Community of Saint Peter
Our Story
The Community of Saint Peter was born from a desire to perpetuate the growth and Spirit of Historic Saint Peter, a vibrant downtown parish that was suppressed in April of 2010 by Bishop Richard G. Lennon. The closing was untimely and unwarranted. Under the leadership of Fr. Bob Marrone, the parish had grown over nearly three decades from very humble beginnings, drawing parishioners from several counties who participated in engaging and inspiring liturgies. Parishioners were heavily invested in nearby Marion-Sterling Elementary, and a variety of urban initiatives that benefited the homeless and others on the margins. Educational offerings featured local, national, and international speakers.
Anticipating the closure, able members of the parish incorporated under the name of Community of Saint Peter and secured and renovated a new space in the Midtown Corridor, just two miles away.
Interior of Historic Saint Peter
The Community is committed to its presence in the inner city of Cleveland and has worked to establish ministries that aid the most vulnerable in our city.
At the center of our life together is the Eucharist, which draws us together, sustains our ministries, and sends us forth in the service of the gospel.
We are committed, as well, to a strong program of education for our members and the wider community.
Through our social justice activities, we work not only to meet the immediate needs of others but also, to work for the necessary systemic change which will bring about lasting equality and justice.
The Community is governed by an eleven-member board of trustees who are elected to guide the life and work of the Community in the present and ensure our ongoing stability in the future. A pastor-administrator, hired by the board, is charged with overseeing our liturgical, pastoral, and administrative needs.
The Community of Saint Peter strives to be a model of involvement, commitment, and mutual concern, which we believe will be the hallmarks of church communities in the future.
We believe that as the church, the people of God must be alive and present in and for the world. This is the central focus of our concern, attention, and use of our resources.
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