About St. Patrick · Cumberland, Maryland
St. Patrick Church, located at 201 North Centre Street in Cumberland, Maryland, is the historic heart of Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, a tri-site Roman Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Originally established in 1790–1791 as St. Mary's, the parish was rededicated to St. Patrick in 1851 to reflect the wave of Irish immigrants drawn to Cumberland by the National Road, the C&O Canal, and the B&O Railroad. The present church, designed by architect John Tehan, was dedicated in November 1851 and remains a landmark on Centre Street. Today St. Patrick shares pastoral care with St. Mary Church and the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul under Capuchin Franciscan leadership, offering Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, and monthly Eucharistic adoration.
- Established
- 1790
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Patrick is part of a tri-site parish that offers abundant ways to belong: weekend Masses in English and (on the 2nd and 4th Sundays) Spanish, Saturday confessions, monthly First Friday Eucharistic adoration, a robust Faith Formation program for children and youth, Vacation Bible School, MomCo gatherings for mothers, a Women's Book Club, hospital and homebound Eucharistic ministry, a Children's Clothing Room, and outreach through the St. Anthony food pantry and the Summer Lunchbox Program. With Capuchin Franciscan priests, active deacons, and a parish staff dedicated to formation, music, and outreach, Our Lady of the Mountains welcomes both long-standing Cumberland families and newcomers — including the growing Spanish-speaking community — into a single, mission-driven Catholic home.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (St. Patrick Church)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the Month, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (St. Patrick Church)
St. Patrick Church at a Glance
St. Patrick Church is the principal historic site of Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, a tri-site Catholic community in Cumberland, Maryland, in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Sunday Masses are offered at 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m., with confessions on Saturday afternoons and Eucharistic adoration on the First Friday of each month.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday Reconciliation: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- First Friday Adoration: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Address: 201 North Centre Street, Cumberland, MD 21502
- Parish Office: 300 East Oldtown Road, Ste 2, Cumberland, MD 21502
History of the Parish
The Catholic community at this site dates to 1790–1791, when English Catholic settlers from Southern Maryland built a log chapel named St. Mary's. A brick church replaced the log building in 1839, and as Irish immigrants arrived via the National Road, the C&O Canal, and the B&O Railroad, the parish was rededicated to St. Patrick. The present church, designed by architect John Tehan, was dedicated in November 1851 and is commemorated by a Maryland Historical Trust marker erected in 2008.
- 1790–1791: Log chapel built and named St. Mary's
- 1839: Brick church replaces log chapel
- 1851: Present church designed by John Tehan, dedicated to St. Patrick in November
- 2008: Maryland Historical Trust marker erected at the church
Capuchin Franciscan Heritage
The Capuchin Franciscans have ministered in Cumberland for 150 years, providing pastoral care at St. Patrick and the broader Cumberland Catholic community. On November 1, 2025, Archbishop William E. Lori celebrated the 150th anniversary with a Mass at the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul and officially installed Capuchin Father Stephen Fernandes as pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains Parish. The friars continue to be a defining presence in the parish's liturgical and community life.
- Capuchins arrived in Cumberland c. 1875
- 150th anniversary Mass — November 1, 2025
- Installed pastor: Rev. Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap.
- Continuing Capuchin priests include Fr. Mark Carter, OFM Cap. (Parochial Vicar) and Fr. Jim Froehlich, OFM Cap. (Pastoral Supply Priest)
Our Lady of the Mountains Parish (Tri-Site)
St. Patrick shares pastoral care with two sister sites under one unified parish, Our Lady of the Mountains: St. Mary Church and the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul. The Shrine has been designated an official pilgrimage site for the 800th jubilee of St. Francis's death, and a monthly votive Mass of St. Francis is celebrated there with a relic available for veneration. Together the three sites form a single, mission-driven Catholic community serving the Cumberland region.
- St. Patrick Church — 201 North Centre Street
- St. Mary Church — Centre Street area
- Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul — designated pilgrimage site (plenary indulgence available)
- Votive Mass of St. Francis — last Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Shrine
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at Our Lady of the Mountains serves children and youth from Kindergarten through High School, using RCL Benzinger Family Life for Grades K–5 and the Archdiocesan 'Created to Love' program for middle and high school students on an every-other-year format. Children are also welcomed to age-appropriate Liturgy of the Word at Sunday Mass.
