Ministries

Adult Bible Study
Adult Bible/scripture study is suited for anyone striving to enrich their prayer life, increase their knowledge of scripture and build community.  

ACTS Ministry
The ACTS retreat is an opportunity for the parishioners of St. Peter to renew and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ.  All spouses of parishioners who are of another faith tradition are also welcome to attend the retreat.

ACTS is an acronym for Adoration, Community, Theology and Service.  These four themes, Adoration, Community, Theology and Service, are the focus of the talks and activities that take place on the retreat weekend.

The retreat begins on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday afternoon.  It is lay directed and led by a team of fellow parishioners along with our parish priests.  There will be two women’s and two men’s retreats held every year at The Mercy Center.  

Catholics Returning Home
This is a short program for inactive Catholics interested in a return to active participation whether away for several years or a short time.  The purpose is to impart a renewed or better understanding of life in a parish community through presentations and discussion of the Mass, the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), what Catholics believe, and the current situation in the Church as impacted by Vatican II.  There is also ample opportunity to address issues with the Church raised by the participants.

This six-week program (one meeting per week) is offered twice a year (after Christmas and after Easter) in a welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere.  Anybody in the parish can and should help by identifying and encouraging inactive Catholics who may be interested in a return to active participation in parish life. 

Parish Library 
The library is located in Ursuline Hall and contains over 2,000 books in 29 different categories.  The library is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. 

Respect Life Committee 
The Respect Life Committee follows the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in four primary objectives: Education, Prayer, Service and Political Awareness, and Responsibility.  Our mission is to serve those whose very life is in danger, at all stages of development, from violence and death and to promote respect and love for the most vulnerable.  We oppose abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, cloning and capital punishment and try to implement public policy decisions that promote a Catholic and Christ centered-culture of life for everyone born and unborn.  We meet monthly to plan the theme of each month and welcome all volunteers.  

Visit a Bit
Christ told us that when we visit and comfort the sick, we also serve Him.  The Pastoral Visitors in St. Peter Parish live Stewardship by visiting and praying with parishioners in long term care and assisted living facilities, as well as those recently discharged to rehabilitation facilities.  Members bring these parishioners the comfort and compassion of Our Lord and continue His loving ministry today.

St. Peter Quilters
These volunteers meet every Tuesday morning from 9:00 AM -12:00 Noon, and every Thursday from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM in the lower level of the rectory to share friendship and quilting.  They also assemble incomplete quilt tops.  New-comers are welcome to join this congenial group.  

Fostering Faithful Families
Fostering Faithful Families is a ministry that was developed to recruit foster and adoptive families within the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  Through our efforts, we hope to find individuals who want to donate their time, talents, and resources to children in foster care.  These children need to see examples in their lives of loving, committed, and Christ-centered families.  While this ministry focuses on the many children in Missouri foster care, we strive to support all families that have been blessed with adoption.

Our mission is three-fold:

• to educate the church on the needs within the foster care system.
• to support the families that are caring for these children.
• to recruit foster adoptive families within the church community

Our hope is to create a support system within our parish for foster/adoptive families and for the children for whom they care.  

Property and Buildings Committee
Continual good stewardship of all real property assets of our beautiful 6+ acre campus in downtown  Kirkwood is the overview focus of this ministry. Regular monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. with committee members and guests who generally share their time and diverse experiences (architects, designers, engineers, construction and site contractors, landscapers, real property developers, managers, or advisors and handymen/tradesmen).  Agendas include current, immediate and long-range future anticipated parish facility requirements and all discussions and dialogues include referencing our “ethical decision making” guidelines to assure continued compliance with our ministry motto of: “PRESERVERS OF THE SPACES AND  PLACES FOR THE GOSPEL TO GROW.”

Finance Committee
The Finance Committee aids the Pastor in his administrative responsibilities and deals with the parish resources and budget.  Meetings are held monthly.

Garden Ministry

The St. Peter Garden Ministry begins gathering in the month of April to do light garden maintenance such as garden bed clean-up and seasonal plantings.  We will gather on a monthly basis throughout the spring, summer and fall.   

Bulletin Stuffers/Mailing Assistance
Occasionally extra flyers are inserted into the parish bulletins.  This takes place on Friday mornings (around 9 a.m.) in the church, in the room across from the sacristy.  Usually, 2-4 people are needed and it takes about 1 hour.  Also, this committee assists the parish office with parish-wide mailings.  Signing up for this ministry only obligates you to help out periodically.

Youth Ministry
St. Peter Youth Ministry’s goal is to create a faith community in which teens can grow in their relationship with God, are empowered to serve others and become individuals who are confident in themselves and in their faith.

