About St. Mary · Hagerstown, Maryland
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in downtown Hagerstown, Maryland, located at 224 West Washington Street. Known as the 'Mother of Churches' for Washington County, it is the oldest Catholic congregation in the area, with origins dating back to 1769 when Jesuit missionaries celebrated Mass in private homes under English penal laws. The parish serves the Hagerstown community as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, currently in a pastorate with St. Michael Parish in Clear Spring, and is led by Father James Boric, Pastor. The parish supports St. Mary's Catholic School (founded 1874), which has educated local students for 150 years, and offers daily and weekend Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, perpetual adoration, and a wide range of ministries.
- Established
- 1769
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. James Boric
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in the heart of Hagerstown: weekend Masses three times on Sunday plus a Saturday vigil, daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, an extensive confession schedule, and a regional perpetual adoration chapel open Monday through Saturday until 9:00 pm. The parish supports St. Mary's Catholic School, a faith-filled Pre-K through middle school program that has been part of the parish since 1874. With a Director of Sacred Music, a Youth Director/School Campus Minister, Marian devotions, Miraculous Medal and Fatima prayers, and a long tradition of being the 'Mother of Churches' for Washington County, joining St. Mary's means becoming part of one of the oldest continuing Catholic communities in Maryland.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays and Thursdays: 7:30 am – 8:00 am
- Fridays: 6:30 pm
- Saturdays: 11:30 am and 4:00 – 4:45 pm
Adoration times
- Monday: 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm (regional adoration chapel)
- Tuesday: 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm
- Wednesday: 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm
- Thursday: 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm
- Friday: 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm
- Saturday: 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm
History of St. Mary's Catholic Church
Catholic worship in Hagerstown began in 1769, when English penal laws forced the faithful into private homes served by Jesuit missionaries from Conewago, Pennsylvania. A log chapel was built in the late 18th century on the site of today's rectory, becoming the parish's first church. The cornerstone for the present church — the third building on the site — was laid on July 4, 1826. On September 21, 2019, more than 400 parishioners packed the church to celebrate 250 years of Catholic faith in Hagerstown, with Father George Limmer (pastor 1993–2006) as the principal celebrant. The parish's history is documented in Rita Clark Hutzell's 1976 book, 'Mother of Churches.'
- 1769 — first Catholic worship in Hagerstown
- Late 18th century — log chapel built (first church)
- July 4, 1826 — cornerstone of the present (third) church laid
- 1874 — St. Mary's Catholic School established
- 1976 — 'Mother of Churches' history published
- 2019 — 250th anniversary celebrated
- Mother parish of St. Augustine (Williamsport), St. Peter (Hancock), St. Michael (Clear Spring), St. James (Boonsboro), St. Joseph (Halfway), and St. Ann (Hagerstown)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Reverend Father James Boric, Pastor. He is supported by a lay leadership team that runs both parish operations and St. Mary's Catholic School.
- Rev. James Boric — Pastor
- Stephanie Roccograndi — Director of Parish and School Operations (Ext 3135)
- Mandie Rivera — Administrative Assistant (Ext 3136)
- Stephanie Lyons — Youth Director / School Campus Minister (Ext 3233)
- Breton Abbondanzio — Director of Sacred Music (Ext 3234)
- Cassy Lawson — Bookkeeper (Ext 3229)
- Rob Rock — Bulletin / Website
- James Renken — Facilities Manager
Devotions and Prayer Life
The parish nurtures a traditional Marian and Eucharistic devotional life, anchored in the Rosary prayed before daily Mass and a robust novena/devotion calendar.
- Rosary — Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri at 7:30 am
- Miraculous Medal Perpetual Novena — every Wednesday at 9:30 am
- Fatima Prayers and Rosary — on the 13th of every month at noon
- Mass Intentions available through the parish office ($10 requested donation)
- Holy Day of Obligation Masses observed in accord with Archdiocese of Baltimore practice
St. Mary's Catholic School
St. Mary's Catholic School has been part of the parish since 1874 and is subsidized by the parish. The school offers Pre-K3 through 8th grade and is staffed by Fr. James Boric as Pastor, Dr. Amy Summers as Principal, and a full faculty of classroom teachers plus dedicated support staff in music, art, Spanish, library, and student services.
- Established 1874 — over 150 years of Catholic education
- Programs from Pre-K3 through 8th grade
- Pastoral support from Fr. James Boric
- Principal: Dr. Amy Summers
- Director of School Operations: Stephanie Roccograndi
- Director of Enrollment & Marketing: Audi Lebedda
- Music: Breton Abbondanzio
- Spanish instruction offered
- School Nurse, Student Support, Tuition & Financial Aid Coordinator on staff
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Mary's is directed by Breton Abbondanzio, Director of Sacred Music, who also serves as Music teacher for the parish school.
- Director of Sacred Music: Breton Abbondanzio (Ext 3234)
- Music integrated into school curriculum
- Traditional parish worship in continuity with the parish's 250-year history
Youth Ministry and Faith Formation
Faith formation is supported through both the parish school and a dedicated Youth Director/School Campus Minister role. Families can register their children for the parish school or participate in parish youth activities.
- Youth Director / School Campus Minister: Stephanie Lyons (Ext 3233)
- Faith formation through St. Mary's Catholic School (Pre-K – 8)
- Middle School Religion curriculum taught on campus
Visiting, Registering, and Contacting the Parish
New parishioners are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Augusta Cearfoss Parish Center (across the school parking lot). For priestly emergencies at any hour, dial 301-739-0390 and select option 1.
- Parish Office: Augusta Cearfoss Parish Center
- Hours: Mon–Thu, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Office closed on many federal and Marian holy days (list published on website)
- Registration: email [email protected] or call the office
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 301-739-0390
- Address: 224 W. Washington Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740
A Pastorate with St. Michael, Clear Spring
St. Mary's currently shares pastoral leadership with St. Michael Parish in Clear Spring, Maryland, continuing the historic role of St. Mary's as the mother parish of Washington County. Six local parishes — St. Augustine (Williamsport), St. Peter (Hancock), St. Michael (Clear Spring), St. James (Boonsboro), St. Joseph (Halfway), and St. Ann (Hagerstown) — were founded from St. Mary's over the centuries.
- In pastorate with St. Michael, Clear Spring
- Currently led by Fr. James Boric
- Six daughter parishes trace their origin to St. Mary's
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Limmer1993–2006
Long-serving pastor now retired; pastor emeritus of St. Mary's; preached at the 250th anniversary Mass in 2019 and concelebrated funerals for parish-connected religious into his retirement.