- Coordinator of Faith Formation: Monica Beck ([email protected])
- RCL Benzinger Family Life — Grades K–5
- 'Created to Love' — middle and high school (every other year)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — 1st & 3rd Sundays at the 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick and 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary
- 'Worthy of the Call' safe-environment training — ages 14–18
- Vacation Bible School — 'Rainforest Falls – Exploring the nature of God'
Youth, Young Adult, and Family Ministry
Beyond the classroom, the parish offers active ministries for young adults and families, including a monthly young-adult gathering, a mothers' group (MomCo), Vacation Bible School, and a Women's Book Club. The Coordinator of Adult and Youth Ministry works alongside the Faith Formation team to integrate families into parish life.
- Young Adult Ministry (18–29) — 'Mass & Morsels,' third Wednesday of the month after the 6:30 p.m. Mass at the Shrine
- MomCo — OLM mothers' group (Facebook: OLM MomCo)
- Coordinator of Adult and Youth Ministry: Jamie Imes
- Women's Book Club — Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. in the OLM Office Center
Music Ministry
The parish Music Ministry supports the sung liturgy across the three worship sites, coordinated by Charles Mulligan. Musicians and cantors assist at weekend and daily Masses.
- Coordinator of Music Ministry: Charles Mulligan ([email protected])
Outreach and Charity
Our Lady of the Mountains carries out a wide range of charitable works, from feeding the hungry to clothing children and visiting the sick. The St. Anthony food pantry and the Summer Lunchbox Program address food insecurity, while the Children's Clothing Room provides warm clothing and household linens to families in need. Extraordinary Ministers bring Holy Communion to the homebound, those in nursing homes, and patients at the hospital.
- St. Anthony Place / Food Pantry
- Children's Clothing Room — Wednesdays 9:00–11:00 a.m. (basement of Faith Formation Center at St. Mary)
- Summer Lunchbox Program — weekly bagged lunches for children, June–August
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to Hospital (with Fr. Eric Gauchat, OFM Cap., chaplain: 301-707-9995)
- Homebound and Nursing Home visits — call the Parish Office
Sacramental and Pastoral Care
In addition to the sacraments celebrated at Mass, the parish offers Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, marriage preparation, and funeral/burial ministry. The Parish Office is the central point of contact for arranging all sacraments.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 1:00–2:00 p.m. (St. Patrick); Wednesday 5:15–6:00 p.m. (Shrine)
- Anointing of the Sick and homebound visits
- Marriage preparation — call the Parish Office
- Funeral and Cemetery Ministry — Coordinator: Carolee Lucas
Parish Staff and Clergy
Our Lady of the Mountains is led by Capuchin Franciscan priests and served by deacons and a dedicated lay staff overseeing faith formation, youth and adult ministry, music, business, communications, and facilities. The Parish Office is open during regular hours at 300 East Oldtown Road, Ste 2, Cumberland, MD 21502.
- Pastor: Rev. Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Mark Carter, OFM Cap.
- Pastoral Supply Priest: Rev. Jim Froehlich, OFM Cap.
- Deacon James Rose; Deacon Ryan Schmeltzer, OFM Cap. (Transitional)
- Business Manager: Stephanie Vollmerhausen
- Coordinator of Faith Formation: Monica Beck
- Coordinator of Adult and Youth Ministry: Jamie Imes
- Receptionist / Cemetery & Funeral Coordinator: Carolee Lucas
- Parish Secretary / VIRTUS Coordinator: Luann Hunsecker
- Coordinator of Music Ministry: Charles Mulligan
- Maintenance: Jared Wilhelm
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to attend Mass, schedule sacraments, or get involved. The Parish Office is the hub for all parish business, and the office phone (301-777-1750) reaches both staff and clergy.
- Parish Office: 300 East Oldtown Road, Ste 2, Cumberland, MD 21502
- Phone: 301-777-1750
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.olmcumberland.org/
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore