About St. Peter · Welch, West Virginia
St. Peter Parish is a small Catholic community located in Welch, the seat of McDowell County in the southern coalfields of West Virginia. Founded in 1923 and served by the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (Beckley Vicariate), the parish is the surviving hub for Catholics across McDowell and Wyoming counties, having absorbed the territory of several suppressed parishes and missions over the past decade. The parish celebrates Mass three times a week in its 111 Virginia Avenue church and extends its ministry through the Sacred Heart Mission in Powhatan and chapels in Gary and Pineville. Its 2019 average Mass attendance was 38, a faithful remnant serving a region historically shaped by the coal industry that gives the parish its "Coal Heritage" identity.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Rey D. Landicho
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (Beckley Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Peter is the Catholic heart of McDowell and Wyoming counties — a small but devoted parish where members know one another and gather around the Eucharist three times a week. The parish welcomes visitors and returning Catholics to share in Mass at Welch and at its chapels in Gary and Pineville and its mission in Powhatan, sustaining sacramental life and faith formation (with seven students in its Parish School of Religion) across Appalachian coal country.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment
About St. Peter Parish
St. Peter Parish describes itself as the gathering point of the People of God across the McDowell and Wyoming County Catholic communities. Its published mission statement reads: 'We, as the People of God and members of the McDowell and Wyoming County Catholic Churches celebrate, witness, and share our Catholic faith and values through worship, sacramental life, charity, service, lifelong education, and social outreach activities. Centered in the Holy Eucharist, empowered by the Word of God, and led by the Holy Spirit, we commit to impact and transform the lives of our people including those among us and around us by sharing our gifts, treasures, and talents.' The parish also marks itself with the phrase 'Coal Heritage,' reflecting its roots in the southern West Virginia coalfields.
- Parish ID 1331, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
- Beckley Vicariate
- Founded 1923
Mass & Worship Schedule
Public Mass is offered three times a week at the parish church on Virginia Avenue in Welch. The schedule below is taken directly from the parish website and the diocesan directory.
- Sunday — 9:00 a.m.
- Wednesday — 12:00 noon
- Saturday — 4:00 p.m.
- Reconciliation (Confession) — by appointment
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by its pastor/administrator, with a single pastoral associate handling day-to-day parish administration and bookkeeping.
- Rev. Rey D. Landicho — Pastor / Administrator ([email protected])
- Jeremy Adams — Pastoral Associate / Bookkeeper / Secretary ([email protected])
- Ms. Jan Williams — Secretary / Bookkeeper (per diocesan directory)
History of St. Peter Parish
St. Peter Parish was canonically erected in 1923 during the Seventh Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, with Rev. John J. Hanley appointed as its first pastor. It grew alongside the coal-mining communities of McDowell County, becoming the principal Catholic church in Welch, the county seat. In the late 2010s, the diocese consolidated rural parishes under St. Peter's umbrella as small mountain parishes could no longer sustain independent status.
- 1923 — Parish established; first pastor Rev. John J. Hanley.
- Nov. 1, 2017 — Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist, Mullens suppressed.
- Nov. 26, 2017 — Holy Cross, Pineville becomes a chapel; Our Lady of Victory, Gary becomes a chapel; Christ the King, War territory merged.
- June 5, 2018 — Sacred Heart, Powhatan becomes a Mission of St. Peter Parish.
- June 30, 2020 — Christ the King Chapel, War suppressed.
Merged Communities, Missions & Chapels
As the regional hub parish, St. Peter Parish is responsible for sacramental care at one mission and two chapels, while several formerly independent parishes have been formally suppressed.
- Sacred Heart Mission, Powhatan — active mission under St. Peter.
- Our Lady of Victory Chapel, Gary — 1st Sunday Mass at 2:00 p.m. (per parish homepage listings).
- Holy Cross Chapel, Pineville (595 Appalachian Highway, Pineville, WV 24874) — 3rd Sunday Mass at 2:00 p.m.
- Suppressed: Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles (Kimball); St. John the Evangelist (Mullens); Christ the King (War).
Faith Formation
The parish maintains a Parish School of Religion serving the religious-education needs of its families. According to diocesan directory data, seven students were enrolled at the most recent reporting.
- Parish School of Religion — 7 students (diocesan listing).
- Faith formation is provided under the coordination of the Pastoral Associate.
Sacraments
St. Peter Parish offers the regular celebration of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Because the parish serves a wide geographic area across McDowell and Wyoming counties, sacraments at the chapels and mission are scheduled monthly and posted on the parish homepage.
- Eucharist — Sunday 9:00 a.m.; Wednesday 12:00 noon; Saturday 4:00 p.m.
- Reconciliation — by appointment (call parish office).
- Pastoral care extended to Sacred Heart Mission (Powhatan) and Our Lady of Victory (Gary) and Holy Cross (Pineville) chapels.
Visit, Contact & Office
The parish office is located at the church on Virginia Avenue in Welch and can be reached by phone or email. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the scheduled Masses.
- Address: 111 Virginia Ave., Welch, WV 24801
- Phone: (304) 436-2014
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Pastoral Associate email: [email protected]
- Parish website: http://stpeterwelch.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John J. Hanley1923 (founding)
First pastor of St. Peter Parish, appointed at the 1923 Diocesan Synod.