About St. Katharine Drexel · Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
St. Katharine Drexel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Harrisburg, located at 1 Peter Drive in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County). Founded in 1988 to serve the rapidly growing suburbs west of Harrisburg, it holds the unique distinction of being the first church in the world named in honor of St. Katharine Drexel, the heiress-turned-sister who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. The parish offers weekend and daily Mass, a robust Faith Formation program for children, an OCIA process for adults, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, and pastoral care ministries rooted in St. Katharine's two guiding themes — devotion to the Eucharist and care for the poor and marginalized.
- Established
- 1988
- Patron
- St. Katharine Drexel
- Rector
- Rev. Kenneth G. Smith
- Diocese
- Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Katharine Drexel Parish welcomes Catholics and seekers into a family marked by the Eucharist and outreach to those in need — the same two themes that shaped St. Katharine herself. Parishioners find a full sacramental life (daily and weekend Mass, Reconciliation several times a week, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays and Sundays), a parish school of religion for K–8, OCIA for adults discerning the Catholic faith, a St. Vincent de Paul conference offering direct person-to-person help, and active music, Respect Life, Welcome, and faith-formation ministries. As pastor Fr. Ken Smith has written, it is "a wonderful parish family" rooted in both prayer and service.
Mass times at St. Katharine Drexel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:15 PM – 4:00 PM
Parish History
The Diocese of Harrisburg created the Catholic Parish of Silver Spring on July 14, 1988 under Bishop William H. Keeler to serve the rapidly growing Silver Spring Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The first Mass was celebrated in the Silver Spring Fire Company on July 31, 1988, when Father James R. O'Brien was installed as founding pastor. The parish was given the singular honor of being the first church in the world named for Mother Katharine Drexel after her beatification on November 20, 1988 — the Vatican approved the name the very next day.
- July 14, 1988 – Parish formally decreed by Bishop Keeler
- July 31, 1988 – First Mass in Silver Spring Fire Company
- November 20, 1988 – Mother Katharine Drexel beatified at St. Peter's Basilica
- November 21, 1988 – Vatican approves parish name 'Blessed Katharine Drexel Parish'
- June 17, 1990 – Ground broken on the church building
- May 4, 1991 – First Mass in the new church (First Eucharist Mass for the children)
- September 8, 1991 – Church dedicated by Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo
- October 1, 2000 – St. Katharine Drexel canonized; parish name updated
- 2013 – 25th anniversary celebration with special gift to the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Katharine Drexel's Faith Formation program serves children in Kindergarten through 8th grade from September through early May, with no class during major Christian and federal holidays. The program is administered by Deacon Scott Root and the parish staff, with Sacramental preparation for First Penance, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation built into the calendar.
- Faith Formation (K–8) with parent sessions and Sacramental milestones
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 11:00 AM Mass for preschoolers
- Confirmation Preparation — yearly Confirmation with the Bishop
- First Penance (Saturday, January)
- First Holy Communion (annually at the 11 AM Mass, typically in May)
- Catechist Retreat in August
OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
Adults interested in the Catholic faith — whether unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or Catholic adults missing sacraments — are welcomed into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The parish describes it as "a dynamic and welcoming process" with weekly 90-minute Tuesday sessions, periodic additional activities, and a flexible individualized timeline marked by special Rites celebrated in the parish church.
- Tuesday weekly sessions (about 90 minutes)
- Flexible timeline based on personal discernment
- OCIA Parish Companions / Team Members journey with candidates
- Sacramental Sponsors and Godparents chosen from team
Outreach & Social Ministry
The parish carries forward St. Katharine Drexel's charism of caring for the poor and marginalized through several outreach arms. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Katharine Drexel Parish offers person-to-person service to neighbors in need, with a dedicated website and help line. Additional outreach includes a Respect Life Ministry, a Welcome Ministry for newcomers, and a Parish Mission & Outreach ministry supported by the Pastoral Council.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — 'Changing Lives, Restoring Hope'
- Respect Life Ministry
- Welcome Ministry
- Parish Mission & Outreach Coordinator
- Christian Service apostolates
Liturgical Music
Music at St. Katharine Drexel is directed by Music Director Michael Adams and supported by parish ensembles that span every age group — a SATB Adult Choir, the children's choir Katharine's Joy (3rd–8th grade), and the teen ensemble Joyful Noise (9th–12th grade) that provides contemporary music at liturgies throughout the year.
- Adult Choir — classical to contemporary, Thursday rehearsals
- Children's Choir — Katharine's Joy (3rd–8th grade)
- Teen Ensemble — Joyful Noise (9th–12th grade)
- Cantors and Accompanists / Instrumentalists (audition required)
Parish Staff & Pastoral Council
Fr. Kenneth G. Smith leads the parish with the help of a Permanent Deacon and a lay staff responsible for faith formation, music, parish operations, finances, communications, and pastoral care. A Parish Pastoral Council — chaired by Bill Benning with Vice-Chair Shannon Steimling — assists the pastor with the needs and vision of the parish. Council meetings are open to the public and begin at 6:30 PM in the parish library.
- Pastor — Rev. Kenneth G. Smith
- Deacon / Director of Faith Formation — Deacon Scott A. Root
- Parish Manager — Tom Jenkins
- Business Manager — Susan Elter, CPA
- Pastoral Associate / Caring Community Coordinator — Theresa Maag
- Music Director — Michael Adams
- Communications Manager — Carleen Jensen
- Administrative Assistant — Sally Lanza
- Parish Office Volunteer — Barb Cram
- Pastoral Council Chair — Bill Benning
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
Information on the parish website gives clear pathways for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and ongoing Reconciliation. Baptism preparation uses Dynamic Catholic's "Starting Point" baptism curriculum, with new parents asked to watch a short three-part video and complete a parent journal before meeting with Fr. Ken.
- Baptism — Starting Point Baptism Curriculum (Dynamic Catholic)
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (typically in 2nd grade)
- Confirmation with the Bishop (typically 8th grade and older)
- Anointing of the Sick by appointment
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Reconciliation — Sat, Wed, Fri (see schedule) or by appointment
Visiting & Getting Involved
Pastoral Council meetings are open to the public and begin at 6:30 PM in the parish library; anyone wishing to be on the agenda may submit an email or written request two weeks in advance through Fr. Ken Smith. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin via Flocknote and the parish website. Fr. Ken led a Pilgrimage to Poland and the Czech Republic in September 2025 and has visited Rome, the Holy Land, Fatima, Lourdes, Greece, and other pilgrimage sites over the course of his ministry.
- Pastoral Council meetings open to the public (6:30 PM, parish library)
- Weekly bulletin and Flocknote email updates
- Annual parish pilgrimages led by Fr. Ken Smith
- Vacation Bible School in summer
- Many opportunities for liturgical, formation, and outreach service
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James R. O'Brien1988–
Founding pastor; installed July 31, 1988 by Bishop William H. Keeler in the Silver Spring Fire Company.
- Rev. Kenneth G. Smith
Current pastor; ordained 36+ years, formerly parochial vicar, hospital chaplain, and high school chaplain across the Diocese of Harrisburg.