In 1857, the first Catholic settlers in the area were mostly of German
and Dutch descent. As the settlers came, there was a need for spiritual
guidance and administration of the sacraments. They gathered for worship
in a local farmhouse in the early days, but at the close of the Civil War, the
settlers became determined to build a church of their own. In 1867, a small
log structure was built on farm acreage in neighboring Medina. The current
church was built in 1903 in Loretto, and the school was added in 1922.
Today, the parish still stands in Loretto and continues to welcome descendants
of some of the original families as well as newcomers to the area. In 2012,
Sts. Peter and Paul became clustered with the St. Thomas the Apostle in
Corcoran, sharing a pastor, staff and programs