Education, Eileen Cabral serves as Parish Nurse, and Carrie Lopes chairs the Parish Council. The Sexton and Cemetery Management is handled by Gerald Carreiro (with Maurice Gonsalves listed in earlier bulletins). Jeff Barnes maintains the parish website.
- Pastor: Rev. Philip N. Hamel
- Deacon: Joe Kane
- Secretary: Cathleen Henrique
- Organist: Mary Codinha; Cantor: Gerald Cassese
- Religious Ed: Lori DaLomba
- Parish Nurse: Eileen Cabral
- Parish Council Chair: Carrie Lopes
Pastoral Transition (2026)
The Diocese of Fall River has announced that Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha has accepted the request to retire of Rev. Philip N. Hamel as Pastor of St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, effective September 9, 2026. On that same date, Rev. Peter R. Scheffer, Jr., currently parochial administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes in Wellfleet, is to be named Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Peter the Apostle, while remaining Pastor of St. Joan of Arc in Orleans.
- Fr. Hamel's retirement: effective September 9, 2026
- Successor: Rev. Peter R. Scheffer, Jr.
- Diocese announcement from fallriverdiocese.org
Easter and Holy Week
The parish publishes a full Triduum and Easter schedule each year. The 2026 schedule lists Palm Sunday Vigil Mass on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Palm Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m.; Holy Thursday Celebration of the Lord's Supper at 7:00 p.m.; Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion at 3:00 p.m.; Holy Saturday Easter Vigil at 6:00 p.m.; and Easter Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m.
- Palm Sunday Vigil: Saturday 4:00 p.m.
- Palm Sunday: 8:30 a.m.
- Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
- Good Friday: 3:00 p.m.
- Holy Saturday Easter Vigil: 6:00 p.m.
- Easter Sunday: 8:00 a.m.
Sacraments
St. Peter the Apostle celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments in the ordinary manner of a diocesan parish. Baptisms are scheduled on Sundays by appointment; Marriages require at least eight months of preparation; Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons and by appointment; the Sacrament of the Sick is available on request. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the parish Religious Education program.
- Baptism: Sundays by appointment
- Marriage: eight months of preparation recommended
- Reconciliation: Saturday afternoons or by appointment
- Sacrament of the Sick: call the Rectory
Ministries and Outreach
Parish ministries listed on the website include the Parish Council, St. Vincent de Paul Society (with its own helpline), the Seashore Point Rosary group, Home Visitation, the Parish Book Club, and the Knights of Columbus. A Parish Nurse (Eileen Cabral) coordinates care for those in need, and the Religious Education program under Lori DaLomba forms the parish's young people.
- Parish Council
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (helpline 508-487-0095 ext 4)
- Seashore Point Rosary
- Home Visitation
- Parish Book Club
- Knights of Columbus
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Continuing the legacy of the original St. Peter's Aid Society founded in 1875 under Fr. John J. Maguire to assist the needy after fires and shipwrecks, the parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference operates a dedicated helpline (508-487-0095 ext 4) where callers may leave a message for assistance. The Society remains a cornerstone of the parish's outreach to those in need in Provincetown and Truro.
- Helpline: 508-487-0095 ext 4 (leave a message)
- Heritage traced to St. Peter's Aid Society (1875)
Knights of Columbus
Strengthened during the difficult years of nativist intimidation in the early 1920s, the parish's Knights of Columbus council continues to support both St. Peter's and the wider Provincetown community. In the early 20th century the council's St. Peter's Club (277 Commercial Street) served as a kind of executive committee of the Knights, where Portuguese-American members organized voter education and political strategy.
- Council rooted in 1920s growth under Fr. Silvia
- St. Peter's Club (277 Commercial St.) — historic Knights' meeting place
- Supports parish and town today
Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion is coordinated by Lori DaLomba and prepares children and youth for First Communion, Confirmation, and ongoing formation in the Catholic faith. Families can contact the coordinator through the parish office to enroll their children or arrange sacraments for school-age parishioners.
