About St. Ambrose · Baltimore, Maryland
St. Ambrose Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in the Park Heights neighborhood of northwest Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 1907 and serving the local community for more than a century. Its mission statement — "Loving Christ, Loving Others" — calls parishioners to live and fulfill the Gospel of Jesus Christ through acts of love, kindness, and hospitality, proclaiming the Gospel in word, deed, and truth. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, currently pastored by Rev. W. David Nestler, O.F.M. Cap. (installed 2025), with the assistance of two permanent deacons, religious sisters from the Oblate Sisters of Providence and the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and Capuchin Franciscan friars residing in the parish friary.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Saint Ambrose
- Rector
- Rev. W. David Nestler, O.F.M. Cap.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Ambrose is a welcoming Capuchin Franciscan parish with deep roots in Park Heights, where Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:00 AM (with a Rosary prayed at 9:15 AM) and weekday Mass is offered Thursday evenings. Parishioners gather for Religious Education on Sunday mornings, a weekly Bible Study, OCIA (formerly RCIA), a Gospel Choir, the Holy Spirit Praise Prayer Group / Women's Ministry, Catholic Daughters, the Men's Fellowship, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Hands of Mercy outreach, and the long-running St. Ambrose Outreach Center that serves the wider neighborhood. With a Capuchin friary on site, the Oblate Sisters of Providence and School Sisters of Notre Dame active in ministry, and two permanent deacons, the parish offers a strong combination of liturgical life, formation, and direct service to those in need.
Mass times at St. Ambrose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Parish History
St. Ambrose was established in 1907 when Cardinal James Gibbons assigned Father Philip Walsh to the still-rural Park Heights neighborhood. From a frame church dedicated June 30, 1907, the parish grew through the construction of a school in 1925 and the present Gothic church dedicated in 1929 by Archbishop Curley. The 1960s brought demographic change, and Father Henry Zerhusen led the parish's desegregation beginning in 1968. Since 1992 the parish has been served by the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of Saint Augustine, and today it is a friary as well as a parish, served alongside the Oblate Sisters of Providence and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
- Founded June 30, 1907 by Father Philip Walsh
- Present Gothic church dedicated May 12, 1929
- Pastoral care entrusted to Capuchin Franciscans (Province of St. Augustine) in 1992
- Celebrated centennial in 2006
Clergy and Religious
Rev. W. David Nestler, O.F.M. Cap., is the current pastor, installed by Archbishop William Lori on March 2, 2025, after his appointment on August 19, 2024. He is assisted by Deacon Seigfried Presberry (who also directs Prison Ministry for the Archdiocese) and Deacon Steven Rubio. The parish rectory functions as a Capuchin friary, and members of the Oblate Sisters of Providence and the School Sisters of Notre Dame minister in religious education and to the sick and homebound.
- Rev. W. David Nestler, O.F.M. Cap. — Pastor (15th)
- Deacon Seigfried Presberry
- Deacon Steven Rubio
- Capuchin Franciscan Friars (Province of St. Augustine)
- Oblate Sisters of Providence
- School Sisters of Notre Dame
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious Education meets on Sunday mornings at 8:15 AM for parish children, and the parish runs the OCIA process (formerly RCIA) for adults preparing for initiation, including a regular OCIA dinner and formation gatherings. Seminarians from St. Mary's Seminary & University and student friars from Capuchin College, Washington, D.C., have served in placements at St. Ambrose.
- Religious Education Sundays at 8:15 AM
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Placements for St. Mary's Seminary & University and Capuchin College
Music and Liturgy
The Gospel Choir rehearses on Sunday afternoons and sings for parish liturgies. A Liturgy Committee meets regularly to support the celebration of the Mass and the liturgical year, including Holy Week services such as the Good Friday Liturgy and the Easter Vigil.
