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St. Peter's
Nanaimo
BC
V9R 2G8
- Roman Catholic churches in Nanaimo, BC
- Roman Catholic churches in British Columbia
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Who we are
St. Peter's Parish Mission Statement
We, the parish community of St. Peter's, are committed to reach out to others in faith and love by affirming the Gospel and teachings of Mother Church. We seek to encourage greater participation in the life of the Church in order to strengthen and grow in our faith, celebrate sacramental life in hope and be active in works of charity.
We, the parish community of St. Peter's, are committed to reach out to others in faith and love by affirming the Gospel and teachings of Mother Church. We seek to encourage greater participation in the life of the Church in order to strengthen and grow in our faith, celebrate sacramental life in hope and be active in works of charity.
Location of worship / Church Address
Church Pastor
Father Harrison Ayre
Pastor
301 Machleary Street
Nanaimo,
BC
V9R 2G8
Canada
Phone: 250-753-3570
Fax: 250-753-1507
Download Pastor Father Harrison Ayre vCard with Bio
Quote of the Day
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Denomination
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic churches in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Roman Catholic churches in British Columbia, Canada
Roman Catholic churches in Canada
All churches in Nanaimo, BC
Affiliations:
Website:
Social Media
St. Peter's Nanaimo on YouTube
Leadership
Leader Name:
Father Harrison Ayre
Leader Position:
Pastor
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
Tel:
Fax:
250-753-1507
Leader Email:
Leader Bio:
Fr. Harrison Ayre was born in Pitt Meadows, BC, son of two loving parents and has two younger siblings. He moved to Victoria to attend UVic after high school and began his long journey of post-secondary education in studying computer science. While at University, he had a profound conversion and began to practice his Catholic faith. He eventually graduated from UVic with a degree in Philosophy with a minor in Medieval Studies.
After graduation, he worked at St Andrew’s Cathedral, first as the office assistant, then as office manager. During this time he began to take seriously the call to priesthood. After attending a seminar in Poland on John Paul II’s theology and philosophy of the human person, he decided he had to go to seminary, and entered St Joseph’s seminary in 2008. While in seminary, he went on a mission year and spent a year working with Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Gallup, NM, and San Francisco. He was ordained a Deacon in 2013 and a priest on February 7th, 2015. He has served at St Patrick’s Parish, St Andrew’s Cathedral, Holy Family/Notre Dame, and now as pastor of St Peter’s here in Nanaimo.
He also completed his Master’s of Theology (MTh) from Newman Theological College in 2018 and is now a PhD Candidate in Systematic Theology at the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, UK. His research is around Joseph Ratzinger’s theology of the human person and how we can understand that through a sacramental lens.
Fr. Harrison loves the Church and the life that comes from being in her. In his spare time he loves to read and write. He absolutely loves reading philosophy and theology. He has written many articles for SimplyCatholic.com and hosts a weekly podcast with his friend, Fr Anthony Sciarappa, called Clerically Speaking. He has a love for good Belgian and craft beer, books, and culturally interesting movies and TV shows. Some of his favourite saints are St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas, Sts John and Paul (apostles), and St Theresa of Calcutta.
After graduation, he worked at St Andrew’s Cathedral, first as the office assistant, then as office manager. During this time he began to take seriously the call to priesthood. After attending a seminar in Poland on John Paul II’s theology and philosophy of the human person, he decided he had to go to seminary, and entered St Joseph’s seminary in 2008. While in seminary, he went on a mission year and spent a year working with Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Gallup, NM, and San Francisco. He was ordained a Deacon in 2013 and a priest on February 7th, 2015. He has served at St Patrick’s Parish, St Andrew’s Cathedral, Holy Family/Notre Dame, and now as pastor of St Peter’s here in Nanaimo.
He also completed his Master’s of Theology (MTh) from Newman Theological College in 2018 and is now a PhD Candidate in Systematic Theology at the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, UK. His research is around Joseph Ratzinger’s theology of the human person and how we can understand that through a sacramental lens.
Fr. Harrison loves the Church and the life that comes from being in her. In his spare time he loves to read and write. He absolutely loves reading philosophy and theology. He has written many articles for SimplyCatholic.com and hosts a weekly podcast with his friend, Fr Anthony Sciarappa, called Clerically Speaking. He has a love for good Belgian and craft beer, books, and culturally interesting movies and TV shows. Some of his favourite saints are St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas, Sts John and Paul (apostles), and St Theresa of Calcutta.
Other Church Leaders:
Father Harrison Ayre on Social Media:
St. Peter's Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Debbie McMillan
Admin Position:
Parish Coordinator
Admin Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
250-753-1507
Admin Email:
Mailing Address
Driving Directions to St. Peter's
Travel/Directions Tips
Parking
St. Peter's Nanaimo Mass Times
Regular mass, confession, & Adoration schedule & 2023 Lent schedule
Masses
Saturday 4:30pm
Sunday 10:30am
Tuesday 7:00pm
Wednesday 9:30am
Thursday-No Public Mass
Friday 9:30am
Confessions
Tuesday: 6:30pm-6:55pm
Friday 9:00 - 9:25am
Saturday 3:00 - 4:00pm
Adoration
Tuesday: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Friday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Our Lady of Victory - Gabriola Island
2nd Sunday of the month
Mass at 2:30pm
2023 Lent & Easter Mass Times & Scheduling Changes
February 22: Ash Wednesday Masses, 9:30 am & 7:00 pm
March 6-8: Lenten Parish Mission, 7:00 pm (starting at 6:30pm on March 8)
March 28: Extra Confessions, 6:00-7:00 pm
March 30: Chrism Mass, 7:00 pm
April 4: Extra Confessions, 6:00pm-7:00 pm
April 5: Extra Confessions, 6:30pm-8:30pm
April 6: Holy Thursday Mass 7:00 pm, Adoration after Mass until Midnight
April 7: Good Friday Service, 3:00 pm
April 8: Holy Saturday, time TBD
April 9: Easter Sunday Masses, 10:30 am & 12:30 pm
April 16: Divine Mercy Sunday, 2:00 Adoration & Confessions with Benediction at 3:00pm and Anointing of the Sick
Mass Times last updated on the 8th of March, 2023
Masses
Saturday 4:30pm
Sunday 10:30am
Tuesday 7:00pm
Wednesday 9:30am
Thursday-No Public Mass
Friday 9:30am
Confessions
Tuesday: 6:30pm-6:55pm
Friday 9:00 - 9:25am
Saturday 3:00 - 4:00pm
Adoration
Tuesday: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Friday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Our Lady of Victory - Gabriola Island
2nd Sunday of the month
Mass at 2:30pm
2023 Lent & Easter Mass Times & Scheduling Changes
February 22: Ash Wednesday Masses, 9:30 am & 7:00 pm
March 6-8: Lenten Parish Mission, 7:00 pm (starting at 6:30pm on March 8)
March 28: Extra Confessions, 6:00-7:00 pm
March 30: Chrism Mass, 7:00 pm
April 4: Extra Confessions, 6:00pm-7:00 pm
April 5: Extra Confessions, 6:30pm-8:30pm
April 6: Holy Thursday Mass 7:00 pm, Adoration after Mass until Midnight
April 7: Good Friday Service, 3:00 pm
April 8: Holy Saturday, time TBD
April 9: Easter Sunday Masses, 10:30 am & 12:30 pm
April 16: Divine Mercy Sunday, 2:00 Adoration & Confessions with Benediction at 3:00pm and Anointing of the Sick
Mass Times last updated on the 8th of March, 2023
Worship Languages
Dress code:
Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities:
Other activities & ministries
Volunteering in the Diocese of Victoria
Pastoral Care to the Sick and Homebound
Music
Church Groups
- CWL
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul
Religious Education
- Understanding the Catholic Faith
- Children’s Religious Education
- Children’s Liturgy of the Word
- Scripture Study
- Liturgical Calendar
Adoration
Bereavement Committee
Welcoming Committee
Sacristans
ProLife
Decorating
Greeters & Ushers
Lectors
Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EOMOHC)
Altar Servers
Pastoral Care to the Sick and Homebound
Music
Church Groups
- CWL
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul
Religious Education
- Understanding the Catholic Faith
- Children’s Religious Education
- Children’s Liturgy of the Word
- Scripture Study
- Liturgical Calendar
Adoration
Bereavement Committee
Welcoming Committee
Sacristans
ProLife
Decorating
Greeters & Ushers
Lectors
Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EOMOHC)
Altar Servers
Special Needs/Accessibility:
Prayers and hymns:
Main Bible:
Hymns and Songs:
Other information:
Average Adult Congregation:
Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
St. Peter's Photo Gallery
St. Peter's History
On January 7th 1854, the missionary parish of Nanaimo was formed. Bishop Demmers blessed the first chapel and placed it under the invocation of St. Peter. It remained a mission chapel until 1876 when Bishop Charles Seghers installed Fr. Lemmens as the first resident parish priest.
