About Our Lady of Grace · Penndel, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Grace is a Roman Catholic parish in Penndel, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Bucks County Southeast Deanery). Founded in 1908 and led by Monsignor Joseph G. Prior, the parish serves the Penndel–Langhorne–Middletown Township area from its church at 225 Bellevue Avenue and its IHM Center parish offices at 338 Hulmeville Avenue. It runs a regional PK-8 Catholic elementary school (founded 1923), a robust PREP religious-education program, OCIA, youth ministry, and ministries for Eucharistic Adoration, the sick, and marriage/family life. The parish also operates the historic Our Lady of Grace Cemetery, with over 24,000 memorials on the grounds at 1215 Super Highway, Langhorne.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- Our Lady of Grace
- Rector
- Msgr. Joseph G. Prior
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Why belong here
Our Lady of Grace is a deeply Eucharistic, family-oriented parish: weekday Masses are celebrated daily (and live-streamed), with Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration running from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM followed by Benediction, and the Rosary prayed immediately after every daily Mass. It couples that devotional life with vibrant faith formation — a parish school (named Bucks County's Best Elementary School in 2023 and now celebrating 100 years of Catholic education), a flexible PREP program for Pre-K through Level 8 (Tuesday nights, summer, or family-track), a full OCIA process for adults, and active 'Rise' (grades 6–8) and 'Ignite' (grades 9–12) youth ministries. With confession Saturday afternoons, pastoral care for the sick, marriage preparation, and the historic 24,000-memorial Our Lady of Grace Cemetery, the parish offers the full sacramental and pastoral life of a traditional Lower Bucks County Catholic community.
Mass times at Our Lady of Grace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (in the Chapel)
- Benediction at 5:00 PM
Parish Life
Our Lady of Grace identifies itself as a Roman Catholic parish within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, called to embody the love and mercy of Jesus Christ through worship, formation, service, and community. The parish serves Penndel, Langhorne, Hulmeville, and surrounding Lower Bucks County communities, and its life centers on daily Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, and parish-based faith formation.
- Daily Mass and Rosary (live-streamed)
- Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction
- Active OCIA process for adults inquiring into the Catholic faith
- Pastoral care for the sick (home and hospital visits)
- Marriage preparation with a six-month required program
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The DRE and pastoral team offer a flexible Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) for children from Pre-K through Level 8. Families can choose the traditional Tuesday-night track, a one-week Summer PREP, or a monthly Family PREP option. Adult initiation is coordinated through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), directed by DRE Christine Flack.
- PREP for Pre-K through Level 8
- Tuesday-night, Summer, and Family PREP tracks
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Director of Religious Education: Christine Flack — 215-757-5530
Youth Ministry
OLG runs two age-divided youth groups that meet regularly through the school year: 'Rise' for middle-schoolers in grades 6–8 and 'Ignite' for high-schoolers in grades 9–12. Pastoral Associate Maddie Appleby coordinates the ministry and welcomes teens to join at any time.
- Rise — grades 6–8
- Ignite — grades 9–12
- Coordinator: Maddie Appleby, [email protected], 215-757-7700
Our Lady of Grace Catholic School
Our Lady of Grace School is a Pre-K through Grade 8 Catholic elementary school serving Penndel and the surrounding Bucks County community. Founded in 1923 by Rev. Richard P. Phelan, OLG, with the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as its first teachers, the school celebrated its centennial in 2022–2023 and was named 'Best Elementary School' in Bucks County by Bucks Happening Magazine in 2023. Today it is led by Principal Joseph Thiel and a lay faculty, located at 300 Hulmeville Ave., Penndel.
- Founded September 8, 1923 — opened with 70 students in grades 1–8
- Original faculty: four IHM Sisters (Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
- Centennial celebrated in 2022–2023 (100 years of Catholic education)
- Named 'Best Elementary School' (Bucks Happening Magazine 2023)
- Address: 300 Hulmeville Ave., Penndel, PA 19047
- Phone: 215-757-5287
- Website: www.olgschoolpenndel.org
- Principal: Joseph Thiel
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all the usual sacraments — Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation (via PREP and the parish school), Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Confession. Specific pastoral procedures are published on the parish website.
- Baptism at 12:00 PM on the 2nd and 4th Sundays; pre-Baptismal session the 1st Sunday at 12:00 PM; godparents need a Letter of Eligibility from their home parish
- Marriage — six-month preparation; call Parish Office at engagement
- Care of the Sick — emergency line 215-757-7700
Our Lady of Grace Cemetery
The parish operates Our Lady of Grace Cemetery, a 24,000-memorial Catholic cemetery at 1215 Super Highway, Langhorne, on the site first used for parish burials in 1947. The cemetery office, mailing address c/o the IHM Center at 338 Hulmeville Ave., handles inquiries about plot purchase, inurnment, and the historical records of the parish's deceased.
- Location: 1215 Super Highway, Langhorne, PA 19047
- Phone: 215-752-3244
- First burial: 1947
- Approximately 33,000 interments on record (Find a Grave: 24,453 memorials, 79% photographed)
- GPS: 40.16310, -74.93640 (Middletown Township)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by a pastoral team of four priests, a deacon, and lay staff, supported by the IHM Center parish offices at 338 Hulmeville Ave.
- Pastor: Msgr. Joseph G. Prior
- Parochial Vicar (Senior Priest): Rev. Thomas A. Nasta
- In Residence: Rev. Raju B. Pilla
- In Residence: Rev. George S. Pereira
- Parish Business Manager: Deacon John Teson
- Pastoral Associate: Maddie Appleby
- Director of Religious Education: Christine Flack — 215-757-5530
Giving & Stewardship
Our Lady of Grace supports its mission through regular offertory giving, online donations through the parish e-Giving portal and the Support My Parish initiative, and participation in the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia's Parish Support Initiative. Gifts to the parish school can be made through the school's donation webpage or via Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which offers donors a 90% Pennsylvania tax credit.
- Sunday collection and mailed contributions to the parish office
- Online giving through e-Giving (parish website)
- Support My Parish — select 'Our Lady of Grace-Penndel'
- EITC — 90% Pennsylvania tax credit redirected to OLG School
- Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia Parish Support Initiative
Accessibility & Visiting
The parish has been audited by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for accessibility and meets or exceeds ADA requirements throughout the church and parish meeting spaces, enabling full participation by those using wheelchairs or with mobility needs.
- Accessible church entrances, curb cuts, ramps, and accessible parking
- Restrooms with enlarged stalls, grab bars, accessible fixtures and sinks
- Parish meeting room/hall accessible with restrooms adapted for wheelchair users
- Parish Office hours (IHM Center): Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; closed Saturday, Sunday, holidays and holy days
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Richard P. Phelancirca 1922
Young Irish priest who served the parish in the early 1920s; founded Our Lady of Grace School in 1923 with four IHM Sisters.