We are present in our community
At the Church of Saint Peter Claver, we have a long history of involvement in our community. Through our Outreach Organizations, we answer God’s call to serve all those in need with love and compassion, establishing God’s kingdom on earth.
The Knights of Peter Claver is the largest and oldest predominantly African-American lay Catholic organization in the United States. Like our Church, the Order is named for St. Peter Claver, the Spanish Jesuit Priest who ministered to African slaves in Colombia. The group focuses on engaging men and boys of our parish and the greater Twin Cities community. They teach Catholic leadership skills and promote the development of a Catholic lifestyle; help widows and family members; contribute to our school, and raise funds for scholarships. The Knights provide support for the Junior Knight activity days for the young men of our community. They are also raising money for sickle cell anemia, a disorder that primarily affects people of African descent.
Membership in the Knights of Peter Claver is by invitation and is open to Catholics throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area.
The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary is a fierce and dynamic sisterhood that provides service to our church and our community. It supports organizations such as Feed My Starving Children and My Family Place. The Ladies Auxiliary also sponsors the Mary Hamilton Scholarship for high school students entering college. The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary is the only Catholic Knights organization in which women are a completely separate governing body from the Knights association.
Membership in the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary is by invitation and is open to Catholics throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area.
The Junior Knights/Daughters of St. Peter Claver are open to all Catholic young men and ladies between the ages of 7 and 18 years old. Interested youth must have made their First Holy Communion. Like the adult divisions, the youth divisions provide a spiritual, social and intellectual association in which the members learn the value of service to God and assistance to the sick and disabled. The Junior Knights also reach out to non-Catholic youth with their activity days, including the annual Christmas basketball camp.
The Saint Peter Claver Altar and Rosary Society is open to all women of the parish, eighteen years and older. The women of the group share in spirituality, service, and community outreach. Members furnish linens, vestments, and Eucharistic hosts for the Mass. Volunteers launder linens and pay for any dry cleaning necessary to maintain vestments and Altar linens.
We Care Ministry provides prayer support through an online distribution list of members. A request journal is also provided on the St. Anthony altar in St. Peter Claver Church. Members of the ministry visit people in the hospital or in their homes. Eucharistic ministers are also available for visitations.
During the Advent season, the parish-at-large works to collect funds for the annual Christmas food baskets. Each year over 100 baskets are distributed to needy families in the area during the weekend before Christmas. Requests are made through the Parish Office prior to the distribution date.
If you would like to learn more about how to volunteer, contact the Saint Peter Claver Parish office at
(651) 646-1797