“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments” (CCC 1213). If you are interested in having your child baptized here at St. Peter’s, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Director of Religious Education, for information about scheduling, Baptism preparation classes, and godparent requirements.

Baptisms are normally scheduled for the second Sunday of every month at 12:30pm, after the 11am Mass. However, in October we will celebrate the baptisms during the 9am Mass to celebrate Respect Life month.

The Baptism preparation classes are generally held on the second Saturday of every month and usually take place in the church from 10-11:30am.

The Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, and is the “source and summit of the Christian life” (LG 11). Here at St. Peter's First Communion usually takes place when a child is in the second grade. Preparation for the Sacrament occurs either in a Catholic school or in St. Peter’s Sunday School. If your child does not attend a Catholic school, he or she should be enrolled in Sunday School in September in order to be prepared for First Communion in the spring. Please see the Sunday School section of this website for more information about registration.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion and perfection of the graces of Baptism. Once the faithful have received Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation, they are fully initiated into the Catholic faith. Here at St. Peter’s, children are usually confirmed when they are in the eighth grade. Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation takes place either in a Catholic school or in St. Peter’s Sunday School. If your child does not attend a Catholic school, he or she should be enrolled in Sunday School in September in order to be prepared for Confirmation in the spring. Please see the Sunday School section of this website for more information about registration.

We also offer the opportunity for adults who are not yet confirmed to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Preparation classes are scheduled several times throughout the year. Confirmation is an integral part of the Christian life, and we encourage anyone who has not received this sacrament to consider doing so. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Director of Religious Education, for a schedule of upcoming class dates.

Matrimony is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, the one by which a man and woman join together the whole of their lives. Marriage is a means of grace in the life of the couple, and as the “domestic church” the family is the foundation of the Christian community

Catholic Marriage preparation contains the following elements:

• one-on-one meetings with a priest or deacon
• the collecting of pertinent paperwork
• a Marriage Preparation class

The first step in the process of preparing for marriage is to make an appointment to meet with your parish priest. If you are a parishioner of St. Peter’s you should contact our parochial vicar to make an appointment. The priest or deacon with whom you meet will walk you through the rest of the necessary steps in the process.

Marriage Preparation at St. Peter's

The Marriage Preparation classes (sometimes called Pre-Cana classes) are one part of this preparation process. Here at St. Peter’s we offer a series of preparation classes three times a year: in the fall, winter, and spring. You must have met with a priest or deacon prior to registering for the class. Our 2012-2013 schedule is listed below. To register, please return a completed registration form (below) along with your payment to Lacy Prebula, Director of Religious Education, at 313 2nd St SE, Washington DC 20003. Please note that attendance at all four classes is mandatory.

**Before registering please email Lacy Prebula to inquire about the availability of space in the upcoming classes, as the number of couples permitted in each class is limited.

Marriage Preparation Registration 2012-2013

Fall 2012:

• Saturday, October 13, 9:30-1pm
• Saturday, October 20, 9:30am-1pm
• Saturday, October 27, 9:30am-1pm
• Saturday, November 3, 9:30am-1pm

Winter 2013:

• Saturday, January 19, 9:30am-1pm
• Saturday, January 26, 9:30am-1pm
• Saturday, February 2, 9:30am-1pm
• Saturday, February 9, 9:30am-1pm

Spring 2013:

• Saturday, April 6, 9:30am-1pm
• Saturday, April 13, 9:30am-1pm
• Saturday, April 20, 9:30am-1pm
• Saturday, April 27, 9:30am-1pm

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “by the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them” (CCC 1514). The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for anyone who is seriously ill or who is preparing for major surgery. If you or a loved one would like to receive this sacrament, please call the Rectory office at 202.547.1430.