Msgr. Peters inducted into South Texas Polka Hall of Fame
The 6th Annual South Texas Polka Hall of Fame ceremony was held Sunday afternoon, March 24 with Sacred Heart Catholic Church pastor, Msgr. John Peters inducted into the HOF.
Born in Schulenburg on October 14, 1948, Msgr. John attended and graduated from St. Michael’s School in Weimar, Msgr. John then left Weimar where he attended and graduated from St. John’s Seminary in San Antonio after completing the 12th grade.
Continuing with his pursuit into priesthood, Msgr. John studied Theology at the Assumption Seminary in San Antonio and received a B.A. of Sociology at St. Mary's University.
He then did his Theological Studies at St. Mary's University and oblate school of theology in San Antonio.
Ordained on April 26, 1974 at St. Michael’s in Weimar, by Archbishop Francis J. Furey, his first assignment was as an Associate Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Yoakum, Texas in 1974.
Msgr. John then moved to St. Matthew Parish in San Antonio, Texas in 1977 and served as an associate pastor.
In 1981, he served as an associate pastor of St. Pius X in San Antonio before being named the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Yoakum in 1982.
After three years in Yoakum, Msgr. John was assigned as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Victoria in 1985.
While in Victoria, Msgr. John joined the Formation Faculty at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston in 1990 and served until 1994.
Following his service on the faculty, Msgr. John was named the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in 1994. The parish which included the church, the parish, Sacred Heart Catholic School in Hallettsville, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in St. John and Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Moravia.
As a result of this assignment, he was, and still is, responsible for five church picnics annually. He has served Sacred Heart Parish for 30 years, the longest tenure Pastor in the history of the Parish, which was founded in 1882.
Msgr. John initiated and supported numerous improvements, renovations, constructions, and new ministry programs while serving as Pastor of these churches, which included: the ACTS Retreat, Perpetual Adoration, Pictorial Directories, Serra Club, Live Radio Broadcast and Live Streaming at the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass, and monthly Spanish Mass at Sacred Heart Church.
Msgr. John is truly dedicated to Catholic Education and provides his time, talent, and personal treasure to that special ministry. He has approved numerous renovation and new cons truction projects at Sacred Heart Catholic School includ - ing a new K-12 Library Media Center, Advanced Technology Learning Center and expanded classrooms for K-4 in 2014.
The pastor has also served in numerous additional capacities including Chaplain in the Texas Army National Guard, coordinator of the Papal visit to Texas, Dean of the Hallettsville Deanery, member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, state chaplain of the Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas, member of the Czech Heritage Society, K.J.Z.T., K.J.T., and Catholic Life Insurance.
He also served as President of the Lavaca Assistance Ministry Body (LAMB), Chaplain of the Serra Club, and Chaplain of the Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department.