About Our Lady Help of Christians · Waldorf, Maryland
Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHOC) is a Roman Catholic parish in Waldorf, Maryland, canonically established in September 1980 by James Cardinal Hickey and now part of the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish is a multilingual, family-friendly community offering Masses in English, Spanish, and French, with strong faith-formation programs for children, youth, and adults. It is best known for its OLLC Early Learning Center, its active youth ministry (EDGE for middle school and Life Teen for high school), and the Community Outreach / Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen that serves about 95 homeless and needy adults and children each week. Worship is supported by daily Mass, a robust Eucharistic Adoration schedule, and a long-running rosary tradition.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- Our Lady Help of Christians
- Rector
- Rev. Agustin Lopez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
OLHOC is a multilingual Catholic home in southern Charles County where English, Spanish, and French-speaking families worship side-by-side at a single campus. The parish pairs a busy sacramental life — multiple Sunday Masses, daily Mass, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration, and regular Confession — with strong formation for every age, from the OLLC Early Learning Center through EDGE middle-school ministry, Life Teen high-school ministry, and OCIA for adults. Add in a Community Outreach ministry that feeds nearly 100 of the area's homeless and needy each week, a Knights of Columbus council, a Marian group, a music ministry, and small enough to be a real community, it is a place where newcomers are quickly known by name.
Mass times at Our Lady Help of Christians
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 6:45 PM (English and Spanish)
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (English and Spanish), or by appointment
- Sunday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (English and Spanish)
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (during Holy Hour for Priests)
Adoration times
- Monday – Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (with Morning Prayer)
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Holy Hour for Priests; Prayers for Priests begin 7:45 PM)
- 1st Friday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- 1st Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:45 PM
Parish History
Our Lady Help of Christians was formally established in September 1980 by James Cardinal Hickey, who appointed Fr. Peter R. Alliata as the founding pastor. With no permanent home, the community worshipped at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (Saturday evening Mass for more than 10 years) and held evening meetings at Peace Lutheran Church, whose members gave OLHOC a key for space-available use. Those early years created a strong ecumenical spirit the parish still celebrates. The first permanent church was completed in May 1990; ten classrooms/offices followed in 1999 and the social hall in 2000. The parish marked its 40th anniversary in 2020 and, under Fr. Alain Colliou, completed a major capital-campaign renovation that added a new Narthex Adoration Chapel, an illuminated steeple, and a wood sanctuary floor. Fr. Agustin Lopez became the parish's 6th pastor in 2025, with Fr. Carlos de Rodrigo serving as Parochial Vicar.
- Founded September 1980 by Cardinal James Hickey
- Six pastors in 45 years — Alliata, Dignan, Crowley, Lickteig, Colliou, Lopez
- Three-phase campus build-out: 1990, 1999, 2000
- 40th anniversary celebrated in 2020
- Capital-campaign renovation added Adoration Chapel and lit steeple
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Agustin Lopez, with Fr. Carlos de Rodrigo as Parochial Vicar. Deacons Richard F. Dubicki and William (Bill) T. Scott assist at the altar and in ministry. Sister Rosario A. Salazar, MCST, coordinates Religious Education, First Penance/First Communion, and Confirmation preparation. The lay staff includes an Office Manager (Jeannie Jacobs), Office Assistants (Maria Lam, Aura Castillo, Marlen Coles), Director of Evangelization & Communications, Director of Music (Sarah Kilikewich), and the OLLC Early Learning Center Director (Cynthia Torres).
- Pastor: Fr. Agustin Lopez
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Carlos de Rodrigo
- Deacon Richard F. Dubicki
- Deacon William (Bill) T. Scott
- Sister Rosario A. Salazar, MCST — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Jeannie Jacobs — Office Manager
- Sarah Kilikewich — Director of Music
- Marlen Coles — Director of Evangelization & Communications
- Cynthia Torres — Director, OLLC Early Learning Center
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond Mass and the Sacraments, OLHOC sustains a steady rhythm of devotional prayer. The Rosary is prayed Monday through Saturday at 8:30 AM, and a bilingual Mass aid is available for download. The Thursday evening Holy Hour (6:00–8:00 PM) is dedicated to priests: it includes Confessions, Adoration, Evening Prayers, and 'Prayers for Priests' beginning at 7:45 PM. First Friday and First Saturday are observed with extended Adoration hours, and the Marian Group helps foster devotion to Our Lady, the parish's patroness.
- Rosary — Mon–Sat 8:30 AM
- Holy Hour for Priests — Thursdays 6:00–8:00 PM (Prayers for Priests at 7:45 PM)
- First Friday extended Adoration (6:00–7:00 PM)
- First Saturday extended Adoration (8:00 AM – 4:45 PM)
- Marian Group devotion to Our Lady Help of Christians
Faith Formation for Children & Youth
Faith formation at OLHOC is lifelong. The youngest children attend Our Lady's Little Christians (OLLC) Early Learning Center, a Maryland-licensed preschool. Grade-school children continue through the parish's CCD/Religious Education program, with two-year tracks preparing them for First Penance/First Communion (typically grades 1–2) and Confirmation (grades 7–8). Middle-schoolers gather in EDGE youth ministry, and high-schoolers meet for Life Teen, both with food, fellowship, and faith formation on Sunday evenings. Sacramental preparation is a two-year family process and includes workshops, retreats, Mass-attendance tracking, a service selection, a Confirmation saint report, and a letter to the Bishop.
