Our History

Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Front Royal was established to provide the faithful of the Shenandoah Valley with the treasures of the Catholic Faith preserved in Tradition: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the traditional Roman rite, the traditional sacraments, and sound Catholic teaching.

The chapel began during the difficulties surrounding the widespread church closures of 2020. At a time when many Catholics were deprived of regular access to the sacraments, several families in the region sought the assistance of the Society of Saint Pius X, asking that the Traditional Latin Mass be made available in the area.

Responding to this request, priests of the Society began traveling to Front Royal to offer Mass and provide the sacraments to the faithful. What began as a small gathering of families soon grew steadily as more Catholics discovered the chapel and sought the stability of the traditional liturgy and doctrine of the Church.

As attendance increased, the mission developed into a regular chapel community with Sunday Mass, catechism classes for children, sacramental preparation, and parish activities. Families from throughout the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas began traveling to Front Royal in order to worship according to the traditional rites of the Church and to raise their children in a fully Catholic environment.

Today, Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel continues to grow as a center of Catholic life in the region. Under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the faithful strive to remain united to the perennial teachings of the Church and to hand on the Catholic Faith in its fullness to future generations.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us