About Sts. Peter and Paul · Cumberland, Maryland
The Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul is a historic Catholic church at 125 Fayette Street in Cumberland, Maryland, founded in 1848 by Redemptorist Father (later Bishop and Saint) John Neumann to serve the city's growing German Catholic community. Today it is one of three worship sites of Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, alongside St. Patrick Church and St. Mary Church in Cumberland. Declared an archdiocesan shrine in 2011 by Cardinal Edwin F. O'Brien, it has been staffed by Capuchin Franciscan Friars continuously since 1875 and remains a landmark on the hill known locally as 'Holy Hill.' Daily Mass is celebrated here Monday through Friday, and the church is also used for Wednesday evening Mass, adoration, and confession.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
Worshipping at the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul means joining a parish community whose roots in Cumberland go back to 1848 and whose life is still shaped by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars who have ministered here since 1875. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday, the shrine hosts a monthly Votive Mass of St. Francis (with a relic for veneration and a plenary indulgence available), the Padre Pio Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans gathers on the first Friday of each month, and the parish runs faith formation, youth and adult ministry, music ministry, and outreach programs such as a food pantry. The Shrine of Sts. Peter and Paul has been designated an archdiocesan shrine and remains a place of pilgrimage tied to two saints-to-be — St. John Neumann and Blessed Francis X. Seelos — making it a particularly meaningful place for those who value Catholic heritage, Franciscan spirituality, and a tight-knit Mountain Maryland community.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday, 5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul
- Saturday, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Saint Patrick Church
Adoration times
- Wednesday, 5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul
- First Friday of the month, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Saint Patrick Church
The Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul
The Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul is one of three worship sites of Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in Cumberland, Maryland, alongside St. Patrick Church and St. Mary Church. Founded in 1848 by Redemptorist Father John Neumann to serve the city's growing German Catholic community, the hilltop church is known locally by its green copper steeple and its setting on 'Holy Hill' within the original city limits. Declared an archdiocesan shrine in 2011, it is the only remaining structure from the original parish the Capuchin Franciscans purchased in 1875.
- Address: 125 Fayette Street, Cumberland, MD 21502
- Parish Office: 300 East Oldtown Road, Ste 2, Cumberland, MD 21502
- Phone: 301-777-1750
- Designated archdiocesan shrine on July 8, 2011
History
Redemptorist Father John Neumann established Ss. Peter and Paul in 1848 to minister to Cumberland's German Catholic community; he later became Bishop of Philadelphia and the first male U.S. citizen to be canonized. Blessed Francis X. Seelos, also a Redemptorist and now a candidate for sainthood, served as pastor from 1857 to 1862. The Redemptorists departed in 1866, the Carmelites staffed the parish until 1875, and Capuchin Franciscans — beginning with Fathers Anton Schuermann and Franz Wolff — have been there ever since. Cardinal Edwin F. O'Brien declared the church an archdiocesan shrine in 2011 in recognition of its ties to St. John Neumann and Blessed Seelos.
- 1848 – Founded by Redemptorist Father John Neumann (later St. John Neumann)
- 1857–1862 – Blessed Francis X. Seelos serves as pastor
- 1866 – Redemptorists depart; Carmelites take over
- 1875 – Capuchin Franciscans arrive and install hand-carved altars
- November 1, 2025 – Archbishop William E. Lori celebrates 150th anniversary of Capuchins and installs Fr. Stephen Fernandes as pastor
Parish Clergy and Staff
Our Lady of the Mountains Parish is led by Capuchin Franciscan Friars and supported by a dedicated lay staff. Fr. Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap., was installed as pastor on November 1, 2025 by Archbishop William E. Lori, succeeding Fr. Gregory Chervenak, OFM Cap. The pastoral team includes Fr. Mark Carter, OFM Cap. (Parochial Vicar), Fr. Jim Froehlich, OFM Cap. (Pastoral Supply Priest), Deacon James Rose, and Transitional Deacon Ryan Schmeltzer, OFM Cap.