The sisters of St. Ann arrived on April 18th 1877. Within a few days a school was opened. A new church was built and was opened for midnight Mass on Christmas Day 1878. In 1879 construction was started on a new convent on land donated by Bishop Seghers.
In 1910, a disastrous fire destroyed both convent and church. A new building was constructed and opened by 1911. Wellington had become a ghost town so Fr. Heynan transferred the church from Wellington to Nanaimo. A bell in the present St. Peter’s church bears this inscription, “this bell was bought after the fire of July 11th 1910.”
After many years of devoted service Fr. Heynan retired in 1937. His successor was Fr. Lewis MacLellan, the first local priest to be installed as pastor of Nanaimo. The early priests had come from Belgium and Holland.
A campaign to raise funds for a new St. Peter’s church was undertaken and on the feast of St. Joseph, in March of 1958 Bishop Hill turned the first sod. The church was opened and dedicated on May 1st, 1960.
After many years of service the sisters decided to close the convent in 1966. In 1968 the parish celebrated a mortgage burning. Fr. Phillip Hanley, was the new pastor. In 1969, Monsignor Baker, passed away and now lies buried beside the church he helped to build. There is not much more information available until the arrival the Salvatorian Fathers in 1998.
Fr. Zarebski was the first Salvatorian priest to become a pastor at St. Peters. Under his guidance the spiritual life of the church had been invigorated. He initiated 40 hours adoration of the Blessed Sacrament weekly, and outdoor processions on the feast of Corpus Christi. He encouraged devotion to the Divine Mercy and many other devotions.
Fr. Zarebski was moved to Burnaby in 2006 and was replaced by Fr. Waldemar Podlasz who continued to enhance the parish spiritual life by encouraging the beauty of the liturgy. Beautiful flowers always adorned the altar and for special occasions such as Christmas and Easter the altar was especially glorious. In July of 2013, Fr. Piotr became pastor, moving from Calgary to Nanaimo. While only with the parish for a short year before being asked by his Provincial Superior to return to the Seminary in Poland as a Formator, Fr. Piotr made a lasting impression on the parishioners. In July 2014, Fr. Krzysztof Pastuskza joined us from the mainland and is now serving the communities in north Vancouver Island. Currently St. Peter's Parish is under the care and administration of Most Reverend Gary Gordon, Bishop of Victoria.
St. Peter’s Catholic Women’s League was chartered on October 20th, 1937 at a meeting at St. Ann’s convent. They raise funds for needy cases by catering; teas, bazaars, and rummage sales. The Missions both domestic and foreign have been aided by these funds through the years. Education has also benefited by C.W.L. scholarships. Contributions were made to the cost of building St. Peter’s church which was dedicated May 1st, 1960. The main altar and crucifix above it and the stained glass window was also donated by the C.W.L.
