• Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Vatican
  • Subscribe
The Texas Catholic
The Texas Catholic

Dallas, Texas

Today is Thursday, March 30, 2023
  • Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Vatican
  • Subscribe
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Instagram
Home
Diocese

Celebrating 30 years of faith, fellowship at Prince of Peace

Friday, February 26, 2021

Bishop Edward J. Burns celebrates Mass for the 30th anniversary of Prince of Peace Catholic Community on Feb. 7 at the Plano parish. Father Tom Cloherty, pastor of Prince of Peace, is pictured at right. (RON HEFLIN/Special Contributor)

By Amy White
Special to The Texas Catholic

From its vibrant ministries to its incredible growth, Prince of Peace Catholic Community had plenty to celebrate during its 30th anniversary this February. The parish commemorated this momentous milestone with a celebratory Mass on the morning of Feb. 7, presided over by Bishop Edward J. Burns.

With three decades of history under its metaphorical belt, Prince of Peace has come a long way since its founding… literally.

“Our pastoral offices for the first three years were in a commercial office building on Ohio Street,” recalled Kay Elliott, the parish’s Director of Family and Children’s Religious Education since 1991 and Director of Safe Environment since 1996.

Elliott recalls that the first Mass—held on Feb. 10, 1991 and marking the birth of the community—was celebrated in the Loews Theatre in the Preston Park Shopping Center. The smell of popcorn was palpable.

“At that time, we were called the West Plano Catholic Community,” she shared. The name was officially changed to Prince of Peace Catholic Community on April 7, 1991.

Since its infancy decades ago, Prince of Peace has stretched and grown remarkably. Its parishioner count has grown to more than 9,000 members and now includes a greater diversity of age groups, cultures, and nationalities than ever before. Prince of Peace has found increasingly effective ways to cater to the needs of all of its members: offering Sunday Masses for the deaf community, faith formation classes for special needs children, and, as early as February of last year, online services for its socially distanced members.

Ministry life also grows stronger with age, as thousands of parishioners chip-in to help others—including the community’s sister parish, Las Mercedes.

Dallas Bishop Edward J. Burns greets parishioners after celebrating Mass for the 30th anniversary at Prince of Peace Catholic Community in Plano, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. (Ron Heflin)

“With our ever-expanding ministries,” said Father Tom Cloherty, who became pastor of Prince of Peace in 2010, “I see a community wanting to grow in grace, wisdom, and age and a willingness to journey with others on the way to the Kingdom.”

The community’s school, too, has seen impressive development over the years. Officially opened in 1991 and accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops in 1998, Prince of Peace Catholic School has since been recognized for its excellence several times, including recognition by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2006 and 2016.

Though much has changed since the community’s infancy—from its location to its size—the core of Prince of Peace remains consistent: community.

“I have always thought that the ‘special sauce’ about Prince of Peace is the community atmosphere,” said Deacon Joe Coleman, who was ordained a deacon in June of 2019 and has served the parish in this capacity since, “Father Jim [Balint], our founding pastor, stressed Vatican II’s emphasis on community, and Father Tom [Cloherty] has certainly continued the community message… I can’t help but think that some of the best of times were spent with community members and some very difficult times were shared, again together, right here at Prince of Peace.”

As Prince of Peace celebrates its past, it looks towards its future. Currently undergoing a comprehensive building project—including the revamping of the church and school, as well as the addition of a chapel and event center—the community continues to grow and improve. If the next thirty years look anything like the first, the future is an exciting one for Prince of Peace.

For more photos of the anniversary Mass, visit our Photo Archive.

  • Tags
  • Diocese of Dallas
  • Faith
  • Father Tom Cloherty
  • Prince of Peace Catholic Community
Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Carta pastoral revela plan para sínodo en la Diócesis de Dallas; obispo Burns llama a una respuesta histórica ante desafíos históricos
Previous article Padres y esposos se consagran a San José

Related Posts

Sharing faith through music Diocese
Monday, March 27, 2023

Sharing faith through music

Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops supports parental choice in education bills Diocese
Sunday, March 26, 2023

Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops supports parental choice in education bills

Making wishes come true Diocese
Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Making wishes come true

Texas Catholic Classics

A look at the five Dallas law enforcement officers who gave their lives while protecting citizens during a mass shooting in downtown Dallas in July 2016.

 

How a child with special needs inspired a high school volleyball team, community and a family who heeded God’s call to protect life.

 

After a young runner collapsed at a Dallas marathon, grace and providence unfolded for those involved in the valiant effort to help her.

   

In the summer of 2016, 50 students and 25 chaperones from Dallas Catholic high schools traveled to Nicaragua for a 10-day mission trip.

 

Early on a November morning, Kenndrick Mendieta bounded from the gym at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep toward the campus’ athletic fields as clouds lifted on a fresh new day.

 

Subscribe

Get the award-winning Texas Catholic delivered to your door. Use the menu below to subscribe now.


Subscription length




 

Photo Gallery

Click here to find your favorite Texas Catholic photographs.

The Texas Catholic Newspaper

Catholic Diocese of Dallas
Michael Gresham, Editor

3725 Blackburn Street
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 379-2800

Our Affiliated Sites

Texas Catholic Youth

Revista Católica

Legal and Other

Contact us

Terms of service

Privacy policy

Site map

Site powered by TexasCatholicMedia

© 2013-2019 The Texas Catholic Publishing Company. All rights reserved.