About St. Elizabeth of Hungary · Baltimore, Maryland
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish at 2700 E. Baltimore Street in Baltimore's Patterson Park / Baltimore-Linwood neighborhood, directly across the street from Patterson Park. Founded in 1895 to serve Baltimore's German immigrant community, the parish has been cared for by the Conventual Franciscan Friars (O.F.M. Conv.) since 1970 and today forms the twin worship site of the Pastorate of St. Casimir at Canton & Patterson Park, alongside neighboring St. Casimir Church and St. Casimir Catholic School. Its Romanesque church complex is on the National Register of Historic Places (1994), and the parish runs a well-known food pantry and bagged-lunch ministry serving the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. Dennis Grumsey, O.F.M. Conv.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a small, historic Romanesque parish with deep neighborhood roots, situated right across from Patterson Park and staffed by Conventual Franciscans who bring a particular warmth to the community. Worshippers can join the Sunday 11:30 a.m. Mass in one of Baltimore's most architecturally significant Catholic churches, with full sacramental life — Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation, and RCIA — provided through the pastorate. The parish is also a hands-on neighbor: its food pantry (open Tuesdays and Fridays) and weekly Little Bagged Lunch Mission feed the Canton and Patterson Park communities, offering many ways to put faith into service.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00–4:30 pm at St. Casimir Church (or by appointment; call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Last Saturday of the month, 3:45–4:45 pm at St. Casimir Church
- Monday–Saturday, 8:30 am–4:00 pm — Private Prayer and Adoration in the Chapel of the St. Joseph Cupertino Center (diagonally across from St. Casimir Church)
History of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
St. Elizabeth of Hungary was founded in 1895 to serve the German immigrant community of east Baltimore. Its cornerstone was laid on July 13, 1895, and the parish grew rapidly: a Romanesque stone church was built in 1912, a convent in 1922, and a large parochial school in 1926, all on a city block directly opposite Patterson Park. By 1931 St. Elizabeth Elementary School had the largest enrollment in the Archdiocese of Baltimore — about 1,500 students. On June 14, 1970, the parish was entrusted to the Conventual Franciscan Friars (O.F.M. Conv.), who continue to staff it. The complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 4, 1994, and in 2016 a set of bells was added that brought music back to the Patterson Park neighborhood.
- 1895 — cornerstone laid, parish founded for German immigrant community
- 1912 — large Romanesque stone church constructed
- 1922 — three-story convent added
- 1926 — three-story parochial school built
- 1931 — St. Elizabeth Elementary School peaks at ~1,500 students (largest in archdiocese)
- June 14, 1970 — parish entrusted to Conventual Franciscans (O.F.M. Conv.)
- 1994 — listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2011 — 100th anniversary Mass and neighborhood festival
- 2016 — bells added to the church
- 2017 — formed into pastorate with St. Casimir and St. Brigid (Father Dennis Grumsey, O.F.M. Conv., pastor)
- February 2019 — St. Brigid closed due to declining attendance
- 2022 — rowhouse rectory sold
Pastorate of St. Casimir at Canton & Patterson Park
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is one of the twin worship sites of the Pastorate of St. Casimir at Canton & Patterson Park, alongside St. Casimir Church (1036 S. Ellwood Ave) and St. Casimir Catholic School. Together they anchor the renewal of the Canton and Patterson Park neighborhoods. The pastorate website (stcasimir.org) and parish communications are administered from a shared parish office. Until February 2019, the parish of St. Brigid was also part of the pastorate.
- St. Casimir Church — 1036 S. Ellwood Ave (Saturday Vigil 5 pm; Sunday 8 am & 10 am)
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — 2700 E. Baltimore St (Sunday 11:30 am)
- St. Casimir Catholic School — 'The Pride of Canton'
- Shared Conventual Franciscan pastoral staff
Architecture and Historic Buildings
The parish complex occupies an entire city block on the corner of E. Baltimore Street and Lakewood Avenue, directly opposite Patterson Park. It developed over the period 1895–1926 and consists of four buildings: the two-story gable-fronted brick structure from 1895 that originally housed the church, parish hall, and rectory; the large stone Romanesque church built in 1912; a three-story convent built in 1922; and the three-story parochial school added in 1926. The Romanesque church is described on the parish website as 'a structure with grandeur and dignity.' In 2016 a set of bells was installed, and the 100th anniversary of the 1912 church was marked with a special Mass and neighborhood festival in 2011.
- Architectural style: Romanesque
- Original 1895 brick church/hall/rectory still on site
- 1912 stone Romanesque church — current main worship space
- 1922 three-story convent
- 1926 three-story parochial school
- Bells installed in 2016
- National Register of Historic Places, November 4, 1994 (NRHP #94001278)
Faith Formation and RCIA
The pastorate offers Faith Formation (Religious Education for Children) and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults seeking to become fully initiated members of the Catholic faith — including those never baptized, baptized Christians from other traditions, and Catholics completing their initiation through Confirmation and Eucharist. Those interested are asked to contact the parish office.
- Faith Formation — Religious Education for Children
- RCIA — for unbaptized adults, baptized non-Catholics, and Catholics completing initiation
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — children through grade 2
- Sacramental preparation for First Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation
Liturgical Ministries
Lay liturgical ministries are central to parish worship and are open to parishioners of all ages. Altar Servers (open to boys and girls who have received First Eucharist and are at least 9 years old), Children's Liturgy of the Word leaders, and Eucharistic Ministers (with training provided) all serve the Sunday liturgies at St. Casimir and St. Elizabeth.
- Altar Servers (boys and girls, First Eucharist received, age 9+)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Training workshops offered for new ministers
Outreach: Food Pantry and Little Bagged Lunch Mission
Outreach to the Canton and Patterson Park neighborhoods is a major part of parish life at St. Elizabeth of Hungary. The Food Pantry at St. Elizabeth (located at 2638 E. Baltimore Street) is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Every Tuesday, residents of Canton and Patterson Park are invited to join the parish in preparing bagged lunches for distribution to the hungry in the community.
- Food Pantry at St. Elizabeth of Hungary — Tuesdays & Fridays, 11:30 am–1:30 pm, 2638 E. Baltimore Street
- Little Bagged Lunch Mission — every Tuesday
- Contact: Bette Zorbach, 410-675-8260
- ID required for food pantry clients
- Public transportation available within 0.5 miles
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is staffed by Conventual Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual). Since 2017 the pastorate has been led by Father Dennis Grumsey, O.F.M. Conv., with Father Richard Rome, O.F.M. Conv., serving as Associate Pastor.
- Rev. Dennis Grumsey, O.F.M. Conv. — Pastor
- Rev. Richard Rome, O.F.M. Conv. — Associate Pastor
- Custody/Order: Conventual Franciscan Friars (O.F.M. Conv.) since 1970
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dennis Grumsey, O.F.M. Conv.2017–present (as pastor of the combined pastorate)
Conventual Franciscan friar from St. Casimir who became pastor when St. Casimir (1036 S. Ellwood Ave), St. Brigid, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary were formed as a pastorate. After St. Brigid closed in February 2019, he remained pastor of St. Casimir and St. Elizabeth.