About Most Holy Rosary - Upper Marlboro · Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Most Holy Rosary is a Catholic parish in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, belonging to the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish worships across two sites: the historic 1859 church on Rosaryville Road and the St. Joseph Center next to the rectory on Duley Station Road. Under the leadership of Father Rodolfo A. Salinas-Cabrera, the community describes itself as 'a vibrant, caring, faith-filled community easily accessible from the 301 corridor,' with a mission 'helping people find their way back to God.' It carries on more than 165 years of Catholic life in Prince George's County and runs longstanding food and family outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Rosary (Most Holy Rosary)
- Rector
- Father Rodolfo A. Salinas-Cabrera
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Most Holy Rosary offers the warmth of a smaller, multigenerational Catholic community in Upper Marlboro, with Mass celebrated in two distinct settings — the original 1859 Historic Church on Rosaryville Road and the St. Joseph Center on Duley Station Road. Parishioners can become altar servers, lectors, choir members, greeters and ushers, or join the local Knights of Columbus council. The parish also runs long-standing outreach programs, including the SHARE food distribution network (over 16 years), monthly collections for the Upper Marlboro Food Bank, and an Adopt-A-Family program that provides meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas, making it a fitting home for Catholics who want both traditional liturgy and tangible service to neighbors in need.
Mass times at Most Holy Rosary - Upper Marlboro
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday by appointment only — call the Parish Office (301-856-3880) to schedule.
Adoration times
- Holy Hour & Benediction: 1st Thursday of every month, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph Center.
History of Most Holy Rosary Parish
Most Holy Rosary is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the Upper Marlboro area. Its story begins with Boone's Chapel, founded in 1710 — long before the United States existed — and traditionally remembered as the place where John Carroll, the nation's first Catholic bishop, was baptized. After the chapel fell into ruin around 1842, Catholics in the area gathered at St. Mary of the Assumption on Main Street in Upper Marlboro until, in 1858, Henry and Mary Mitcail donated land near Route 301 and Rosaryville Road for a new mission church. The cornerstone was laid on June 8, 1858, and the church was dedicated as a rural mission on October 23, 1859. A violent storm later destroyed the original building, Mass moved into the Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary Hall, and a new church was completed and dedicated in May 1928. Holy Rosary was canonically established as a parish in 1966.
- 1710 — Boone's Chapel founded
- 1858 — Henry and Mary Mitcail donate land; cornerstone laid June 8, 1858
- 1859 — Church dedicated as a mission on October 23
- 1928 — Replacement church completed and dedicated in May
- 1966 — Canonically established as a parish
Worship Sites
The parish worships in two buildings. The Historic Church at 9961 Rosaryville Road is the 1928 building that replaced the original 1859 mission church; it hosts the early Sunday Mass. The St. Joseph Center, at 11700 Duley Station Road next to the rectory, hosts daily Mass, the Saturday Vigil, and the late-morning Sunday Mass. The parish office and rectory are at 11704 Duley Station Road.
- Historic Church — 9961 Rosaryville Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
- St. Joseph Center — 11700 Duley Station Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
- Parish Office / Rectory — 11704 Duley Station Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Sacraments
Reconciliation (Penance) is offered by appointment on weekdays. Baptisms and weddings are arranged directly with Father Rodolfo Salinas by calling or texting (240) 515-0284. In cases of serious illness or sudden death, parishioners are asked to contact Father Salinas on the same emergency line.
- Reconciliation: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday by appointment — call (301) 856-3880
- Baptism & Marriage: contact Father Rodolfo Salinas, (240) 515-0284
- Emergency / Anointing of the Sick: (240) 515-0284
Parish Staff and Clergy
Most Holy Rosary is pastored by Father Rodolfo A. Salinas-Cabrera, who succeeded Father Roger A. Soley on July 10, 2019. Father Soley himself had been assigned by Archbishop (now Cardinal) Donald Wuerl in 2008 and previously served the parish for several years as Parochial Administrator from July 1, 2007. He followed Father Isadore Dixon, who pastored the parish for 18 years before retiring. Two retired priest-scholars — Paulist Father John Lynch (CUA canon law, 25+ years at the parish) and Father John Smolko (CUA theology, 13 years) — also contributed to parish life. The current business manager is Mr. Jean Barrionuevo.
- Pastor: Father Rodolfo A. Salinas-Cabrera
- Business Manager: Mr. Jean Barrionuevo
- Past pastors: Father Isadore Dixon; Father Roger A. Soley (2007–2019)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as altar servers, lectors, choir members, and greeters/ushers. The parish invites new members to consider these roles as concrete ways to grow closer to God and to the community.
- Altar Servers — assisting at God's altar at Mass
- Lectors — proclaiming the Word of God at Mass
- Choir — singing at the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass and the Sunday 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses
- Greeters and Ushers — welcoming parishioners at the doors
Parish Organizations
The parish hosts an active Knights of Columbus council, one of the country's leading Catholic fraternal and charitable organizations. According to the parish site, members are 'Catholic men who lead, serve, protect and defend' and seek to be better husbands, fathers, sons, neighbors and role models, putting 'charity and community first.'
- Knights of Columbus — Catholic men's fraternity focused on charity, community, and faith
Outreach and Charity
Most Holy Rosary has a long track record of food and family assistance in the Upper Marlboro area. The parish has participated in the SHARE food distribution network for more than 16 years and supports the Upper Marlboro Food Bank with monthly food collections. Its Adopt-A-Family program, also running for more than 16 years, provides holiday meals to families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The parish also accepts non-perishable food donations and gift cards for families who ask for help through the parish office.
- SHARE food distribution network (16+ years)
- Monthly food collections for the Upper Marlboro Food Bank
- Adopt-A-Family holiday meal program at Thanksgiving and Christmas (16+ years)
- Food assistance and gift cards distributed through the parish office
Getting Involved
Newcomers are welcomed to register with the parish, and anyone interested in serving can join the choir, become a greeter or usher, or inquire about the Altar Server, Lector, and Knights of Columbus ministries. The parish invites 'all new members who are Catholic as well as those who are interested in knowing more about Catholic faith.'
- Parish registration available through the parish office
- Ways to serve: Choir, Greeters/Ushers, Altar Servers, Lectors, Knights of Columbus
Contact and Office Hours
The parish office can be reached by phone at (301) 856-3880 or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Fax line: 301-576-5264 (per the Archdiocese of Washington listing).
- Phone: (301) 856-3880
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri — 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Isadore Dixonapprox. 1989–2007 (18 years)
Long-serving pastor before retiring.
- Father Roger A. Soley2007–2019 (Parochial Administrator from July 1, 2007; Pastor officially assigned 2008; ended July 10, 2019)
Assigned by Archbishop Donald Wuerl.
- Father Rodolfo (Rudy) Salinas-Cabrera2019–present
Current pastor; succeeded Father Soley on July 10, 2019.