About Our Lady of Grace · Silver Spring, Maryland
Our Lady of Grace Parish is a Catholic parish serving the Catholic residents of Leisure World, a retirement community in Silver Spring, Maryland. Canonically established in 1983 by the Archdiocese of Washington, the parish grew out of Masses first celebrated in the community's Interfaith Chapel beginning in 1978. The current church building, dedicated in 1991, sits on land donated by Ross Cortese, the original developer of Leisure World, on Norbeck Boulevard just outside the community's north gate. The parish describes itself as a welcoming, inviting, faith-filled, and outreach-oriented community that calls its members to service and discipleship.
- Established
- 1983 (canonically established); parish ministry began 1978; current church dedicated 1991
- Patron
- Our Lady of Grace (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Grace)
- Rector
- Rev. James D. Boccabella (Father James Boccabella)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Our Lady of Grace is a close-knit Catholic community rooted in the Leisure World retirement neighborhood of Silver Spring, where daily Mass, frequent Eucharistic Adoration, and a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary shape parish life. Members can join a sodality fostering Marian devotion, serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, choir members or ushers, visit the sick and homebound with Communion, or take part in charitable outreach such as the monthly food collection for St. Martin Food Pantry in Gaithersburg and the Christmas Giving Tree for children at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, DC. With its mission of being a welcoming, inviting, faith-filled, and outreach-oriented community, the parish offers a rare combination of reverent liturgy, ongoing spiritual growth opportunities, and a strong culture of care for one another.
Mass times at Our Lady of Grace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Thursday: after 9:00 AM Mass until confessions have ended
- Saturday: 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: Eucharistic Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction after the 9:00 AM Mass
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
Our Lady of Grace grew out of the pastoral mission begun in 1978 by Monsignor William F. Farrell for the Catholics of Leisure World in Silver Spring. The parish was canonically established in 1983, and the dedicated church on Norbeck Boulevard was opened in 1991 on land donated by Ross Cortese, the developer of Leisure World.
- 1978: Monsignor William F. Farrell assigned by Archbishop James Hickey; first Masses at the Interfaith Chapel
- 1983: Parish canonically established as Our Lady of Grace
- September 9, 1991: New church dedicated on Norbeck Boulevard
- May 1991: Catholic congregation moves from Interfaith Chapel to the new church
- February 1995: Death of founding Monsignor William F. Farrell
Leadership and Staff
The parish is led by Father James D. Boccabella, supported by a small, dedicated staff and faithful volunteers — a structure typical of parishes serving retirement communities. The pastor is assisted by a deacon, secretary, bookkeeper, music director, facilities/maintenance help, and a retired priest (Msgr. Donald Essex) in residence. Rev. Michael Murray, listed by the Archdiocese as Priest Director of Catholic Cemeteries, also serves as a Weekend Associate.
- Pastor: Rev. James D. Boccabella
- Deacon: William J. Heineman
- Secretary: Catherine Bickel
- Bookkeeper: Beth Harper
- Music Director (named on parish contact page)
- Facilities/Maintenance (named on parish contact page)
- Rev. Michael Murray — Weekend Associate / Priest Director, Catholic Cemeteries
- Monsignor Donald Essex — Retired, in residence
Mission Statement
Our Lady of Grace Church describes itself across four overlapping identities, calling its members 'YOU, the People of God, enjoying the privilege and responsibility of spreading God's kingdom of love, justice and peace in our world.'
- A WELCOMING community, striving each day to be Jesus to others.
- An INVITING community, encouraging all members to service and discipleship.
- A FAITH community, growing in age and grace, maturing into a deeper spirituality.
- An OUTREACH community, caring for others spiritually and materially.
Liturgical Ministries
Volunteers staff the parish's liturgies and prayer life, drawn largely from the surrounding Leisure World community. The parish maintains published ministry schedules (with monthly reader/EM schedules posted on the parish website) and relies on a wide range of lay volunteers to support every Mass and special liturgy.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ministers of Holy Communion to the Sick and Homebound
- Altar Servers
- Choir and Music Ministry
- Ushers / Hospitality
- Altar Linens, Vestments, Candles, and Floral Decorations
- Decorating Committee (especially Christmas and Holy Week/Easter)
- Arimatheans — funeral liturgy support
Parish Groups and Fellowship
Beyond liturgy, the parish hosts a range of regular gatherings that build community — a reflection of its retirement-community setting, where social time and spiritual growth often go hand in hand.
- Sodality — Marian devotion and spiritual growth; sponsors the First Saturday Fatima Rosary
- Spirit Companions — Mondays at 1:00 PM
- Donut Social — 2nd Sunday after 9:00 and 11:00 AM Masses (October–May)
- Movie afternoons — 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM
- Bingo (sponsored by Aspenwood Senior Living) — 1st Wednesday every other month at 1:00 PM
Outreach and Works of Charity
The parish lives out its outreach mission through regular food collections, Christmas giving, and a Charity Fund that supports both local and Archdiocesan needs. Volunteers also partner with other faith communities through the Interfaith Committee.
- Monthly food collection (first Sunday) and Thanksgiving Day collection for St. Martin Food Pantry, Gaithersburg, MD
- Christmas Giving Tree — gifts for children of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Washington, DC
- Charity Fund — supports Archdiocese, Montgomery County needs, and the John S. Mulholland Foundation (serving the hungry poor in the nation's capital)
- Interfaith Committee — sandwich-making, serving meals, and helping shelter residents
Knights of Columbus
Our Lady of Grace is served by the Fr. Peter Paul Maher Council #6793 of the Knights of Columbus, a council that also serves neighboring parishes in the area and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM in the parish area.
- Council #6793 — Father Peter Paul Maher
- Serves Our Lady of Grace, St. Peter's (Olney), and St. Patrick's (Rockville)
- Business meeting: 1st Wednesday at 7:30 PM
- Council meetings: 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 7:30 PM
Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or fax, and visit the church at its Leisure World–area address on Norbeck Boulevard. The building is wheelchair accessible, according to the Archdiocese of Washington parish listing.
- Address: 15661 Norbeck Boulevard (Leisure World), Silver Spring, MD 20906
- Phone: 301-924-0067
- Fax: 301-924-6809
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ologlw.org
- Wheelchair accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor William F. Farrell1978 – February 1995
Assigned by Archbishop James Hickey to serve Catholics of Leisure World; oversaw the founding community and the 1983 canonical establishment of the parish; died February 1995.
- Monsignor John J. MadiganApril 1995 – June 2004
Named pastor by Cardinal James Hickey.
- Father Peter J. SweeneyJune 2004 – June 2012
Named pastor by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick; retired June 2012.
- Monsignor Donald EssexJuly 2012 – June 2017
Named pastor by Cardinal Donald Wuerl; retired June 2017. Remains associated with the parish in retirement.
- Rev. James D. Boccabella2017 – present
Current pastor, assigned by Cardinal Donald Wuerl.