About Us 

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Friends of the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul is  a 501c non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Shrine of Saints Peter & Paul Church, located at 125 Fayette St., Cumberland, MD. Built in 1848, the church was Founded by St. John Newman and was served by Blessed Fr. Seelos. Originally, the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul Church largely served the German-Catholic population in Cumberland.

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Our Mission

• Preserve, protect, and maintain the Shrine as a Catholic place of worship.

• Raise $500,000 over a 5 year period and establish an endowment for Shrine Maintenance.

• Promote pilgrimage, tourism, prayer, and the history of the Shrine.

• Promote Catholic ideals, Missionary Discipleship, and Evangelization.

• Promote the canonization of Blessed Fr. Seelos.

• Promote dedication to the Blessed Mother Our Lady of the Mountains, SS Peter & Paul, St. Joseph, St. Francis of Assisi, St. John Neumann, St. Therese of the Little Flower, Blessed Fr. Seelos.

• Recruit and train volunteers as guides for pilgrimage and tours and to provide security for extended opening hours at the Shrine.

• Promote the history and impact of the German immigrants to the local Catholic community.

• Establish a network of volunteers and experts for maintenance issues.