Members of Congress gather along St. Peter’s communion rail on June 6, 1944, to pray for the success of D-Day, the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe by Allied forces in World War II. Under the overall command of U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Allied landings on French beaches in Normandy were among the most dangerous operations of the war. In addition to tough German defenses, American, Canadian, and British troops faced difficult terrain and bad weather. The Eisenhower Memorial, located not too far from St. Peter’s on Independence Avenue in Southwest, includes a stainless-steel tapestry depicting the 110-foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, which were scaled and secured by U.S. Army Rangers on D-Day. This photo appeared in the parish’s 150th Anniversary booklet in 1971. The priests in the photo were not identified, but the one on the left is likely Msgr. Walter J. Hayes, St. Peter’s pastor from 1942 to 1954.
A Block Party for the Ages: Celebrating 200
On Saturday, June 11, St. Peter’s will host a Bicentennial Block Party 6-9 p.m. on the 100 block of C Street, SE, in the parish hall, and in the yard behind the church. Lots of room for longtime and newer parishioners, former parishioners, and Capitol Hill friends and neighbors to gather and mark our special anniversary.
To get the fun started, there’ll be a live band and a DJ, a photobooth, sidewalk chalk, cornhole games, sack races, and an ice cream truck! The church will provide grilled burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers, with all the fixings, plus salad, chips, fruit, and cookies. And there’ll be plenty of soda and water, as well as beer in the parish hall, to keep our whistles wet for all that block-party chatter.
This year, the block party is taking the place of the parish’s annual picnic, which is usually held on the last Saturday of June, in conjunction with the June 29 Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, our patronal feast.
Everyone is welcome June 11! Just bring yourselves and your families for an evening of fun and laughter, spirited games, good food, and no doubt much happy reminiscing.
Julie Dennis is coordinating the block party for the Bicentennial Events subcommittee. She’s reported that lots of people are pitching in to help. If you’d like to join them, please email Julie at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..