St. Mary Star of the Sea, Ocean City, MD

On three lots that Bishop Becker had purchased for a mere of $300 in 1875, Saint Mary Star of the Sea was established. In the beginning, it was only used in the Summer tourist season, but as the town grew so did the numbers of those who stayed year round. Sunday School classes were held in the four corners of the Sanctuary which was heated by a pot-bellied stove. The church remains at its original location of Baltimore Avenue and Talbot Street but was expanded in 1908 and again in 1939. The original altar and tower bell are still in place today as are the pipe organ and beautiful stained-glass windows which were installed in the 1940s. In 2016, a painting by Chery Stivers was commissioned to represent Our Lady Star of the Sea. It is displayed in the parish center of the Holy Savior Church, located on 17th Street Bayside.