- OLLC Early Learning Center (ages 3–4)
- Religious Education (CCD) — grades K–8
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist (2-year prep, ~grade 2)
- Confirmation (2-year prep, grades 7–8; letter to Bishop, saint report, retreat)
- EDGE — Middle School Youth Ministry
- Life Teen — High School Youth Ministry (Sundays 5:00–6:30 PM in Fr. Martin Hall)
OCIA & Adult Faith Formation
Adults who want to learn about the Catholic faith — whether unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or already Catholic and seeking Eucharist or Confirmation — are invited into the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process. Classes meet Sundays at 5:00 PM (English) with a parallel Spanish-language track ('Clases de OICA') and are led by Fr. Lopez, Fr. Carlos, Maria Lam, and Milton Galvan. A separate 'Catholicism for Adults' (CA) track supports Catholics who want to grow deeper in their faith.
- OCIA — Sundays 5:00 PM, English (rooms 103/104)
- Clases de OICA — Spanish-language OCIA, Sundays 5:00 PM
- Catholicism for Adults (CA) — ongoing formation for adult Catholics
- Contact: Maria Lam, Milton Galvan, Fr. Lopez, or Fr. Carlos de Rodrigo
OLLC Early Learning Center
Our Lady's Little Christians (OLLC) is a nonprofit early-learning program licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care, and operated under the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Washington. It serves 3- and 4-year-olds with small class sizes, a weekly chapel service, and introductions to Spanish and Sign Language. Sessions are offered as a half-day AM program (8:30–11:30 AM) or a full-day program (8:30 AM–3:15 PM), five days a week, with other schedules available depending on enrollment. The center is guided by an advisory board of parents and parishioners and is supported solely by tuition and tax-deductible donations.
- Ages 3 and 4
- AM session 8:30–11:30 AM; full day 8:30 AM–3:15 PM
- Weekly chapel service, intro to Spanish and Sign Language
- Licensed by Maryland State Dept. of Education, Office of Child Care
- Adheres to Archdiocese of Washington guidelines
- Contact: Cynthia Torres / Kendra Hunt, [email protected], 240-618-3095
Community Outreach & Charity
The Community Outreach Ministry prepares and serves an evening meal for approximately 95 homeless and needy adults and children through the Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen. The committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM, and volunteers are always welcome to join the team. The parish also partners with the Knights of Columbus in service to the wider Charles County community.
- Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen — evening meal served weekly
- Approximately 95 homeless and needy guests served per meal
- Community Outreach Committee — 1st Wednesday of month, 7:00 PM
- Knights of Columbus service projects
Parish Councils & Leadership
Lay leadership at OLHOC is organized through a Parish Council, Finance Council, Faith Formation Council, Religious Education Advisory Board, OLLC Board, and Building Committee, along with a Liturgy Planning Committee and an Altar Guild. The Parish Council, chaired by the pastor, meets on the second Thursday of the month at 6:45 PM (September–June) and advises the pastor on parish life. The Finance Council reviews monthly finances and upcoming expenses; members serve three-year terms.
- Parish Council — 2nd Thursday, 6:45 PM (Sept–June)
- Finance Council — monthly
- Faith Formation Council, Religious Education Advisory Board, OLLC Board
- Liturgy Planning Committee, Building Committee, Altar Guild
Music & Liturgical Ministries
The Music Ministry, under Director Sarah Kilikewich, supports the parish's English, Spanish, and French liturgies. The Liturgical Ministries umbrella includes altar servers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, sacristans, and the Altar Guild (which meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM as needed). The 1st Friday 7:00 PM Mass features Latin chants.
- Music Ministry — Director Sarah Kilikewich
- Liturgical Ministries (lectors, EMHCs, altar servers, ushers, sacristans)
- Altar Guild — 3rd Tuesday, 7:00 PM (as needed)
- 1st Friday 7:00 PM Mass with Latin chants
Getting Involved & Staying Connected
Newcomers and parishioners stay connected through the parish bulletin, a regular schedule, Flocknote email/text updates, and the parish's active Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (Twitter) accounts. The website lists all ministries and contact emails so that anyone can plug into a council, ministry, or volunteer team. The parish invites new families to introduce themselves at the office or after any Mass.
- Weekly bulletin and regular schedule on olhoc.com
- Flocknote email/text updates
- Facebook: facebook.com/OLHoC
- Instagram, YouTube, and X (Twitter) under the OLHOC handle
- Office open weekdays — 301-645-7112 / [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter R. Alliata1980–1987
Founding pastor; appointed by Cardinal Hickey; led the parish through its first decade of worshiping in shared ecumenical facilities (Good Shepherd UMC and Peace Lutheran).
- Fr. Eamon Dignan1987–2004
2nd pastor; oversaw the three-phase construction of the present church, classrooms, offices, and social hall.
- Fr. Thomas Crowley2004–2010
3rd pastor.
- Fr. Anthony Lickteig2010
Brief tenure in 2010.
- Fr. Alain Colliou2010–2025
Long-tenured pastor who led the capital-campaign renovation of the sanctuary, narthex, and Adoration Chapel; retired 2025.
- Fr. Agustin Lopez2025–present
Current pastor.