About St. Patrick · Havre De Grace, Maryland
St. Patrick Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Havre de Grace, Maryland, founded in 1847 and serving more than 800 families today. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is presently twinned with nearby St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen as the Pastorate of St. Patrick and St. Joan of Arc. The current granite church, built between 1907 and 1908, anchors the parish and is celebrated for its masonry heritage rooted in the work of the legendary pastor Rev. James Fitz-Gerald. The parish's mission is 'To provide a place of encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ so people will love God, love their neighbor and make disciples for Christ,' and it lives out that mission through daily Mass, Monday Adoration, faith formation, outreach ministries, and a vibrant Young Adult community.
- Established
- 1847
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Francis Ouma
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Patrick offers a daily-Mass schedule (Monday through Saturday at 8:15 a.m., plus four Sunday Masses and a Saturday Vigil) along with weekly Monday Adoration from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., making the Eucharist the center of parish life. A deep bench of formation and youth programs — Religious Education, Children's Liturgy of the Word, OCIC, sacramental preparation, and a Young Adult Ministry that sponsors the 10:30 Mass on the first Sunday of each month — welcomes every age and stage of family life. Outreach is hands-on and local, with the parish running The Kitchen Door food pantry (1st and 3rd Saturdays), co-leading Grace Place with other Havre de Grace churches, a Prayer Shawl ministry, Bereavement support, and a Respect Life group, while the Knights of Columbus council serves the broader community.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- 2nd Friday of the month at 6:00 p.m. (during Young Adult Adoration, Worship and Confession)
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with Novena and Benediction at 7:00 p.m.)
About St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick is a Roman Catholic parish in Havre de Grace, Maryland, founded in 1847 and now serving more than 800 families as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The parish's self-described mission is to 'provide a place of encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ so people will love God, love their neighbor and make disciples for Christ.' It is currently twinned with St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen under a shared Pastorate vision of being 'a loving and vibrant catholic pastorate … united as missionary disciples, to help all encounter our Lord, Jesus Christ.'
- Founded 1847
- Over 800 registered families
- Member of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
- Part of the Pastorate of St. Patrick and St. Joan of Arc
- Mission: encounter with Jesus Christ through Word, Sacrament, and community
Parish History
St. Patrick's history reaches back to the mission church of St. James the Lesser, founded at what is now Mt. Erin Cemetery by Fr. James Reid from St. Ignatius in Hickory. Within about five years the mission was outgrown, and in 1847 Fr. Thomas (John) O'Neill purchased six lots for $250 from Otho Scott; the granite cornerstone of the first church was laid in September 1847 and the building was completed in 1850, with the first baptism registered on June 13, 1852. The defining chapter opened in 1890 when Cardinal Gibbons assigned Fr. James Fitz-Gerald — a stone mason and pastor known for his generosity to the poor regardless of race, color, or creed — who mobilized parishioners to quarry granite at Port Deposit for the new church. The cornerstone of the present building was laid August 4, 1907, the opening Mass was celebrated June 28, 1908, and Cardinal James Gibbons formally dedicated the church that same year.
- 1847: Fr. Thomas O'Neill purchases six lots for $250 from Otho Scott; cornerstone laid Sept. 1847.
- 1850: First granite church (60 x 36 ft) completed.
- 1852: First baptism recorded (June 13).
- 1862: First rectory built by Fr. J. George Steinhauser.
- 1865: Fr. Joseph L. Barry adds organ, bell tower, and the first school.
- 1890–1930: Fr. James Fitz-Gerald serves as pastor and leads the stone-quarrying effort at Port Deposit.
- 1907: Cornerstone of the present church laid August 4.
- 1908: Opening Mass June 28; formal dedication by Cardinal Gibbons.
- 1913: Land for the convent acquired.
- 1920–21: Mission at Aberdeen Proving Ground founded (later St. Joan of Arc).
- 1952 (Dec. 21): Ground broken for new school and convent under Fr. Monmonier.
- 1964: Current rectory cornerstone laid.
- 1973: Parish school closes (now houses Faith Formation and offices).
- 2003 (June 28): Parish Hall dedicated.
- 2022: 175th anniversary celebrated.
The Pastorate of St. Patrick and St. Joan of Arc
St. Patrick is now formally twinned with St. Joan of Arc Parish in Aberdeen under a shared Pastorate identity and vision statement. The partnership grows directly out of the parish's 1920–21 mission at Aberdeen Proving Ground, originally named St. Louise the Crusader. The Pastorate's stated vision is to be 'a loving and vibrant catholic pastorate of St. Patrick and St. Joan of Arc, united as missionary disciples, to help all encounter our Lord, Jesus Christ.'
