Charlotte S Oldest Catholic Parish. Served by the Jesuits Since 1986

St. Peter Catholic Church

Charlotte’s oldest Catholic parish. Served by the Jesuits since 1986.

Our Mission: Praise. Reverence. Serve.

Our Vision: We welcome everyone desiring to be a disciple of Jesus. As disciples, we praise God in the liturgy and the Word, we reverence God by celebrating the sacraments, and we serve God by reaching out to and advocating for all, especially the neediest.

507 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC, 28202 704.332.2901 www.stpeterscatholic.org Our History in Summary Rev. Jeremiah J. O’Connell, a circuit riding priest from Columbia, S.C. and the Diocese of Charleston, spent two days on a stagecoach traveling to Charlotte to lay the cornerstone for the first Saint Peter’s church on March 25, 1851. He was responsible for the nurturing of Catholics in the area.

Fr. Jeremiah served the areas in North and South Carolina for over 25 years. He helped secure the land for Mary Help, now Belmont Abbey, and lived out his final years there. The cost for two acres of land and St. Peter’s Church was $1,000.00. Much of the money given was by non- Catholics who liked Fr. Jeremiah when he preached at the Episcopal Church. In the area of North Carolina and South Carolina from Columbia to “Warm Springs”, there were approximately 100 Catholics - “Poor, virtuous, zealous.” They were served by various priests beginning in 1824, including two brothers of Fr. O’Connell. At the dedication of St. Peter’s in 1852, Bishop Reynolds of the Diocese of Charleston spoke of the “zeal and piety of the few Catholics” in building the church. The Charlotte population at the time was 1000. The town was said to be “falling into decay and miserable existence and the only signs of life were during Court week, circus time and on the 4th of July.” The people were looking forward to the railroad to Columbia being finished in early 1852 and as a result the city was “putting on its best” to welcome the Iron Horse. An explosion at a munitions factory during the Civil War caused a crack in one of the walls of the church, and in 1869 the people began to raise money for a new church. In 1878, one of the benefactors whose presence is still felt at St. Peter’s came to town. His name was Dennis O’Donoghue and he was in charge of the new Weather Bureau. He was also a physician and was well known in the Charlotte area. In 1888, St. Mary’s Seminary, a day and boarding school began on the St. Peter’s property. Mother Catherine Price, sister of the one of the founders of the Maryknoll Fathers, Rev. Frederick Price, was the Superior. The boarding school was discontinued in 1892 when Sacred Heart Academy in Belmont was established. In 1892 the Benedictine Order from Belmont Abbey began their service to St. Peter’s. Fr. Francis Meyer came to be pastor and the present church was built a short time later. It measures 100 x 40 feet. In 1893 the cornerstone was laid by Bishop Leo Haid of Belmont Abbey who also donated a window for the church. The structure is of Victorian gothic style and was said to have a “steel” ceiling and American stained glass windows. Besides Dr. O’Donoghue there were other benefactors including Sr. Catherine Drexel who was from Philadelphia. She had founded Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black and Native American peoples. Her gift to the parish was contingent on a promise of pews reserved for the “colored” people, in fulfillment of her order’s mission. The old “parish house” behind the church became the first Mercy Hospital, founded by the Sisters of Mercy. This hospital had 25 beds. It remained at this location until 1915 when the hospital relocated to Vail Avenue. The present building was completed in 1922 as a convent (pictured left). Renovations improved the structure and functionality in order for it to serve today as the church office.

The Benedictine priests remained with St. Peter’s until 1960. At that time Diocesan priests began serving St. Peter’s. In 1970 the parish became a “Church of Convenience” since the population of the area had diminished and other Catholic Churches were in place. St. Patrick’s was begun as a mission of St. Peter’s in 1939. The spirit of St. Peter’s remains very strong in the whole of Charlotte as the “Mother” church.

The parish was again established in 1986 when the Maryland Province Jesuits led by Rev. John C. Haughey, S.J., came to serve the Diocese of Charlotte. Since its rebirth in 1986, the parish has grown to over 2,000 registered families. The people of St. Peter are strongly committed to the poor in this area, especially in the shelter of homeless men. There is also a commitment to the business community through the celebration of weekday Mass at 12:10pm. Parish outreach programs are many, including Urban Ministry, Room in the Inn, Druid Hills Academy Partnership, McCreesh Place, and various ministries that serve our community.

