About Our Parish

Msgr. McGowan enjoying the good weather!

Humble Beginnings

In 1965, the late Bishop Marx and Monsignor Patrick Higgins, Pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Violet, discussed the need for a Catholic Church in the Annaville Area. Negotiations were initiated with Mrs. Mary Kocurek and family for the purchase of ten acres for the new parish site.

On June 29, 1967, the Feasts of Saints Pete and Paul, universal patrons of the Church, ground was broken for a new parish. The Parish would be known as St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Mass was held in the Annaville Elementary School Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. and the ground breaking, including blessing of the site by the Most Reverend Thomas L. Drury, was held immediately after Mass. Bishop Drury accepted a golden shovel from Monsignor Higgins and dug the first shovel of dirt.

Monsignor William Kelly was appointed the first pastor of the parish by Bishop Drury in September of 1967. Monsignor Kelly lived and had his office in a hotel on Leopard Street until the first rectory, located on Guess Drive was purchased. The men of the parish remodeled the rectory and the women helped with the painting. Furnishings were acquired with the assistance of a collection of Gold Stamps. Masses were held in the Clifford-Jackson Funeral Home on Violet Road. As membership increased, the Masses were moved to Annaville School cafeteria. On special occasions, such as birthdays and wedding anniversaries, Monsignor Kelly would say a Mass in parishioner's homes. He served as our Pastor until 1973. The first Mass on Church property was the Midnight Mass at Christmas of 1972. It was held in the Parish Hall which was to be the Church building for the next six years.

In 1973, Father John Killeen was appointed our pastor. Soon after came to our parish, Father Killeen and the Parish Council began plans for our new church building. Louie Sablatura was the president of the Parish Council at the time. The contract for the building was awarded in 1976. Many families made generous donations to help build the new Church. Their gifts are commemorated on a plaque located in the back of the church. On February 19, 1978, the very first Mass was celebrated in the new Church building. It was a celebration in honor of Louie and Minnie Sablatura's 50th wedding anniversary. The new Church was dedicated on February 26, 1978. After Mass, a reception was held in the hall.

Father Matthew Lyng served as our pastor from August 1, 1981 until April 0f 1992. Soon after his arrival we began planning our new rectory and CCD classrooms, since up until that time sessions were held in Annaville Elementary school. The CCD program has grown over the years and today has more than 500 students.

Fr. Lyng and the Parish Council saw the need for a larger hall and the contract was awarded in 1992 and the building was completed by Hooker Construction and blessed by Bishop Rene Gracida on March 25, 1993.

In April of 1992, Father Joseph was appointed pastor of our parish. Msgr. Michael Adams lived at the rectory as a retired priest and helped Father Joseph with Masses and Confessions. The parish celebrated its 25th Anniversary on June 29, 1992 with a special Mass and a party. Unfortunately Father Joseph had to retire from the parish and active ministry because of ill health in January of 1994.

Msgr. Morgan Rowsome, was appointed to St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Parish on February 2, 1994 and since his arrival, has started the Catholic Parish Renewal Retreats, introduced Sacrificial Giving of Time, Talent and Treasure, started many new ministries, published a parish newspaper twice a year, approved of much needed repairs on buildings, driveways and parking lots and made us a "Fully Alive" parish. He has also hired Sr. Susana, of the Pax Christi Institute as Sister in charge of St. Mary Mission and is assisted by Sr. Maria Del Angels. Msgr. Morgan retired on June 30, 2013

In 2007 we celebrated our 40th Anniversary of becoming a parish and thanked God for the time, talent and treasure given by Priests, Sisters, Deacons and lay people over the years. We are blessed in having Msgr. Seamus McGowan to hear confessions, celebrate Mass and visit the sick U dying of our parish. We have a beautiful grotto in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes on Violet Road with a Rosary Walk for people to come and pray this wonderful prayer.

On November 8th, 2008, Dr. Al Cicora, Teo Farias and Richard Lewinski, from our parish, were ordained Permanent deacons and assigned to our parish. They are involved in different ministries in our parish. Deacon Richard is in charge of RCIA and helps non Catholics join the Church and Catholics to receive their Sacraments. deacon Allen Cicora heads up "Catholics Returning Home" and our Annual Parish Mission. Deacon Teo is in charge of our altar servers, leads the singing at the 6 p.m. Mass on Saturdays and helps Msgr. Morgan with Baptisms, Vigil Rosaries and funerals.