- Gospel Choir (Sunday afternoon rehearsals)
- Liturgy Committee
- Holy Week services including Easter Vigil
Parish Life and Fellowship
Parish life is supported by a Men's Fellowship, a Women's Ministry / Holy Spirit Praise Prayer Group (which has sponsored Life in the Spirit Seminars), Catholic Daughters, the Parish Mission Council, the Missionary Disciples group, the Hands of Mercy outreach, and a parish-wide Annual May Day celebration with music, games, face painting, and free health screenings provided by the parish Health Ministry.
- Men's Fellowship
- Women's Ministry / Holy Spirit Praise Prayer Group
- Catholic Daughters
- Parish Mission Council
- Missionary Disciples
- Hands of Mercy
- Annual May Day celebration
Outreach and Charity
The St. Ambrose Outreach Center, opened in 1972 under the direction of Sr. Charmaine Krohe, SSND, continues to provide services and hope to the Park Heights neighborhood and beyond. The parish also supports a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference, an Affordable Housing Trust, Operation Faith Lift, and Hands of Mercy. A parish Health Ministry offers screenings and health information at parish events.
- St. Ambrose Outreach Center (since 1972)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Affordable Housing Trust
- Operation Faith Lift
- Hands of Mercy
- Parish Health Ministry
Devotions and Special Services
In addition to Sunday Mass with the Rosary before, St. Ambrose hosts a weekly Bible Study group on Wednesday evenings and has hosted parish holy hours for the nation with the Rosary and Holy Spirit Novena. The Life in the Spirit Seminar has been offered on parish grounds by the Women's Ministry.
- Sunday Rosary at 9:15 AM
- Wednesday Bible Study
- Holy Hours for Our Nation
- Life in the Spirit Seminar
Sacraments
Parish sacramental life centers on the Sunday Eucharist and weekday Mass, with Reconciliation available every Thursday. The parish prepares children for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through Religious Education, and adults through OCIA. Couples prepare for Marriage in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and a Ministry to the Sick & Homebound brings Communion and Anointing to those who cannot attend Mass.
- Eucharist (Sunday and Thursday)
- Reconciliation (Thursday 4:30–5:30 PM)
- Baptism
- Marriage (with Archdiocesan preparation)
- First Eucharist & First Reconciliation (Religious Education)
- Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick / Ministry to the Sick & Homebound
- OCIA for adults
Visit and Contact
St. Ambrose Catholic Church is located at 4502 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215, in the Park Heights neighborhood of northwest Baltimore. The parish office can be reached at (410) 367-9918 (fax 410-542-6056) or by email at [email protected]; pastoral correspondence may be directed to [email protected]. Secure parking is available in the school yard off Royce Avenue (via Reisterstown Road) for larger events.
- Address: 4502 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215
- Phone: (410) 367-9918
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Website: https://www.saintambrose.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Philip Walsh1907–1920
Founding pastor; assigned by Cardinal Gibbons; purchased the original property and built the frame church dedicated June 30, 1907; died July 15, 1920.
- Father Reynolds1920–
Second pastor; converted the Old Suburban Hotel into a school building.
- Father Thomas McGuigan
Third pastor; broke ground for the new school.
- Monsignor Hugh Monahan
Fourth pastor; oversaw construction of the present Gothic church, dedicated May 12, 1929.
- Father Henry Zerhusen1968–2003
Eighth pastor; led the desegregation of St. Ambrose Church and School; died August 9, 2003.
- Father John Pfannenstiel, OFM Cap1992–2003
12th pastor; first Capuchin pastor after pastoral care was given to the Province of St. Augustine in 1992; served 12 years.
- Father Michael Joyce, OFM Cap ("Brother Mick")2003–2004
13th pastor.
- Father Paul Zaborowski, OFM Cap2004–2024
14th pastor; led the parish through its 2006 centennial and the 90th anniversary of the church.
- Father W. David Nestler, OFM Cap2024–present
15th pastor; appointed August 19, 2024; installed March 2, 2025.