In 1986, artist Ben Long was commissioned to paint a Fresco. The fresco spanned the entire back wall of the church, and the triptych design portrayed the Agony in the Garden, the resurrected Christ, and Pentecost. After the renovation and restoration of the Church and completion of the Fresco, St. Peter’s was rededicated in 1989.

On the 20th of February, 2002, shortly after 11:00 am, one third of the central part of the fresco fell to the floor in a million pieces, and the left and right segments of the fresco remained partly attached to the wall and partly hanging free. After months of searching, St. Peter found a craftsman willing to save the parts of the fresco that remained by removing them from the wall. Through this tedious process we were able to save eighteen pieces of the original fresco which now hang in various areas of our campus. The New Artwork

About the Artist - John Collier

In the spring of 2004, two years after the fall of Ben Long’s fresco, we began the search for an artist to provide our sanctuary with a new work to inspire and focus the prayer of our community. We chose John Collier of Plano, Texas, the artist responsible for the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero in Manhattan, as the one to create our art work. It was not, however, until 2007 that the work as conceived by John Collier began to become a reality in our sanctuary.

John Collier not only painted the central painting and sculpted the bas-reliefs; he also designed the frame in which the painting is set, and the background of oak panels behind the painting, as well as the knee wall which supports the painting and tabernacle. The tabernacle and the woodwork framing the bas-reliefs are also the work of this artist.

Mr. Collier is one of America's most honored Artists. Each year the magazine Faith & Form, in conjunction with IFRAA, the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture, present awards for outstanding contributions in faith-based art. In four of seven recent years, John Collier won awards from this prestigious group, namely for his sculptures of the “Annunciation,” “St. Mary Magdalene,” his “Crucifix” and for his “Mary at the Wedding of Cana.” John has also won numerous awards from Ministry & Liturgy magazine including three in 2008.

The background of oak panels behind the painting, the reredos, was the first element of the design to be put in place. Then in December of 2007, the painting with its frame and the tabernacle were installed in the sanctuary as a kind of Christmas present for our very patient congregation. Shortly before Easter of 2008, the bas-reliefs were set in place, and on Sunday, October 12, 2008, the entire work was blessed and dedicated. The painting is John Collier’s interpretation of Chapter 21 of John’s Gospel. The painting, oil on aluminum, is a triptych - three panels closely united to appear as one. The frame is made of quarter-sawed oak and gilded with layers of 22 karat gold, which required a year to apply.

(A) The three gothic arches carry the traditional symbolism of the Holy Trinity. (B) Jesus the risen Christ stands in the middle of the painting under the central arch of the frame. He is standing upon a large rock shaped like a keystone. He is the rejected stone which holds everything together. (C) Jesus is carrying a fishing line in his hands. Scripture indicates that Jesus has already prepared bread and fish over an open fire. In the artist’s mind Jesus caught those fish, and indeed the men to make them his disciples. (D) St. Peter kneels on a large stone symbolic of his name “Petrus”. The rock on which he kneels is separated from the rock on which Jesus stands, symbolic of his separation from Christ by his triple denial of Jesus on Holy Thursday. His hands are extended as if in supplication and prayer, and he gazes into the eyes of Christ with a look that seems to long for understanding. Christ’s hands extend as if to catch Peter’s hands in his; a touch that brings physical life as well as spiritual life or reconciliation. Christ requests that Peter “feed His sheep”- a sign of the Lord’s forgiveness of Peter’s denial and the primacy that he places on Peter as leader not only of his apostles, but of his church. (E) Two apostles lean over the boat behind Jesus gathering or counting the fish that have been caught. Their backs take on the form of rocks. They are, as Paul tells us, part of the “living stones” that make up the church. (F) In renaissance painting it was not at all unusual for some of the people portrayed in a scriptural event to be dressed in contemporary garb rather than first century dress. Likewise, things which might seem “historically” incorrect appear in our painting. Peter’s boat is more like a “bass boat” that you might find on Lake Norman than the fishing boats of first century Galilee. (G) We can also see that the apostle standing in the boat is dressed in blue jeans and a leather jacket. The meaning of the scriptural event is as important and relevant to us today as it was in Jesus’ time. (H) If you look at the apostles throughout the scene, you become aware that the artist has shown them in various ages and ethnic backgrounds to indicate the universality of Christ’s call. All these men, like the apostles leaning over the boat in the foreground, are engaged in gathering the fish from the great catch of 153 fish. (I) In the upper right of the triptych there is a series of faint blue images to one side and an angel. John Collier goes beyond John 21 here to Luke 15:10, “I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over one sinner who repents”. Peter’s three-fold affirmation of his love for Christ is his repentance for his three-fold denial of him on Holy Thursday evening in the High Priest’s courtyard. The angel is leading a choir of angels in the blue, in rejoicing over Peter’s repentance and reconciliation with the Lord. Bas Relief - St. Katharine Drexel with Madonna & Child

