1903:  The Catholic Church in Pearl River began with Mass having been celebrated on Sunday, July 5, 1903, by a priest on the mission circuit at the home of Nora Crawford. Plans for a church were subsequently approved by Archbishop Louis Placide Chapelle, D.D.

June 1904:  Construction of a church in the woods at Guthrie Crossing began and continued until spring 1904.

June 5, 1904:  The new church was dedicated at Mass celebrated by Abbot Paul Schauble, O.S.B., and Fr. Paul P Dobyns, O.S.B., the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Slidell. The church was dedicated in honor of Sts. Peter and Paul and became a mission of the Benedictine Monks of St. Joseph Abbey near Covington.

1905:  A Benedictine priest traveled by horseback, on the first Sunday of each month, to celebrate Mass at 9:00 a.m.

1913:  Sts. Peter and Paul officially became a mission church under the care of Fr. Bernard Keating, O.S.B., pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Slidell.

1914:  The Catholic population in Pearl River showed such a significant decline that the church, sadly, was closed.

1921:  The church was re-opened and families in Pearl River raised funds to move the church building to Nelson Road.  Fr. Juan Martinez, O.S.B., came from Our Lady of Lourdes once a month to celebrate Mass in the “The Old Green Church” (as it came to be known). For 35 years, the Benedictine priests of Our Lady of Lourdes celebrated Mass once a month at the mission church.

Late 1950's:  The Catholic population began to grow in Pearl River and outgrew “The Old Green Church.” Fr. Finton Bru, O.S.B., invited Archbishop Joseph Rummel to come inspect land Herbert P. Berrigan would donate for a new church at the intersection of Highway 41 Spur and St. Mary Drive.

March 2, 1958:  The Berrigan gift was accepted and Fr. Timothy Pugh, O.S.B., and Fr. Ignatius Fossier, O.S.B., officiated at the groundbreaking ceremonies.

July 6, 1958:   Abbot David Melancon, O.S.B., Fr. Gregory Robeau, O.S.B., and Fr. Timothy Pugh, O.S.B., laid the cornerstone.

November 23, 1958:  At 3:30 p.m., Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel, S.T.D., dedicated the new church in honor of Sts. Peter and Paul. "The Old Green Church” was converted into the Catholic Community Center of Pearl River and was modified by adding bathroom facilities and a kitchen so that fundraising could be held.

January 1956 – 1960:   Mrs. Cora Nelson and Mrs. Nena Gernon began a program of religious education that, with the encouragement of Fr. Pugh, became well-organized. Classes met on Monday and Wednesday, beginning in late September and ending in May. In 1958, the Summer School of Religion was held every weekend morning during June at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Swann. The following year, it was held at the home of Mrs. Resor, with nuns from Our Lady of Lourdes teaching. In 1960, the Summer School of Religion was moved into the church building.

1960's:  Pearl River’s population grew as the aerospace industry impacted the area, and the interstate system allowed easier and faster access to the city of New Orleans.

1964 – 1965:  Since the growing Religious Education Program required more room, Fr. Pugh drew up plans for a multipurpose meeting hall with four large classrooms. Work began on the Parish Hall in 1964 with completion in early 1965.

1966 – 1972:  Mrs. Ruby Gauley and Mrs. Pat Himber taught preschool-age children from 1966 to 1972, under Fr. Pugh, until the public school opened a kindergarten program.

By 1969:  There was a need for a resident priest. Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, D.D., J.C.D., S.T.L., asked Fr. Maur Robira, O.S.B., to be the first pastor and take up residence in January 1970. One of the front classrooms in the Parish Hall was converted into his living quarters. Fr. Robira performed the first recorded baptism of Robert Ellis Craddock on March 28, 1970.

June 6, 1970:  Since Pearl River continued to grow.  Archbishop Philip Hannan formally wrote the canonical decree erecting the Catholic Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul. He assigned Fr. Jean F. Villere as the second pastor who served the parish for two and a half years.  On August 8, 1970, Fr. Villere performed the first recorded funeral for Clementine D. Brewin. On August 12, 1970, he officiated the wedding of Tommy Cooper and Zandra Gail Frierson, daughter of Robert and Mary Frierson.

January 17, 1973:  Fr. Thomas P. Brady, C.S.Sp., was appointed the third pastor and served eight months.

