About Our Lady of the Visitation · Darnestown, Maryland
Our Lady of the Visitation Parish (OLVP) is a Roman Catholic parish in Darnestown, Maryland, part of the Archdiocese of Washington. Canonically established on 31 May 1991 — the Feast of the Visitation — it is the 137th parish of the archdiocese and grew from 250 founding families to roughly 660 households. The parish serves the upper Montgomery County area, sharing property on Seneca Road with Mary of Nazareth Catholic Elementary School and operating a perpetual adoration chapel, a Lourdes Grotto, and a Memorial Garden.
- Established
- 1991
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Visitation (the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Visitation)
- Rector
- Rev. Stefan L. Yap (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Visitation offers a warm, mid-sized Catholic community in Darnestown with daily and weekend Masses, a robust Religious Education program for youth, a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel in its Youth Center, an active youth ministry, adult faith formation, and a growing music ministry. The parish shares its Seneca Road campus with Mary of Nazareth Catholic School and tends a Lourdes Grotto and a Memorial Garden, while supporting outreach like a sister-parish relationship with Haiti. Long-tenured staff and an ecumenical heritage — dating back to its 1991 founding alongside Darnestown's Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, and Episcopal neighbors — give OLVP the feel of a true spiritual home for families in upper Montgomery County.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Visitation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- After weekday and Sunday Masses
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the chapel within the Youth Center (14135 Seneca Road)
Parish History & Heritage
Our Lady of the Visitation was canonically established on 31 May 1991, the Feast of the Visitation, as the 137th parish of the Archdiocese of Washington. Its founding was the product of Cardinal Hickey's November 1990 appointment of Father Raymond L. Fecteau to investigate a Darnestown-area parish, eight neighborhood meetings in parishioners' homes, and an Epiphany Vigil Mass in January 1991 at Fairhaven United Methodist Church attended by over 300 people. The parish has carried an ecumenical spirit from its earliest days — leaders from Darnestown Presbyterian, Prince of Peace Lutheran, St. Nicholas Episcopal, and Fairhaven United Methodist churches took part in Father Fecteau's installation in June 1991.
- Established 31 May 1991 on the Feast of the Visitation
- 137th parish of the Archdiocese of Washington
- First public Liturgy: 5 January 1991 at Fairhaven United Methodist Church
- Founding pastor: Rev. Raymond L. Fecteau (installed 29 June 1991)
- Archdiocesan Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, S.J., presided at canonical establishment
- Thomas More Society formed to support chapel and parish startup
Building the Church on Seneca Road
Early OLVP worship rotated between Fairhaven United Methodist Church and Rachel Carson Elementary School in Kentlands. In May 1994 the Archdiocese purchased the 187-acre Windsor property on the south side of Route 28, transferring the parish site there and providing a rectory house and a barn that was repurposed as chapel, meeting space, and offices. The current church was constructed beginning 8 September 1999, with a groundbreaking on 9 October 1999 attended by over 200 parishioners. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick solemnly dedicated the new church on 31 May 2001, the parish's tenth anniversary, assisted by Cardinal James Hickey.
- Windsor property acquired May 1994 (south side of Rt. 28)
- Barn converted to chapel / offices on the permanent site
- Building permit issued; construction began 8 September 1999
- Groundbreaking ceremony 9 October 1999
- Church dedicated 31 May 2001 by Cardinal McCarrick, with Cardinal Hickey assisting
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
Our Lady of the Visitation is led by Father Stefan L. Yap, listed as Pastor / Administrator on the Archdiocese of Washington parish page. Deacon Thaddeus A. Dmuchowski serves as Coordinator for Adult Faith Formation, and Rev. Jean-Marie Vincent serves as Chaplain to Shady Grove Hospital. Lay staff include a Parish Manager (Colleen Enos), Parish Secretary (Cheryl Hamlin-Williams), Director of Facilities (Tony Glander), Director of Music (Michelle Perrier), Director of Adult Faith Formation & Evangelization (Christi Mitchell), Director of Religious Education (Erin Clegg), Youth Minister (Maxim Goohs), and Parish Accountant (David Brake).