When the second church on this site was being built in 1892, Katharine Drexel, a wealthy Philadelphian and founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black and Native American peoples, donated funds towards the pews at St. Peter’s so that African-Americans would always have a place to worship in Charlotte.

(A) The bas-relief pictures her in the distinctive habit of her order, as she prays in a kind of ecstasy.

(B) Her spectacles, in which she was almost always pictured, lie on the floor.

(C) A moth and a rusty nail lie on the ground at her feet evoking St. Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not lay up for yourselves earthly treasure. Moths and rust corrode ... Make it your practice instead to store up heavenly treasure...”

(D) The Madonna and Child above her have African-American features since it was in the poor blacks of the South and the Native Americans of the Southwest that she saw the Christ who calls us to care for the least of his people. Mary is depicted holding Jesus, possibly as a teenager, calling to mind her loving care for all ages. Jesus holds an orb, the world, in his hand.

Bas Relief – Saint Ignatius with Homeless Man before the Crucified Christ

(A) St. Ignatius, praying before the (B) crucified Christ, commemorates that the Jesuits have been serving St. Peter’s parish since 1986.

(C) Next to him a homeless man also worships the Lord. This man is humiliated every day, but he sees that Jesus too was humiliated. By including him with Saint Ignatius and Jesus, we are reminding all homeless people of a dignity they may not know they have...that they are loved by God. The homeless man being consoled before Christ evokes the Mission of St. Peter’s, calling us to continual work with the poor and disenfranchised.

(D) The angels that surround the cross both grieve and offer support to Christ. They are traditionally included in early Renaissance paintings of the Crucifixion, as in Giotto’s work. The Tabernacle

The tabernacle is made out of jade and lapis. The door of the tabernacle is bronze with an image of the nativity in relief. (A) Joseph gathers wood for a fire while (B) Mary in a Carolina rocking chair comforts the Christ Child.

Baptismal Pool The baptismal pool was given by the Jesuits to honor their brothers who have served at St. Peter’s. Designed and installed by Gelbach Designs, Inc., it incorporates the traditional Jesuit IHS executed by local artist Annette Cossentine using Mexican Smalti mosaic stone.