- Coordinator: Lori DaLomba
- Preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
- Contact via parish office: 508-487-0095
Music Ministry
Music at Mass is led by longtime organist Mary Codinha and cantor Gerald Cassese (with Denise Page named in an earlier bulletin). Together they accompany the parish liturgies and lead congregational singing.
- Organist: Mary Codinha
- Cantor: Gerald Cassese
St. Peter's Cemetery
St. Peter's Cemetery at 124 Alden Street was purchased and laid out in the 19th century under Fr. Cornelius O'Connor, pastor of Harwich. In 1934 Fr. John Silvia oversaw the installation of a Calvary sculptural tableau there — a gift of his predecessor, Fr. Manuel C. Terra. The cemetery remains an active ministry of the parish and is managed today by the parish sexton.
- Location: 124 Alden Street, Provincetown
- Calvary tableau installed 1934 (gift of Fr. Terra)
- Managed by parish sexton
Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima was blessed and dedicated by Fr. John Silvia in 1951. Originally placed next to the rectory, it now stands between the new church and the parish hall — a visible sign of the parish's Marian devotion and its Portuguese heritage.
- Dedicated 1951 by Fr. Silvia
- Now located between new church and parish hall
Office, Contact and Visiting
Parish Office hours are Monday and Tuesday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The mailing address is 11 Prince Street, Provincetown, MA 02657; the office phone is (508) 487-0095 with extensions for the office, Mass schedule information, the pastor, and the St. Vincent de Paul helpline; the fax is (508) 487-2564 and the general email is [email protected].
- Address: 11 Prince Street, Provincetown, MA 02657
- Phone: (508) 487-0095
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: (508) 487-2564
Blessing of the Fleet and Community Life
St. Peter's has long been intertwined with Provincetown's fishing and Portuguese-American culture. The parish helped organize the first Blessing of the Fleet in 1948 with Bishop James L. Connolly, and the tradition continues each year at the end of June with the annual Portuguese Festival and Blessing of the Fleet. The parish's ministries — especially the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Knights of Columbus, the parish nurse, and the Seashore Point Rosary group — extend that spirit of care beyond the church walls into the wider Provincetown community.
- First Blessing of the Fleet: 1948 with Bishop James L. Connolly
- Annual Portuguese Festival and Blessing of the Fleet each June
- Parish rooted in Portuguese-American fishing heritage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Finotti1852–1854 (visiting from Boston)
Traveled periodically from Boston to celebrate Mass and hear confessions in parishioners' homes before any church existed.
- Rev. Cornelius O'Connorby 1868
Pastor of Harwich who also served Provincetown; purchased and laid out the cemetery on Alden Street.
- Rev. Thomas Elliottfrom 1886
Born in Ireland; previously first pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary in Providence for the Portuguese community; built the rectory, installed the organ and expanded the church.
- Rev. John J. Maguire1870s
Formed St. Peter's Aid Society in 1875 to aid the needy after fires and shipwrecks.
- Fr. Manuel C. TerraAugust 1893 – November 1924 (31 years)
St. Peter's 6th pastor; a long and formative tenure.
- Fr. John (João) Silvia1924–1951
Shepherded the St. Peter's Club and Knights of Columbus; installed the Calvary tableau at the cemetery (1934); helped organize the first Blessing of the Fleet (1948); dedicated the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima (1951).
- Monsignor Leo J. Duartuntil 1975
Rebuilt and beautified the church; opened St. Peter's School in 1967 staffed by the Sisters of the Love of God; school closed in 1971; granted the honorary title of Monsignor by Pope Paul VI in 1967.
- Fr. Henry Dahlaround 2005–2008
Guided the rebuilding of the church after the January 5, 2005 fire; the new church was dedicated July 13, 2008.
- Rev. Philip N. Hamelcurrent pastor
Listed as pastor on the parish website, bulletins, and diocese directory; retirement accepted effective September 9, 2026.