Curious about a place where faith and history intertwine? Then you’ve arrived at Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. This isn’t just a church. It’s a landmark. It’s a testament to the enduring Catholic presence in Upper Marlboro.
Before Prince George’s County even existed, prominent Catholics settled here. They needed spiritual guidance. Priests from the Society of Jesus provided it. Upper Marlboro became a vital center after its founding in 1708. John Carroll, the first Roman Catholic Bishop in the United States, was born here. He helped build the Catholic Church’s foundation.
Back then, public Catholic worship was illegal in Maryland. But Catholic landowners kept their faith alive. They built “Mass-rooms” and “House-chapels” on their land. A chapel near present-day Rosaryville served Catholics from Upper Marlboro to Piscataway. This chapel was the forerunner to Saint Mary’s Church. It was also the forerunner to Most Holy Rosary Church.
After the American Revolution, Catholics could worship freely. Churches began to emerge. In the early 1800s, Catholics in Upper Marlboro decided to build a permanent church. The Jesuits at White Marsh guided them. The cornerstone for the original Saint Mary’s Church was laid on June 4, 1824. The church was dedicated on April 5, 1829. It could hold 450 people.
Jesuits served Saint Mary’s from White Marsh until 1856. Then, Dominicans took over. Father Nicolas Young also built Most Holy Rosary Church. It remained a mission of Saint Mary’s until 1966. The Dominicans left in 1869. Carmelites arrived. They built a rectory and opened a novitiate. They established Mt. Carmel Cemetery. They even started a school for “colored children.”
Internal issues and disagreements led the Carmelites to leave. Next came the Mill Hill Fathers, reorganized as the Josephites. Their main goal was to evangelize African Americans. They continued the school for “colored children.” Internal struggles and climate issues caused them to leave too.
In 1879, diocesan priests took over Saint Mary’s. Rev. Desiderus de Wulf was the first Diocesan pastor. Rev. Joseph Cunnane replaced the old church with a new, larger one. It honored Bishop John Carroll. This present church was dedicated on May 28, 1899.
Saint Mary’s missions included several other churches. A parish school was established in 1925. Maryland was segregated then. White children attended Rosenwald-style school buildings. African-American children went to school in Gibbons Hall. Integration happened gradually by 1961. The entire school moved to Largo Road in 1967. The Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have always staffed the school.
Today, Saint Mary of the Assumption is part of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. In 2004, the Archdiocese acquired a historic house. It became the parish rectory. While preserving its facade. Inside was rebuilt.
Father Thomas LaHood is the current pastor. Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church has Mass several times a week. Confession is available. There are also Novenas and Eucharistic Adoration.
Saint Mary of the Assumption stands as a testament to faith, perseverance, and community. Its history reflects the struggles and triumphs of Catholics in Maryland. Its doors are always open. Here, history whispers. Faith sings. Community thrives.