Key Moments in the History of St. Peter Catholic Church

Growth of Catholic church in Charlotte began with visits by Fr. Joseph Stokes, 1824 missionary priest from the diocese of Charleston. Fr. John Maginnis opened a school and in 1830, bought a house which was used as a 1827 church. 1832 Fr. Timothy Bermingham assigned to Charlotte mission until 1838. Fr. T.J. Cronin, recently ordained in Charleston, continued missionary work in 1838 Charlotte, where he lived from house-to-house. Died of Yellow Fever in Salisbury in 1842, and is buried in the cemetery of Ss. Joseph and Mary Church in Mt. Holly, NC. Fr. John Guifford arrived from Charleston and served in Charlotte until about 1847, 1842 when he moved to the Diocese of Chicago. Fr. John Barry, vicar general of Georgia, served missions between Augusta, Georgia 1848 and Charlotte until 1851. Last of the priests to serve Charlotte as a mission. Later became the 2nd bishop of Savannah. Fr. Jeremiah J. O'Connell, ordained in 1844 in Charleston, arrived in Charlotte from Georgia. He purchased land and began erection of a brick church, fifty feet long by 1851 thirty feet wide, with arched ceiling. He also donated the land for Belmont Abbey. Served until 1853. Cornerstone of the first St. Peter's church is laid by Rev. Jeremiah J. O'Connell, the first 3/17/1851 pastor. This cornerstone is now imbedded in the sidewalk in front of the present church. First St. Peter's church, not entirely complete, is dedicated by Bishop Ignatius A. 1/29/1852 Reynolds, second bishop of Charleston. 1853 Fr. Lawrence P. O'Connell, brother of Fr. Jeremiah O'Connell, begins first of several periods as pastor. Served until 1855. Fr. August McNeil/McNeall served until 1860 when he returned to St. Peter's church in 1855 Columbia, SC, as assistant pastor. Fr. J.P. O'Connell served as pastor during the Civil War, until 1865, ministering to the 1861 needs of the sick and wounded. Fr. Lawrence P. O'Connell returns as pastor after serving as chaplain in the Confederate Army with rank of Major. The same year he was appointed vicar general 1865 by Bishop James Gibbons, and served Charlotte and all missions from Salisbury to the Tennessee border. Served St. Peter's until 1873. Fr. J.B. Hands arrives from Norfolk and is St. Peter's first resident pastor. Returned to 7/5/1873 Norfolk, VA, in 1876. Fr. Lawrence P. O'Connell returned to St. Peter's until 1880, his last time as pastor of the church his brother built. In 1880, he performed the funeral of John King, who was 1876 crushed to death by "Chief", a circus elephant he tended. He is buried in Elwood Cemetery. 1880 Fr. William J. Wright served until 1881. 1881 Fr. James John Doherty served until 1882. Rt. Rev. H.P. Northrop ordained Daniel Heffi, a monk of Belmont Abbey to the 7/2/1882 priesthood at St. Peter's. It is reported to be the first ordination in Charlotte and possibly North Carolina. 1883 Fr. E.J. McGinty served until 1884. Fr. Mark S. Gross became pastor after declining offer to become Bishop of North Carolina. He built a combination convent and school at the corner of Tryon and Stonewall Streets. After failing to secure Benedictine Sisters as staff, he invited the 1884 Sisters of Mercy to Charlotte. After Abbot Leo Haid, OSB became Bishop, he served until 1892, when he turned St. Peter's over to the Benedictines and went to Baltimore. He was the last secular priest to serve St. Peter's for the next seventy years. Sister Catherine Price and the Sisters of Mercy from Hickory arrived in Charlotte to staff the convent and school built by Fr. Gross. Under her direction the school, named 8/27/1887 St. Mary's Seminary, flourished. Children from St. Peter's parish came as day students and girls from other parts of the state came to board. Abbot Leo Haid, OSB, Belmont Abbey, appointed Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina by Pope Leo XIII. By his elevation to Episcopal status, Abbot-Bishop Haid would be head 12/7/1887 of his abbey as well as Bishop of the North Carolina Vicariate, thus creating the first and only abbatial nullius in North America. Sisters of Mercy mother house moved to Belmont and a new academy established there. The boarding school in Charlotte was discontinued. St. Mary's Seminary 1890 became the parochial school of St. Peter's church. Sisters continued to live in the convent. Rev. Francis Meyer, OSB, became pastor and immediately began raising funds to 1/13/1892 replace the church, whose foundation had been damaged by a nearby munitions explosion. Later, he also constructed St. Peter's rectory. 