The village of Steffeshausen lies on a hill in the Our valley. It was mentioned in official documents for the first time in 1214. It got its name from the former lords of Steffeshausen.
The parish church of St. Petrus is presumed to have originated in the 12th century. It was converted more than once during the course of time, taking on today’s appearance in 1935.
A remarkable thing about this village, which has only 122 inhabitants, is that it also has another church, the Church of the Sacred Heart. This church was built at the end of the 20th century on the initiative of the traditionalist Catholic priest Paul Schoonbroodt, and consecrated in 1991. At first, Schoonbroodt was a curate and teacher of religious studies in various towns in the bishopric of Liège. In 1970 he took on the priesthood at Steffeshausen. When he was requested by the bishopric to celebrate the new liturgy, he refused, sticking instead to the liturgy in the Tridentine rite. This led to conflicts with the bishopric, which first removed him from the parish and then excommunicated him in 1988. By means of donations, he had the Church of the Sacred Heart built, and celebrated the liturgy in the traditional rite there until his death in 2012.
