About St. Patrick · Little Orleans, Maryland
St. Patrick is a historic Catholic Mission church in the tiny mountain town of Little Orleans, in western Allegany County, Maryland. It is twinned with St. Peter Church in nearby Hancock as the unified Ss. Peter & Patrick Parish, served from the Parish Office at 16 E. High Street, Hancock. St. Patrick's holds the parish's Saturday evening Mass at 5:00 p.m., while St. Peter's in Hancock hosts the two Sunday Masses and the weekday schedule. The mission sits within the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is administered by Fr. John "Jack" Lombardi with Permanent Deacon James Mason.
- Established
- 1860
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. John J. "Jack" Lombardi
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
A visit to St. Patrick's in Little Orleans is a step into more than two centuries of mountain-Catholic heritage, from the 1807 Mass House to today's weekly Saturday Mass. The mission shares in a full parish life — RCIA, religious education, weekly Thursday adoration, Holy Hour, parish picnics, youth activities, and a cemetery and infant memorial garden — all under a small pastorate that knows every family by name. Coming to Mass at St. Patrick's is also becoming part of an integrated Ss. Peter & Patrick community where Hancock and Little Orleans worship, serve, and grow together.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Patrick, Little Orleans: Saturdays prior to 5:00 p.m. Mass upon request (Fr. Lombardi available in the Church or by appointment at 301-678-6339)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (weekly Adoration began under Fr. Jack Lombardi)
About St. Patrick Mission
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a historic mission in Little Orleans, in western Allegany County, Maryland. It shares a single pastorate with St. Peter Church in nearby Hancock, and the unified parish is administered as Ss. Peter & Patrick Roman Catholic Churches. The mission sits under the Archdiocese of Baltimore. St. Patrick holds the Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m., while the Sunday Masses (7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.) and the full weekday schedule are celebrated at St. Peter, Hancock.
- Mailing/Parish Office: 16 E. High Street, Hancock, MD 21750
- Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Phone: 301-678-6339
History of St. Patrick and the Parish
Catholic life around Little Orleans stretches back more than two centuries. Father Nicholas Zacchey, non-resident pastor of St. Mary's in Hagerstown, signed the founding document in 1807 and built the original Mass House at a cost of $96 in pledged donations. That Mass House was built down the hill from a Catholic cemetery that had already been in use for over 30 years; the cemetery was deeded on May 31, 1808 as 'Church Lot.' Father John C. Gloyd built the present St. Patrick Church in 1860, made possible by a large donation from Elizabeth Lady Stafford, granddaughter of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and the Callans, Bevans, and Shircliff families.
- 1800: Catholic population in the Little Orleans area already exceeds 80 souls.
- 1807: Father Nicholas Zacchey signs the document founding the Mass House near Fifteen Mile Creek.
- 1808: The cemetery is deeded as 'Church Lot.'
- 1860: The present St. Patrick Church is constructed and dedicated under Father John C. Gloyd.
- 1985: Father George W. Glick begins the weekly Saturday Mass at St. Patrick's (previously one or two Masses per month).
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the full sacramental life of the Church. Infant Baptisms are arranged through the Parish Office (forms are sent for documentation and a date is set with the pastor). Adults seeking entry into the Catholic Church proceed through the RCIA process from fall through spring, culminating in Confirmation at the Easter Vigil, in coordination with Deacon James Mason. Couples preparing for marriage should contact the pastor. Funeral Masses and cemetery burials are arranged in advance through the office.
- Infant Baptism
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Marriage preparation with the pastor
- Funeral Masses and burial arrangements
Religious Education and RCIA
Religious Education is coordinated through Parish Office Manager Pamela Kunkle, who also serves as Administrator of Religious Education and Virtus Screening Coordinator. The RCIA program runs from fall through spring, ending with Confirmation at the Easter Vigil and is shepherded by Deacon James Mason.
- RCIA — Fall through Spring, Confirmation at the Easter Vigil
- Contact Deacon James Mason for RCIA inquiries
Parish Staff
The small staff of Ss. Peter & Patrick includes the pastor, a permanent deacon, and a parish-office manager who also handles religious education and Virtus screening. They are supported by an elected Parish Council.
- Rev. John J. 'Jack' Lombardi — Pastor/Administrator
- Deacon James Mason — Permanent Deacon (lifetime member of St. Peter Parish)
- Pamela Kunkle — Office Manager, Administrator of Religious Education, Virtus Screening Coordinator, Cemetery Manager
- James Buchheit — Parish Council President
Deacon James Mason
Deacon James Mason is a life-long member of Saint Peter Parish. According to his parish biography, he was first inspired toward his religious vocation by Father Joe Cosgrove, a former pastor, who 'planted the idea.' Father John Lesnick later passed on information-session materials, and Father Jack Lombardi (with Father George Limmer of St. Mary's Hagerstown as his spiritual director) helped him stay the course to ordination. He can be reached at [email protected] or 301-331-2371.
Parish Ministries and Groups
Ss. Peter & Patrick runs a wide range of ministries across both churches. The Parish Council is the lay-leadership body. Religious education and RCIA form sacramental preparation; youth activities originated under Fr. Paul Witthauer and continue today with events like the Young Adult Hike. The parish has a long tradition of pro-life witness, currently led by praying in front of the abortion mill in Hagerstown and 'adopting the unborn' children. Liturgical life is supported by altar servers, organists, and an expanded organ thanks to the 'midi' box added by Fr. Lesnick.