October 18, 1973:  Fr. John Ralph was appointed the fourth pastor.  Mass was celebrated on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Since Fr. Ralph was also Chaplain of Slidell Memorial Hospital and Greenbriar Community Care, weekday Masses were only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

May 1975:  Fr. Ralph returned to Ireland for his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. His leave would extend several months until after Christmas.

June 8, 1975:  Archbishop Hannan appointed Fr. Peter Calamari as a temporary administrator during Fr. Ralph’s absence. During the two months, Fr. Calamari administered the parish; he moved church bingo games from "The Old Green Church” to the Parish Hall. He brought the community together to celebrate the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and initiated a parish census to identify the needs of the growing Catholic population in Pearl River.

August 10, 1975:  Fr. Adrian B. Hall became the fifth pastor. Soon after his arrival, he added a Vigil Mass on Saturday as well as another Mass on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. He celebrated Mass every weekday except for Wednesday.

January 1977:  Sts. Peter and Paul School opened in January 1977, with a pre-kindergarten program. Beginning in the fall of 1978, one grade level was added each year until 1985, when the school offered full educational programs for grades pre-K through eighth grade. The classrooms in the Parish Hall were modified to accommodate the school, and an addition to the hall provided space for two more classes. To provide even more space for administration and staff, Fr. Hall vacated his residence in the Parish Hall and purchased a mobile home that would perform dual duty as the rectory and parish office. It was located behind the church building.

June 16, 1979:  Fr. Hall purchased 9.8 acres for $115,000 from Earl Berrigan, the property was located across St. Mary Drive from the church and behind the Berrigan home (which would become St. Anthony Hall). The property would later become the playground for the school.  He renovated the sanctuary, added a side chapel, a side entrance, redesigned the front entrance removing the choir loft and extended the front to provide space for a sacristy, a confessional and a large vestibule.

June 1982:  Archbishop Hannan reassigned Fr. Hall to establish the new parish of St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Slidell.  Fr. William O’Brien was appointed June 19, 1982, as the sixth pastor.

June 1983:  Fr. O’Brien added stained glass windows in the side chapel and in the vestibule.

May 1984:  Fr. O’Brien purchased a home at the end of St. Mary Drive and moved the rectory and parish office. Because of continuing poor health, Fr. O’Brien asked Archbishop Hannan for reassignment and was transferred to Sacred Heart in Lacombe.

March 23, 1985:   Fr. Michael B. Fraser became the seventh pastor. A weekly parish bulletin was published for the pastor to communicate with his people.  A detached building to house the pre-K class was added in 1985. The free-standing library structure was built in 1986.

December 1985:  Rev. Mr. John Francis Howard served the parish as the first permanent deacon since his ordination in December 1985 until he was called home to the Lord on October 26, 2018.

1985:  After 25 years, attendance at daily Mass increased. Mass was celebrated every day except for Monday. There was a Vigil Mass on Saturday and three Masses on Sunday.

1986:  The annual Solemn Novena in honor of St. Jude began gracing the parish in 1986 and brought many blessings, including the return of the faith for many fallen-away Catholics.

May 1987:  School enrollment dropped, and at the end of the school year in May 1987, Sts. Peter and Paul School closed, leaving the church with a debt of $258,000.

September 1988:  To enhance the community, carillon chimes, a gift of the Stella Roman Foundation, were installed.

1990:  A council known as the Parish Life and Activity Committee was formed. Various organizations came into being (Antonians, Grand Adults of Sts. Peter and Paul (GASPP), Family Life Organization (FLO), Spiritual Life Committee and Legion of Mary) and joined the already active Altar Society and Finance Committee. Covered dish suppers, parish picnics and the New Year's celebration brought forth a sense of community and fellowship.

1991:  The Archdiocese took title to the 9.8 acres of vacant church-owned land on Highway 41 Spur. The parish purchased 2.38 acres next to the church and Parish Hall. This exchange lowered the debt for the parish.  All major fundraising functions were discontinued, and the church relied solely on tithing and the generosity of parishioners for church revenue.

1993:  At the New Year's celebration, Sts. Peter and Paul was debt-free.

1994:  An artist restored the church statuary, and faux marbling was placed on the face of the sanctuary. The parish was also blessed with the Tomb of the Unborn Child by the Slidell Knights of Columbus Council No. 2732 of Slidell.

July 1995:  Fr. Bac-Hai Viet Tran became the eighth pastor. Fr. Hai, as he preferred to be called, continued with the growth of the parish.

