About Sts. Peter and Paul · Newport, Ohio
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church is a parish in Newport, Ohio (Shelby County) serving 286 families, founded in 1856 by French, German, and English-speaking Catholic settlers drawn to the area by the Miami Erie Canal. It is part of the Newport–Fort Loramie Pastoral Region and, since 2022, belongs to the St. Joseph, Pillar of Families family of parishes within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Weekend and Monday Masses are celebrated in the parish's current church, built in 1937 after the original 1856 brick structure was demolished, and the parish runs religious education for grades 1–6 and a Confirmation program for teens.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Reverend John W. Tonkin, Jr.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Ss. Peter & Paul offers the rhythms of a close-knit rural Catholic community — a Sunday and Monday Mass schedule within the Newport–Fort Loramie Pastoral Region, weekly Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and the annual 40 Hours Devotion at sister church St. Michael, First Reconciliation preparation for grade-school children, and a Confirmation program for teens. With 286 registered families it remains the Catholic anchor of Newport while sharing four priests and broader pastoral resources with its St. Joseph, Pillar of Families sister parishes.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 4:30–5:30 PM, Thursday before First Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church
Adoration times
- Wed 9:00 AM–9:00 PM Adoration / Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Michael Church (part of the regional schedule)
- 40 Hours Devotion, annual, held at St. Michael Church
History of Ss. Peter & Paul Parish
The parish traces its roots to French Catholic settlers who came to the Shelby and Darke County area after the Miami Erie Canal was completed from Cincinnati to Piqua around 1837. Father Louis Navarron ministered to these families from a log mission church, St. Valbert, built near Versailles in 1840, and occasionally celebrated Mass in the village of New Port. The parish was formally established with the construction of a stone-and-brick church in 1856, served as a mission for thirty years, and was replaced by the present church in 1937. The '1856' cornerstone cross from the original church is preserved in the east wall of today's building.
- 1837 — French Catholic settlers arrive along the newly completed Miami Erie Canal
- 1840 — Father Louis Navarron establishes log mission church St. Valbert near Versailles
- 1856 — Original Sts. Peter & Paul church built in Newport
- 1881 — Chancery report lists 20 families (1 English, 9 German, 10 French)
- June 29, 1936 — Parish observes the 80th and last birthday of the first church
- April 1937 — Original church demolished; present church built
- 2005 — Combined with St. Michael, Fort Loramie to form the Newport–Fort Loramie Pastoral Region
- 2006 — 150th Anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk on June 11
- July 2022 — Joined St. Joseph, Pillar of Families family of parishes under Beacons of Light
- January 2023 — Parishioners vote to name the new family 'St. Joseph, Pillar of Families'
Leadership & Pastoral Staff
Ss. Peter & Paul is pastored as part of the St. Joseph, Pillar of Families family of parishes (NW-7), sharing four priests with sister parishes St. Michael (Fort Loramie), Holy Angels (Sidney), and Sacred Heart of Jesus (McCartyville). The current pastor is Fr. John W. Tonkin, Jr., with three parochial vicars: Fr. Alex Biryomumeisho, Fr. Stephen J. Mondiek, and Fr. Andrew M. Reckers. For any sacramental emergency a dedicated priest line (937-947-0204) routes directly to one of the four.
- Pastor: Rev. John W. Tonkin, Jr.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Alex Biryomumeisho
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Stephen J. Mondiek
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Andrew M. Reckers
- Family of Parishes: St. Joseph, Pillar of Families (NW-7)
- Sacramental Emergency: 937-947-0204
Confirmation & Youth Faith Formation
Teens from both Ss. Peter & Paul and St. Michael parishes prepare for Confirmation during their freshman year of high school, using the 'Purpose' Confirmation program by Lifeteen. Preparation emphasizes both reception of the sacrament and learning to live effectively as a disciple of the Church.
