Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church

What if a church could speak? What tales would these walls whisper if they could? Here at Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, those whispers become echoes of a vibrant past. Saint Peter and Saint Paul Parish officially emerged on July 27, 1967. The first Mass, a testament to the burgeoning community, was celebrated on August 13, 1967, at Camp San Pedro. For two years, Pastor Michael Troy and 200 families worshipped on the move. They held services at the San Pedro Center, New Hope Baptist Church, and Aloma Elementary School. Imagine their joy when, on November 1, 1969, they finally gathered under the dome of their own recreational building. This multifunctional space served as church, rectory, office, meeting room, and auditorium. By 1980, the parish family had blossomed to 1000 families. The domed building, once a symbol of their beginnings, was now too small. Through collective generosity, a new church was dedicated on September 14, 1980, by Bishop Thomas Grady and Pastor John Mitzi. This new structure became a focal point for their shared faith. The original domed building transitioned into a social hall, childcare center, and preschool before its demolition in 2007. The 1980 church building itself met a similar fate in 2015. The community’s growth necessitated further expansion. A social hall, built in 1974, was later transformed into the Early Learning Center in 1980. The Parish Family Center, dedicated on March 3, 1991, became a hub for religious education, ministry meetings, social gatherings, and community events. Looking ahead, parishioners developed a 20-year Master Site Plan in 1996. A larger church topped the priority list. The parish had grown to over 3100 families, echoing the words of Mark 2:2,4, “And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and He was preaching the Word to them.” Saint Peter and Saint Paul, too, had many at their door. The current Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, with a capacity of 1200, was dedicated on September 15, 2002, by Bishop Norbert Dorsey. Pastor Sean Cooney’s words at the dedication resonate even today, emphasizing the importance of a vibrant worshipping community. He recognized that a beautiful building without such a community remained irrelevant and purposeless. Their new worship space was a testament to their deepening commitment to their faith. The recent addition of the New Ministry Center in early 2017 provides space for staff and ministry functions. Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church stands not just as a building, but as a living testament to a community’s faith, growth, and commitment.