About St. Mary of the Mills · Laurel, Maryland
St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Laurel, Maryland, canonically established in 1843 as the first Catholic church in what was then the mill town of Laurel Factory. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Washington and serves a diverse, multi-generational community with a K-8 parish school, bilingual ministries (English and Spanish), and a full sacramental schedule of daily and Sunday Masses. It is the oldest ecclesiastical monument in historic Laurel, sitting near the former cotton-mill sites along the Patuxent River that gave the town and the parish their name.
- Established
- 1843
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title 'of the Mills,' referencing Laurel's 19th-century cotton mills on the Patuxent River)
- Rector
- Rev. Marco F. Schad
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Mills offers an unusually complete Catholic life in one campus: a historic stone church with six Sunday Masses (including a Latin Novus Ordo Mass on the first Sunday, a Spanish Mass, and a Contemporary Band Mass), daily Mass Monday through Saturday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday, and a robust confession schedule. The parish also runs St. Mary of the Mills School (K-8), the Pallotti Early Learning Center, a Parish Religious Education Program (P.R.E.P.), RCIA for adults, Christian Initiation for Children and Teens, CYO sports, a Health Ministry and Parish Nurse program, choirs for children and adults, Vacation Bible Camp, and a bilingual (English/Spanish) office and welcome team. For families and individuals looking for a deeply rooted parish with strong Catholic schools, sacramental depth, and a welcoming multi-generational community, St. Mary's is a longtime anchor of Laurel.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Mills
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (after daily Mass)
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (after daily Mass)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesdays: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration; check parish website for Holy Day schedule and sign-ups)
History of St. Mary of the Mills
St. Mary of the Mills was founded in 1843 to serve the Catholic mill workers and their families of Laurel Factory, the company town that grew up around the cotton mills on the Patuxent River. Construction of the original stone church began in 1842; the first Mass was offered on January 22, 1843, and the parish was originally served by Jesuits from Georgetown. Today it is the oldest Catholic church in Laurel and one of the oldest in Prince George's County.
- 1842 — construction of the stone church begins
- January 22, 1843 — first Mass celebrated
- 1843 — parish canonically established
- 1893 — parish school founded by Father Caughy with ~40 pupils
- 1911 — Fr. Joseph Aloysius Myer becomes pastor
- 1917 — school moved into the historic Jenkins stone house
- 1934 — Pallottine Sisters assume direction of the school
- 1943 — Fr. Hugh Breen renames it St. Mary of the Mills School
- 1953 — cornerstone of the present school building laid
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor and parochial vicar, assisted by two permanent deacons and a lay staff team responsible for liturgy and music, religious education, communications, finance, facilities, and bilingual welcome.
- Pastor — Rev. Marco F. Schad
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Benjamin R. Bralove
- Deacon Robert L. Gignilliat
- Deacon James Munno
- Coordinator of Religious Education — Ali Poteet
- Director of Liturgy & Music — Molly Snyder
- Director of Communications — Joel Defensor
- Director of Health Ministry and Pastoral Care — Santa Bigony
- Office Manager — Yocasta Lueje
- Bookkeeper — Tara Linn
- Administrative Assistants — Claudia Santiago and Suzanne Sigüenza (Habla español)
- Director of Facilities — Michael LaFleur
- Facilities Manager — Elmer Lazo
St. Mary of the Mills School (K–8)
The parish school, located at 106 St. Mary's Place, has served Laurel families since 1893 and is currently a coeducational K–8 elementary school within the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools system. Principal Ms. Jennifer Castaneda leads a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. The school offers instruction in computer education, music, art, physical education, media and research, Spanish, advanced math, and guidance, and provides before- and after-care as well as CYO sports.