- Shared vision statement on the parish homepage
- Cross-links to St. Joan of Arc School and parish
- Joint youth and family faith formation events such as Confirmation
Clergy and Staff
St. Patrick is led by pastor Rev. Francis Ouma, with Rev. Franz Belleza serving as associate pastor and Deacon Dan assisting as a permanent deacon. The parish is also working with a pastoral-year seminarian, Joseph 'Tu' Van Tu Nguyen, who likewise serves in a summer seminarian role. A full team of lay staff supports the parish office, faith formation, music, development, business, and maintenance operations.
- Rev. Francis Ouma — Pastor
- Rev. Franz Belleza — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Dan — Permanent Deacon
- Joseph 'Tu' Van Tu Nguyen — Pastoral Year Seminarian and Summer Seminarian
- Iveth Ramos — Business Manager
- Joanna Friedenberg — Development Director and Executive Assistant
- Sinead Boyd — Director of Faith Formation
- Charlotte Snyder — Coordinator of Youth and Family Ministry
- Thomas Parks — Maintenance Officer
- Lisa Brutofsky — Administrative Assistant
- MaryAnn Roberts — Receptionist
- Kathy Meneghini — Bookkeeper
- Cindy Sutter — Administrative Assistant
- Jane Martin — Music Director
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Patrick is structured around Sunday Catechesis Classes held twice a month (1st and 3rd Sundays, 9:00–10:15 a.m.) and Family Faith Gatherings, including a Family Mass on the 2nd Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Sacramental preparation covers First Reconciliation and First Communion, Confirmation, and the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) for older children joining the parish.
- Sunday Catechesis Classes — 1st and 3rd Sundays, 9:00–10:15 a.m.
- Family Mass — 2nd Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
- First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) — 1st and 3rd weekends
- Vacation Bible School
Children, Youth, and Young Adults
Children encounter the Lord through Sunday Catechesis, the Children's Liturgy of the Word, Vacation Bible School, and family faith events. Youth Ministry welcomes middle and high school students through gatherings, retreats, service, and social events, while the Young Adult Ministry serves 18- to 39-year-olds through four pillars — Worship, Faith Formation, Fellowship, and Service.
- Youth Ministry: middle and high school
- Young Adult Ministry (18–39): sponsors the 10:30 Mass on the 1st Sunday
- 2nd Friday Young Adult Adoration, Worship and Confession at 6:00 p.m. with fellowship to follow
- Wednesday YA Small Group Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.
- Coffee hangouts after the 10:30 Mass on the 1st Sunday at Concord Point Coffee House
Outreach Ministries
St. Patrick runs several local charitable ministries that address food insecurity, bereavement, and respect-life issues, and supports the ecumenical Grace Place effort with other Havre de Grace churches. The parish also hosts a Knights of Columbus council.
- Grace Place — ecumenical food outreach to the poor, supported by multiple Havre de Grace churches
- The Kitchen Door Food Pantry — 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Bereavement Ministry
- Respect Life Ministry
- Knights of Columbus
- Lawn Maintenance and 'Opps' Event Teams
Buildings, Campus, and Cemetery
Parish facilities include the current granite church (cornerstone 1907, dedicated 1908), the current rectory (cornerstone 1964), and the parish Hall (dedicated June 28, 2003). The former parish school building — operated by the Sisters of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts from 1953 until it closed in July 1973 — now houses the Faith Formation offices, religious education classrooms, and ministry meeting spaces. Mt. Erin Cemetery in Havre de Grace preserves the historic site of the original mission church of St. James the Lesser, the spiritual seedbed of the parish.
- Current granite church (1907–1908)
- Rectory (cornerstone 1964)
- Parish Hall (dedicated 2003)
- Former school/convent building (now Faith Formation and ministry space)
- Mt. Erin Cemetery
Office, Address, and Giving
Parish office hours run Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturday closed, and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to noon. The mailing address is 615 Congress Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD 21078. Parishioners can support the parish through weekly envelopes or online giving via Give Central, accessible through the parish website.
- Address: 615 Congress Ave, Havre de Grace, MD 21078
- Phone: (410) 939-2525
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9–4; Fri 9–1; Sat closed; Sun 9–12
- Online giving through Give Central
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas (John) O'Neill1847–c.1862
Purchased the original six lots for $250 from Otho Scott on May 22, 1847; cornerstone of the first church laid September 1847, completed 1850.
- Rev. J. George Steinhauserc.1862
Built the parish's first rectory around 1862.
- Rev. Joseph L. Barry1865
Improved the church interior and added the organ, bell tower, and first school.
- Rev. James Reid
Pastor of St. Ignatius in Hickory; founded the early St. James the Lesser mission that grew into St. Patrick's.
- Rev. James Fitz-Gerald1890–1930
Assigned by Cardinal Gibbons; skilled stone mason who led fundraising and quarrying at Port Deposit; the cornerstone of the present granite church was laid during his pastorate in 1907.
- Rev. Monmoniermid-20th century
Oversaw groundbreaking for the school and convent on December 21, 1952; school was staffed by the Sisters of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts.
- Rev. Francis Oumapresent
Current pastor; described as parish administrator who arrived in summer 2021; leading the parish during its 175th anniversary year.