- Pastor / Administrator: Rev. Stefan L. Yap
- Deacon: Thaddeus A. Dmuchowski
- Chaplain, Shady Grove Hospital: Rev. Jean-Marie Vincent
- Parish Manager: Colleen Enos
- Parish Secretary: Cheryl Hamlin-Williams
- Director of Facilities: Tony Glander
- Director of Music: Michelle Perrier
- Director of Adult Faith Formation & Evangelization: Christi Mitchell
- Director of Religious Education: Erin Clegg
- Youth Minister: Maxim Goohs
- Parish Accountant: David Brake
- Parish Finance Council members: Nick Serenyi, Carrie McIntyre, John Hurley
Faith Formation & Religious Education
OLVP runs a robust religious education program for youth directed by Erin Clegg, with adult faith formation and evangelization coordinated by Deacon Thaddeus Dmuchowski and Christi Mitchell. The parish offers a youth group led by Youth Minister Maxim Goohs and prepares parishioners for the sacraments through dedicated forms and classes. The parish shares its campus with Mary of Nazareth Roman Catholic Elementary School — the first new Catholic elementary school opened in the Archdiocese of Washington in 30 years — co-sponsored by OLVP and six other upcounty parishes.
- Director of Religious Education: Erin Clegg
- Director of Adult Faith Formation & Evangelization: Christi Mitchell
- Coordinator for Adult Faith Formation: Deacon Thaddeus Dmuchowski
- Youth Minister: Maxim Goohs
- Sacramental preparation forms and classes
- Mary of Nazareth Catholic Elementary School (co-sponsored)
Music, Liturgy & Devotions
Music Ministry at OLVP is led by Director of Music Michelle Perrier, with the parish actively recruiting new members ('Building our Music Ministry'). The parish has a deep Marian devotion reflected in its very name and its Lourdes Grotto on the Seneca Road campus. A Memorial Garden provides a place of prayer and remembrance, and the parish maintains a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel inside the Youth Center for round-the-clock prayer with the Blessed Sacrament.
- Music Ministry under Michelle Perrier
- Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto on campus
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel in the Youth Center
- OLVP Memorial Garden for prayer and remembrance
Outreach & Sister Parish
Our Lady of the Visitation has a sister-parish relationship with Haiti, supporting missionary work in that country. The parish also maintains a visible ecumenical presence in Darnestown, rooted in the 1991 installation ceremony that included Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Methodist clergy. The parish website also highlights youth basketball outings with local seminarians (the 'Hood = priesthood' priestly vocation promotion) and an August Healing service referenced on the homepage.
- Sister Mission Parish: Haiti
- Ecumenical relationships with Darnestown Presbyterian, Prince of Peace Lutheran, St. Nicholas Episcopal, and Fairhaven United Methodist churches
- Vocation-promotion activities (e.g., seminarian basketball night)
- Healing service mentioned on the parish homepage
Visiting & Contact
OLVP's mailing address is 14139 Seneca Road, Darnestown, MD 20874, with the parish office reachable at (301) 948-5536 and [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The parish is wheelchair accessible per the Archdiocese of Washington. New parishioners can register through a dedicated online form, and the parish uses Flocknote for email/text communication in addition to its website and Facebook presence.
- Address: 14139 Seneca Road, Darnestown, MD 20874
- Phone: (301) 948-5536
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wheelchair accessible
- Online parish registration form
- Flocknote communications and Facebook page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Raymond L. Fecteau1991 – 2021
Founding pastor; appointed by Cardinal James Hickey on 21 November 1990 to study feasibility of a Darnestown parish; canonically installed as first pastor on 29 June 1991; retired in 2021 after 30 years, honored by Cardinal Wilton Gregory.
- Rev. Stefan L. Yap2021 – present
Current pastor/administrator per the Archdiocese of Washington parish page.