Dear Friends,
Welcome to St. Peter Claver Parish community where the stewardship model of church life, “encouraging parishioners to share their time, talent, and treasure to build the Kingdom of God”, is alive and flourishing. One of our goals At St. Peter Claver is to engage every member of the parish in some area of ministry. This website and Connected Community provide information about the ministries currently active within the parish and those which reach out to the larger community. As you will see there are possibilities for everyone depending on your interests, time, talent, and stamina!! As in any organization new ideas and/or suggestions often lead to growth and development within these ministries and may even foster new ones.
If you have any questions please feel free to call the contact people listed on the parish staff. They will be happy to assist you as you consider your involvement in parish life.
Please pray for our parish each day and ask the Lord to guide us as we continue our journey of faith together.
May you find the grace, peace, and love of Jesus in your Saint Peter Claver community.God bless you and keep you safely in the palm of His hand.
Fr. Jim Leary, Pastor
St. Peter Claver Mission Statement:
“Speak to them with your hands before you speak to them with your lips”.
St. Peter Claver
By being faithful to the mission given to each one of us in our baptism, we, the people of St. Peter Claver Parish, try to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ by imitating the example of our patron, St. Peter Claver:
To respond actively and generously to the Commandments of the Gospel within and beyond our parish family.
To strive to become a united and prayerful parish though a deeper understanding of and an active participation in, the liturgy and in our faith.
To provide faith-based educational opportunities for parishioners of all ages.
We will encourage and support parishioners to share their time, talents, and resources to work together in building the kingdom of God – a kingdom of love, justice, and peace.
Our Patron Saint – St. Peter Claver
Peter Claver was born of an impoverished family in Verdu in the northeastern province of Catalonia, Spain in 1580. As a young man he joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and pursued studies in theology and philosophy. Although he excelled at his scholarly work, he was restless; he felt that God was calling him to a different vocation. He felt a strong call to work in the West Indies, then a Spanish colony. In 1610, along with three other Jesuit companions, Peter Claver sailed in the galleon San Pedro for Cartegena, Colombia, a seaport in South America. Cartegena was a terminus for ships that transported people from Africa to the new land where they were sold into slavery. When the ships arrived, they brought holds full of sick, injured, frightened people.
When Peter Claver came to Cartegena, his doubts and restlessness about his life’s work disappeared; he was ordained a priest and dedicated himself to ministering to the enslaved. For over forty years of active ministry, Peter Claver met the boats, bringing food, medicine and comfort. He constantly spoke to the slaves of God’s love for them – and personally baptized over 300,000. Near the end of his life, weakened by illness, Peter had to be tied onto his horse so he could ride to meet the boats and continue his work. Peter Claver died on September 8, 1654. Canonized in 1888 with Pope Leo XIII proclaiming, “No life, except for the life of Christ has so moved me as that of St. Peter Claver”. His feast day is celebrated annually on September 9.
Our History
On September 9, 1966, with the growth of the Catholic population within the territory of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Hartford, Archbishop Henry J. O’Brien decreed the division of that parish and the canonical erection of St. Peter Claver parish. The Reverend John T. Shugrue was appointed the founding pastor. In the early days Sunday mass was celebrated locally at Braeburn School (affectionately known to parishioners of the time as “St. Braeburn’s”). Daily mass, baptisms, confessions were conducted, and spiritual activities took place at a rectory located at 1105 Farmington Avenue.
With a deep seated faith in God and the wholehearted generosity of the parishioners the formal building of the new parish community quickly commenced. Eighty acres of land known as Mooney’s Woods was purchased for the site of the new church. On May 3, 1970 the completed church and parish center were formally dedicated. The contemporary design reflected the many changes and innovations of Vatican II – no pew had a visual obstruction; no altar rail separated clergy from congregation; and no unseen balcony divided musicians from worshippers. Truly innovative for its time, the church is listed among famous churches in New England and received awards for architecture on state, regional and national levels.
Following Fr. Shugrue’s death in 1988, Reverend Joseph P. McGarry was appointed pastor. The parish continued to grow and prosper as did the parish’s commitment to social outreach programs. Faced with the growing religious education needs, the original parish center was expanded. The size of the parish center was doubled with the addition of eight classrooms, a music room and library. At the same time the parish center was connected to the church and the bell tower was constructed. The new facility was formally dedicated in December 1995.
Upon the retirement and death of Fr. McGarry, the Reverend James F. Leary was appointed the third pastor of St. Peter Claver in July 2004. The parish has now grown to over 1,200 lively and dedicated families.
Our Church
Father John Shugrue’s vision for the church was one that would reflect the life and work of its patron, Saint Peter Claver while at the same time be compatible with the beautiful wooded area surrounding it.
Designed by John Riley of the West Hartford firm of Russell, Gibson and von Dohlen, the church was constructed to resemble the hold of a slave ship, such as those experienced by the men to whom St. Peter Claver ministered. Fieldstone walls, natural wood, black ceiling beams and two stained glass windows combined to reflect a ship while also establishing an atmosphere of simplicity, and peace. Furnishings included Italian marble altar, ambo, baptismal font and presider’s chair, a contemporary bronze crucifix, carved walnut statues of Saint Joseph and the Blessed Mother.
As part of the 40th anniversary of Saint Peter Claver parish, extensive restoration and renovation of the church was undertaken. The project was assisted by John Canning, a restoration artist, whose philosophy is to conserve and construct at the same time respecting the original design concepts. Hence, his plan considered the unusual floor plan, the magnificent stone walls, and the black accents found in the large beams, on the marble pieces and on the Stations of the Cross.
The new design for the church incorporated Italian tile flooring in two colors which complement the fieldstone; solid oak pews reinforced with black panels and kneelers; a refurbished baptismal font with flowing water into an immersion pool; an ambry etched with images of water; and enhanced lighting. In addition to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, a place for quiet reflection and prayer, and a permanent choir space were constructed. The choir space included room for the new state-of-the-art Dobson pipe organ.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel located behind the altar was constructed from fieldstones and stained glass windows which symbolize the flowing waters on which the slave ship traveled. The beautiful windows incorporating a quotation from Saint Peter Claver were designed by Scott McDaniel of Stained Glass Resources in Hampden, Massachusetts. They remind us of our patron’s ministry and inspire us to remember our call to service.