About St. Clement Mary Hofbauer · Baltimore, Maryland
St. Clement Mary Hofbauer is a Roman Catholic parish in the Rosedale community of eastern Baltimore County, Maryland, founded in 1925 by the Redemptorist order to serve German farming immigrants and now part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Long staffed by Conventual Franciscans, the parish has adapted through a century of demographic shifts and today welcomes a notably diverse congregation that includes large Nigerian, Filipino and Hispanic communities. It is a worship site of the MAC Pastorate (alongside St. Michael the Archangel in Overlea) and is currently led by Father Hector Mateus-Ariza, with the faithful Deacon John Micciche assisting.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Clement Mary Hofbauer
- Rector
- Father Hector Mateus-Ariza
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore (Metropolitan Archdiocese)
Why belong here
St. Clement is a hundred-year-old Catholic community in Rosedale that combines deep roots with a genuinely multicultural present — its Sunday Masses draw large Nigerian, Filipino and Hispanic contingents alongside long-time multi-generational families. Father Hector Mateus-Ariza and Deacon John Micciche lead vibrant liturgies supported by a dynamic music program (organ/piano keyboard Masses plus a contemporary music ensemble at the noon Mass). The parish hosts weekly Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous meetings and runs a community food pantry, so belonging here means joining a community that reaches out as well as worships together.
Mass times at St. Clement Mary Hofbauer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday (English) 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Parish History
St. Clement Mary Hofbauer was founded in 1925 in Rosedale by the Redemptorist Fathers to serve German farming immigrants in eastern Baltimore County. The first families financed the church building with strawberry festivals, chicken dinners and oyster dinners, and the founding pastor was Msgr. Joseph Curran. After the early Redemptorist years, the Conventual Franciscan Friars took over pastoral care and remain a defining presence in the parish. The school was added in 1932 under the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia, and the parish grew through the Great Depression, World War II and decades of demographic change. The parish entered its second century in 2025 with a year of centennial events culminating in a Mass celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori on the patron's feast day.
- Founded 1925 by the Redemptorist order
- First pastor: Msgr. Joseph Curran
- Long-standing pastoral care by the Conventual Franciscans (OFM Conv.)
- Parish school established 1932 by the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia
- 100th anniversary celebrated in 2025
Parish Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by Father Hector Mateus-Ariza, who became pastor of the MAC Pastorate on July 1, 2021 after serving St. Clare in Essex. He is assisted by Deacon John Micciche, a parishioner of St. Clement since 1994 and a graduate of Archbishop Curley High School. Music ministry is led by Chris Henry, who directs both the keyboard/organ Masses and the contemporary ensemble at the Sunday noon Mass.
- Pastor: Father Hector Mateus-Ariza (since July 2021)
- Deacon: John Micciche
- Music Director: Chris Henry
- Parish Council and Anniversary Committee involve lay leadership from the parish
Pastoral Succession
The parish's clerical history runs from its founding Redemptorist pastor Msgr. Joseph Curran through the Conventual Franciscans who shaped its modern identity. Fr. Richard Florek, OFM Conv. (1995–2005) was the first Conventual Franciscan to lead St. Clement and is remembered for his warmth and for overseeing a major renovation of the church building. Fr. Donald Grzymski succeeded him in 2005, and Fr. Hector Mateus-Ariza became pastor in 2021, when the parish joined the MAC Pastorate.
- Msgr. Joseph Curran – founding pastor (1925–)
- Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.) – religious order serving the parish
- Fr. Richard Florek, OFM Conv. – pastor 1995–2005; first Franciscan pastor; died March 22, 2025
- Fr. Donald Grzymski – pastor from 2005
- Fr. Hector Mateus-Ariza – pastor from July 1, 2021 (current)
Music & Liturgical Life
St. Clement's music ministry is described by its leaders as 'dynamic,' and the parish intentionally offers both a traditional keyboard Mass (organ or piano) and a contemporary ensemble so that parishioners of different ages and musical tastes can find a worship home. The contemporary group leads the music at the Sunday noon Mass, and Chris Henry coordinates the program across the weekend.