- Rev. Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap. — Pastor (ordained May 2011)
- Rev. Mark Carter, OFM Cap. — Parochial Vicar (ordained September 1992)
- Rev. Jim Froehlich, OFM Cap. — Pastoral Supply Priest (ordained June 1982)
- Deacon James Rose
- Deacon Ryan Schmeltzer, OFM Cap. — Transitional Deacon
Parish Staff and Lay Ministers
A team of lay staff coordinates the day-to-day life of the parish, from faith formation to music ministry, business administration, and cemetery/funeral logistics. All staff can be reached through the Parish Office at 301-777-1750.
- Ms. Luann Hunsecker — Parish Secretary and Virtus Coordinator
- Mr. Charles Mulligan — Coordinator of Music Ministry
- Mr. Jared Wilhelm — Maintenance
- Mrs. Jamie Imes — Coordinator of Adult and Youth Ministry
- Mrs. Carolee Lucas — Receptionist and Cemetery/Funeral Coordinator
- Mrs. Monica Beck — Coordinator of Faith Formation
- Mrs. Stephanie Vollmerhausen — Business Manager
Devotions and Special Masses
The Shrine hosts several regular devotions that draw on its Franciscan and Redemptorist heritage. A Votive Mass of St. Francis is celebrated on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., with a relic of St. Francis available for veneration and a plenary indulgence attached under the usual conditions. The Padre Pio Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans gathers on the first Friday of each month after the 8:00 a.m. Mass, and a Rosary for deceased parishioners is also prayed each Wednesday at noon at St. Mary Church. The Shrine is also the venue for an annual concert series.
- Votive Mass of St. Francis – last Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. (Shrine)
- Padre Pio Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans – first Friday after 8:00 a.m. Mass (Shrine)
- Rosary for deceased parishioners – Wednesdays at noon (St. Mary)
- Annual concert series held at the Shrine throughout the year
The Friends of the Shrine
The Friends of the Shrine of SS. Peter and Paul is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2019 to preserve, protect, and maintain the historic Shrine for future generations. It is no longer maintained by Our Lady of the Mountains Parish alone, so the Friends group is responsible for fundraising, restoration, and public advocacy. The group had raised more than $250,000 toward a $500,000 preservation campaign as of the 175th-anniversary year.
- Formed in 2019 as a 501(c)(3)
- Board President: Joe George
- Mission: preservation of the 1848 Shrine and its heritage
- Raised over $250,000 toward a $500,000 campaign
Franciscan and Redemptorist Heritage
The Shrine's identity is rooted in two great Catholic missionary traditions: the Redemptorists who founded it in 1848 and the Capuchin Franciscans who have served it since 1875. The Redemptorist legacy is honored through the church's ties to St. John Neumann and Blessed Francis X. Seelos, both honored with statues in the prayer garden outside the Shrine. The Capuchin Franciscan character is preserved by the continuing presence of Capuchin friars on the parish team and through lay groups such as the Padre Pio Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans.
- St. John Neumann, C.Ss.R. — founder, canonized saint
- Blessed Francis X. Seelos, C.Ss.R. — beatified, cause for canonization open
- Capuchin Franciscan Friars — continuous presence since 1875
- Hand-carved altars crafted by Capuchin friars in the late 19th century
Pastors & rectors through the years
- St. John Neumann, C.Ss.R.1848–1866
Redemptorist founder of the parish; later Bishop of Philadelphia and first male U.S. citizen to be canonized.
- Blessed Francis X. Seelos, C.Ss.R.1857–1862
Redemptorist pastor while also prefect of students at the Redemptorist seminary in Cumberland; beatified, cause for canonization open.
- Carmelite Friars1866–1875
Staffed the parish between the Redemptorist and Capuchin eras.
- Capuchin Franciscan Friars (community)1875–present
Fathers Anton Schuermann and Franz Wolff purchased the property in 1875; continuous Capuchin ministry ever since.
- Rev. Gregory Chervenak, OFM Cap.through Nov. 2025
Immediately preceding pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains Parish.
- Rev. Stephen Fernandes, OFM Cap.Nov. 2025–present
Installed by Archbishop William E. Lori on Nov. 1, 2025 during the 150th anniversary Mass of the Capuchins in Mountain Maryland.