Maria Reina de la Paz Parish @ St. Lawrence O'Toole Church

About this parish

María Reina de la Paz Parish (Mary Queen of Peace) is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish serving southwest Hartford, Connecticut, from the historic St. Lawrence O'Toole Church at 494 New Britain Avenue. Canonically erected on December 3, 2017, by Archbishop Leonard P. Blair — and named in Spanish as a sign of welcome to the growing Hispanic community — the parish grew out of the 1883 St. Lawrence O'Toole parish and today celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish. Since its founding it has become a deeply Marian community marked by lively liturgies, pilgrimages, vigils, catechesis, and archdiocesan events such as 'María de las Américas,' and on August 15, 2025, it was elevated to the rank of Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace under its first Rector, Very Rev. Alexander Avendaño.

Established in 1885 (with mission roots going back to 1876), the present-day Parish of María Reina de la Paz traces its origins to the growing Catholic presence in the southwest section of Hartford during the mid-19th century. From 1859 to 1881, the early Catholics of this area belonged to St. Peter Parish on Main Street. By the 1870s the Catholic population had grown to approximately 400 faithful, prompting Father Lawrence Walsh of St. Peter to acquire land at the corner of Wilson and Laurel Streets (later Hillside Avenue) for the construction of a chapel. The new chapel, dedicated to Father Walsh's patron saint, was blessed on December 3, 1876, by Bishop Thomas Galberry. In 1881, jurisdiction over the mission chapel passed to the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Two years later, in 1883, the mission was elevated to parish status by Bishop Lawrence S. McMahon, who appointed Father John F. Lenahan as its first pastor. In 1895, Father James J. Smith purchased land at the corner of Wilson Street and Hillside Avenue to build a lyceum to serve the youth of the community. Later, with support from Bishop John J. Nilan, Father John A. Dooley acquired four lots on New Britain Avenue in February 1926. On April 29, 1928, a well-built basement chapel was blessed by Bishop Nilan. Father John J. Kelley completed the superstructure of the church, which was dedicated on October 24, 1954, by Archbishop Henry J. O'Brien. In late 1956, after a fire destroyed the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Saint Lawrence O'Toole Church served as the Pro-Cathedral of the Archdiocese until the new cathedral was constructed. With the pastoral appointment of Rev. Alexander Avendaño in 2017, and within the context of the pastoral restructuring of the city of Hartford, the community of Saint Peter Church (closed and merged with Sacred Heart and Saint Lawrence) was entrusted to his pastoral care. In a moment of great historical significance, on December 3, 2017, Archbishop Leonard P. Blair canonically erected the Parish of María Reina de la Paz, officially assigning it a Spanish name as a sign of welcome to the growing Hispanic community in Hartford. Since then, the parish has flourished into a vibrant, active, and deeply Marian community, celebrating the faith through lively liturgies, pilgrimages, vigils, catechesis, missions, and archdiocesan events such as 'María de las Américas.' On December 13, 2024, the parish formally submitted the request for elevation to the rank of Archdiocesan Shrine to Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne, and by decree dated August 15, 2025, Father Avendaño was named the first Rector of the newly established Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace — a visible sign of the living presence of the Virgin Mary among her pilgrim people.

Founded

1885

Patron

Our Lady, Queen of Peace (María Reina de la Paz / Mary Queen of Peace)

Pastor

Very Rev. Alexander Avendaño (Rector since August 15, 2025)

Maria Reina de la Paz Parish @ St. Lawrence O'Toole Church is a Catholic parish in Hartford, Connecticut, part of the Hartford.