Our Parish membership now stands at 1700 families.

Msgr. Michael Heras was appointed on July 1, 2013 by Most Reverend Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Msgr. Heras resigned on June 26, 2014 and Father Emilio Jimenez was appointed our Pastor.

Big “T” traditions

14 Sep, 2023

Traditions are important to families. Singing the family birthday song, making grandma’s banana bread, praying in a special way at holiday meals — traditions are the foundation on which strong families are built. Likewise, the Church was built upon the rituals and traditions of the apostles and the early Christian communities. This body of ritual and teaching is called Tradition (with a capital T), and it serves as a unifying force in the Church today. This Tradition is so important that the teaching office of the Church, called the magisterium, safeguards it. We believe that that sacred Word of God is found in both Scripture and Tradition. In fact, the Tradition of the Church was in place before the Gospels were even written. It’s true! We practiced our faith long before we wrote about our faith. The first Christians were already meeting together, mostly in homes, celebrating the Eucharist, sharing the teachings of the apostles and encouraging one another at the time the New Testament was written down. This was the beginning of St. Paul addressing his letters to these early Christian communities. Those who argue that Scripture alone should be the source of Christian teaching fail to recognize that in the first several centuries of the Church there was no “Bible” in the form we have today. Early Christian communities read from the Old Testament writings, the prophets and from the letters from leaders like Peter and Paul. The earliest writings in the New Testament reflect the belief and practice of the early Christians as the Holy Spirit guided the Church and her leaders. If we truly wish to understand Scripture, we must understand the context in which it was written — the Tradition of the Church. FAITH AT HOME Traditions that are handed down through the generations serve not only as the foundation for our faith historically, but are also a vital part of our faith today. Especially through the family, called the “domestic church,” we pass the teachings of our faith on to the next generation, in the words we say, as well as our family rituals and the way we live our daily lives. Today it is important that children and adults alike learn and experience the teachings of our faith in context — in the Christian community of the parish and the home. Cultivate your family’s faith at home by practicing Sabbath. Make it known that Sunday is a day devoted to family. Be intentional about planning a day of rest and renewal together. Begin with Mass. Prepare a meal together. Share prayers and conversation. Turn off the television (and the computer and MP3 player) and listen to each other. Leave room for silence. At the end of the day, thank God for your family’s blessings.

September 14, 2023

14 Sep, 2023

Jn 3:13-17 Jesus continues his instruction of Nicodemus with reference to Moses and the elevated serpent. Elevation-exaltation is central to John’s theology as it is to all Christianity. With that is the understanding that God’s motivation to give his only Son is love, love for all creation, especially humanity. Salvation is dependent upon that love. Lord, you emptied yourself. You humbled yourself. You were obedient to the Father, even to your death. How can we forget that? How can we ignore that? How do we measure up to that kind of love?

Hear the cry

14 Sep, 2023

“Let us hear the cry of the victims and those suffering. Let us allow them to teach us a lesson in humanity.” — Pope Francis Reflection: What do victims and those who suffer have to teach us about being human? What have you learned about the dignity of the human person through personal suffering? This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.

The Good News leads to seeing with eyes of faith

11 Sep, 2023

What really matters? Most of us have had an experience that causes us to ask this question. Our lives are filled with activity, much of it necessary, some of it surely not. On most days many of us feel we have little time for anything beyond a quick prayer, a fast-food meal, and then total collapse at the end of the day (yet statistics indicate we seem to find endless hours to watch television). And then something happens: a death or diagnosis of serious illness; a natural disaster that takes with it human life and property; unemployment or underemployment affecting physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. That “something” may happen to us, to someone near us, or to someone around the world, but in that moment, as circumstances suddenly change, our perspective is changed as well, and we may ask, “What really matters, after all?” The Good News of Jesus Christ focuses our attention beyond the mundane, toward that which is of lasting value. When our lives are directed by our relationship with the God of Love, we order our actions, words and attitudes to reflect that Love. That is the real meaning of our life in Christ, and the call of disciples and stewards. By seeing with the eyes of faith, we gain holy perspective and realize that our stewardship of life, time and resources is the means by which we show Christ’s love in the world. This article comes to you from Grace In Action (Our Sunday Visitor) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

ABOUT

We welcome you all to be part of our community.

CONTACT US

361-241-3249

stpeterprinceoftheapostles@gmail.com

3901 Violet Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78410, United States of America

JOIN OUR FAMILY

Admin