Reverend Peter VonBreton Wells
Holy Spirit School is honored to recognize Reverend Peter VonBreton Wells as a distinguished honoree of the 2026 Legacy Gala, celebrating a life devoted to faith, compassionate service, Catholic education, and an extraordinary generosity of spirit.
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Born on October 29, 1953, to Jean M. and F. Newton Wells III, Father Peter’s journey of faith began at an early age. He was baptized at Saint Joseph Church in West Orange, received his First Holy Communion at Saint Aloysius Church in Caldwell, and was confirmed at Saint Rose of Lima Church in East Hanover. After graduating from Saint Rose of Lima Grammar School and Bayley-Ellard High School, he attended The Catholic University of America, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education and Music in 1976. He later continued his formation for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, earning his Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry.
Father Peter was ordained to the diaconate for the Church of Paterson on December 3, 1983, by Bishop Frank J. Rodimer and completed his diaconal internship at Saint Joseph Church in Mendham. On October 27, 1984, Bishop Rodimer ordained him to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Paterson. The following day, Father Peter returned to Saint Rose of Lima Church in East Hanover to celebrate his First Mass of Thanksgiving.
For more than four decades, Father Peter has faithfully served the Church of Paterson in numerous pastoral and leadership roles. His ministry began as Parochial Vicar at Saint Cecilia Parish in Rockaway and later included service at Sacred Heart Parish in Dover and Saint Vincent Martyr Parish in Madison. He went on to serve as Administrator and then Pastor of Saint Clare Parish in Clifton and, beginning in 2015, as Pastor of Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross in Wayne. His diocesan leadership has also included service as Diocesan Director of Cemeteries and as Dean of Mid-Passaic County from 2019 to 2020.
Throughout his priesthood, Father Peter’s ministry has extended far beyond the walls of the parish. From 1985 through 1992, he served on the staff of the AIDS Center at Hope House in Dover and as Chaplain at Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Chester. His involvement with the National Catholic AIDS Network and the NAMES Project Foundation, Guardians of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, further reflects a ministry rooted in compassion and a willingness to accompany others during some of life’s most difficult moments.
That same spirit of compassion and generosity has created a very special connection between Father Peter and Holy Spirit School. A dear friend of Sister Marie Antonelli, Father Peter has demonstrated a genuine belief in the importance of Catholic education and in Holy Spirit School’s mission to nurture children academically and spiritually. Over the years, he has demonstrated that commitment through generous donations to Holy Spirit School, providing meaningful support for its students, families, and mission.
His generosity represents much more than financial support. It reflects his belief in the lasting value of Catholic education and his desire to help ensure that children continue to have the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment rooted in faith. Through his generosity and friendship, Father Peter has become a valued part of the Holy Spirit School community and an important supporter of its future.
Father Peter has remained deeply engaged in the broader life and mission of the Catholic Church. His service has included membership in the Knights of Columbus, the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, the Catholic Cemetery Conference, and numerous Catholic organizations and initiatives. He is also a Seton Associate of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth and currently serves on the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Legacy & Mission Advancement Advisory Board for 2024–2027.
The word legacy carries special meaning when honoring a priest whose life has been defined by decades of faith, service, compassion, and generosity. Father Peter’s legacy can be found not simply in the positions he has held, but in the countless people, families, parishes, and communities he has touched along the way. At Holy Spirit School, that legacy is especially meaningful. His friendship, encouragement, and generosity have helped strengthen a school committed to forming young people in faith, knowledge, compassion, and service, the very values Father Peter has exemplified throughout his priesthood.
It is with tremendous gratitude and affection that Holy Spirit School recognizes Reverend Peter VonBreton Wells as a 2026 Legacy Gala Honoree, celebrating his more than four decades of priestly ministry, his generous support of Holy Spirit School, and his enduring commitment to serving God and His people.
Congratulations, Father Peter. Your faith, friendship, generosity, and lifetime of service have created a legacy that will continue to touch lives for generations to come.
