About St. Mary of the Assumption · Upper Marlboro, Maryland
St. Mary of the Assumption is a historic Roman Catholic parish located in the heart of Upper Marlboro, the seat of Prince George's County, Maryland. The parish traces its origins to 1824, when its cornerstone was laid, and it has served Catholics across southern Prince George's County for two centuries. Today it is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington, encompassing a church on Main Street, a parish school on Largo Road, and a thriving community of ministries and devotions including Fatima, Sacred Heart, and perpetual weekly Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1824
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Assumption
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas LaHood
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Assumption offers a rare combination: a two-century-old parish community rooted in the historic seat of Prince George's County, a parish school staffed by the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and an active devotional life including weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Tuesdays), Fatima Devotions (First Saturdays), and Sacred Heart Devotions (First Fridays). With daily Mass Monday through Saturday, multiple Sunday Masses, a full RCIA program, religious education, and a Family Life Center, it is a place where parishioners can grow in faith across every season of life.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday through Saturday: 7:30 A.M. – 7:50 A.M.
- Saturday: 4:15 P.M. – 5:15 P.M.
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesdays: 8:30 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
Catholic life in Upper Marlboro predates the parish by more than a century: Jesuits on land grants kept 'Mass-rooms' and 'House-chapels' open through the colonial era. The cornerstone of the original church was laid June 4, 1824, and it was dedicated April 5, 1829. After the Jesuits, Dominicans (from 1856), Carmelites (from 1869), and the Mill Hill Missionaries/Josephites (1875–1879) successively cared for the parish before diocesan priests took over. The present church, dedicated to Bishop John Carroll — the first U.S. Catholic bishop, born in Upper Marlboro — was dedicated May 28, 1899, and the parish school was founded in 1925 under Fr. Francis J. Loughran.
- Cornerstone laid June 4, 1824
- Original church dedicated April 5, 1829 (seating 450)
- Present church dedicated May 28, 1899, in honor of Bishop John Carroll
- Parish school established 1925; integrated by 1961; relocated to Largo Road in 1967
- Parish celebrated its bicentennial in 2024
The New Rectory (1846–1847)
Originally built by the Crandell family in 1846–1847, with a 1850s north addition, the New Rectory next door to the church was later owned by the German-immigrant Rothstein (1858) and Michel (1896) families. Vacant from 1976 onward, it was acquired by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1994 and conveyed to the Archdiocese of Washington for parish use in 2004. From July 2017 the parish demolished and rebuilt the interior while preserving the historic façade and side walls. The rebuilt rectory was blessed on July 22, 2018.
- Built 1846–1847 by the Crandell family
- Owned successively by the Rothstein (1858) and Michel (1896) families
- Vacant 1976–1994; MNCPPC acquired it in 1994
- Conveyed to the Archdiocese in 2004
- Interior rebuilt, historic façade preserved 2017–2018
- Blessed July 22, 2018
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor with the assistance of a deacon and a small lay staff handling administration, finances, human resources, and faith formation.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas LaHood
- Deacon: Deacon Frank Klco
- Administrative Assistant: Sharon Bookwalter
- Bookkeeper: Jeri Cravens
- Human Resources: Sandy Motz
- RCIA / CCD Coordinator: Philippe Monfiston
Worship Schedule
The parish offers Mass every day of the week, with multiple Sunday options. Confessions are heard each morning before daily Mass and on Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 P.M.
- Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 A.M.
- Daily Mass Mon–Sat: 8:00 A.M.; also Wednesday at Noon
- Confessions Mon–Sat 7:30–7:50 A.M. and Sat 4:15–5:15 P.M.
- Holy Day Vigil: 7:30 P.M.; Holy Day: 8:00 A.M., 10:10 A.M. (Family Life Center Gym), Noon, 7:30 P.M.
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Religious education for parish children and the RCIA process for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church are coordinated by Philippe Monfiston. Parents and godparents preparing for a child's baptism must attend a mandatory class on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. Couples preparing for marriage should contact the parish office at least six months in advance; at least one member of the couple must be a registered parishioner.
- RCIA for adults (Philippe Monfiston)
- CCD / Religious Education for children (Philippe Monfiston)
- Baptism class — 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7:00 P.M.
- Marriage preparation — minimum 6 months; one party must be a parishioner
- Mass Intentions available through the parish office
St. Mary's School
The parish school, founded in 1925 under Fr. Francis J. Loughran, has been continuously staffed by the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Originally located in buildings behind the church, then in parish-owned Gibbons Hall on Main Street, the unified school moved in 1967 to its present campus on Largo Road, where it continues to serve the parish community today.
- Founded 1925
- Staffed by the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Integrated by 1961
- Relocated to 4610 Largo Road campus in 1967
Family Life Center
The parish operates a Family Life Center and gymnasium on the Largo Road campus. It hosts parish gatherings, faith-formation events, and the additional 10:10 A.M. Holy Day Mass when scheduled.
- Located on the Largo Road school/campus site
- Used for parish gatherings and select Masses
Joining the Parish & Giving
Newcomers are welcomed into the parish community through a registration process, and the parish offers eGiving through Faith Direct for online stewardship.
- Parish registration via the parish office
- Faith Direct eGiving available
Visit & Contact
Parish office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. The church is listed as wheelchair accessible by the Archdiocese of Washington. The church and the school have separate entrances on Main Street and Largo Road respectively.
- Parish Office: 14908 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 — 301-627-3255 — [email protected]
- School: 4610 Largo Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 — 301-627-4170
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
- Wheelchair accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Desiderus de Wulf
First diocesan pastor after the religious orders withdrew from the parish.
- Rev. Joseph Cunnane
Succeeded Fr. de Wulf; gained Cardinal Gibbons's permission to replace the 1824 church with a new, larger one dedicated to Bishop John Carroll, dedicated May 28, 1899.
- Rev. Francis J. Loughran
Established the parish school in 1925; served as pastor for 42 years.