About St. Peter's

St. Peter’s Parish was founded in 1820 to serve the growing population in the eastern part of the city near the Capitol and the Navy Yard. It was the second Catholic parish established in the City of Washington (before the city incorporated Georgetown), carved out of St. Patrick’s, still at 10th and F Streets, NW, founded in 1794.

The present church is the third one to stand on the corner of Second and C Streets, SE, where St. Peter’s has become a familiar landmark. In 1889, the first church was razed to make way for a bigger one, which was consecrated a year later. Then in March 1940, a fire destroyed the roof and much of the church’s interior; the exterior walls and the stained-glass windows were saved, but the rest was completely gutted. On Easter Sunday a year later, the parish celebrated Mass in the rebuilt church.

St. Peter’s opened a school for its children in 1867 at Third and E, SE. Today St. Peter’s Interparish School stands on that same corner, encompassing four area parishes: St. Dominic’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s, and St. Vincent de Paul.

St. Peter’s is an active parish, conscious of its place in a historic district close to the Capitol, the House office buildings, and the Library of Congress, but also aware of its role as a neighbor to all. Some years ago, the parish council adopted a mission statement for the church:

“To be a tangible manifestation of Christ living in the community.”

Indeed, St. Peter’s is a kind of home away from home for many Catholics who work for Congress and the Library and come to Mass here in the early morning or on holy days, and over the years St. Peter's has counted members of Congress and White House officials among its parishioners. At the same time, parishioners continually reach out to homeless, hungry, and struggling people in their midst – cooking meals for SOME, collecting Christmas gifts for children at Tyler School, working with other churches to distribute bag lunches on Sundays.

But the heart and soul of St. Peter’s is its spiritual life. Parishioners take part in Bible and catechism study and prayer groups. Every year, the RCIA team welcomes new and returning Catholics. Choir members, the folk group, and lectors help proclaim the faith in word and song. And each week, the community gathers – families and singles, newcomers and longtime parishioners, priests and lay people – to celebrate the Eucharist together.

Come join us. You are always welcome.