 |
| On June 2, 1967, Father
Michael J. Bednar was appointed founding pastor of the parish of SS. Peter and
Paul which was carved out of the four adjacent parishes of SS. Philip and James
in Exton, St. Patrick in Malvern, SS. Simon and Jude in Westtown and St. Agnes
in West Chester. | Before the construction
of the church, Mass was celebrated at Immaculata College and Villa Maria House
of Studies. A residence at the corner of Boot Road and Windsor Drive was purchased
on September 29, 1967, for use as a rectory.
| On December 8, 1968, ground
breaking for a church took place on a 15-acre tract that was formerly part of
the Sullivan Estate. The first Mass in the newly complete church was celebrated
on Thanksgiving Day, 1969. The formal dedication by John Cardinal Krol took place
on May 9, 1970. There were approximately 450 families registered in the parish
at that time. | |  |
 |
| On September
5, 1972, Father Louis D. Kovacs was appointed second pastor, at the same time
that the growth in Chester County began to bring new parishioners to the small
parish. In September 1974, Sister M. Bernardine Buckley, R.S.G. came to the parish
as the first Coordinator of Religious Education. The program established by Sister
Bernardine continues to flourish. |
| A rectory was built and
occupied in September 1981, along with a Parish Center that houses a chapel used
for daily Mass, meeting rooms also used for Religious Education classes, a lounge,
office and library. The Parish Center was dedicated by Auxiliary Bishop Martin
N. Lohmuller on April 25, 1982, and was later renamed the Father Kovacs Parish
Center in gratitude for Father Kovac's leadership and dedication to the parish. |
|  |
In 1990, the appearance of the church was enhanced with the installation
of a steeple and carillons, and in 1991, the process of designing and installing
twenty stained-glass windows was begun.
 |
| On June 13, 1993, Father
James J. Foley was installed by Monsignor James T. McDonough as the third pastor
of the parish. SS. Peter and Paul Parish continued to grow in many ways. By this
time there were more than 1700 families registered. The Religious Education program
had expanded, | not only through increased
enrollment in the elementary grades, but also through the addition of programs
for middle school and high school students. SS. Peter and Paul participates in
CLE wish has enabled high school students from many area parishes to spend days
in prayer, reflection and instruction several times each school year, using the
facilities of area participating parishes.
| The interior of the
church (shown here at Christmas) has taken on a new look through the replacement
of the dark paneling in the sanctuary with light-colored walls, new carpeting
in the sanctuary and nave, installation of a decorative stone wall behind the
altar with matching pulpit and tabernacle base, new
|
|  |
see-through doors separating the gathering area
and the nave, refinished pews and new wall treatment. But the highlight of the
interior upgrading was the installation of the large , depicting the American Saints, in the choir loft.
 |
| In the Father Kovacs Parish
Center, the chapel has been redecorated and expanded. A new altar, leaded-glass
doors, new chairs and other enhancements have been added. The parish center continues
to serve the parish and the community and continues to be used daily. |
The spirit that makes a parish alive has continued to grow at SS.
Peter and Paul. On the Sunday before the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, new ministers
and pastoral council members are installed at the 9:00 Mass, and a picnic for
all members of the parish takes place in the afternoon. On the first Sunday of
each month during the school year, all parishioners are invited to socialize with
coffee and doughnuts and other refreshments, in the church hall after Mass.
A Christmas show that is written, directed and performed by parishioners has made
Christmas more of a parish celebration for several years. Participation in the
"Angel" program has enabled hundreds of people at Project H.O.M.E. and
Mission Santa Maria to receive Christmas gifts. The season of Lent each
year has a more profound meaning through the presentation of the Living Stations
of the Cross on Good Friday evening, also written, directed and performed by parishioners.
SS. Peter and Paul Parish started the third millennium with two major construction
projects. The first to be completed was the new Parish Education Center that houses
a school, which will eventually accommodate pre-K through 8th grade. Formal dedication
of the new education building by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua took place on September
30, 2001. Miss Nancy Heim came to the parish as principal of our new school, and
put together a team of teachers, as well as providing valuable input in the furnishings
and equipping of the school. All Religious Education classes for public school
children are also conducted in the new education building under the direction
of Mrs. Patricia Ehrhart.
| At the end of 2001,
expansion of the Narthex at the back of the church was completed with the addition
of rest-room facilities, and elevator to the church hall, a new sacristy, all
of which surrounds a large indoor gathering space.
|
|  |
SS. Peter and Paul Parish has completed thirty-seven years as a community
of Faith serving people in the West Chester area. The construction of the , as well as the expansion of the Church
is not a final step in making the parish "complete." Rather, they are
signs of the commitment of the parishioners to continue to be a community of Faith,
reaching out to our sisters and brothers as we journey together into the future.
|