- Confirmation program uses 'Purpose' by Lifeteen
- Freshman-year preparation for teens of Ss. Peter & Paul and St. Michael parishes
Liturgical Ministries & Worship Commission
Ss. Peter & Paul invites parishioners to participate in liturgical life as altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, greeters, lectors, music ministers, ushers, and collection counters. The regional Worship Commission works with the pastor and pastoral staff to set liturgy and worship goals, plan special celebrations and music, and train and renew lay liturgical ministers.
- Altar Server
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Greeter (weekend Masses)
- Lector
- Music Ministry
- Usher
- Mass Coordinator (St. Michael)
- Collection Counter
- Worship Commission — liturgy planning and lay-minister training
Community Prayer & Devotions
Beyond Mass, the region maintains a steady rhythm of community prayer: a weekly Sunday Rosary, daily Rosary after morning Mass, Friday Liturgy of the Hours, and a special Friday Rosary for persecuted Christians. The annual 40 Hours Devotion is hosted at St. Michael Church and offers parishioners a chance to sign up for continuous hours of Eucharistic Adoration.
- Sun 7:25 AM Rosary (Apostleship of Prayer), St. Michael Church
- Wed 9:00 AM Rosary after morning Mass, St. Michael Church
- Wed 9:00 AM–9:00 PM Eucharistic Adoration, St. Michael Church
- Thu 9:00 AM Rosary after morning Mass, St. Michael Church
- Fri 8:05 AM Liturgy of the Hours / Morning Prayer, St. Michael Church
- Fri 9:00 AM Rosary after morning Mass, St. Michael Church
- Fri 3:20 PM Rosary for Persecuted Christians, St. Michael Church
- Annual 40 Hours Devotion — St. Michael Church (June 2026 sign-ups posted on the website)
Parish Office & Communications
The combined St. Michael / Ss. Peter & Paul parish office is staffed on Mondays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at (937) 295-2891. The region uses email and text communications — visitors are invited to sign up through the parish website to stay informed about news, schedules, and events. Sacramental emergencies are handled 24/7 by the dedicated priest line.
- Parish Office: St. Michael / Sts. Peter & Paul — Mondays 9:00 AM–12:00 Noon, (937) 295-2891
- Sacramental Emergency Line: 937-947-0204
- Email: [email protected]
- Communications: email and text list via the website
St. Joseph, Pillar of Families — Family of Parishes
Since the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Beacons of Light restructuring in July 2022, Ss. Peter & Paul has been part of a four-parish family that shares clergy and pastoral planning. The name 'St. Joseph, Pillar of Families' was chosen by parishioner vote in January 2023. Together with Holy Angels (Sidney), Sacred Heart of Jesus (McCartyville), and St. Michael (Fort Loramie), the family shares worship schedules, religious education, sacramental preparation, and outreach — keeping every church building open and active.
- Ss. Peter & Paul, Newport
- St. Michael, Fort Loramie
- Holy Angels, Sidney
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, McCartyville
- Family name chosen by parishioner vote, January 2023
- Shared clergy team: pastor + 3 parochial vicars
Architecture & the 1856 Cornerstone
The parish's present-day church was built in 1937 to replace the original 1856 building. The original church's foundation was stone, while its superstructure was hand-molded local brick fired near the site; timbers came from adjoining forests and dressed lumber was hauled from Piqua. A stone cross inscribed 'Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 1856' that once sat above the front entrance has been preserved and is now embedded in the east wall of the present church, connecting the 21st-century parish to its 19th-century founding.
- 1937 — current church replaces original 1856 building
- 1856 stone cross preserved and embedded in the east wall of today's church
- Construction of original church: stone foundation, hand-molded local brick, hauled lumber, parishioner labor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Jarred L. Kohn2023–2024
Named pastor of the St. Joseph, Pillar of Families family of parishes in 2023 with three vicars (Fr. Mondiek, Fr. Reckers, Fr. Hess); later moved to Wright State Campus Ministry.
- Reverend Steven Shoup2005 – June 2023
First pastor of the Newport–Fort Loramie Pastoral Region, formed in 2005 by combining Ss. Peter & Paul, Newport with St. Michael, Fort Loramie in response to the priest shortage.