Rev. Agustinus Seran, SVD - Pastor
1203 North Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Mass Times
Weekend Masses:
Saturday Vigil - 4:00 pm
Sunday Morning - 10:00 am
*Haitian Creole Mass - 1:00 pm
Daily Masses
Wednesday - 9:00 am
Friday - 8:00 am
Confession Schedule
Saturday 3:15 - 3:45 pm
Sunday 9:15 - 9:45 am
* Any time by request
About us
St. Peter Claver had its beginning in late 1893 when the Jesuits purchased an old Methodist Church on Morgan Street in Tampa. On February 2, 1894, two members of the Sisters of the Holy Names began classes with sixteen students.
On the night of February 12, 1894, the building was burned by arsonists. Father William Tyrell, S.J., with the help of Bishop Moore, purchased a piece of property on the corner of Scott and Governor Streets in the black community. The school reopened in October 1894. The quality of education was such that seven years later, students successfully passed the Teacher’s Examination and received certificates from the Board of Public Instruction.
In 1904, Mother Katharine Drexel, foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, donated money from her inheritance to St. Peter Claver School, which she had visited.
In its earlier days our parish was a mission of Sacred Heart Church. The first chapel for St. Peter Claver was set up on the second floor of the school in 1909. The first Church was built in 1915 with a gift from Mrs. L.D. Morreil, the sister of Mother Katharine Drexel.
The Most Reverend Charles B. McLaughlin, the first Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, dedicated the present structure on June 8, 1969.
Since its 1894 beginning, many priests, religious and laity have served our parish with great dedication. Among those who have served are the Jesuits Fathers, the Josephite Fathers, Diocesan priests, the Sisters of the Holy Names, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of St. Chretienne, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida.
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MISSIONARIES – ADMINISTRATORS AND PASTORS
1903 – 1913 Rev. William J. Tyrell, S.J.
1913 – 1919 Rev. L.P. White, S.J.
1919 – 1920 Rev. M.A. Grase, S.J.
1920 – 1923 Rev. Francis X. Entz, S.J.
1923 – 1926 Rev. Fred Waymemans, S.J.
1926 – 1929 Rev. S.J. Kelly
1929 – 1931 Rev. S.J. Ferdinand, S.S. J.
1931 – 1938 Rev. Anthony Keil, S.S.J
1938 – 1944 Rev. Arthur Flanagan, S.S.J.
1944 – 1946 Rev. Joseph M. Schmutz, S.S.J.
1946 – 1946 Rev. Philip Kirrane, S.S.J.
1946 – 1951 Rev. Joseph A Szuhy, S.S.J.
1951 – 1955 Rev. James E. Fitzpatrick, S.S.J.
1955 – 1956 Rev. James V. Clarke, S.S.J.
1956 – 1961 Rev. William J. Dodd, S.S.J.
1961 – 1964 Rev. Timothy J. Holland, S.S.J.
1964 – 1966 Rev. John D. Lennon, S.S.J.
1966 – 1970 Rev. Thomas G. Moore
1970 – 1971 Rev. Joseph Rimshaw, S.S.J.
1971 – 1973 Admin. by St. Lawrence Parish, Rev. Laurence Higgins
1973 – 1979 Rev. Rocco D’Angelo
1979 – 1980 Rev. Desmond Daly
1980 – 1992 Rev. Joseph O’Keefe, O.M.I.
1992 – 1997 Rev. Callist Nyambo
1997 - 2002 Rev. Edward Lamp
2002 - 2006 Rev. Paul Kochu
2006 - 2019 Rev. Hugh Chikawe
2019 - 2021 Rev. Theobald Weria, ALCP
2021 Rev. Agustinus Seran, SVD
