St. Peter’s Church, Hammond

St. Peter’s Church was a mission of St. Patrick’s in Rossie from 1902 – 1963. It was incorporated on November 9, 1905 by Rev. Cornelius J. Crowley. The first church building was dedicated May 27, 1906 by Bishop Gabriels. In 1911 the first class of 24 parishioners was confirmed.

Through the years St. Peter’s Parish grew in size due mainly to an influx of seasonal visitors along with an increase in local residents. In 1963 Hammond was made the main church and Rossie the mission church. In 1965 the original St. Peter’s Church on Route 37 on the outskirts of town toward Brier Hill was abandoned and torn down. Some stone remains of the original church are still standing along with a commemorative plaque which can be seen from the highway. The current church located in the center of town on Main Street was built that same year, 1965. It was designed by Maurice Finnegan and was built at a cost of $46,000 after a very successful campaign involving the 62 families in the parish and Rev. Daniel Keefe who was pastor at the time. It was dedicated and blessed by Bishop Thomas A. Donnellan in June 1966.

Church Time Line

Incorporated November 9, 1905
Dedicated May 27, 1906
Incorporated January 20, 2009 “The Catholic Community of Morristown, Hammond & Rossie”

Clergy Time Line

1902 – 1914 Rev. C.J. Crowley
1914 – 1917 Rev. J.J. Bent
1917 – 1920 Rev. M.J. Sweeney
1921 – 1926 Rev. Thomas E. Owen
1926 – 1928 Rev. J.L. Desjardins
1928 – 1932 Rev. Walter Charbonneau
1932 – 1933 Rev. Thomas B. Hurley
1934 Rev. Arthur J. Trudel
1934 – 1938 Rev. Francis E. Gilbert (Administrator)
1938 – 1943 Rev. Cornelius A. Collins
1944 – 1948 Rev. Joseph Stickelmyer
1948 – 1950 Rev. Paul Brunet
1950- - 1954 Rev. Armand Brunet
1954 – 1958 Rev. Gilbert J. Faucher
1958 – 1960 Rev. Vernon Doe
1960 – 1964 Rev. George Lemieux (First Resident Pastor, 1963)
1964 – 1969 Rev. Daniel T. Keefe
1970 – 1971 Rev. Paul Oehler
1972 – 1978 Rev. Gilbert B. Menard
1979 – 1988 Rev. Lawrence E. Cotter
1989 – 1990 Rev. Stephen H. Gratto
1991 – 1992 Rev. Stephen Rocker
1992 – 1994 Rev. Dennis J. Duprey (Temporary Administrator)
1994 – 1996 Rev. Terry R. LaValley (Administrator)
1996 – 2000 Rev. Msgr. Lawrence M. Deno
2000 – 2002 Rev. Steven M. Murray
2002 – 2006 Rev. Albert J. Hauser
2006 – 2008 Rev. Douglas J. Lucia
2008 – January 20, 2009 Rev. Kevin D. McEwan