Prince of Peace Catholic Church
Prince of Peace Catholic Church is a reflection of Catholic Culture in Jefferson County. We celebrate Mass on Saturday evening and three times on Sunday. Our noon Mass is the Hispanic Mass and is located at St. Patrick Chapel.
In 1851, under German hands, the walls were built, and the church was roofed. This magnificent building was dedicated to The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Later, it affectionately became known as St. Mary’s Church.
At first, things were not as they are now. This wonderful old church had very humble beginnings. The first six years are described as arduous and meager. In 1865, Fr. Leonard Brandt took the helm, and the situation started to improve. Aided by a more generous contribution from the congregation, the wooden steps at the front of the church were replaced with stone. A new altar and statues were also procured. Vestments, chalices, and other church utensils were purchased and donated by various societies.
In 1858, a house west of the church was purchased for a parsonage.
In 1860, the steeple was built, and four bells were suspended in it. The bells were considered to have voices, so they were christened and given names. The four-foot bell is named St. Joseph, the three-foot bell is named St. Ann, the 30-inch bell is named Maria Angela, and the 18-inch bell is named Gabriel.
In 1864, a large tracker pipe organ was purchased in Tiffin, Ohio. This organ was replaced in 1940 with the current pipe organ. With the changes instituted by Vatican II, a second console was added in the late 90s at the front of the church to allow the organist to play from a position closer to the cantor. The pipes remain in the choir loft at the rear of the church and can be played from either the original console in the loft or the newer console at the front of the church.
In 1888, the walls were frescoed, and new altars and a pulpit were added. The glorious stained glass windows were purchased for what today seems an incredible price of only $2,578.87. In 1904, new pews replaced the much-worn old square pews.
And so it went: Electricity, central heat, lights. All of this made the building what it is today.
In 1993, the four Parishes of Jefferson County, St. Patrick, St Anthony, St. Mary, and St. Michael were combined to form one Catholic community, which we now call Prince of Peace Church. In 2013, St. Magdalen also joined Prince of Peace.
The Church is a reflection of the heart and soul of our Catholic Community. Each stained glass window depicts a gospel reading. The Stone High altar tells of a time when the Priest celebrated the Mass in Latin with his back to the Congregation. The Mass of today is celebrated in English at the front altar with the Priest facing the People.
In 2016, the parish had a vision for a renewed building where our multitude could gather and worship Jesus. This new campaign was named Steeple for the People, building today for tomorrow. This campaign raised $2.4 million, ensuring that future generations will have a worship area rich in history. A new sound system was purchased. High-power lines were moved from the West side of the church, and new heating and air conditioning systems were installed. The old boiler system and radiators were eliminated.
The steeple was removed from the church in 2017. Tuckpointing to the exterior of the building was completed. The stained glass windows were removed from the east side of the church and sent to Minnesota, where they were restored and cleaned. Once these were returned and installed, the west-side windows were removed, and the same process was repeated.
In 2018, many improvements were made to the church building. Attic insulation was added. Interior plastering and painting were completed. The exterior of the church was painted. A new Carillon System was installed to replace the actual bells. The new steeple was under construction.
In 2019, the church’s exterior received a new roof, the steeple was installed, and the parking lot was seal-coated and lined with added car bumpers. At the front of the church, new doors were installed, steps with removable handrails, and new landscaping. The interior of the church received new lighting fixtures that were replicas of the previous ones. An interior bathroom and a new reconciliation room were constructed on the west side of the church, where the previous reconciliation area had been. All the pews were disassembled and repaired. The existing carpet was removed, the original hardwood floors were sanded and sealed, and new carpet was installed. A new crucifix and a statue of Archangel Gabriel, for the High Altar, were commissioned from Italy. The statues were removed and sent to the artist’s studio in Michigan, where they were repaired and repainted. Gold Leaf was added to all the altars.
A new St. Michael statue was commissioned from Italy for our parish and placed on the high altar in 2020. The Stations of the Cross and the Nativity statues were removed and sent to Chris Moran’s studio in Michigan for repair and repainting. The Nativity Set was returned just in time for Christmas of 2020.
Sacristy repairs were made in 2021. These included removing the bathroom from the West sacristy, repairing, plastering, and painting the walls, new carpet, and new cabinets.
Between 2023 and 2025, remodeling began of the adjacent rectory. This was completed upon the arrival of Fr. Rick Nagel, who now resides in the renovated building.
We want to thank everyone who donated to the Steeple for the People campaign. It was a true labor of love by all involved.
Our wish is that the newly remodeled space brings peace and love not only to our parishioners but also as visitors.