July 1996:  Knights of Columbus Council No. 11814 was created.

March 1997:  Fr. Hai also saw the organization of a St. Joseph Altar Guild and was instrumental in starting a Lenten Mission, held during Holy Week in 1997.

May 3, 1998:  Through the efforts of a parishioner, Wayne Higginbotham, the relief of the Blessed Mother that hung in the lobby of Hotel Dieu Hospital in New Orleans was donated. The Shrine of the Blessed Mother was dedicated and blessed by Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, D.D. (at the time he was Auxilliary Bishop of New Orleans).

August 1998:  A complete walking census of the parish was started and completed in October 2001.

November 1998:  Fr. Hai planned and completed a beautiful new rectory across the street from the church offices and facilities.  Most Rev. Philip Hannan dedicated and blessed the new building on May 2, 1999, with parishioners invited to view the interior.

December 1999:  Two men from our parish were ordained deacons:  Francis W. Drake (Frank) and John P. Downey (Pat). Frank was assigned to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish full-time, and Pat was assigned to Sts. Peter and Paul and to Southeast Louisiana Hospital in Mandeville until he was called home to the Lord on January 10, 2019.

March 2000:  To meet our growing needs, the St. Joseph Workshop was constructed.

June 2001:  The parish added a new confessional and bell tower allowing for the addition of a larger cry room.

July 17, 2003:  The parish purchased the home on the corner of St. Mary Drive and Highway 41 Spur for meetings (which would become St. Anthony Hall).

April 2005:  Knights of Columbus Council No. 11814 presented the parish with a marble Ten Commandments and Beatitude monument that was placed at the side entrance to the church.

August 2005:  Fr. Hai and the parishioners were very blessed when Hurricane Katrina passed over the Pearl River community. The parish had some downed trees and roof damage to the hall and annex building, but was up and running in less than two weeks.

July 14, 2007:  Fr. Thomas M. McCann III was appointed Parochial Administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul. After completion of a one-year service, Fr. Tom was continued to oversee the growth of the parish as the ninth pastor. Construction of the restroom in the church building was a dream come true. Fr. Tom came to the parish with a $75,000 debt on St. Anthony Hall, and in one year, he lowered the debt to $15,532.  Fr. Tom added a popular town-hall-style meeting called “Nibbles and Bits,” where parishioners attended and presented topics they felt needed to be discussed and addressed.

February 2008:  Rev. Mr. Richard Calkins joined the parish and served until he was called home to the Lord on January 13, 2019.  Parishioner Eugene Templet (Gene) was ordained a permanent deacon on December 13, 2008, and was assigned to the parish while also serving St. Tammany Parish Jail.

The beautiful outdoor Stations of the Cross were relocated closer to the church. To enhance the beauty and accessibility of the stations, a walkway was poured, engraved memorial bricks were added at the foot of each station and flower beds were planted. In the center of the walkway, a cross was constructed listing the priests and deacons who are and have served the parish.

July 15, 2011:  Fr. Ray A. Hymel was appointed the tenth pastor. Fr. Ray continued with Fr. Tom’s works of remodeling the Parish Hall. Both the men’s and women’s restrooms were completed, and the remodeling of the Parish Hall kitchen was completed.

July 2013:  Fr. Burnick (Bernie) Terrebonne was appointed the eleventh pastor.  Fr. Bernie had a vision to take the youth of Sts. Peter & Paul to the March for Life in Washington, D.C.  In August 2016, he orchestrated a very successful fundraiser, "Sts. Peter & Paul’s Summer Soiree."  With the help of many parishioners, enough funds were raised for the youth to attend the 2017 and 2018 Marches for Life in Washington, D.C. Fr. Bernie requested retirement due to health issues and retired on November 30, 2017.

December 1, 2017:  Fr. Warren Cooper was appointed Parish Administrator on December 1, 2017. 

January 1, 2018:  Fr. Jerry Daniels was appointed as the twelfth pastor of the parish. He initiated the complete renovation of the parish parking lot with a large portion of the funds raised from a second soiree, "The Jazz It Up for Life Soiree." The church partnered with St. Tammany Right to Life to continue support of the pro-life movement.

July 1, 2019:  Fr. Travis John Clark was assigned as the thirteenth pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and is getting to know his flock through "Coffee and Conversations" a program wherein parishioners host gatherings in their homes to share their thoughts and ideas with their new pastor.