- Keyboard/organ Mass (organ or piano)
- Contemporary music Mass (Sunday noon)
- Music Director: Chris Henry
- Livestreamed Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass for those at home
Parish Ministries & Outreach
In addition to its sacramental and liturgical life, St. Clement runs outreach programs that have become a hallmark of the parish. The community food pantry and the hosting of weekly Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings are cited by parish leaders as vital ministries that connect the church to its Rosedale neighborhood. Parishioners also staff the Parish Council, the Anniversary Committee, the annual St. Clement Carnival and scouting activities.
- Community food pantry
- Host site for weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
- Host site for weekly Narcotics Anonymous meetings
- Parish Council
- 100th Anniversary Committee (2025)
- St. Clement Carnival
- Scouting ministry
School & Faith Formation
Catholic education at St. Clement dates to 1932, when the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia opened the parish school. In 2017 the school merged with the parish school of St. Michael the Archangel to form the St. Michael–St. Clement School, which continues to serve families of the MAC Pastorate. Sacramental preparation, RCIA and faith formation programs are coordinated through the MAC Pastorate offices.
- Parish school founded 1932 by the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia
- Merged with St. Michael the Archangel parish school in 2017
- St. Michael–St. Clement School continues the educational mission
- RCIA and sacramental preparation through the MAC Pastorate
MAC Pastorate & Seek the City to Come
In 2020 St. Clement joined the MAC Pastorate with St. Michael the Archangel in Overlea and Church of the Annunciation in Rosedale. As part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's 'Seek the City to Come' pastoral planning initiative, Church of the Annunciation closed for regular weekly liturgies; St. Michael the Archangel is the seated parish and St. Clement remains an active worship site. Father Mateus-Ariza pastors the entire pastorate, and shared offices, bulletin and communications serve all three original communities.
- Joined MAC Pastorate in 2020
- Pastorate partners: St. Michael the Archangel (Overlea), formerly Church of the Annunciation (Rosedale)
- Seek the City to Come initiative retains St. Michael and St. Clement as worship sites
- Parish office: [email protected]; phone 410-665-1054
100th Anniversary Celebration (2025)
Throughout 2025 St. Clement marked its centennial with monthly events organized by an Anniversary Committee chaired by parishioner Chris Kline. Highlights included a reunion Mass and wine-and-cheese social with former clergy, faculty and staff on April 27, the revived St. Clement Carnival June 18–22, ice cream socials July 12–13, a Halloween-themed bingo October 18, a planned parish picnic, and a closing Mass on November 23 celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori with a banquet at Rosedale Gardens.
- Reunion Mass and wine-and-cheese social – April 27, 2025
- St. Clement Carnival – June 18–22, 2025
- Ice cream socials – July 12–13, 2025
- Halloween-themed bingo – October 18, 2025
- Parish picnic – planned for August 15, 2025
- Closing Mass with Archbishop William E. Lori – November 23, 2025
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Clement. The parish asks those interested in joining to register as parishioners, and the parish office is the gateway to information about Mass cards, facility use, sacramental preparation, the food pantry, and the AA/NA groups that meet on site. Bulletin announcements, registration forms and contact information are available through the MAC Pastorate website.
- Register as a parishioner via the parish/MAC Pastorate office
- Weekly bulletin published online and in print
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Office phone: 410-665-1054
- Church address: 1212 Chesaco Avenue, Rosedale, MD 21237
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Joseph Curran1925–
First pastor of the parish, appointed by the founding Redemptorists.
- Conventual Franciscans (OFM Conv.)
Religious order that took over pastoral care of the parish after the founding Redemptorist years; continues to staff the MAC Pastorate friary.
- Father Richard Florek, OFM Conv.1995–2005
First Franciscan pastor; remembered for warmth, work with youth and Scouts, and a church building renovation; died March 22, 2025 at age 80.
- Father Donald Grzymski2005–
Ordained in 1980; served as pastor of St. Clement beginning in 2005, after ministries in high school teaching, seminary formation, community administration and parochial work.
- Father Hector Mateus-Ariza2021–present
Arrived July 1, 2021 from St. Clare in Essex to lead the MAC Pastorate; known for energetic leadership and bringing parishioners together.