During the late nineteen forties a need for a fraternal organization for men became evident. A council for the Knights of Columbus was organized in Nanaimo and was called mid island council. The local Knights have also established a scholarship fund. Each Christmas season the council works with the St. Vincent de Paul society to aid needy families with gifts and a special food hamper. The Knights hope to ensure the rights of the unborn. All concerned citizens must be made aware and be prepared to raise their voices in support of their right to life. A memorial has been erected beside the church in remembrance of all victims of abortion.
It is estimated that there are more than 1,200 Catholic families in St. Peter’s the number of individuals participating in the Sunday Eucharist is approximately 700.
The sisters of St. Ann arrived on April 18th 1877. Within a few days a school was opened. A new church was built and was opened for midnight Mass on Christmas Day 1878. In 1879 construction was started on a new convent on land donated by Bishop Seghers.
In 1910, a disastrous fire destroyed both convent and church. A new building was constructed and opened by 1911. Wellington had become a ghost town so Fr. Heynan transferred the church from Wellington to Nanaimo. A bell in the present St. Peter’s church bears this inscription, “this bell was bought after the fire of July 11th 1910.”
After many years of devoted service Fr. Heynan retired in 1937. His successor was Fr. Lewis MacLellan, the first local priest to be installed as pastor of Nanaimo. The early priests had come from Belgium and Holland.
A campaign to raise funds for a new St. Peter’s church was undertaken and on the feast of St. Joseph, in March of 1958 Bishop Hill turned the first sod. The church was opened and dedicated on May 1st, 1960.
After many years of service the sisters decided to close the convent in 1966. In 1968 the parish celebrated a mortgage burning. Fr. Phillip Hanley, was the new pastor. In 1969, Monsignor Baker, passed away and now lies buried beside the church he helped to build. There is not much more information available until the arrival the Salvatorian Fathers in 1998.
Fr. Zarebski was the first Salvatorian priest to become a pastor at St. Peters. Under his guidance the spiritual life of the church had been invigorated. He initiated 40 hours adoration of the Blessed Sacrament weekly, and outdoor processions on the feast of Corpus Christi. He encouraged devotion to the Divine Mercy and many other devotions.
Fr. Zarebski was moved to Burnaby in 2006 and was replaced by Fr. Waldemar Podlasz who continued to enhance the parish spiritual life by encouraging the beauty of the liturgy. Beautiful flowers always adorned the altar and for special occasions such as Christmas and Easter the altar was especially glorious. In July of 2013, Fr. Piotr became pastor, moving from Calgary to Nanaimo. While only with the parish for a short year before being asked by his Provincial Superior to return to the Seminary in Poland as a Formator, Fr. Piotr made a lasting impression on the parishioners. In July 2014, Fr. Krzysztof Pastuskza joined us from the mainland and is now serving the communities in north Vancouver Island. Currently St. Peter's Parish is under the care and administration of Most Reverend Gary Gordon, Bishop of Victoria.
St. Peter’s Catholic Women’s League was chartered on October 20th, 1937 at a meeting at St. Ann’s convent. They raise funds for needy cases by catering; teas, bazaars, and rummage sales. The Missions both domestic and foreign have been aided by these funds through the years. Education has also benefited by C.W.L. scholarships. Contributions were made to the cost of building St. Peter’s church which was dedicated May 1st, 1960. The main altar and crucifix above it and the stained glass window was also donated by the C.W.L.
During the late nineteen forties a need for a fraternal organization for men became evident. A council for the Knights of Columbus was organized in Nanaimo and was called mid island council. The local Knights have also established a scholarship fund. Each Christmas season the council works with the St. Vincent de Paul society to aid needy families with gifts and a special food hamper. The Knights hope to ensure the rights of the unborn. All concerned citizens must be made aware and be prepared to raise their voices in support of their right to life. A memorial has been erected beside the church in remembrance of all victims of abortion.
It is estimated that there are more than 1,200 Catholic families in St. Peter’s the number of individuals participating in the Sunday Eucharist is approximately 700.
St. Peter's Historical Photos
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