• High School Youth Ministry - All high school students are invited to participate in St. Peter Youth Ministry.  Youth Ministry provides ways for teens to grow in their faith and community through our regular Youth Group meetings, service opportunities, retreats and much more.  Normal meeting times are on Sunday evening at 7:00 pm in the Youth Room.
• Middle School Youth Ministry - All 7th and 8th graders of our parish are invited to participate in the St. Peter Youth Ministry program.

Liturgy/Worship Committee
The Liturgy Committee is made up of parishioners interested in learning about the Church’s worship.  Members also take part in study and planning liturgical celebrations for our parish family.  Meetings are held monthly.  

Altar Guild Sacristans
This group cleans the church and cares for the plants and flowers ensuring that the overall appearance of the church is ready for the celebration of Mass.  Help is always needed.  

Children’s Liturgy of the Word
On Sunday during the 9:00 AM Mass, children in grades one through five attend their own Liturgy of the Word in the Rectory basement.  The children are dismissed with the Leaders of the Word after the Opening Prayer and return during the preparation of the gifts. 

Eucharistic Ministers
Helping to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ is a rewarding way to participate in liturgies.  The training to become a Eucharistic minister takes about half an hour and is performed on Saturday Morning after the 8:15 Mass.  New members are encouraged and welcome.

Lectors
Proclaim the word!  Along with our deacons and priests, St. Peter lectors are entrusted with the crucial task of making the word of God come alive for the parishioners gathered at Saturday, Sunday and Holy Day Masses.  Our parish is blessed with a diverse group of men and women who combine the power of the Word of God with their personal faith and public speaking skills.  

Music Ministry
Join your fellow parishioners who share their gift of music by helping to lead our liturgical prayer on Sundays.  There is a way for you to get involved that fits your schedule.

For more information, please contact Ryan Bolinger, Director of Sacred Music, 314-966-8600 or rbolinger@stpeterkirkwood.org.

Altar Servers
Boys and girls in grades six through eight serve at Mass.  Training is provided.  Information is available through PSR and St. Peter School. 

Ushers/Greeters
These parishioners welcome those arriving for the weekend and Holy Day Masses, take up weekly offering collections, control the flow of communicants, pass out parish bulletins and perform any other necessary tasks.  Ushers contribute effectively toward making the worship experience a devout one for parishioners and visitors alike.  Six ushers are needed for each Mass on the weekend.  Adults and teens, men and women, are welcome.  

Beyond Housing
Beyond Housing is a St. Louis non-profit organization with a mission to strengthen neighborhoods, one family at a time. Our ministry can include several specific activities during the year:

• Upkeep and repairs for one or more Beyond Housing rental properties.
• Support for a specific annual project in conjunction with Beyond Housing.
• Participation in Beyond Housing’s adopt-a-family program at Christmas time.
• Sponsorship of a Breakfast with Santa for over a hundred Beyond Housing clients.
• Participate for a few hours in one of our home fix-up projects, usually in early summer and/or fall.
• Adopt a family or a member of a family at Christmas, or help us organize and collect items, or help with Breakfast with Santa.
• Help us with our fundraising activities.
• You can greatly impact our ministry by helping financially.
• Become a member of the steering committee to help plan and organize our activities each year.
• All of our activities are posted in the weekly bulletin.

Blood Donor Program
The St. Peter Blood Donor Program helps to make the gift of life possible.  Parish volunteers assist with making appointments and serving refreshments in the canteen.  Blood drives are held four times a year.  All parishioners, including high school and college-aged students, are welcome.  

Faith in Action (FIA)
Based on the social teachings of the Catholic Church, the Faith in Action Program assigns each grade in our school and PSR a different vulnerable population.  Integrated into their daily curriculum, the students will then learn about, pray for, and have service projects around their vulnerable group. From the youngest grades, our children see daily how their actions make a difference.

• Kindergarten—Introduction 
• 1st Grade—Environment
• 2nd Grade—Elderly 
• 3rd Grade—Hungry 
• 4th Grade—Military & Veterans
• 5th Grade—Babies, Children & Adolescents
• 6th Grade—Homeless
• 7th Grade—Persons with Disabilities
• 8th Grade—Education & Social Justice

Giving Tree
This program is an annual drive to provide Christmas gifts to various organizations.  The Giving Tree is set up prior to the commencement of Advent and remains up through the middle of December.  Parishioners are asked to take an ornament, purchase the item identified on the ornament and return the gift no later than the date identified on the tree.  In recent years more than 2,000 gifts and gift cards have been distributed through the St. Peter Giving Tree.  

Kirkcare
KirkCare is an inter-denominational charitable organization in Kirkwood that provides emergency assistance to those in need of food, shelter and utility bill payments.  KirkCare serves people within the Kirkwood R-7 School District boundaries. St. Peter parishioners supply non-perishable food donations for the KirkCare basket in the foyer of the rectory.  Volunteers take care of delivering food donations to KirkCare.