8/3/1893 Demolition of old church begun this morning and was completed in four days. 9/3/1893 The cornerstone of the present St. Peter's church laid by Abbot-Bishop Leo Haid, OSB. 12/24/1893 Present St. Peter's church dedicated by Abbot-Bishop Haid, assisted by Fathers Francis Meyer, OSB, Bernard Haas, OSB, and William Regnat, OSB. The beautiful new building was 100 feet long by 40 feet wide and had American stained glass windows. 1897 Present rectory built adjoining the church. Fr. Francis Meyer, OSB, began construction of O'Donoghue Hall at the corner of Tryon and Stonewall streets as a school for about 100 children. Afflicted with Bright's 1905 Disease and other health problems, he died on May 30, 1905, at age 40, before it was completed. The entire city mourned his loss. Fr. Joseph Mueller, OSB, appointed pastor of St. Peter's. O'Donoghue Hall was completed for dedication in November 1905 by Bishop Haid. The former school 6/15/1905 building was transformed into a convent for the Sisters of Mercy, where they lived until it burned in 1922. Fr. Joseph Mueller, OSB, converted the former parish hall behind St. Peter's church into a hospital staffed by the Sisters of Mercy from Belmont. This was the predecessor 1905 of Mercy Hospital. Church membership of about 600 souls grew to about 1,000 by 1910. In 1914, Fr. Mueller was transferred to the Diocese of Superior, WI. Eight counties were granted to the Belmont Benedictines as the abbatial nullius. Much 1910 of this area remained under their administration until the Diocese of Raleigh was created in 1924. May 1914 Fr. Jerome Finn, OSB, became pastor and served for five years during World War I. Fr. Anthony Meyer, OSB, brother of Fr. Francis Meyer, appointed pastor. Built the 7/4/1919 present convent behind St. Peter's, which was originally planned as a new rectory. Served until 1923. Old convent on Stonewall Street burned. Sisters lived temporarily in a nearby cottage belonging to Mrs. O'Neill, a sister of Fr. Francis Meyer. On September 15th, a new 1/22/1922 convent was dedicated by Abbot-Bishop Leo Haid, OSB, at 106 E. First Street, behind the church. From October 18th, the sisters lived there until 1940, when a new convent was built at St. Patrick's church. Fr. Ambrose Gallagher, OSB, became pastor. Born in Charlotte, he attended St. Peter's school, made his first communion and was confirmed at St. Peter's. Recognizing the need for better educational facilities, he directed the erection of the modern 8/2/1923 O'Donoghue School, which opened in Dilworth on September 8, 1930. The site included space for the future St. Patrick's church and convent. He also served as Prior of the Benedictine community in Richmond and Principal of Benedictine High School in Savannah, GA. Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore, announced creation of the Diocese of 3/15/1925 Raleigh to St. Peter's congregation. William Joseph Hafey was named first Bishop of Raleigh, serving all of North Carolina. Fr. Phillip Tierney, OSB, appointed as the first assistant at St. Peter's, remaining until 1929 1950. His gentle nature earned him the nickname "The Confessor". Fr. Maurice McDonnell, OSB, also served as assistant during this period. Fr. Maurice McDonnell, OSB, became pastor of St. Peter's after serving as Prior of the Benedictine community in Savannah, Georgia, and chaplain at Mercy Hospital. He directed construction of St. Patrick's Church and served until September 1949, when 1936 declining health forced him to return to Belmont Abbey. He had four assistants: Fr. Phillip Tierney, OSB, Fr. Steven Dowd, OSB, Fr. William J. Pearson, who became an army chaplain, and Fr. Lawrence Newman, first assistant at St. Patrick's. 9/4/1939 To fill the need of many new Catholics who lived far from the downtown location of St. Peter's, St. Patrick's church was dedicated by Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness, second Bishop of Raleigh. Until February 1942, the new church remained under the charge of priests from St. Peter's. 6/9/1942 St. Peter's was "granted in perpetuity" to the Benedictines. This lasted until 1969. Fr. Timothy Flaherty, OSB, appointed as assistant at St. Peter's. Transferred to 1948 Savannah in 1954. Fr. Edward Biss, OSB, a former Army chaplain, became pastor of St. Peter's and, with parishioners, began plans to renovate the church. Much effort was devoted to Sep. 1949 building up the parish organizations, including a youth group. During his tenure, Fr. Biss had the following assistants: Phillip Tierney, OSB, Timothy Flaherty, OSB, Damian Muldowney, OSB, Kevin Fahey, OSB, Hugh Hagerty, OSB, Plageman Blaise, OSB. St. Peter's steeple struck by lightning during a storm that knocked out power throughout Charlotte. Organist Bill Gettys, Lucille Conlon and Rosalee Armeen, in the organ loft rehearsing for the centennial celebration, were shaken but not hurt. They 6/29/1951 said the church shook to its roots. Fr. Ed Biss, in the rectory next door, said "Everything went black. ... just when we were all ready for our celebration ..." to be held three days later. Fortunately the church and organ suffered only minor damage. 