- Address: 106 St. Mary's Place, Laurel, MD 20707
- Phone: 301-498-1433
- Website: stmaryofthemills.org
- Grades K–8, co-ed
- Student:Teacher ratio 15:1
- Before- and after-care available
- CYO sports: soccer, cross country, baseball, basketball; T-ball (K–2)
- 2024–25 tuition: $10,300 with a $2,150 Catholic Family Grant
- Sibling, military, and early-learning transition grants available
Faith Formation and Religious Education
In addition to the parish school, St. Mary of the Mills runs a Parish Religious Education Program (P.R.E.P.) for public-school and non-Catholic private-school children, plus sacramental-preparation tracks for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the Christian Initiation of Children (CIC, grades 2–6), and the Christian Initiation of Teens (CIT, grades 7–12) welcome newcomers to the Catholic faith at every age.
- P.R.E.P. (preschool through grade 8)
- Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation
- RCIA for adults
- CIC for children in grades 2–6
- CIT for teens in grades 7–12
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Ali Poteet
Youth and Family Ministry
The parish serves teens and families through a dedicated Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible Camp, and an active Home and School Association. CYO athletics extend the school-day community into parish-wide sports.
- High-school Youth Ministry
- Vacation Bible Camp (K–rising 6th grade)
- Home and School Association (PTA)
- CYO soccer, cross country, baseball, basketball, T-ball
Liturgy and Music
Liturgical music is a particular strength of the parish, with distinct ensembles for each Sunday Mass and a bilingual Mass aid for worshippers. The 5 PM Sunday Mass is celebrated with a contemporary band and no incense; the 9 AM features the Children's Choir, and the 10:45 AM is led by the Adult Choir. On the first Sunday of each month, the 7:30 AM Mass is celebrated in Latin (Novus Ordo).
- Adult Choir — 10:45 AM Sunday Mass
- Children's Choir — 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Contemporary Band — 5:00 PM Sunday Mass (no incense)
- Latin (Novus Ordo) Mass — 7:30 AM, first Sunday of the month
- Spanish Mass — 12:30 PM Sunday
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Molly Snyder
Outreach, Pastoral Care, and Hispanic Ministry
Pastoral care at St. Mary of the Mills includes a parish nurse and Health Ministry, social concern programs, and bilingual outreach. Two Spanish-speaking staff members in the rectory office ensure that Hispanic parishioners and visitors are welcomed in their own language.
- Director of Health Ministry and Pastoral Care: Santa Bigony
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) administrative support: Claudia Santiago and Suzanne Sigüenza
- Social concern and outreach programs
- Bilingual Mass aid (downloadable)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, with preparation tracks for children, teens, and adults. A minimum of six months' parish registration and attendance is required for parishioners to act as a baptismal godparent, Confirmation sponsor, or to be married in another church.
- Baptism — arrange through the Rectory
- First Communion / Confirmation — P.R.E.P., CIC, CIT
- Marriage — contact Rectory at least six months ahead
- Reconciliation — daily, Tuesday evening, and Saturday
- Anointing of the Sick — through Health Ministry
- Sponsor / Godparent letters — six-month registration required
St. Mary of the Mills Cemetery
The parish's historic cemetery lies behind the rectory between 7th and 8th Streets in Laurel and is the oldest Catholic cemetery in the city. The earliest legible gravestone is dated September 7, 1845, just two years after the parish's founding.
- Location: behind the Rectory, between 7th and 8th Streets, Laurel
- First Catholic cemetery in Laurel, MD
- Oldest legible marker: September 7, 1845
- Parish records survive back to the 1890s
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Caughy1893
Founded the parish school in the sacristy of the church with about 40 students
- Rev. Joseph Aloysius Myer1911–c.1934
Long-serving pastor who moved the school into the Jenkins stone house (1917) and worked with the Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill
- Rev. Hugh Breen1943–
Renamed the school St. Mary of the Mills; cornerstone of the new school laid 1953
- Rev. Msgr. Michael Mellone
Pastor in earlier years of current era (listed as pastor in 2012 parish bulletin)
- Rev. Marco F. Schadpresent
Current pastor (Archdiocese of Washington listing)