About Mary Mother of the Church · Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
Mary Mother of the Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County, belonging to the Diocese of Harrisburg. The parish was formed in 1995 through a diocesan merger of two older congregations — Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (founded 1979) and Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Marietta (founded 1869) — and today gathers a faithful community at 625 Union School Road for weekend Masses, daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and a wide range of parish ministries.
- Established
- 1995
- Patron
- Mary, Mother of the Church (Mater Ecclesiae)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Edward J. (Ted) Keating, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
Mary Mother of the Church welcomes newcomers, returning Catholics, the curious, and lifelong faithful alike, with weekend Masses Saturday evening and twice on Sunday (the 11:00 AM Mass is livestreamed), plus daily Mass Monday through Saturday at 8:30 AM. The parish offers weekly Eucharistic adoration on Wednesdays and Fridays, regular confession on Wednesdays and Saturdays, a strong lineup of liturgical ministries (choir, cantors, lectors, altar servers, ushers, greeters, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion), RCIA and Faith Formation for children, youth ministry through One Voice, a Knights of Columbus council, charitable outreach (Guardian Angel Outreach, Food Bank, Care Committee, Card Ministry, Meal Train), and a parish bazaar — making it a full and grounded community for families and individuals in the Mount Joy area.
Mass times at Mary Mother of the Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (per parish website); 6:30 – 8:30 PM (per diocese listing)
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (per parish website); 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, September–May (per diocese listing)
- First Friday Adoration: monthly
Parish History
Mary Mother of the Church was established in 1995 during a diocese-wide series of parish mergers in the Diocese of Harrisburg. It was created by uniting two earlier Mount Joy-area parishes: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish (founded 1979) and Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Marietta (founded 1869). Today the parish worships and serves at 625 Union School Road in Mount Joy, Lancaster County. The parish's stated mission describes MMOC as "the faithful of God formed from diversity into one Christian community, who join to worship and serve God and neighbor, through a loving Tithing of our Time, Talent, and Treasure," in union with the prayers of Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ. The patroness is honored in a parish mosaic titled "Mater Ecclesiae."
- Founded 1995 (Diocese of Harrisburg merger)
- Predecessor parishes: Assumption BVM (1979) and Presentation BVM, Marietta (1869)
- Patron mosaic: Mary, "Mater Ecclesiae"
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a deacon, a pastoral associate, parish secretary, and director of sacred music. Office hours are published so parishioners know when to visit or call.
- Rev. Edward J. (Ted) Keating, V.F. — Pastor
- Deacon Joseph Cingle — Pastoral Associate
- Betty Ann Troutwine — Parish Secretary
- John Coleman, Jr. — Director of Sacred Music
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Thu 9 AM–Noon and 1:00–4:30 PM; Wed 9 AM–Noon and 1:00–2:30 PM; Fri 9–10:30 AM; closed on holidays
- Religious Education line: 717-653-0114
- Fax: 717-653-4915
Faith Formation & Religious Education
MMOC offers several programs to help parishioners grow in faith across the lifespan, from children's faith formation and RCIA for adults considering the Catholic faith, to Vacation Bible School and youth ministry.
- Faith Formation for Children
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- MMOC FIRE Program / MMOC VBS
- Youth Ministry (One Voice)
- Young Adult / Young Family Ministry
Liturgical Ministries
The parish offers a broad set of liturgical ministries in which parishioners can serve during weekend and daily Masses. The Music Ministry is coordinated by the Director of Sacred Music and includes a Senior Choir, Young Adult Choir, and cantors. Lectors, ushers, greeters, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and altar servers are all recruited and scheduled through the parish office or directly through Deacon Joe. Volunteers may specify which Masses they serve at and how often.
- Music Ministry — Senior Choir, Young Adult Choir, Cantors (John Coleman, Jr.)
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers (4th grade and up; contact Deacon Joe)
- Ushers
- Greeters
Charitable Ministries & Outreach
Outreach to those in need is a central part of parish life. The Guardian Angel Outreach (founded 2013 under former pastor Father Rodriguez and continued under Father Tcheou and now Father Keating) assists parishioners facing economic hardship through grocery gift cards and monetary donations, including a monthly "Be an Angel Every Second" collection on the second Sunday and the Annual Poor Box Blitz each Lent. The parish also collects nonperishable food weekly for the Mount Joy Food Bank, maintains a Care Committee database to match helpers with needs, and runs a Card Ministry and Meal Train.
- Guardian Angel Outreach — Lena Shank, 717-261-5137, [email protected]
- MMOC Care Committee — Loretta Ness, 717-669-1891
- Food Bank collection (weekly)
- MMOC Meal Train
- Card Ministry
Parish Life, Devotions & Events
Beyond Mass and Confession, MMOC hosts regular devotions and parish gatherings: a monthly parish Rosary led by the Knights of Columbus on the First Saturday at 4:00 PM, a weekly Friday "God's Joyful Army" prayer group on Zoom praying for children and the world, First Friday Adoration, and the annual MMOC Bazaar. The parish also participates in the National Eucharistic Revival through its One Voice youth/young adult events.
- First Saturday Parish Rosary — 4:00 PM (Knights of Columbus)
- God's Joyful Army Prayer Group — Fridays on Zoom
- First Friday Adoration
- MMOC Bazaar (e.g., Christmas in July)
- One Voice — National Eucharistic Revival
- Knights of Columbus Officers Meetings
Visit, Contact & Location
Mary Mother of the Church is located at 625 Union School Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552. The parish office phone is 717-653-4903, with a separate Religious Education line at 717-653-0114. Sacramental emergencies are handled through the main office number. Email goes to [email protected] and the parish maintains an active Facebook page at facebook.com/MMOCmountjoy. The diocesan listing notes the campus includes the church, parking, restrooms, and a social hall.
- Address: 625 Union School Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552
- Phone: 717-653-4903 | RE: 717-653-0114 | Fax: 717-653-4915
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/MMOCmountjoy
- Online giving available via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Rodriguez
Former pastor under whose direction the Guardian Angel Outreach was born in 2013.
- Father Tcheouas of August 2014
Agreed in August 2014 to continue assisting the adopted parish family and other parishioners in need through the Guardian Angel Outreach.
- Father Ted Keating (Very Rev. Edward J. Keating, V.F.)current
Current pastor; the only person with access to the parish Charity Fund; holds the title V.F. (Vicar Forane).