- Parish Council
- Religious Education and RCIA
- Youth Ministry and Young Adult events
- Pro-life witness / 'adopting the unborn' (Fr. Lombardi)
- Altar Servers (including the annual altar-server day at the Hagerstown ball park)
- Choir and organ program (midi box upgrade under Fr. Lesnick)
Cemeteries and Burial
Cemetery plots at St. Peter's Cemetery and at St. Patrick's Cemetery are arranged through Cemetery Manager Pamela Kunkle. St. Peter's Cemetery is open to visitors during daylight hours (typical summer hours 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.); flowers, memorials and decor are welcome, placed contiguous to the loved one's headstone, with all other seasonal or strewn decor appropriately removed or repositioned. The parish has established an Infant Memorial Garden at St. Peter Cemetery to provide free burial plots for infants lost to local families.
- St. Peter's Cemetery (Hancock) — open daylight hours, summer typically 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
- St. Patrick's Cemetery (Little Orleans) — historic 'Church Lot' deeded in 1808
- Infant Memorial Garden at St. Peter Cemetery (free burial plot for infant loss)
Events and Community Life
The parish maintains an active events calendar for both church communities, including parish picnics, anniversary celebrations, Young Adult Hikes, talks by the deacon on topics such as 'Men and Masculinity,' and seasonal devotions during Advent and Lent.
- Parish Picnics
- Anniversary Celebrations (St. Peter's and St. Patrick's)
- Young Adult Hike events
- Deacon-led talks and retreats
Contact and Visit
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Patrick Mission in Little Orleans for the Saturday 5 p.m. Vigil Mass. The Parish Office, located in Hancock (16 E. High Street), is the main hub for the pastorate and is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Online giving is available through Give Central as listed on the parish site.
- St. Patrick Mission: 12517 Saint Patrick Road SE, Little Orleans, MD 21766
- Parish Office: 16 E. High Street, Hancock, MD 21750
- Phone: 301-678-6339
- Email: [email protected]
- Online giving via Give Central
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Augustine Fromback
Earliest priest on the parish register (Pastorate covering St. Peter's, St. Patrick's and surrounding missions).
- Rev. Dennis Cahill
- Rev. Demetrius Gallitzin
- Rev. Nicholas Zacchey1807
First signer of the 1807 document 'for the purpose of erecting a house for Divine Worship' near Fifteen Mile Creek; built the original Mass House.
- Rev. James M. Redmond
- Rev. Timothy RyanBuilt St. Peter's 1834-35
Built St. Peter Church; buried in front of St. Mary's.
- Rev. Michael Guth
- Rev. Henry Myers
Built St. Thomas in Mooresville; served twice (then again 1855-1857).
- Rev. Joseph John Maguire
Assistant pastor to Fr. Myers; buried in front of St. Mary's.
- Rev. James Carney1853-1855
First resident pastor.
- Rev. C.M. O'Reilly1856
- Rev. George Flautt1857-1858
- Rev. James McDevitt1858-1860
- Rev. John C. Gloyd1860
Built the present St. Patrick Church in 1860.
- Rev. Michael Dausch1863-1869
Originated the Total Abstinence Society in the Hancock parish, which procured the stained-glass windows.
- Rev. John M. Jones1869-1871
- Rev. Damer1869-1871
Assisted Rev. Jones.
- Rev. Stanislaus F. Ryan1871
- Rev. Charles Damer1871-1881
- Rev. Peter Weider1881-1886
- Rev. John B. Manley1886-1889
- Rev. Theodore D. Mead1889-1890
- Rev. Thomas E. Lyons1890-1896
- Rev. Francis A.B. Wunnenberg1896-1897
- Rev. Romanus Mattingly1897-1904
- Rev. Henry S. Nagengast1904-1910
- Rev. Thomas Reinhart1910-1927
Pastor for 17 years; built the rectory and parish hall in 1910.
- Rev. William E. Kelly1927-1933
- Rev. Francis P. Ryan1933-1938
- Rev. J. Ambrose Quinn1938-1942
- Rev. James M. Hogan1942-1944
- Rev. Raymond P. Kelly1944-1946
- Rev. Charles B. Monmonier1947-1950
- Rev. Cornelius J. ByrnesApril-September 1950
Asked to be transferred after just three days and his first trip over the back roads to Little Orleans.
- Rev. Thomas W. CaulfieldSeptember 1950-1953
- Monsignor Daniel McGrath1953-1957
- Rev. John T. Kerr1957-1961
- Rev. Charles H. Quinn1961-1965
- Rev. Linus E. Robinson1965-1974
- Rev. Paul G. Witthauer1974-1980
Began the Parish Council, youth activities and the parish building program.
- Rev. George W. Glick1980 - May 15, 2000
Built the first and second additions to the parish hall; began the weekly Mass schedule at St. Patrick's in 1985.
- Rev. Joseph Cosgrove2000-2006
Began weekly Holy Hour and the annual altar-server day at the ball park in Hagerstown; renovated the parish rectory.
- Rev. John Lesnick2006 - June 1, 2009
Added the 'midi' box to the organ and started the anniversary celebrations for both churches.
- Rev. John 'Jack' LombardiJune 1, 2009 - June 2021
Started weekly Thursday adoration (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) and led 'From Maintenance to Mission' under Archbishop Lori.
- Rev. Joseph LanganJuly 1, 2021 - January 1, 2023
- Rev. John 'Jack' LombardiJanuary 1, 2023 - present
Returned for his second tenure as Administrator.