Knights of Columbus
(Kirkwood Council 2117)
The Knights of Columbus are a Catholic, family, fraternal organization.  Knights are Catholic men, 18 years of age and older, who are committed to making their community a better place to live.  Being a Knight is more than camaraderie.  It is being involved in our community, it is supporting our Church, which enhances our own faith, it is about protecting and enhancing family values.  Our various programs including the Tootsie Roll Drive for Cardinal Glennon Hospital, our Religious Information Program, our Youth Programs and our Pro-Life involvement, help us in achieving these goals.  Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month in the rectory basement.  

Room at the Inn
Who can forget the image of Mary and Joseph, tired from their long journey, trudging from house to house in Bethlehem and being told there was no room for them.  Jesus also asks us to make room for Him and others in our hearts.  One way we can make room for Him...and serve those he places in our path...is in offering practical service to those in need.  Our parish participates in the area-wide program known as Room at the Inn.   Along with other church communities, St. Peter Parish takes a turn hosting individuals and families that are temporarily homeless on the third Friday of the month in the school cafeteria.

Room at the Inn volunteers from our parish live stewardship when they help with meal preparation and hospitality for our guests while they are at St. Peter, by sharing a meal and spending the early evening with guests, staying overnight with our guests, providing transportation to and from the program’s headquarters, and cafeteria setup and cleanup.  We pray our Lord continues to bless those who serve Him and those in need through the Room at the Inn program.  

St. Vincent de Paul Society
Jesus told us that whatever we do to the least of his people...that we do for Him.  Inspired by the heroic service to the poor that distinguished the life of St. Vincent de Paul, the St. Vincent de Paul Society serves the Lord by helping those in need.  

Serving with a spirit of justice, charity and respect, the society members help those in need within our community with food, utility bills, rent, and other life necessities.  The society in St. Peter Parish Conference networks with other Conferences in the St. Louis area and also refers clients to other social service resources that are appropriate.  

Our volunteers perform casework, assist with food drives,  phone calling and bookkeeping.  The Greater St. Louis Council also needs volunteers to assist with the Thrift Store, general clerical duties and the criminal justice ministry, and other services for the poor.  High school and college-aged students are welcome.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month and are announced in the bulletin. 

St. Patrick Center
St. Peter Parish assists the Mobile Outreach Team at St. Patrick Center in helping them to build rapport with homeless individuals.  Outreach counselors work in teams of two and travel city streets in search of homeless individuals.  At first, counselors may offer emergency assistance only.  Over time the outreach counselors develop rapport and build trust to inform people about St. Patrick Center and what it offers -- clothing, hot meals, showers and laundry facilities.  They also let people know where and how to access St. Patrick Center services when they are ready. Counselors provide information about the programs and services of St. Patrick Center to interested individuals who are homeless.

You can help too.  Once a month, volunteers from St. Peter donate water and individually pre-packaged chips, crackers, and snacks (to meet state health regulations) that the Mobile Outreach teams take to the streets to feed the homeless and work to build that rapport and trust in hopes that the homeless individual will come to St. Patrick Center for additional services.  Parishioners bring the snacks and drinks to a home in Kirkwood for delivery to the St. Patrick Center.

Sts. Teresa & Bridget Food Pantry
Sts. Teresa & Bridget Parish and community (located on Grand & N. Market, St Louis City) are in great need.  The St. Vincent de Paul Society supports a food pantry that serves their area but the high demand for food keeps their shelves bare.  By collecting nonperishable food MONTHLY we can help make other peoples' lives better and respond to Jesus' call to feed Him when He is hungry.

Donations are delivered on the 3rd Monday of every month. If grocery shopping is not possible there is another way for you to help feed the poor and hungry.  Contributions of CASH and CHECKS (payable to St. Vincent de Paul Society) placed in the colorful SOUP CANS located at all church entryways are also welcomed.

St. Peter & Paul Soup Kitchen
The volunteers who work in this ministry serve a meal to the homeless and hungry at St. Peter and Paul Church Hall at 816 Allen Street in the Soulard area downtown.  Our service date is the 3rd of each month.  If the 3rd falls on a weekend, the meal is served at noon.  If the 3rd falls on a Monday-Friday, the meal is served at 5:00 pm.  The volunteers from our parish who work in this ministry perform one or more of the following services: Cooks, Servers, Donations.

We encourage families to participate but we also have teens, couples and an overall broad age range of volunteers in this ministry.

Athletic Association
The association promotes all organized youth sports activities.  It arranges for officials, fields, CYC liaison, uniforms, scheduling and coaching.

