About St. Peter · Worcester, Massachusetts
St. Peter Parish is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Worcester, Massachusetts, affiliated with the Diocese of Worcester and twinned with the St. Andrew the Apostle Mission at St. Andrew's Church. The parish serves a notably multicultural community, celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and an African-language liturgy, and operates an extensive outreach network that includes a food pantry, free medical clinic, and immigration services from its 929 Main Street campus. Its 1884 Gothic Revival brick church opposite Clark University is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains the heart of a still-active downtown faith community.
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- Saint Peter (the Apostle, first Pope)
- Rector
- Rev. Father José A. Rodríguez
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Peter is one of central Worcester's most welcoming multicultural parishes, offering Mass in English, Spanish, and an African-language liturgy every single weekend so that nearly any Catholic in the neighborhood can hear the Gospel and receive the sacraments in their heart language. Its historic 1884 Gothic Revival church sits directly opposite Clark University and anchors a busy campus of outreach — a free medical clinic, food pantry, immigration services, and charity works — that draws dozens of volunteers from the parish and beyond. With daily Mass, two weekly confession slots, faith formation for children in both English and Spanish, and a long-standing pastoral staff that includes a pastor, assisting priest, three deacons, and a dedicated African Ministry priest, it is a parish where newcomers are quickly folded into a real community of worship and service.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM at St. Peter's Chapel
- Saturday 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM at St. Peter's Chapel
Parish Overview & Identity
St. Peter Parish is the historic Catholic faith community of southwestern Worcester, Massachusetts, sharing its pastor and staff with the linked St. Andrew the Apostle Mission parish. The parish occupies a 929 Main Street campus directly across from Clark University, where the 1884 Gothic Revival church (935 Main Street) continues in active liturgical use while housing the diocese's commitment to a multilingual, multicultural Catholic community.
- Name: St. Peter Parish / Saint Peter Catholic Church
- Linked parish: Saint Andrew the Apostle (St. Andrew's)
- Diocese: Worcester
- Main church: 935 Main Street (historic) / Parish office: 929 Main Street
- Rite: Roman-Latin
History of St. Peter's Parish and Church
St. Peter's Parish was established in 1884 to serve the rapidly growing Catholic population of southwestern Worcester. Ground for the church was broken that same year, but the elaborate Gothic Revival building was not completed until 1893, when it was formally dedicated. Architect Patrick W. Ford designed the red-brick, granite-trimmed structure with its tall corner bell tower and three-bay main facade.
- Founded 1884; church dedicated 1893
- Architect: Patrick W. Ford
- Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1980
- Architectural style: Gothic Revival
Architecture of the Historic Church
St. Peter's is a red brick church with granite trim, basically rectangular in plan, with a square bell tower projecting from the right front corner and a central projecting bay on the main facade. The tower has two narrow round-arch windows on its lower stages and a taller belfry stage topped by ornate crenellations and spires. Three entrances on the main facade — each set in round-arch openings — lead worshippers inside, with the central entrance framed by paired round-arch windows and the flanking entrances topped by circular rose windows.
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, an assisting priest, a priest dedicated to the African Ministry, three deacons (one retired), and two administrative assistants. Two choirs — a Spanish choir and an African choir — round out the liturgical team.
- Pastor: Rev. Father José A. Rodríguez
- Assisting Priest: Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Scollen
- African Ministry: Rev. Fr. Enoch Kyeremateng
- Deacon George Estremera
- Deacon Peter Nguyen
- Deacon Robert Dio (Retired)
- Administrative Assistants: Katherine & Heidi
- Spanish Choir Directors: Salvadora Ocasio & Lisbel Valdes Ocasio
- African Choir Director: Michael Mbowa
Sacraments
St. Peter prepares parishioners for and administers the major Catholic sacraments, with bilingual (English/Spanish) preparation and family-friendly scheduling for faith formation.
- Baptism — pre-baptismal instruction required; Spanish the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM, English the 3rd Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM, both in the Meeting Room
- Marriage — contact the Parish Office at least one year before the planned date
- Anointing / Viaticum for the Sick — call 508-752-4674 to reach a priest
- Faith Formation (children) — Saturday classes: 9:00 AM English, 1:00 PM Spanish (2025–2026 session, Meeting Room)
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond the altar, St. Peter runs an unusually broad outreach network from its Main Street campus, including a free medical clinic, food pantry, immigration services, and a community kitchen, alongside the standard liturgical ministries.
- Eucharistic Ministry (training by calling the office)
- Lector Ministry (training by calling the office)
- Spanish Choir
- African Choir
- African Ministry
- Food Pantry
- Free Medical Clinic (volunteers welcomed; call the rectory office)
- Immigration Services
- Outreach / Charities / Social Services
- Community Kitchen
Office Hours, Contact & Visiting
The parish office has split hours through the year (the website lists a June 15–20 schedule of Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and Tuesday & Thursday 12:00–5:00 PM). Weekly updated hours are also printed on the cover of the parish bulletin. Visitors to the office are asked to use the side door that faces the church.
- Parish Office: 929 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610
- Phone: (508) 752-4674
- Email: [email protected]
- Use the side door facing the church when visiting the office
Staying Connected: Flocknote & Social
Parishioners can receive short-notice updates by signing up for Flocknote text alerts or following the parish's Facebook page linked from the website.
- Text 'SPSAW' to 84576 to enroll in Flocknote alerts
- Facebook — Saint Peter Catholic Church & Saint Andrew Mission
- Official website: https://stpeters-standrews.faith