About St. Elizabeth Catholic Parish · Rockville, Maryland
St. Elizabeth Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Rockville, Maryland, in the Archdiocese of Washington. Founded in 1964 during the Second Vatican Council and first celebrating Mass in its newly built church on November 6, 1966, it is named for St. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. The parish is known for faithful liturgical life, an outstanding parish school, social outreach (including a 40+ year partnership with SOME), and cooperation with other local churches and charities. It serves a culturally diverse community with Mass celebrated in English, Hungarian, and Tagalog.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth (mother of John the Baptist)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. J. Wilfrid Parent
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth offers a full sacramental life with 17 Masses a week in English, Hungarian (3rd Sunday), and Tagalog, plus regular confession and monthly Eucharistic Adoration. Parishioners are welcomed into a community known for its parish school (PreK–8), Christian Formation for children and youth, OCIA for adults becoming Catholic, and a 40+ year tradition of feeding the poor through SOME and supporting the St. Camillus Food Pantry. The parish mission statement emphasizes being 'a community of God's people' who welcome all visitors and put stewardship and devotion into practice.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Catholic Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Wednesday, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- First Friday, 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Adoration times
- First Wednesday of the month, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament)
History of St. Elizabeth Parish
St. Elizabeth Catholic Parish was canonically established in 1964, during the Second Vatican Council. The first Mass in the newly built church was celebrated on Sunday, November 6, 1966. The parish has served the people of Rockville with faithful liturgical services, an outstanding parish school, a strong sense of social service and outreach, and a commitment to cooperating with local area churches, synagogues, and charities. In 1995 the church was renovated for more light and openness in the sanctuary, and the Commons gathering space was added at the entrance.
- Founded: 1964
- First Mass in new church: November 6, 1966
- 1995 sanctuary renovation and addition of the Commons
Parish School
St. Elizabeth Catholic School (PreK–8) shares the parish campus at 917 Montrose Road and is a cornerstone of parish life. The school provides Catholic spiritual formation rooted in the Gospel and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, with a strong curriculum, certified teachers, and state-of-the-art technology. Extracurriculars include Robotics, Drama, Art, Code, Photography, and an Instrumental Band, with Spanish in the elementary and middle grades and French in middle school. A Summer Enrichment Camp is also offered. Before- and after-care are available.
- Principal: Mary Penny
- School Phone: 301-881-1824
- Grades: PreK–8
- Website: stelizabethschoolmd.org
Faith Formation & Youth
The parish runs Christian Formation for children entering PreK through 8th grade, with in-person classes roughly two Sundays a month from mid-September through the end of April. Volunteers are invited to serve as assistants for all grade levels. Adults interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, with inquiry available year-round. Teens in grades 9–12 are invited to the Youth Group, which meets regularly and has included day pilgrimages such as to the Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg.
- Christian Formation Coordinator: Cindy Mengle
- Faith Formation Director: Stephanie Dorsey
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic — ongoing inquiry
- Youth Group for grades 9–12, led by Father Taylor
Community Outreach
Outreach is a defining mark of St. Elizabeth. The parish has been providing food to SOME (So Others Might Eat) for more than 40 years, with monthly collections on the 2nd Saturday of every month and a regular call for volunteers to serve meals. The parish also supports the St. Camillus Food Pantry in the Catholic Community of Langley Park through school-supply drives, winter clothing collections, Advent tree gift cards, and the annual Catholic Charities/Archdiocese of Washington Lenten Food Drive. Every Advent, the Giving Tree helps local families in need with $25 gift cards.
- SOME food collection — 2nd Saturday each month (40+ year partnership)
- St. Camillus Food Pantry support
- Advent Giving Tree — $25 gift cards for local families
- Thanksgiving Food Drive with Community Reach of Montgomery County
- Annual Catholic Charities Lenten Food Drive
- Social Concerns weekly collection
St. Vincent de Paul Conference
The parish hosts a St. Vincent de Paul conference that meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 7:30 PM in the Family Room. Those interested in the conference's work can contact [email protected].
Parish Staff
St. Elizabeth is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, a deacon, and a dedicated lay staff responsible for liturgy and music, faith formation, school operations, facilities, volunteers, and parish administration.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. J. Wilfrid Parent
- Parochial Vicar: Father Taylor G. Colwell
- Deacon: Mark Asselin
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Cindy Mengle
- Faith Formation Director: Stephanie Dorsey
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Madeleine A. Booth
- Director of Operations: Grace Konieczny
- Facilities Manager: Joe Birch
- School Principal: Mary Penny
- Director of Volunteers & Events: Aida Ruilova
- Office Coordinator: Colleen Steele
Getting Involved
Visitors and parishioners are welcomed into parish life through liturgy, formation, service, and community events. The parish describes itself as 'a community of God's people' whose strength lies in diversity and common purpose, welcoming all visitors.
- Christian Formation assistant volunteers (PreK–8)
- SOME monthly food collection and meal-service volunteers
- St. Vincent de Paul conference (2nd & 4th Wednesdays)
- OCIA inquiry and sponsor ministry
- Liturgy & Music ministry (including the 6:00 PM Contemporary Youth Mass)
Contact & Visit
St. Elizabeth Catholic Parish is located at 917 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852, on the same campus as St. Elizabeth Catholic School. The parish office can be reached at 301-881-1380 or [email protected]. The building is wheelchair accessible. The parish keeps an active Facebook page for news and events.
- Address: 917 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852
- Phone: 301-881-1380
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stelizabethchurchmd.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/StEChurchMD
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Frederick Bloom1964 – early 1992
Founding pastor. Retired and moved to Frederick; died September 2000.
- Msgr. John MacfarlaneMarch 1992 – July 2016
Second pastor. Led a period of renewal; parish grew from 810 to about 1,600 families.
- Msgr. J. Wilfrid ParentJuly 6, 2016 – present
Third and current pastor.