7/2/1951 Centenary Celebration. 1954 Fr. Damian Muldowney, OSB, appointed assistant. Transferred in 1955 after one year. 1956 Fr. Kevin Fahey, OSB, appointed assistant and served for four years. Contract signed by Bishop Waters for Charles J. Miller Co. of Charlotte, to completely rebuild the old Möller pipe organ for $9,750.00, in twelve months. To include eight additional ranks of pipes, larger blower and replacement of the worn-out tracker 6/4/1957 action with a new two-manual console having electro-pneumatic action. The new organ would be divided into two chambers, one on each side of the organ loft window which had previously been completely obscured by the old organ. Charles Miller explained in a letter to Atty. Robert D. Potter that he had not yet completed the organ rebuild because of illness and his inability to replace his Jan. 1960 technician. It is not known when the rebuild was actually completed or who finally completed the project. 1960's Fr. Hugh Hagerty, OSB appointed assistant 1960's Fr. Plagemon Blaise, OSB appointed assistant. Contract signed by Fr. Biss for W. Zimmer & Sons to rebuild the Great & Pedal divisions 9/13/1967 of the organ for $9,765.00. In March 1968, Zimmer agrees to rebuild the Swell division also for $5,800.00, charging only for the cost of materials. Fr. Biss dies, the last Benedictine pastor. As previously negotiated by Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters, Abbot Walter Coggin, OSB withdrew the founding Benedictines, and 5/5/1969 turned St. Peter's over to the Diocese of Raleigh. St. Peter's ceased to be a full-fledged parish in 1970 and became instead a "church of convenience." Fr. Kenneth Parker administered the affairs of St. Peter's for the Diocese of Raleigh 5/6/1969 until June 8, 1969. Fr. Moeslein appointed administrator/pastor? Continued the renovation of the church 6/9/1969 and painted church doors red. Transferred in October 1970. Fr. Francis Gorham appointed administrator/pastor. Continued the renovation and 1970 added center aisle. Retired April 3, 1973 due to declining health. Bulletin of August 3, 1980, mentioned that Fr. Frank Gorham passed away that week. 4/3/1973 Fr. John Regan appointed pastor - the first pastor of St. Peter's appointed by Bishop Michael Begley, of the new Diocese of Charlotte. However, Fr. Regan became too ill to assume his pastoral duties, and died on November 30, 1976, in Winston-Salem. Msgr. Joseph Showfety appointed administrator. On July 24, 1973, was appointed first 4/4/1973 Chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte. Fr. Justin Paul Pechulis appointed pastor and served in the diocese marriage tribunal. He continued the restoration of the church and corrected structural flaws in the 7/25/1973 rectory. Remembered for his wit and great sense of humor. Appointed pastor of St. Lawrence's church, Asheville in April 1977, where he died unexpectedly at the rectory on Holy Thursday. 1973-1978 Fr. James H. King, Chaplain at Mercy Hospital, resided and assisted at St. Peter's Fr. Henry Becker appointed administrator. A Minnesota cowboy in his youth, he won the hearts of the congregation with his earthy personality and celebrated the 1977 4/15/1977 Christmas Eve mass in Latin. He was transferred to St. Peter's from St. Lawrence in Asheville as Fr. Pechulis was transferred to St. Lawrence in Asheville from St. Peter's. Transferred to St. Lucien's in Spruce Pine in 1978. Msgr. Michael F. O'Keefe appointed pastor. Last of the diocesan pastor/administrators. He continued the renovation of the sanctuary and rectory including repair of the 1978 stained glass windows, and restoration of the statuary and stations of the cross. Staffing of St. Peter's was assigned to the Jesuits when he retired in 1986 to live in Charlotte. 5/8/1983 12:10 mass on Mondays discontinued until further notice. 7/1/1984 7:00 mass on Sunday discontinued until further notice. 