The St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Mount Vernon has a rich history dating back to 1784 when Dr. John Baptist Chastang was granted land for habitation and cultivation. He and his family formed the genesis of the Creole community that still exists in the area today. The first Catholic religious services were performed in the Chastang and Andry houses by Spanish missionary priests, and St. Paul's Chapel was established in 1833. St. Peter the Apostle Church was built in 1877 and dedicated in 1879. The Josephite Order served the church from 1899 to 1918, and Fr. Sabino Grossi, SSJ, served the Chastang area from 1922 to 1961, overseeing several building projects. Lay teachers and various religious orders instructed students at St. Peter the Apostle school throughout the years, and the church continues to be served by Fr. Andrew Toyinbo of the Missionary Society of St. Paul.