The association also conducts fundraisers including the Christmas tree lot.  It sponsors a Christmas Basketball tournament for 7th and 8th grades.

The Sports Directors organize individual sports for the children of the parish.  At-large Directors organize fundraising activities.  Volunteers can be assigned to the activity which most interests them.  

Boy Scouts
How do we teach our young people the Christian value of serving the communities in which they live?  Our parish Scouting programs continue a long tradition of building virtues and skills among our youth in preparation for their full participation in society.

Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts foster leadership skills in our girls through camping experiences and service projects in conjunction with the Office of Catholic Scouting through the St. Louis Archdiocese.  Girl Scouts have the opportunity to earn many Catholic service and religious awards

Little Flowers Girls' Club
Little Flowers Girls’ Club® is a Catholic club for girls ages 5 and up that teaches virtues through scripture, saints’ biographies and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This beautiful, authentically Catholic program is based on the 1906 Catholic classic The Catholic Girls’ Guide by Fr. F.X. Lasance, and the spirituality of St. Thérése, the Little Flower of Liseux.
Contact Jenny Shaffer at 314-882-4201
Website: https://www.beholdpublications.com/home/about-our-clubs/little-flowers-girls-club/ 

Fish Fry
Parishioners join together as volunteers in a spirit of Stewardship to the entire parish to conduct a Fish Fry on Fridays (except Good Friday) during the season of Lent 

Positions include cooks, servers, dessert and beverage attendants, dining room attendants, and dishwashers.  As we serve a varied menu, volunteer cooks with new ideas are especially welcome.  Other positions include servers, dessert and beverage attendants, dining room attendants, and dishwashers.  Proceeds are used to maintain the kitchen and cafeteria for use by the entire parish.  

50 Plus Club
The purpose of this club is to bring members together for friendship, social activities, education, spirituality, service, entertainment, cultural enrichment, and travel.  Whenever possible, we assist in parish activities, such as St. Peterfest.

The 50 Plus Club shall be an integral part of the parish and contribute to the overall life and spirit of the parish.  Membership is open to all men and women who have attained the age of fifty (50) years.  A small annual fee is due in September when we have our annual Anniversary catered dinner, although dues can be paid at other times throughout the year.  Our regular meetings are monthly, September through May and are announced in the bulletin.  All meetings, programs and trips are also open to any non-members of the club. 

St. Peter Young Families Group
St. Peter is a vibrant parish, home to many couples with young children under school age.  For those of us who often populate the back third of church on Sunday, finding a true community with our peers can be challenging without school activities to bring us together. 

With this in mind, the “Young Families” group exists to help us meet other young families, to build community with the greater parish family, and to help us to grow into vibrant Christian families.  If you’re interested in learning more about the group or if you want to know about the upcoming events send a message to stpeteryoungfamilies@gmail.com.

St. Peterfest
Held the first weekend in June, St. Peterfest is one of our parish’s largest and most anticipated celebrations.  St. Peterfest is a homecoming that includes games, rides, musical entertainment, food booths, and a grand prize raffle.  Because of the scope of St. Peterfest, many parish volunteers are needed to help - from those who serve on planning committees to those who volunteer to staff a booth or to pitch in setting up or cleaning up the festival grounds

Anointing Service
Every week, ten (10) minutes after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, you are invited to gather in the front pews of the church where we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  This is meant to include such concerns as upcoming diagnostic tests, limitations of aging, anxiety, depression, undue stress, addiction, etc. for all ages.

Eucharistic Adoration
Eucharistic Adoration is held in St. Angela Merici Chapel located in Ursuline Hall.  The entrance is off the Genneseret Garden adjacent to the east side of the church building.  Everyone is invited to come anytime for some quiet prayer before Jesus, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  The chapel door is unlocked Monday through Friday, 6:00AM through 4:00PM.  However, the chapel is ALWAYS available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for personal prayer. 

Marriage Encounter
A group of married couples who have been on a Marriage Encounter retreat meets on a monthly basis to enrich their marriage.  The focus is on a presentation of topics important to a marriage relationship. 

Prayer Groups
Prayer is an important element of our personal faith.  Throughout St. Peter a number of different groups gather at various times to pray, including those who pray for Pro-Life and other special focuses.  If you are interested in joining a prayer group or would like to start one please visit our website at wwwstpeterkirkwood.org under Adult Faith Formation.

Moms in Touch
Moms in Touch is a small prayer group that meets once a week from 7:00-7:30 AM during the school year.  We pray for the St. Peter parish community, including all teachers, students, parents and all of their intentions.  We typically start with a short reading, either prayer or scripture, and then pray from our hearts.  It truly is a beautiful way to start each week.  It is a great reminder of the presence of our Lord based on Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”