3/31/1985 No Holy Week services at St. Peter's. Attend St. Patrick's instead. Fr. John C. Haughey, SJ, and Fr. Eugene P. McCreesh, SJ, introduce themselves and invite everyone to a coffee and doughnut reception after Mass. Also introduced and in 2/9/1986 residence are Fr. Tom Gaunt, SJ, and a Jesuit novice, Michael Flynn, both in the Office of Planning and Development of the diocese. Daily 12:10 mass every day during Lent was re-instituted. St. Peter's restored to Parish status. Fr. John Haughey, SJ, installed as pastor by Bishop John F. Donoghue of the Diocese of Charlotte. Fr. Eugene McCreesh becomes parochial vicar. Fr. Haughey commissioned 3/2/1986 the fresco by Ben Long, and embarked on another renovation to simplify of the sanctuary consistent with the fresco. Victorian garden in front of rectory dedicated to the memory of Col. Francis and 1986 Katherine Beatty. 135th anniversary of St. Peter's founding celebrated in back parking lot with children’s games, food and drink, entertainment. Mass celebrants include Frs. John Haughey, SJ, 11/18/1986 Thomas Gaunt, SJ, Peter Stragand, OSB, Peter Jugis, and Bishops Begley and Donoghue. Fr. Gene McCreesh was homilist. Parish had 150 families registered. 1989 Fr. Robert J. Paquet, SJ, appointed assistant pastor. 1989 Fresco completed. 6/10/1990 Fr. Haughey announced that he is leaving in September to return to academia. He established an urban ministry for the poor and homeless and for the business community to foster ethics in the workplace and to integrate religious values with business practices. He leaves behind several successful groups of people which he convened: The Executive Forum of Charlotte Professionals, and The Catholic Business Guild. He helped found Mecklenburg Ministries, a coalition of congregations involved with social issues. Fr. Eugene P. McCreesh, SJ, appointed pastor. His tireless work for the poor, and the establishment of an uptown homeless shelter, earned him a reputation for 1990 compassion and community concern. During his tenure, a residence for the priests was purchased by St. Peter's at 939 Ideal Way. Contract for $30,000.00 signed by Bishop John F. Donoghue for W. Zimmer & Sons to rebuild and rearrange the organ to provide twice the choir space, rebuild and place the 11/13/1991 console sideways facing the choir away from the center, install a quiet new blower and provide large functional front pipes facing the altar with new chambers which would enhance the beauty of the church. Fr. James A. Devereux, SJ, installed as pastor after serving as Parochial Vicar for one year. A noted Shakespearean scholar and lecturer, he was a constant motivating 9/1/1992 force, committed to St. Peter's role in the community, especially outreach to other religions. Fr. McCreesh, SJ resumed post as Parochial Vicar. Fr. Paquet, SJ remained assistant pastor. Gift from Wrenn family enables church to revoice and rearrange the pipes and install a 1993 functional facade facing the altar with new chambers which would enhance the beauty of the church. 1991 Additional priest's residence purchased by the Jesuits at 939 Ideal Way. Building behind the church, at 106 E. First Street, returned to St. Peter's for its use. This site has been used as a school, General Hospital (the predecessor of Mercy 5/18/1997 Hospital), a convent for at least three different orders, by the USO in WW II, as a parish hall and by Catholic Social Services. Fr. Jim Devereux, SJ retired to serve the Jesuit community in Chapel Hill due to July 1999 declining health. Jan. 2000 Fr. Joseph Sobierajski, SJ, installed as pastor. Fr. Lucian Martinez, SJ appointed Vicar. 3/17/2001 St. Peter's sesquicentennial celebration begins with food, music & dancing in Biss Hall. 2001 Fr. Vince Alagia, SJ returns to introduce the "Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius". New digital console added by Spearman-Hawkinson to replace original and expand 2003 tonal flexibility. 2004 Fr. Thomas McDonnell, SJ, appointed as Parochial Vicar. 2004 Four octave handbell set given to church by 40 donors. Fr. Patrick Earl, SJ, installed as pastor. The parish grew to more than 1,700 households, with the 2009 addition of many young adults moving to the Charlotte Uptown area. Families engaged in several innovative faith formation programs including Whole Family and Homeschool catechesis. Fr. James Shea, SJ, installed as pastor. Prior to coming to St. Peter, Fr. Shea served as the Provincial for the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus for six years, as pastor of Holy Trinity Church in 2015 Washington, D.C., and provided pastoral care and directed programs of clinical pastoral education at St. Louis University Medical Center and Georgetown University Medical Center.

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